Catalytic Tar Reduction for Assistance in Thermal Conversion of Space Waste for Energy Production
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The Trash to Gas (TtG) project investigated technologies for converting waste generated during spaceflight into various resources. One of these technologies was gasification, which employed a downdraft reactor designed and manufactured at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for the conversion of simulated space trash to carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide would then be converted to methane for propulsion and water for life support systems. A minor byproduct of gasification includes large hydrocarbons, also known as tars. Tars are unwanted byproducts that add contamination to the product stream, clog the reactor and cause complications in analysis instrumentation. The objective of this research was to perform reduction studies of a mock tar using select catalysts and choose the most effective for primary treatment within the KSC downdraft gasification reactor. Because the KSC reactor is operated at temperatures below typical gasification reactors, this study evaluated catalyst performance below recommended catalytic operating temperatures. The tar reduction experimentation was observed by passing a model tar vapor stream over the catalysts at similar conditions to that of the KSC reactor. Reduction in tar was determined using gas chromatography. Tar reduction efficiency and catalyst performances were evaluated at different temperatures.
Description
Anne J. Caraccio, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
Robert W. Devor, Ph.D, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
Paul E. Hintze, Ph.D., NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
Anthony C. Muscatello, Ph.D., NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
Mononita Nur, NASA Kennedy Space Cetner, USA
The 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Tuscon, Arizona, USA on 13 July 2014 through 17 July 2014.