Browsing by Author "Ito, Tsuyoshi"
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Item Development of Oxygen Generation Demonstration on JEM (KIBO) for Manned Space Exploration(44th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2014-07-13) Sakurai, Masato; Shima, Asuka; Sone, Yoshitsugu; Ohnishi, Mitsuru; Tachihara, Satoru; Ito, TsuyoshiTo support long-duration manned space missions beyond Earth orbit, recycling life support systems will be necessary to reduce the mass of consumables required. Such systems will also have to be lightweight, compact and have low power consumption1). The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is therefore developing life support technologies2,3) for future manned space missions such as water purification, CO2 reduction and oxygen generation4,5). JAXA is currently studying an air revitalization system for an on-orbit demonstration on the International Space Station (ISS) early in the extended ISS operation period (2015–2020) to support proposed post-ISS missions such as manned lunar or asteroid exploration and an Earth-Moon Lagrange point (EML1) space station. The air and water re- vitalization subsystems of this demonstrator will be transported to the ISS separately by H- II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). Regenerative functions include oxygen recovery from carbon dioxide using a combination of CO2 reduction by the Sabatier process and O2 generation by electrolysis. Water electrolysis is a key technology because the hydrogen it produces is used for CO2 reduction and the oxygen is essential for human respiration. A simple method for obtaining dry oxygen from electrolysis is also important. This paper presents the air re- vitalization system for the demonstrator and gives details of water electrolysis in microgravity. In this paper, we investigate SPE (solid polymer electrolyte) water electrolysis and discuss the ‘Cathode Feed’ operation of an electrolyzer. Although water is usually supplied to the anode side of ground-based electrolysis cells (anode feed), we adopt cathode feed to obtain dry oxygen. The performance of the cathode feed cell can achieve its design target by flushing the gas bubbles that adhere to the electrodes.Item Development status of air revitalization system in JAXA closed ECLSS for future crew module(48th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2018-07-08) Sakai, Yoko; Arai, Tatsuya; Suehiro, Tomoya; Ito, Tsuyoshi; Oka, Toshiharu; Waseda, Shinpei; Shima, Asuka; Sakurai, MasatoThe Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been developing closed Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). Air revitalization system in closed ECLSS consists of five subsystems, CO2 removal assembly, Trace contaminant control assembly, CO2 reduction assembly, O2 generation assembly, and methane decomposing assembly. In this paper, development status of each subsystem exclude trace contaminant control assembly is reported. In CO2 removal system development, CO2 for almost 4 crews collected by low and narrow range of temperature swing of newly developed adsorbent. Full-scale test model of CO2 reduction system, loaded low temperature catalyst JAXA developed, has been completed. Prolonged test of electrolysis cell is in progress for examination O2 generation system architecture. Fundamental data for scale-up test of methane decomposition was conducted.Item Life Support and Environmental Monitoring International System Maturation Team Considerations(46th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2016-07-10) Anderson, Molly; Gatens, Robyn; Ikeda, Toshitami; Ito, Tsuyoshi; Witt, Johannes; Hovland, ScottHuman exploration of the solar system is an ambitious goal. Future missions to Mars or other planets will require the cooperation of many nations. Exploration concepts have been gathered by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) at a high level, representing overall goals and strategies of each participating agency. The ISECG Global Exploration Roadmap states that international partnerships are part of what drives the mission scenarios. It states “Collaborations will be established at all levels (missions, capabilities, technologies), with various levels of interdependency among the partners.” To make missions with interdependency successful, technologists and system experts need to share information early, before there are concrete plans and binding agreements. This paper provides an overview of possible ways of integrating NASA, ESA, and JAXA work into a roadmap of life support and environmental monitoring capabilities for future exploration missions. Agencies may have immediate plans, long term goals, or new ideas that are not part of official policy. But relationships between plans and capabilities may influence the strategies for the best ways to achieve partner goals. Without commitments and an organized program, requirements for future missions are unclear. Experience from ISS shows that standards and an early understanding of requirements are an important part of international partnerships. Attempting to integrate systems that were not designed together can create many problems. Several areas have been identified as important to discuss and understand: units of measure, cabin CO2 levels, and fluids like high purity oxygen, potable water and residual biocide, and crew urine and urine pretreat. Each of the partners is exploring different kinds of technologies. Depending on the system concepts, it may be important to define specific parameters, or explore possible ranges. Early coordination can create new possibilities for collaboration, and provide input to determine what combinations create the best overall system.