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At least 91 records · Page 5

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2013

Regenerable Sorbent for CO2 Removal

A durable, high-capacity regenerable sorbent can remove CO2 from the breathing loop under a Martian atmosphere. The system design allows near-ambient temperature operation, needs only a small temperature swing, and sorbent regeneration takes place at or above 8 torr, eliminating the potential for Martian atmosphere to leak into the regeneration bed and into the breathing loop. The physical adsorbent can be used in a metabolic, heat-driven TSA system to remove CO2 from the breathing loop of the astronaut and reject it to the Martian atmosphere. Two (or more) alternating sorbent beds continuously scrub and reject CO2 from the spacesuit ventilation loop. The sorbent beds are cycled, alternately absorbing CO2 from the vent loop and rejecting the adsorbed material into the environment at a high CO2 partial pressure (above 8 torr). The system does not need to run the adsorber at cryogenic temperatures, and uses a much smaller temperature swing. The sorbent removes CO2 via a weak chemical interaction. The interaction is strong enough to enable CO2 adsorption even at 3 to 7.6 torr. However, because the interaction between the surface adsorption sites and the CO2 is relatively weak, the heat input needed to regenerate the sorbent is much lower than that for chemical absorbents. The sorbent developed in this project could potentially find use in a large commercial market in the removal of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, if regulations are put in place to curb carbon emissions from power plants.

Alptekin, Gokhan↗

DOE OSTI2023

Hydrogen Storage with Aluminum Formate, ALF: Experimental, Computational, and Technoeconomic Studies

Long-duration storage of hydrogen is necessary for coupling renewable H 2 with stationary fuel cell power applications. In this work, aluminum formate (ALF), which adopts the ReO 3 -type structure, is shown to have remarkable H 2 storage performance at non-cryogenic (>120 K) temperatures and low pressures. The most promising performance of ALF is found between 120 K and 160 K and at 10 bar to 20 bar. The study illustrates H 2 adsorption performance of ALF over the 77 K to 296 K temperature range using gas isotherms, in situ neutron powder diffraction, and DFT calculations, as well as technoeconomic analysis (TEA), illustrating ALF’s competitive performance for long-duration storage versus compressed hydrogen and leading metal–organic frameworks. In the TEA, it is shown that ALF’s storage capacity, when combined with a temperature/pressure swing process, has advantages versus compressed H 2 at a fraction of the pressure (15 bar versus 350 bar). In conclusion, given ALF’s performance in the 10 bar to 20 bar regime under moderate cooling, it is particularly promising for use in safe storage systems serving fuel cells.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2025

Hydrogen Storage with Aluminum Formate, ALF: Experimental, Computational, and Technoeconomic Studies

Long-duration storage of hydrogen is necessary for coupling renewable H2 with stationary fuel cell power applications. In this presentation, I will discuss how aluminum formate, Al(HCOO)3 (ALF), which adopts an ReO3-type structure, is shown to have remarkable H2 storage performance at non-cryogenic (> 120 K) temperatures and low pressures. The most promising performance of ALF is found between 120 K and 160 K and at 10 bar to 20 bar. The talk will cover and illustrate the H2 adsorption performance of ALF over the 77 K to 296 K temperature range using gas isotherms, in situ neutron powder diffraction, and DFT calculations, as well as technoeconomic analysis (TEA), illustrating ALF’s competitive performance for long-duration storage versus compressed hydrogen and leading metal–organic frameworks. In the TEA, it is shown that ALF’s storage capacity, when combined with a temperature/pressure swing process, has advantages versus compressed H2 at a fraction of the pressure (15 bar versus 350 bar). Given ALF’s performance in the 10 bar to 20 bar regime under moderate cooling, it is particularly promising for use in safe storage systems serving fuel cells, and is currently the only MOF that works in this moderate temperature range/ low pressure regime to be cost competitive with compressed H2 gas for large scale H2 storage.[1]

