Development of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal Process

摘要

The Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) system technology represents the next generation in spaceflight water recovery systems. Water is the single largest resupply requirement associated with human space flight, accounting for 87 by mass of an astronaut's daily metabolic requirement. The VPCAR system achieves a mass metric almost an order of magnitude better than the current state-of-the-art water processors. (Mass metric is a technique used to compare candidate technologies by reducing all performance parameters into a single equivalent launch mass metric.) Incorporating the VPCAR technology into human space flight missions could potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars in resupply costs. depending on the specific mission scenario. As a result. a human-rated version of the VPCAR technology has been authorized for development. The human-rated system is being developed under contract to Water Reuse Technology. This is an external contract for the development and testing of the next generation VPCAR technology. We are currently about 1/2 way through a two-year contracted development program. This activity is funded through Advanced Life Support program funds and a NASA peer reviewed NRA (00-HEDS-01).