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At least 523 records · Page 29

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NASA NTRS2017

Virtual Design of a 4-Bed Molecular Sieve for Exploration

Simulations of six new 4-Bed Molecular Sieve configurations have been performed using a COMSOL (COMSOL Multiphysics - commercial software) model. The preliminary results show that reductions in desiccant bed size and sorbent bed size when compared to the International Space Station configuration are feasible while still yielding a process that handles at least 4.0 kilograms a day CO2. The results also show that changes to the CO2 sorbent are likewise feasible. Decreasing the bed sizes was found to have very little negative effect on the adsorption process; breakthrough of CO2 in the sorbent bed was observed for two of the configurations, but a small degree of CO2 breakthrough is acceptable, and water breakthrough in the desiccant beds was not observed. Both configurations for which CO2 breakthrough was observed still yield relatively high CO2 efficiency, and future investigations will focus on bed size in order to find the optimum configuration.

Giesy, Timothy J.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Virtual Design of a 4-Bed Molecular Sieve for Exploration

Simulations of six new 4-Bed Molecular Sieve configurations have been performed using a COMSOL model. The preliminary results show that reductions in desiccant bed size and sorbent bed size when compared to the International Space Station configuration are feasible while still yielding a process that handles at least 4.0 kg/day CO2. The results also show that changes to the CO2 sorbent are likewise feasible. Decreasing the bed sizes was found to have very little negative effect on the adsorption process; breakthrough of CO2 in the sorbent bed was observed for two of the configurations, but water breakthrough in the desiccant beds was not observed. Nevertheless, both configurations for which CO2 breakthrough was observed still yield relatively high CO2 efficiency, and future investigations will focus on bed size in order to find the optimum configuration.

Giesy, Timothy J.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Efficacy of FTIR Analysis in Determining CO2 Loading on Diglycolamine

In support of advanced air revitalization technologies to enable human spaceflight beyond low earth orbit, performance studies have been conducted using a liquid amine, Diglycolamine (DGA) between teams at NASA's Johnson Spaceflight Center (JSC) and Ames Research Center (ARC). Liquid amines have been used in regenerable earth-based systems to remove CO2 from industrial systems as well as for closed-environment air revitalization because they can be regenerated at lower temperatures than solid sorbent systems. As an additional advantage to solid sorbent-based systems, liquid sorbents can be cycled between an adsorbing contactor and degassing chamber, thereby reducing system complexity by operation in a continuous loop. In an effort to inform a regeneration system design for micro-gravity applications, ARC has performed a number of tests to characterize the degas mechanics of DGA. In order to accurately measure the amount of CO2 captured or released by the amine, methods such as gravimetric weighing and chemical desorption are reasonable, however the first iteration test setup for a scaled down degas system required analysis on small sample sizes. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was experimentally evaluated to analyze CO2 concentration because it can produce measurements with sample sizes on the order of 100's of μL. Calibration against chemical desorption showed relatively good correlation and test data showed reasonable adherence to expected trends, however more extensive testing should be conducted to fully validate the usage of FTIR to determine CO2 loading on DGA.

Diglycolamine↗

NASA NTRS2018

Removal of Carbon Dioxide from Gas Mixtures Using Ion-Exchanged Silicoaluminophosphates

Na.sup.+-SAPO-34 sorbents were ion-exchanged with several individual metal cations for CO.sub.2 absorption at different temperatures (273-348 K) and pressures (<1 atm). In general, the overall adsorption performance of the exchanged materials increased as follows: Ce.sup.3+<Ti.sup.3+<Mg.sup.2+<Ca.sup.2+<Ag.sup.+<Na.sup.+&- lt;Sr.sup.2+. The strontium exchanged materials excelled at low-pressure ranges, exhibiting very sharp isotherms slopes at all temperatures. The Sr.sup.2+ species were responsible for the surface strong interaction and the cations were occupying exposed sites (SII') in the materials Chabazite cages. All the sorbent materials exhibited higher affinity for CO.sub.2 over the other gases tested (i.e., CH.sub.4, H.sub.2, N.sub.2 and O.sub.2) due to strong ion-quadrupole interactions. Sr.sup.2+-SAPO-34 sorbents are by far the best option for CO.sub.2 removal from CH.sub.4 mixtures, especially at low concentrations.