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2025

Equilibrium Separation of Siloxanes in Metal–Organic Frameworks

We present an in silico assessment of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for the equilibrium separation of linear and cyclic siloxanes. Using a combination of configurational bias/continuous fractional component Monte Carlo (CB/CFCMC) simulations and Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST), we investigated the adsorption of both equimolar and nonequimolar mixtures of linear and cyclic siloxanes in a selection of synthesizable MOFs with medium to large pore volumes. We showed that configurational entropy effects drive the preferential adsorption of linear siloxanes over cyclic siloxanes. Based on synthesizability metrics we identified ZIF-70 as a promising adsorbent for the separation of linear and cyclic siloxanes. Self-diffusivities of linear and cyclic siloxanes in ZIF-70 calculated from molecular dynamics simulations show that equilibrium can be reached on reasonable time scales. We explored vacuum-temperature swing adsorption (VTSA) as a potential method for the recovery of adsorbed linear siloxanes from ZIF-70, achieving a 75% reduction in adsorbed phase concentration. Additionally, we demonstrated that supercritical CO 2 offers an alternative desorption strategy by displacing adsorbed linear siloxanes in ZIF-70 at pressures above 200 bar driven by entropy effects.

Adsorption↗

DOE OSTI2024

High-Temperature Water Adsorption Isotherms and Ambient Temperature Water Diffusion Rates on Water Harvesting Metal–Organic Frameworks

Water adsorption isotherms from 25 to 125 °C were measured for three metal−organic frameworks (MOFs), MOF-303, MOF-LA2-1, and MIL-100(Fe), which are frequently studied for water harvesting applications. The results show how the step in the water adsorption isotherm varies as a function of temperature and detail the combination of pressure and temperature necessary to remove adsorbed water. Furthermore, isobaric−isothermal Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations performed for MOF-303 shed light on the change in occupation numbers of the different known water adsorption sites with increasing temperature. Additionally, the diffusion rates of water through these materials were measured using concentration swing frequency response, and micropore diffusion was identified as the controlling mechanism. The Darken relation was used to show the dependence of the diffusion rate on the concentration and the impact of the adsorption isotherm slope. The adsorption of water on MOF-LA2-1 is faster than that on MIL-100(Fe). These data show that MOF-LA2-1 with its high-water adsorption capacity, quick adsorption rate, and favorable desorption energetics is a leading candidate for atmospheric water harvesting.

Adsorption↗

NASA NTRS2009

PLSS Scale Demonstration of MTSA Temperature Swing Adsorption Bed Concept for CO2 Removal/Rejection

Metabolic heat regenerated temperature swing adsorption (MTSA) incorporated into a portable life support system (PLSS) is being explored as a viable means of removing and rejecting carbon dioxide (CO2) from an astronaut s ventilation loop. Sorbent pellets used in previous work are inherently difficult to quickly heat and cool. Further, their use in packed beds create large undesirable pressure drop. Thus work has been done to assess the application and performance of aluminum foam wash coated with a layer of sorbent. A to-scale sorbent bed, as envisioned studying use by a Martian PLSS, was designed, built, and tested. Performance of the assembly in regards to CO2 adsorption and pressure drop were assessed and the results are presented.

Iacomini, Christine S.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Computational Identification and Experimental Demonstration of High‐Performance Methane Sorbents

Abstract Remarkable methane uptake is demonstrated experimentally in three metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) identified by computational screening: UTSA‐76, UMCM‐152 and DUT‐23‐Cu. These MOFs outperform the benchmark sorbent, HKUST‐1, both volumetrically and gravimetrically, under a pressure swing of 80 to 5 bar at 298 K. Although high uptake at elevated pressure is critical for achieving this performance, a low density of high‐affinity sites (coordinatively unsaturated metal centers) also contributes to a more complete release of stored gas at low pressure. The identification of these MOFs facilitates the efficient storage of natural gas via adsorption and provides further evidence of the utility of computational screening in identifying overlooked sorbents.

Nath, Karabi↗

DOE OSTI2022

Computational Identification and Experimental Demonstration of High‐Performance Methane Sorbents

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS2011

Performance Characterization and Simulation of Amine-Based Vacuum Swing Adsorption Units for Spacesuit Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control

Controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) concentrations in the vapor phase of a space suit is critical to ensuring an astronauts safety, comfortability, and capability to perform extra-vehicular activity (EVA) tasks. Historically, this has been accomplished using lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and metal oxides (MetOx). Lithium hydroxide is a consumable material and requires priming with water before it becomes effective at removing carbon dioxide. MetOx is regenerable through a power-intensive thermal cycle but is significantly heavier on a volume basis than LiOH. As an alternative, amine-based vacuum swing beds are under aggressive development for EVA applications which control atmospheric concentrations of both CO2 and H2O through a fully-regenerative process. The current concept, referred to as the rapid cycle amine (RCA), has resulted in numerous laboratory prototypes. Performance of these prototypes have been assessed and documented from experimental and theoretical perspectives. To support developmental efforts, a first principles model has also been established for the vacuum swing adsorption technology. The efforts documented herein summarize performance characterization and simulation results for several variable metabolic profiles subjected to the RCA. Furthermore, a variety of control methods are explored including timed swing cycles, instantaneous CO2 feedback control, and time-averaged CO2 feedback control. A variety of off-nominal tests are also explored including high/low suit temperatures, increasingly high humidity cases, and dynamic pressure cases simulating the suit pre-breathe protocol. Consequently, this work builds on efforts previous efforts to fully bound the performance of the rapid cycle amine under a variety of nominal and off-nominal conditions.

Swickrath, Michael J.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Simulated Lunar Testing of Metabolic Heat Regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption Technology

Metabolic heat regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) technology is being developed for thermal and carbon dioxide (CO2) control for a Portable Life Support System (PLSS), as well as water recycling. An Engineering Development Unit (EDU) of the MTSA subassembly was designed and assembled for optimized Martian operations, but also meets system requirements for lunar operations. For lunar operations the MTSA sorption cycle is driven via a vacuum swing between suit ventilation loop pressure and lunar vacuum. The focus of this effort is operations and testing in a simulated lunar environment. This environment was simulated in Paragon s EHF vacuum chamber. The objective of this testing was to evaluate the full cycle performance of the MTSA Subassembly EDU, and to assess CO2 loading and pressure drop of the wash coated aluminum reticulated foam sorbent bed. The lunar testing proved out the feasibility of pure vacuum swing operation, making MTSA a technology that can be tested and used on the Moon prior to going to Mars. Testing demonstrated better than expected CO2 loading on the sorbent and nearly replicates the equilibrium data from the sorbent manufacturer. This had not been achieved in any of the previous sorbent loading tests performed by Paragon. Subsequently, the increased performance of the sorbent bed design indicates future designs will require less mass and volume than the current EDU rendering MTSA as very competitive for Martian PLSS applications.

Padilla, Sebastian A.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Simulated Lunar Testing of Metabolic Heat Regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption

Metabolic heat regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) technology is being developed for thermal and carbon dioxide (CO2) control for a Portable Life Support System (PLSS), as well as water recycling. An Engineering Development Unit (EDU) of the MTSA Subassembly (MTSAS) was designed and assembled for optimized Martian operations, but also meets system requirements for lunar operations. For lunar operations the MTSA sorption cycle is driven via a vacuum swing between suit ventilation loop pressure and lunar vacuum. The focus of this effort was testing in a simulated lunar environment. This environment was simulated in Paragon's EHF vacuum chamber. The objective of the testing was to evaluate the full cycle performance of the MTSA Subassembly EDU, and to assess CO2 loading and pressure drop of the wash coated aluminum reticulated foam sorbent bed. Lunar environment testing proved out the feasibility of pure vacuum swing operation, making MTSA a technology that can be tested and used on the Moon prior to going to Mars. Testing demonstrated better than expected CO2 Nomenclature loading on the sorbent and nearly replicates the equilibrium data from the sorbent manufacturer. This exceeded any of the previous sorbent loading tests performed by Paragon. Subsequently, the increased performance of the sorbent bed design indicates future designs will require less mass and volume than the current EDU rendering MTSA as very competitive for Martian PLSS applications.

Padilla, Sebastian A.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Monolithic Trace-Contaminant Sorbents Fabricated from 3D-Printed Polymer Precursors

The current trace-contaminant (TC) removal technology for use in Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) involves the use of a packed bed of acid-impregnated granular charcoal, which is difficult to regenerate. In this paper, results are presented on the development of vacuum-regenerable TC sorbents for use in the Portable Life Support System (PLSS). The sorbents are derived from 3D-printed polymer monoliths (e.g., honeycomb structures), which are then carbonized and activated in order to develop porosity, and also to enhance the TC-sorption capacity. Results are presented on the following aspects of carbon-sorbent development: (1) precursor selection; (2) monolith fabrication; (3) shape retention and strength; (4) carbon surface and porosity characterization; (5) TC-sorption capacity and vacuum-regeneration; (6) pressure drop; and (7) sub-scale sorbent prototype. The use of predominantly microporous monolithic carbon is associated with the following benefits: (a) high TC-sorption capacity; (b) low pressure drop; (c) rapid vacuum (pressure-swing) desorption due to thin monolith walls and low pressure drop; (d) good thermal management (high thermal conductivity and low adsorption/desorption thermal effects associated with physisorption); and (e) good resistance to dusty environments.

