Browsing by Author "Schunk, Richard"
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Item Four Bed Molecular Sieve – Exploration (4BMS-X) Virtual Heater Design and Optimization(47th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2017-07-16) Schunk, Richard; Peters, Warren; Thomas, JohnA 4BMS-X (Four Bed Molecular Sieve – Exploration) design and heater optimization study for CO2 sorbent beds in proposed exploration system architectures is presented. The primary objectives of the study are to reduce heater power and thermal gradients within the CO2 sorbent beds while minimizing channeling effects. Some of the notable changes from the ISS (International Space Station) CDRA (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly) to the proposed exploration system architecture include cylindrical beds, alternate sorbents and an improved heater core. Results from both 2D and 3D sorbent bed thermal models with integrated heaters are presented. The 2D sorbent bed models are used to optimize heater power and fin geometry while the 3D models address end effects in the beds for more realistic thermal gradient and heater power predictions.Item Updating the Air-Cooled Temperature Swing Adsorption Compression (AC-TSAC) System(2024 International Conference on Environmnetal Systems, 2024-07-21) Wells, Jonathan; Schunk, Richard; Babiak, Stephanie; Belancik, GraceClosing the ECLSS loop and recycling more carbon dioxide (CO2) will allow for longer duration human space missions like Mars transit; however, CO2 that has been removed from the air must be pressurized and stored before being recovering the oxygen. The Air-Cooled Temperature Swing Adsorption Compression system (AC-TSAC) is an alternative CO2 compression, storage, and regulation system that interfaces between CO2 removal and conversion systems with improved performance and lower size, weight, and power compared to the mechanical compressor and tanks in use now. AC-TSAC has been previously integrated and tested with the ground version of successful flight CO2 removal systems like Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) and Four bed CO2 scrubber (4BCO2). In this work, efforts to redesign the AC-TSAC system to meet the demands of current CO2 removal systems are reported. AC-TSAC operation was adjusted to match shorter cycle times of CO2 removal systems being demonstrated on the International Space Station: 4BCO2 (80 min) and thermal amine scrubber (TAS; 60 min), as previous AC-TSAC hardware was designed to match CDRA (144 min). The old commercially unavailable sorbent was changed out to a newer readily available sorbent (Grace 544 13X; same as in 4BCO2) and power use was studied in simplified experiments. Additionally, thermal modeling was done to optimize the bed design by iterating several bed design factors including fin length and thickness. With these updates, AC-TSAC should be able to better integrate and see improved performance with current CO2 removal systems.Item Upgrades to the ISS Water Recovery System(46th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2016-07-10) Kayatin, Matthew; Carter, Donald; Pruitt, Jennifer; Schunk, RichardThe International Space Station Water Recovery System (WRS) is comprised of the Water Processor Assembly (WPA) and the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA). The WRS produces potable water from a combination of crew urine (first processed through the UPA), crew latent, and Sabatier product water. Though the WRS has performed well since operations began in November 2008, several modifications have been identified to improve the overall system performance. These modifications can reduce resupply and improve overall system reliability, which is beneficial for the ongoing ISS mission as well as for future NASA manned missions. The following paper details efforts to reduce the resupply mass of the WPA Multifiltration Bed, develop improved catalyst for the WPA Catalytic Reactor, evaluate optimum operation of UPA through parametric testing, and improve reliability of the UPA fluids pump and Distillation Assembly.