Hernandez-Maldonado, Arturo J↗

NASA NTRS2019

Experimental Configuration and Preliminary Results of Testing a Rapid Cycle Adsorption Pump for Martian CO2 Acquisition

Temperature-swing adsorption pumps have been proposed as a method of acquiring and compressing Martian atmospheric CO2 for downstream processing. Most industrial applications and previous research targeted at space in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) utilize long (~hours) temperature swing periods, typically limited by the ability to transfer heat from a naturally insulating sorbent bed. A rapid cycle adsorption pump (RCAP) would reduce these periods to minutes, in the hope of increasing overall throughput. This paper details the design and preliminary experimental results from testing an RCAP in a simulated Martian environment. The test configuration features a central, liquid-cooled and heated heat transfer plate surrounded by symmetrical rectangular sorbent beds. Various bed thicknesses and commercially available Zeolite 13X sorbent particle sizes are evaluated to both determine performance and provide data for a parallel modeling effort. Discussions of multi-stage configurations and methods of boosting bed conductivity are included.

Berg, Jared↗

NASA NTRS2019

Experimental Design and Preliminary Analysis of a Mars CO2 Rapid Cycle Adsorption Pump

Rapid Cycle Adsorption↗

NASA NTRS2018

Efficacy of FTIR Analysis in Determining CO2 Loading on Diglycolamine

In support of advanced air revitalization technologies to enable human spaceflight beyond low earth orbit, performance studies have been conducted using a liquid amine, Diglycolamine (DGA) between teams at NASA?s Johnson Spaceflight Center (JSC) and Ames Research Center (ARC). Liquid amines have been used in regenerable earth-based systems to remove CO2 from industrial systems as well as for closed-environment air revitalization because they can be regenerated at lower temperatures than solid sorbent systems. As an additional advantage to solid sorbent based systems, liquid sorbents can be cycled between an adsorbing contactor and degassing chamber, thereby reducing system complexity by operation in a continuous loop. In an effort to inform a regeneration system design for micro-gravity applications, ARC has performed a number of tests to characterize the degas mechanics of DGA. In order to accurately measure the amount of CO2 captured or released by the amine, methods such as gravimetric weighing and chemical decomposition are reasonable, however the initial design for a scaled down degas system required analysis on small sample sizes. In order to accomplish CO2 loading measurements with a sample size of approximately 500ÂµL, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used. Calibration against acid decomposition showed relatively good correlation and test data showed reasonable adherence to expected trends, however more extensive testing should be conducted to fully validate the usage of FTIR to determine CO2 loading on DGA.

Diglycolamine↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Novel Aprotic Heterocyclic Anion-based Ionic Liquids for Carbon Dioxide Capture

Ionic liquids (ILs), or organic salts with melting points at or below room temperature are an incredibly versatile class of materials with many possible applications for NASA’s exploration needs. In particular, appropriately designed ILs can have a high affinity for absorbing carbon dioxide, making them excellent candidates for use as liquid sorbents in cabin air revitalization systems. Unfortunately, many of these ILs have high viscosity, which is only exacerbated by carbon dioxide uptake. High viscosity limits the rate of carbon dioxide uptake. A new class of IL sorbent containing aprotic heterocyclic anions (AHA) has been shown to offer excellent carbon dioxide uptake without a corresponding increase in viscosity. However, there is a paucity of sorption data for these AHA ILs at low partial pressures of carbon dioxide. This paper reports on the characterization of sorption behavior for AHA ILs previously reported in the literature at low concentrations of carbon dioxide and the synthesis and characterization of new, water miscible AHA ILs. Characterization of the new ILs includes measurement of density, viscosity, thermal stability, carbon dioxide capacity, carbon dioxide absorption kinetics, and water-IL vapor liquid equilibrium. Overall, these news ILs are promising alternatives to many of the commonly used IL sorbents.