Portable Life Support System (PLSS)↗

NASA NTRS2009

System Modeling of Metabolic Heat Regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) Subassembly for Prototype Design

This paper describes modeling methods for the three core components of a Metabolic heat regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) subassembly: the sorbent bed, a sublimation (cooling) heat exchanger (SHX), and a condensing icing (warming) heat exchanger (CIHX). The primary function of the MTSA, removing carbon dioxide from a ventilation loop, is performed via the sorbent bed. The CIHX is used to heat the sorbent bed for desorption and to remove moisture from the ventilation loop while the SHX is alternately employed to cool the sorbent bed via sublimation of a spray of water at low pressure to prepare the reconditioned bed for the next cycle. This paper describes a system level model of the MTSA as developed in Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT including assumptions on geometry and physical phenomena, modeling methodology and relevant pa ra mete rizatio ns. Several areas of particular modeling interest are discussed. In the sorbent bed, capture of the translating CO2 saturation front and associated local energy and mass balance in both adsorbing and desorbing modes is covered. The CIHX poses particular challenges for modeling in SINDA/FLUINT as accounting for solids states in fluid submodels are not a native capability. Methods for capturing phase change and latent heat of ice as well as the transport properties across a layer of low density accreted frost are developed. This extended modeling capacity is applicable to temperatures greater than 258 K. To extend applicability to the minimum device temperature of 235 K, a method for a mapped transformation of temperatures from below the limit temperatures to some value above is given along with descriptions for associated material property transformations and the resulting impacts to total heat and mass transfer. Similar considerations are shown for the SHX along with assumptions for flow mechanics and resulting model methods for sublimation in a flow.

Bower, Chad↗

NASA NTRS2018

Low-Power, Chip-Scale, Carbon Dioxide Gas Sensors for Spacesuit Monitoring

N5 Sensors, Inc. through a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract award has been developing ultra-small, low-power carbon dioxide (CO2) gas sensors, suited for monitoring CO2 levels inside NASA spacesuits. Due to the unique environmental conditions within the spacesuits, such as high humidity, large temperature swings, and operating pressure swings, measurement of key gases relevant to astronaut's safety and health such as(CO2), is quite challenging. Conventional non-dispersive infrared absorption based CO2 sensors present challenges inside the spacesuits due to size, weight, and power constraints, along with the ability to sense CO2 in a high humidity environment. Unique chip-scale, nanoengineered chemiresistive gas-sensing architecture has been developed for this application, which can be operated in a typical space-suite environmental conditions. Unique design combining the selective adsorption properties of the nanophotocatalytic clusters of metal-oxides and metals, provides selective detection of CO2 in high relative humidity conditions. All electronic design provides a compact and low-power solution, which can be implemented for multipoint detection of CO2 inside the spacesuits. This paper will describe the sensor architecture, development of new photocatalytic material for better sensor response, and advanced structure for better sensitivity and shorter response times.

Rani, Asha↗

NASA NTRS2010

Modeling Of Metabolic Heat Regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) Subassembly For Prototype Design

This paper describes modeling methods for the three core components of a Metabolic heat regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) subassembly: a sorbent bed, a sublimation (cooling) heat exchanger (SHX), and a condensing icing (warming) heat exchanger (CIHX). The primary function of the MTSA, removing carbon dioxide from a space suit Portable Life Support System (PLSS) ventilation loop, is performed via the sorbent bed. The CIHX is used to heat the sorbent bed for desorption and to remove moisture from the ventilation loop while the SHX is alternately employed to cool the sorbent bed via sublimation of a spray of water at low pressure to prepare the reconditioned bed for the next cycle. This paper describes subsystem heat a mass transfer modeling methodologies relevant to the description of the MTSA subassembly in Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT. Several areas of particular modeling interest are discussed. In the sorbent bed, capture of the translating carbon dioxide (CO2) front and associated local energy and mass balance in both adsorbing and desorbing modes is covered. The CIHX poses particular challenges for modeling in SINDA/FLUINT as accounting for solids states in fluid submodels are not a native capability. Methods for capturing phase change and latent heat of ice as well as the transport properties across a layer of low density accreted frost are developed. This extended modeling capacity is applicable to temperatures greater than 258 K. To extend applicability to the minimum device temperature of 235 K, a method for a mapped transformation of temperatures from below the limit temperatures to some value above is given along with descriptions for associated material property transformations and the resulting impacts to total heat and mass transfer. Similar considerations are given for the SHX along with functional relationships for areal sublimation rates as limited by flow mechanics in t1he outlet duct.

