Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System (CDRILS): Ground Prototype Testing and Trace Contaminant Removal Integration

The Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System (CDRILS) utilizes a continuously recirculated ionic liquid sorbent and hollow fiber membrane contactors for carbon dioxide removal from air. The CDRILS ground prototype was operated under varied process conditions to optimize performance and meet a 4-crew scale carbon dioxide removal rate of 4.16 kg/day at a carbon dioxide partial pressure of 2 mm Hg. Humidity and thermal management at scale, ongoing durability trials, and tests of updated components are key demonstrations that inform refined designs of the upcoming CDRILS flight demonstration unit. In addition, CDRILS has demonstrated trace contaminant removal from simulant cabin air without impact on the CDRILS carbon dioxide removal performance. Removal of trace contaminants from cabin air reduces the contaminant load within the cabin. Benefits to other systems that interface with the cabin air are also achieved. However, trace contaminant removal by CDRILS results in contaminant delivery to the CDRILS carbon dioxide and water condensate product streams, which may in turn be delivered to a Sabatier reactor or Water Processor Assembly. The relative partitioning of the contaminants between the two streams and impacts on downstream systems are evaluated.