Browsing by Author "Heldmann, Michael"
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Item An Advanced CO2 Removal System using Regenerable Solid Amines(46th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2016-07-10) Papale, William; Nalette, Timothty; Heldmann, Michael; Hidalgo, JorgeThe collection and concentration of CO2 using thermally regenerated solid amine systems has been previously demonstrated in NASA development programs over the last 30 years. Most recently UTAS is developing a NAVY CO2 removal system using thermally regenerated amines for a crew of approximately 125 persons. Our Advanced CO2 Removal System incorporates lessons learned from over 35 years of experience with solid amines, coupled with recent high TRL design features. Our approach incorporates a passive means of water vapor recover, using desiccant materials in thermally linked sorbent beds, upstream of the solid amine sorbent beds, to affect an approximate 90% nominal water (humidity) recovery with minimal power. The residual water vapor and CO2 are subsequently removed by SA9T amine sorbent in a second set of sorbent beds. The dry, CO2 free effluent is then used to regenerate the desiccant beds using a simple sweep gas desorption. When the amine beds are loaded with CO2 to their design capacity, they are heated to approximately 60 degrees C, while simultaneously drawing a vacuum to desorb the CO2 and residual water vapor. The residual water vapor is removed from the CO2 product stream via sorbent beds, or a condensing heat exchanger, depending on the subsequent downstream processing requirements of the CO2. The concentrated CO2 can then be dumped overboard or sent to a CO2 reduction system such as Sabatier. A significant advantage to utilizing solid amines is that they are relatively insensitive to incoming water vapor and therefore large desiccant beds are not required upstream of the CO2 sorbent beds. Additionally, the passive nature of the water recovery and moderate regeneration temperature of the amine, result in reduced power requirements compared to the state of the art CO2 removal systems. This paper presents the current development status of a TRL4 system.Item Beyond LEO: Life Support Requirements and Technology Development Strategy(44th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2014-07-13) Guirgis, Peggy; West, William; Heldmann, Michael; Samplatsky, Darren; Gentry, Gregory; Duggan, MatthewThis paper reviews basic Life Support Systems requirements for a conceptual Earth- Moon Libration Point-2 (EML-2) orbiting facility and conceptual early stage Lunar and Mars bases, highlighting commonalities and unique challenges for each. Recommendations are made for both near-term and long-term key technology development investments in a progressive approach to technology development that supports needs of the above missions and aligns with the current fiscally constrained environment. This approach leverages available commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and already developed space-flight hardware, while providing the rationale for a corresponding modestly elevated risk posture intended to bring down development costs, and to prioritize which technologies unavailable through COTS are in highest need of development. The recommendations provide guidance for Life Support Systems technology development planning activities.Item Comparative Assessment of Delivering Consumable Resources versus In-Situ Resource Utilization for Moon and Mars Habitats Life Support Systems(45th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2015-07-12) West, William; Heldmann, Michael; Scull, Timothy; Samplatsky, Darren; Gentry, Gregory J.; Duggan, Matthew; Klaus, KurtThis paper will estimate oxygen, nitrogen and water resupply needs for a crewed lunar or Martian surface habitat, assuming relevant mission parameters, current ISS levels of loop closure, assumptions on leakage and venting and the addition of laundry and shower facilities. The paper will then identify lunar and Mars ECLS ISRU candidates and trade ISRU vs. delivery of supplies from earth. Lunar ISRU candidates include water and oxygen from putative lunarpolar ice deposits. Mars ISRU candidates include water, oxygen from ice and nitrogen/argon/oxygen from atmospheric constituents. For given assumptions a crossover point for each constituent will be identified where it will become more advantageous to seek ISRU solutions rather than re-supply from earth.Item Environmental Control and Life Support for Deep Space Travel(48th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2018-07-08) Stapleton, Thomas; Heldmann, Michael; Torres, Miguel; Bowers, Jason; Corallo, RogerNASA has outlined plans to transition from the Low Earth Orbit toward Earth independent exploration, evolving habitat capacity to support a trip to Mars, and return home three years later. The Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) are being developed to enable this vision. UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) completed the first phase of this advancement, or NextSTEP, in September 2016, and is currently working on the second phase designing a universal ELCSS Module to support the different habitats currently being developed. With focus on the final exploration configuration the team is developing elements that can be used to support future ECLS hardware. The areas of development included transition from the cislunar design to an exploratory ECLS, the development of an Universal ECLSS Pallet design that enhances in-flight maintenance, an Integrated ECLSS Hierachial Control Architecture and the development of an Intelligent System intended to aide in isolating the cause of any fault. The overarching design activities included in this effort define a time dependent strategy enabling deep space exploration.Item Environmental Control and Life Support System Developed for Deep Space Travel(47th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2017-07-16) Stapleton, Thomas; Heldmann, Michael; Torres, Miguel; O'Neill, Jonathan; Scott-Parry, Tracy; Corallo, Roger; White, Kimberly; Schneider, ScottNASA outlined plans to journey from the current Low Earth Orbit toward earth independent exploration, evolving habitat capacity to support a trip to Mars, a planetary visit, and return home 3 years later. The Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) are being developed to enable this vision. UTAS completed the first phase of this advancement, or NextSTEP, in September 2016, and is currently working on the second phase design for a universal ECLSS Module to support the different habitats. The team defined an evolutionary path that advances a 90-day Cislunar ECLSS toward a deep space, 1,100-day configuration. Integral to this configuration are: a Universal ECLSS Pallet design that enhances in-flight maintenance and, Integrated ECLSS Control System that enables the use of Machine Learning algorithms, intelligent sensors, and a state-of-the-art cross-pallet communication. The overarching design activities included in this effort define a time dependent strategy enabling deep space exploration.