Low-Gravity Oxygen Generation With Membrane Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen generation systems in low-gravity environments, such as space applications, are expensive, complex, and pose safety concerns due to the use of rotary separators and inert gas purge systems, which increase maintenance costs and complexity, and are prone to failures from lack of gravity and radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
The system employs membrane contactors for phase separation, a water back-fill system to ensure proper gas-liquid separation, and a ducting system for hydrogen management, eliminating the need for inert gas purge and reducing reliance on electronic components, with flow controllers and volume compensation devices to maintain pressure and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotary separators and inert gas purge systems are used for oxygen generation in low-gravity environments, then phase separation and hydrogen safety can be achieved, but system complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the inert gas purge system from the oxygen generation setup. Instead of using inert gas to manage hydrogen safety, the system relies on gravitational settling and membrane separations to achieve safe hydrogen management, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotary separators with membrane-based separation systems. The membranes provide phase separation through selective permeability rather than mechanical rotation, eliminating moving parts and reducing maintenance requirements while achieving the same separation function.
2Reliability
If rotary separators are used for phase separation in low-gravity environments, then gas-liquid separation can be performed, but maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical rotary separators with membrane-based separation systems. The membranes provide phase separation through selective permeability rather than mechanical rotation, eliminating moving parts that require maintenance and thereby improving ease of repair while maintaining separation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane components are designed as replaceable elements that can be easily swapped without complex disassembly procedures. This approach prioritizes ease of maintenance by using simple, accessible components that can be replaced rather than repaired, reducing the skill and time required for maintenance operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If inert gas purge systems are incorporated for hydrogen safety, then hydrogen accumulation can be prevented, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the inert gas purge system entirely from the design. Instead of introducing inert gas to manage hydrogen safety, the system uses gravitational settling, membrane separations, and controlled venting to achieve safe hydrogen management, thereby eliminating the cost associated with inert gas storage and delivery systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-regulating mechanisms where the membrane separations automatically separate hydrogen from oxygen and water based on selective permeability. Gravitational settling automatically manages phase separation without requiring active purge systems, allowing the system to self-manage hydrogen safety without additional costly components.
4Reliability
If complex control schemes are used with rotary separators, then phase separation can be maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active mechanical control schemes with passive membrane-based separation. The membranes provide stable phase separation through their inherent selective permeability properties, eliminating the need for complex control systems to regulate separation processes while maintaining stable and reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane separation system operates autonomously without requiring complex control schemes. The selective permeability of the membranes automatically regulates gas and liquid separation based on pressure gradients and concentration differences, providing stable phase separation through self-regulating physical principles rather than active control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a cost-effective, reliable, and safe oxygen generation system by ensuring efficient phase separation and hydrogen management, reducing system complexity and maintenance, and enhancing operational reliability in low-gravity environments.
Implementation Method 1
The system employs membrane contactors for phase separation
Implementation Method 2
In performing water electrolysis in space or in other low gravity environments
Data Source
AI summary
Oxygen generation systems for use in low-gravity environments include a cell stack having an anode and a cathode. An anode-side phase separator and a cathode-side phase separator are each fluidly coupled to outlets of the cell stack. The anode-side phase separator separates a mixture into liquid water and gaseous oxygen and the cathode-side phase separates a mixture int liquid water and gaseous hydrogen. A ducting system is configured to house the cell stack and the cathode-side phase separator, a hydrogen sensor is arranged at an outlet of the ducting system, and a controller is configured to stop oxygen generation at the cell stack when a concentration of hydrogen is detected at or above a threshold level at the hydrogen sensor at the outlet of the ducting system.