THE MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF A NOVEL APPROACH TO MAXIMIZE WASTE RECOVERY IN A LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM
NASA has been evaluating closed-loop atmosphere revitalization architectures that include carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction technologies. The CO2 and steam (H2O) co-electrolysis process is one of the reduction options that NASA has investigated. Utilizing recent advances in the fuel cell technology sector, the Idaho National Laboratory, INL, has developed a CO2 and H2O co-electrolysis process to produce oxygen and syngas (carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) mixture) for terrestrial (energy production) application. The technology is a combined process that involves steam electrolysis, CO2 electrolysis, and the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. Two process models were developed to evaluate novel approaches for energy storage and resource recovery in a life support system. In the first model, products from the INL co-electrolysis process are combined to produce methanol fuel. In the second co-electrolysis, products are separated with a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. In both models the fuels are burned with added oxygen to produce H2O and CO2, the original reactants. For both processes, the overall power increases as the syngas ratio, H2/CO, increases because more water is needed to produce more hydrogen at a set CO2 incoming flow rate. The power for the methanol cases is less than pressure swing adsorption, PSA, because heat is available from the methanol reactor to preheat the water and carbon dioxide entering the co-electrolysis process.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1031667
- Report Number(s):
- INL/CON-11-22193
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ADSORPTION
CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE
Closed Loop Life Support
Co-Electrolysis
ELECTROLYSIS
ENERGY STORAGE
FLOW RATE
FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN
INEEL
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
METHANOL
METHANOL FUELS
Methanol Production
NASA
OXYGEN
PRODUCTION
STEAM
WASTES
WATER
WATER GAS