Eric Townsend Fox↗

NASA NTRS2021

Analytical Methods and Testbeds for Characterizing Adsorbents and Catalysts for Atmosphere Revitalization of Crewed Spacecraft

Spacecraft environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) include a number of air revitalization (AR) technologies to provide breathable air and a comfortable living environment to the crew. Crew health and comfort is ensured by controlling human produced CO2 (1 kg person-1 day-1) and water vapor (~2 kg person-1 day-1), and by removing trace contaminants (TCs) from cabin air. These life support functions on-board the International Space Station (ISS) are carried out by the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA), the Water Processor Assembly (WPA), and the trace contaminant control system (TCCS). During the development of the TCCS, new analytical and theoretical methods were developed in the 1970s for characterizing adsorption and desorption characteristics of activated carbons for the purpose of designing suitable AR technologies required for controlling airborne trace contaminants within spacecraft cabins during long exploration missions. The TCCS removes harmful volatile organic compounds and other trace contaminants from the circulating air. It consists of a granular activated carbon (GAC) bed for the removal of high molecular weight contaminants and ammonia followed by a heated catalytic bed for low molecular weight hydrocarbons. The high temperature catalytic oxidizer (HTCO) of the TCCS, which operates at 400°C and requires 120W average power, removes low molecular weight compounds such as carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (CH2O), and methane (CH4), that pass through the GAC bed. The Air Revitalization Laboratory at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was established to develop new analytical methods for evaluating emerging ECLSS technologies for use in future AR architectures. General properties of adsorbents and catalysts are required for trace contaminant control system design calculations and vendor-supplied data are seldom available at relevant process conditions of interest to spacecraft cabin applications. To address this shortcoming, appropriate testbeds were developed to measure the desired properties of AR technologies being considered for use in ECLS architectures. Generally, the testbeds developed at KSC challenge the test media (activated carbon, impregnated activated carbon, catalysts, zeolites, solid amines, or pleated filters) with simulated spacecraft gas streams containing representative mixtures of trace contaminants (volatile organic compounds, ammonia, CO, CO2, or siloxanes) at the flow rates, temperatures, and relative humidity that will be encountered within manned spacecraft. Work performed at KSC funded by NASA’s Advanced Exploration (AES) Program has included: Identifying candidate sorbents to replace commercially obsolete impregnated carbons for NH3 control within the TCCS, characterizing their adsorptive capacities using simulated spacecraft gas streams, and ranking their appropriateness in various AR applications; evaluating novel low temperature catalysts for controlling CO and formaldehyde by traditional and photocatalytic methods for trace contaminant control; development of analytical methods to assess regenerable solid amine performance for CO2 control via pressure swing adsorption. The Air Revitalization lab was also funded to study trace contaminant control by other NASA programs. These include: screening of candidate sorbents for the design of new Charcoal HEPA Integrated Particle Scrubber (CHIPS) filters for removing siloxanes from cabin air; characterizing the performance of an impregnated activated carbon at low humidity for use in ORION ECLS; screening of sorbents for protecting the Sabatier 2.0 catalyst from DMSO2, siloxanes, NH3, and solid amine byproducts.

Monje, Oscar↗

NASA NTRS2022

Sub-Scale Adsorption and Compression CO2 Removal System Re-Design

This system is a re-design of NASA’s previously developed Thermally Coupled Temperature Swing Adsorption and Compression (TC-TSAC) systems, providing an air revitalization alternative to assist in the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration objectives. The system consists of two half-cycles whereby packed beds of regenerable bulk sorbents and heat cycles simultaneously adsorb and compress carbon dioxide. The team designed the adsorption and compression beds in a cylindrical shape to maximize airflow. A desiccant bed helps lower humidity and the sorbent Zeolite 13X is used to capture carbon dioxide. Both are monitored by sensors. There is a custom heater within the system that lies in the adsorption bed to regenerate the sorbent, and there is a cooler around the compression bed. The system produced for NASA modeling, experimental test results, and operational results to be able to be scaled up to 4kg CO2 removal per day. The system was found to be 1/16 scale for 1kg of CO2 removal per day. The adsorption and desorption processes were successful, however issues with making the compression bed airtight resulted in an inability to demonstrate full compression. The team provided design suggestions and alternative solutions given these results. This paper describes the final design, fabrication, assembly, and testing of the TC-TSAC re-design.

