Systems Analysis of Life Support for Long-Duration Missions

Drysdale, Alan; Maxwell, Scott; Ewert, Michael K.; Hanford, Anthony J.

doi:10.4271/2000-01-2394

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Although bioregenerative systems with plants have high start up mass and power consumption rates, more efficient lighting systems and optimized horticultural techniques can reduce these costs substantially. Use of solar light in appropriate settings, such as the poles of the Moon, Mars transit, or less dust prone latitudes on Mars, can reduce these costs even further (Drysdale et al, 2000;Clawson and Hoehn, 2005). The experience from NASA's Biomass Production Chamber shows that a closed, plant production system can be operated on a near-continuous basis for 10 years.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Assuming a power efficiency (W PAR/W electrical power to lamps) of 20% with the electric lighting system, this would indicate that achieving BPC yields would require 150 W m À2 /0.20 = 0.75 kW m À2 electrical power input for the lamps. This would not include power required for thermal control, water pumping, and environmental sensors, which would increase the total power requirement (Drysdale et al, 2000). With recent interests in ISS operations and short duration Lunar missions, life support approaches have focused largely on stowage and resupply.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crop productivities and radiation use efficiencies for bioregenerative life support

Wheeler

Mackowiak

Stutte

et al. 2008

Advances in Space Research

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop productivities and radiation use efficiencies for bioregenerative life support

Wheeler

Mackowiak

Stutte

et al. 2008

Advances in Space Research

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“…Based on recent publications (Drysdale et al, 2000;Wheeler, 2001), the following feedstocks were selected for biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays and digester experiments: † space vehicle: processing wastes from tomato, carrot, cabbage, spinach, chard, lettuce, radish, onion † planetary: processing wastes from wheat, white potato, sweet potato, soybean, peanut, rice † paper: high grade paper and paper products † human feces: simulated (with dog food) Several feedstocks were obtained from various NASA laboratories and contractors as well as a University of Florida researcher. Subsamples were dried and milled to the millimeter size, and analyzed for total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS).…”

Section: Feedstock Selection and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic digestion of space mission wastes

Chynoweth

Owens

Teixeira

et al. 2006

Water Science and Technology

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The technical feasibility of applying leachbed high-solids anaerobic digestion for reduction and stabilization of the organic fraction of solid wastes generated during space missions was investigated. This process has the advantages of not requiring oxygen or high temperature and pressure while producing methane, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and compost as valuable products. Anaerobic biochemical methane potential assays run on several waste feedstocks expected during space missions resulted in ultimate methane yields ranging from 0.23 to 0.30 L g-1 VS added. Modifications for operation of a leachbed anaerobic digestion process in space environments were incorporated into a new design, which included; (1) flooded operation to force leachate through densified feedstock beds; and (2) separation of biogas from leachate in a gas collection reservoir. This mode of operation resulted in stable performance with 85% conversion of a typical space solid waste blend, and a methane yield of 0.3 Lg per g VS added after a retention time of 15 days. These results were reproduced in a full-scale prototype system. A detailed analysis of this process was conducted to design the system sized for a space mission with a six-person crew. Anaerobic digestion compared favorably with other technologies for solid waste stabilization.

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“…However, PC techniques often require significant power and heat rejection capabilities. Thus, as has been pointed out by numerous authors, PC is expected to be most suitable for intermediate durations (up to several years) [7], not for long duration space missions (of the order of decades) where more nutrients contained in waste need to be recycled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Anaerobic Digestion for Reduction and Stabilization of Organic Solid Waste During Space Missions: Systems Analysis

Xu¹,

Townsend²,

Chynoweth³

et al. 2002

SAE Technical Paper Series

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High Solids Leachbed Anaerobic Digestion (HSLAD) is a biological waste treatment system that has been successfully demonstrated for solid waste treatment in terrestrial applications. The process involves a solid phase leachbed fermentation, employing leachate recycle between new and mature reactors for inoculation, wetting, and removal of volatile organic acids during startup. HSLAD also offers a potential option for treatment of biodegradable waste on long-duration space mission and for permanent planetary bases and would produce 1.5 kg of methane, 4.1 kg of carbon dioxide and 1.9 kg of compost daily from 7.5kg of biodegradable solid wastes generated daily from a crew of six. HSLAD can operate at low temperature and pressure and has the potential for being a net energy producer. A detailed analysis of this process was conducted to design the system size required for a space mission with a 6-person crew The mass, energy and water balance of the process and an equivalent system mass (ESM) analysis are presented.

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Systems Analysis of Life Support for Long-Duration Missions

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

Crop productivities and radiation use efficiencies for bioregenerative life support

Crop productivities and radiation use efficiencies for bioregenerative life support

Anaerobic digestion of space mission wastes

Anaerobic Digestion for Reduction and Stabilization of Organic Solid Waste During Space Missions: Systems Analysis

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