Development and Testing of a Prototype Microwave Plasma Reactor for Hydrogen Recovery from Sabatier Waste Methane

Atwater, James E.; Wheeler, Richard R.; Hadley, Neal M.; Dahl, Roger W.; Carrasquillo, Robyn L.

doi:10.4271/2009-01-2467

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA), the most recently added technology, compresses and stores CO 2 from the CDRA until hydrogen is available from the OGA. The CO 2 and H 2 are then fed to a Sabatier reactor for reduction to form water and methane as shown in Equation 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methane Post-Processor Development to Increase Oxygen Recovery beyond State-of-the-Art Carbon Dioxide Reduction Technology

Abney

Miller

Greenwood

et al. 2013

43rd International Conference on Environmental Systems

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State-of-the-art life support carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction technology, based on the Sabatier reaction, is theoretically capable of 50% recovery of oxygen from metabolic CO2. This recovery is constrained by the limited availability of reactant hydrogen. Post-processing of the methane byproduct from the Sabatier reactor results in hydrogen recycle and a subsequent increase in oxygen recovery. For this purpose, a Methane Post-Processor Assembly containing three sub-systems has been developed and tested. The assembly includes a Methane Purification Assembly (MePA) to remove residual CO2 and water vapor from the Sabatier product stream, a Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) to partially pyrolyze methane into hydrogen and acetylene, and an Acetylene Separation Assembly (ASepA) to purify the hydrogen product for recycle. The results of partially integrated testing of these sub-systems are reported. NomenclatureASepA = Acetylene Separation Assembly CDRA = Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methane Post-Processor Development to Increase Oxygen Recovery beyond State-of-the-Art Carbon Dioxide Reduction Technology

Abney

Miller

Greenwood

et al. 2013

43rd International Conference on Environmental Systems

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“…Under NASA Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts, development efforts using microwave plasma pyrolysis techniques were pursued. (18)(19)(20)(21) This approach allows for the recovery of up 75% of the H 2 currently lost as CH 4 per the acetylene formation reaction shown in Eq. 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) Reactor and Process Development

Wheeler

Hadley

Dahl

et al. 2012

42nd International Conference on Environmental Systems

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Design and development of a second generation Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) reactor is currently underway as part of NASA's Atmosphere Revitalization Resource Recovery effort. By recovering up to 75% of the hydrogen currently lost as methane in the Sabatier reactor effluent, the PPA helps to minimize life support resupply costs for extended duration missions. To date, second generation PPA development has demonstrated significant technology advancements over the first generation device by doubling the methane processing rate while, at the same time, more than halving the required power. One development area of particular interest to NASA system engineers is fouling of the PPA reactor with carbonaceous products. As a mitigation plan, NASA MSFC has explored the feasibility of using an oxidative plasma based upon metabolic CO 2 to regenerate the reactor window and gas inlet ports. The results and implications of this testing are addressed along with the advanced PPA reactor development.

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“…In testing completed previously, 4 only pure methane was fed as a reactant to the system with hydrogen fed to maintain a plasma and for cleaning. The ratio of H 2 to methane in the reactor was not explored as a potential factor in the production of acetylene or other products.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent progress in H 2 recovery technology has led to the development of a Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) developed and supplied by UMPQUA Research Company. 4 The PPA uses a microwave-generated plasma to recover hydrogen and acetylene from methane, resulting in a theoretical hydrogen recovery of 75% as shown in Equation 2. (2) Due to the nature of methane pyrolysis, other products are also possible with this technology including solid carbon, ethylene, and ethane, among others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sabatier Reactor System Integration with Microwave Plasma Methane Pyrolysis Post-Processor for Closed-Loop Hydrogen Recovery

Abney

Miller

Williams

2010

40th International Conference on Environmental Systems

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The Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA) designed and developed for the International Space Station (ISS) represents the state-of-the-art in carbon dioxide reduction (CDRe) technology. The CRA produces water and methane by reducing carbon dioxide with hydrogen via the Sabatier reaction. The water is recycled to the Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) and the methane is vented overboard resulting in a net loss of hydrogen. The proximity to earth and the relative ease of logistics resupply from earth allow for a semi-closed system on ISS. However, long-term manned space flight beyond low earth orbit (LEO) dictates a more thoroughly closed-loop system involving significantly higher recovery of hydrogen, and subsequent recovery of oxygen, to minimize costs associated with logistics resupply beyond LEO. The open-loop ISS system for CDRe can be made closed-loop for follow-on missions by further processing methane to recover hydrogen. For this purpose, a process technology has been developed that employs a microwave-generated plasma to reduce methane to hydrogen and acetylene resulting in 75% theoretical recovery of hydrogen. In 2009, a 1-man equivalent Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) was delivered to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for technical evaluation. The PPA has been integrated with a Sabatier Development Unit (SDU). The integrated process configuration incorporates a sorbent bed to eliminate residual carbon dioxide and water vapor in the Sabatier methane product stream before it enters the PPA. This paper provides detailed information on the stand-alone and integrated performance of both the PPA and SDU. Additionally, the integrated test stand design and anticipated future work are discussed.

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Development and Testing of a Prototype Microwave Plasma Reactor for Hydrogen Recovery from Sabatier Waste Methane

Cited by 11 publications

References 43 publications

Methane Post-Processor Development to Increase Oxygen Recovery beyond State-of-the-Art Carbon Dioxide Reduction Technology

Methane Post-Processor Development to Increase Oxygen Recovery beyond State-of-the-Art Carbon Dioxide Reduction Technology

Advanced Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) Reactor and Process Development

Sabatier Reactor System Integration with Microwave Plasma Methane Pyrolysis Post-Processor for Closed-Loop Hydrogen Recovery

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