Joaquin Pesqueira↗

NASA NTRS2024

The CapiSorb Visible System (CVS) Demonstrations on ISS

Falling liquid film amine sorbent reactors have been successfully employed to scrub CO 2 aboard submarines for decades. However, applying such proven methods aboard orbiting and coast spacecraft is significantly challenged by the nearly weightless environment, where liquid sprays and films do not fall, and vapor bubbles and gases do not rise. The Capillary Sorbent (CapiSorb) Visible System (CVS) is a technology demonstration experiment performed aboard the ISS April 18 – 21, 2023. The system establishes stable steady thin liquid film flows in Contactor (absorber) and Degasser (desorber/stripper) replacing the passive role of gravity with the combined passive roles of surface tension, wetting, and system geometry. A TOX-0 fructose ersatz liquid sorbent is employed enabling ‘transparent’ experiments performed and filmed by the crew safely in the open cabin of the ISS. Completed objectives include demonstrations of stable passive ‘massively’ parallel planar thin film capillary flows across atmospheric pressure Contactor and sealed heated Degasser. The impacts of varying flow rate, flow direction, heat input, viscosity, positive and negative Degasser pressures, condensate collection and return, fluid distribution, interfacial stability, and others are reported. At least 49 diagnostics are recorded for digitization and subsequent thermal-fluids model validation by a single HD video downlink during the nearly 22 hours of operations. An overview of the flight hardware including description of the components, diagnostics, crew procedures, flight operations, and summary of accomplishments is reported in Ref. 1. Further details of the diagnostics, tests performed, and data reduction is reported in Ref. 2. This report collects both1,2 into a single report adding methods of data digitization, reduction, and archive along with analyses and discussions of technology impacts.

microgravity↗

DOE OSTI2020

Regenerable non-aqueous basic immobilized amine slurries for removal of CO2 from a gaseous mixture and a method of use thereof

The disclosure provides a composition for the separation of CO2 from a gaseous mixture and a method of use thereof. The composition comprises solid Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbents (BIAS) suspended in silicone oil. The method of use comprises contacting the gaseous mixture with a sorbent slurry comprising Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbents (BIAS) and silicone oil to at least partially absorb the CO2 from the gaseous mixture, and regenerating the BIAS slurry by causing desorption of the CO2.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Simulated moving bed system for CO2 separation, and method of same

A system and method for separating and/or purification of CO2 gas from a CO2 feed stream is described. The system and method include a plurality of fixed sorbent beds, adsorption zones and desorption zones, where the sorbent beds are connected via valve and lines to create a simulated moving bed system, where the sorbent beds move from one adsorption position to another adsorption position, and then into one regeneration position to another regeneration position, and optionally back to an adsorption position. The system and method operate by concentration swing adsorption/desorption and by adsorptive/desorptive displacement.

Elliott, Jeannine Elizabeth↗

DOE OSTI2020

Crystalline Aluminosilicates for Radionuclide Remediation

Crystalline aluminosilicates have a wide range of applications such as media for the capture and/or immobilization of radionuclides. Several different types of metal-exchanged zeolites have been successfully demonstrated as effective sorbents for gaseous, aqueous, or solid-state capture and immobilization of radionuclides including iodine [e.g., I2(g), CH3I(g)], xenon, krypton, radium (e.g., 226Ra and 228Ra), selenium (e.g., 79Se6+), technetium (e.g., 99TcO4-), strontium (e.g., 90Sr2+), cesium (e.g., 135Cs+, 137Cs+), mixed alkali halide streams (i.e., iodide and chloride salts), and actinides (e.g., U6+, Th4+). These zeolites include sodalite (SOD), mordenite (MOR or Z-type), faujasite (FAU), Linde type-A (LTA), cancrinite (CAN), gismondine (GIS), and heulandite (or clinoptilolite) (HEU). The structural building blocks of these seven materials vary from cages (e.g., a-cages, ß-cages, e-cages) to channels linking various cage types and these are mostly comprised of aluminosilicates. This chapter will delve into the crystallographic differences between these framework materials and provide a brief overview of literature data where these seven crystalline aluminosilicates have been utilized for the capture and/or immobilization of radionuclides. Metal-exchanged zeolites (e.g., MOR, FAU, LTA) have often been the source of study for gaseous capture of iodine where the more promising compositions include Ag-exchanged sorbents; these types of materials can be made in a variety of robust forms including berl saddles and extrudates. Sodalite can be used as an immobilization strategy for halide waste streams (e.g., Cl, I), including those from electrochemical reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, as well as TcO4–. Cancrinite has been demonstrated to enhance sorption capacity of sediments for several problematic ionic radionuclides including Cs+, SeO42–, and TcO4–. Actinides such as U6+ and Th4+ have been successfully captured from solutions using MOR, FAU, LTA, and HEU-type aluminosilicates. Finally, mixtures of aluminosilicates have been included in a set of zeolite materials that show promise as sorbents for 226Ra and 228Ra removal from mine waters.