Bower, Chad E.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Low-Power Temperature-Swing Adsorption for Mars Atmosphere Acquisition

The promise of ISRU-based mission architectures for Mars surface exploration will begin to be realized during the next decade as robotic spacecraft sent to Mars carry components and whole chemical plants for producing propellants from the planet's atmosphere. These chemical plants will need to perform three primary operations: acquisition of atmospheric carbon dioxide, reactions to transform the gas into oxygen and possibly fuel, and storage of the products. This presentation focuses on development of technologies at NASA Ames Research Center for the first of these operations, carbon dioxide acquisition. The carbon dioxide acquisition component for a propellant production plant has several general, top level requirements. It has a stringent requirement for minimal power consumption; a critical need for long-term reliability over the period of time the chemical plant must operate (say, 500 days); a production rate requirement for carbon dioxide; and a state point requirement (particularly pressure) for the CO2 produced. The first two requirements help determine the best technological approach, while the latter two generally define the characteristics (e.g., size and power consumption) of the device. Mass and volume must be minimized, as usual.

Finn, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Long-Duration Testing of a Temperature-Swing Adsorption Compressor for Carbon Dioxide for Closed-Loop Air Revitalization Systems

This paper describes the results of long-duration testing of a temperature-swing adsorption compressor that has application in the International Space Station (ISS) and future spacecraft for closing the air revitalization loop. The air revitalization system of the ISS operates in an open loop mode and relies on the resupply of oxygen and other consumables from Earth for the life support of astronauts. A compressor is required for delivering the carbon dioxide from a removal assembly to a reduction unit to recover oxygen and thereby closing the air-loop. The TSAC is a solid-state compressor that has the capability to remove CO2 from a low-pressure source, and subsequently store, compress, and deliver at a higher pressure as required by a processor. The TSAC is an ideal interface device for CO2 removal and reduction units in the air revitalization loop of a spacecraft for oxygen recovery. The TSAC was developed and its operation was successfully verified in integration tests with the flight-like Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) at Marshall Space Flight Center prior to the long-duration tests. Long-duration tests reveal the impacts of repeated thermal cycling on the compressor components and the adsorbent material.

Rosen, Micha↗

DOE OSTI2022

Sorbent-based oxygen separation with YBC114 for energy storage systems

In our report we aimed to design, build, and evaluate an oxygen separation system to provide an inert sweep gas with low oxygen partial pressure (pO2) to redox-active thermochemical energy conversion reactors for a range of applications, including two-step redox cycles for thermochemical energy storage, water splitting, and carbon-dioxide splitting. The separation is based on an oxygen-selective sorbent, YBaCo4O7+δ (YBC114), which has excellent oxygen sorption and desorption properties demonstrated in our previous work. The oxygen separation performance of YBC114 was comprehensively studied by thermogravimetric analysis, sorption breakthrough experiments, and temperature swing sorption - desorption cycles. The results reveal that YBC114 can produce inert sweep gas with an oxygen concentration of less than 100 ppmv for at least 20 min during the thermal swing adsorption (TSA) cycle with the current sorption bed configuration, and the performance is consistent from cycle to cycle. The optimal sorption and desorption temperatures for the TSA process with YBC114 are determined to be 300 °C and 500 °C, respectively. Although challenges remain for the current separation system (e.g., high sorption temperature and slow kinetics), this study demonstrates the potential to use the oxygen-selective sorbent to produce an inert sweep gas, the feasibility of the oxygen separation concept, and guides new sorbent material development to make this application economically practical. A simple procedure is described for designing the YBC114 oxygen separation process.

42 ENGINEERING↗