Development of a Microchannel In Situ Propellant Production System

Abstract

This document was printed on recycled paper. PNNL-15456 Development of a MicrochannelIn Situ Propellant Production System Executive SummaryAn in situ propellant production plant (ISPP) on future Mars robotic missions can produce oxygen (O 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) that can be used for propellant for the return voyage. By producing propellants from Mars' atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ) brought from Earth, the initial mass launched in low Earth orbit can be reduced by 20 to 45%, as compared to carrying all of the propellant for a round-trip mission to Mars' surface from Earth. Furthermore, by utilizing ISPP, both robotic and manned missions to Mars can be enhanced, enabled, and extended. The propellant generated can provide fuel for hoppers and rovers for increased mobility on the surface, allow additional propellant to be created to increase the return trip payload, and provide oxygen for longer mission stays. With a durable heat source, this ISPP could also use in situ sources of hydrogen to provide a sustainable propellant supply.Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used microchannel architecture to develop a Mars-based In Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) system. This three-year research and development effort focused on process intensification and system miniaturization of two primary subsystems: a thermochemical compressor and catalytic reactors. Both of these systems were designed based on a robotic direct return mission scenario, but can be scaled up to human flight missions by simply numbering up the microchannel devices. A microchannel condenser/phase separator was developed under another NASA project. The results of this device are provided here to offer insight on performance of another necessary system component.The thermochemical collection and compression of CO 2 was developed using absorption and adsorption. Both membrane and microwicking absorbers were evaluated using 100-and 240-µm microchannels. CO 2 was absorbed from a 20%-CO 2 :80%-N 2 mixture into either a diethanolamine/water (DEA) or a DEA/PEG solution. Improved mass transfer was observed for the thinner films. Overall mass transfer coefficients were as much as 2.6 times greater than a conventional packed column for the thinnest microwick and about 7.1 times greater for the membrane system. A multichannel adsorption system was designed to meet the full-scale CO 2 collection requirements using temperature swing adsorption. Each stage is designed to achieve a 10x compression of CO 2 . A compression ratio to collect Martian atmospheric CO 2 at ~0.8 kPa and compress it to at least 100 kPa can be achieved with two adsorption stages in series. A compressor stage incorporates eight thermally coupled adsorption cells at various stages in the adsorption/desorption cycle to maximize the recuperation of thermal energy and provide a nearly continuous flow of CO 2 to the downstream reactors. Experimental work was performed in a single channel adsorber to validate this process. A temperature cycle between 12 and 77°C could be achie...

An ISRU propellant production system for a fully fueled Mars Ascent Vehicle

“…The CO2 capture model is based on empirical data collected at Kennedy Space Center by testing a near-relevant scale CO2 freezer system. The Sabatier model is anchored to the work performed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the field of microchannel reactors for ISRU 8 . The condenser coil is based on standard thermodynamic equations and not anchored to any specific hardware.…”

Capability and Technology Performance Goals for the Next Step in Affordable Human Exploration of Space

“…Microchannel RWGS reactors have demonstrated CO 2 conversion from 40 to over 50 percent with selectivity to carbon monoxide of >99.99 percent and with minimal pressure drop. 21 Assuming a conversion of 50 percent, the net reaction is the same as for the solid oxide electrolysis technology, with the assumption that all of the unreacted H 2 and all H 2 from water electrolysis can be recycled back into the reactor (d + f = 1 in eqn 2). In addition to a gas separator to separate the CO from the unconverted CO 2 and H 2 , the RWGS process also requires several additional components: a condenser or other device to separate the water from the CO, CO 2 , and H 2 ; a water electrolyzer; a dryer to dry the oxygen from the electrolyzer before liquefaction and storage; and a dryer to dry the H 2 before recirculation back to the RWGS reactor.…”

“…Another acquisition concept with good potential for low mass and power is a rapid cycle sorption pump. 21 In this concept, a material that preferentially adsorbs carbon dioxide is used to adsorb the CO 2 at low temperature and pressure and then release it at higher pressure when heated. The original mission studies envisioned adsorbing for the entire Martian night as with the cryofreezer, but because of the extremely low density of the sorbent material and its ability to adsorb CO 2 at only a fraction of its own weight, this concept resulted in a very large system.…”

Development of a Microchannel In Situ Propellant Production System

“…Several compact single-channel adsorbers, such as that shown in Figure 3.8, were fabricated and tested to demonstrate proof-of-concept for CO 2 capture and subsequent delivery in rapid adsorption/desorption cycles Brooks et al 2002;Wegeng et al 2003Wegeng et al , 2004.…”