zeolites, aluminosilicates, radionuclide remediati↗

DOE OSTI2022

Lithium extraction composite for recovery of lithium from brines, and process of using said composition

A lithium extraction composite comprising: (i) a porous support and (ii) particles of a lithium-selective sorbent material coated on at least one surface of the support, wherein the support has a planar membrane, fiber (or rod), or tubular shape. A method for extracting and recovering a lithium salt from an aqueous solution by use of the above-described composition is also described, the method comprising (a) flowing the aqueous source solution through a first zone or over a first surface of the lithium extraction composite to result in selective lithium intercalation in the lithium-selective sorbent material in the first zone or first surface; and (b) simultaneously recovering lithium salt extracted in step (a) from said lithium-selective sorbent material by flowing an aqueous stripping solution through a second zone or over a second surface of the lithium extraction composite in which lithium ions from the first zone or first surface diffuse.

Bhave, Ramesh R.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Process of producing ethylene

A process of producing ethylene involving steam cracking ethane to produce a steam cracker product stream containing ethylene; cooling and drying the steam cracker product stream; contacting the cooled and dried steam cracker product stream with a MOF sorbent capable of adsorbing ethylene from the product stream, and desorbing the ethylene from the MOF sorbent using an ethylene sweep gas. The process replaces complex and energy intensive fractionation steps of the prior art with a selective adsorption step for separating ethylene from the steam cracker product stream. An energy efficient ethylene sorbent regeneration method and related apparatus systems are also disclosed.

Weissman, Jeffrey G.↗

DOE OSTI2022

High temperature thermochemical energy storage system

A thermochemical energy storage system and method of storing thermal energy are described. The energy storing system described herein comprises a reactor comprising: a) a reactor with a CO 2 sorbent including MgO; and b) a supercritical CO 2 source with supercritical CO 2 and H 2 O, wherein the supercritical CO 2 source is in fluid communication with the reactor and the CO 2 sorbent including MgO to allow flow of the supercritical CO 2 and H 2 O between the supercritical CO 2 source and the reactor, thereby allowing contact of CO 2 with the CO 2 sorbent comprising MgO.

Muto, Andrew Jerome↗

DOE OSTI2023

Surface acoustic wave sensor for refrigerant leakage detection

A SAW sensor is optimized for detection of refrigerant leakage in a refrigerant system or other gases, vapors, explosives or chemicals of interest. The SAW sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate; an interdigitated transducer deposited on the piezoelectric substrate, the interdigitated transducer having an input portion that receives input surface acoustic waves and an output portion that emits output surface acoustic waves; and a refrigerant sensor film located between the input portion and the output portion of the interdigitated transducer, the refrigerant sensor film including a sorbent material that is selected for preferential adsorption of a target refrigerant over atmospheric gases. Adsorption of the target refrigerant by the sorbent material results in a frequency shift of a frequency of the output surface acoustic waves relative to a frequency of the input surface acoustic waves. The sorbent material may be a metal organic framework (MOF) material, a covalent organic framework (COF) material, a porous organic cage or organic macrocyles such as calix [n] arene and its related derivatives.

Kunapuli, Raghuit Prasad↗