Multi-Waste Processor for Space Water Recovery and Solid Compaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current waste processing systems in manned space environments, such as space stations, are inefficient in reducing the volume and weight of waste while effectively recovering water and handling multiple waste streams, particularly due to the lack of a flexible and compact solution for both liquid and solid waste processing.
Innovation Solution
A multi-waste processing system with a processing chamber equipped with heaters, a piston, a condenser, and a gas and water separator, which evaporates liquid waste, condenses water, separates water from gas, and compacts solid waste, utilizing a recirculation pathway and vacuum pump to reduce pressure and enhance boiling point reduction, achieving significant water recovery and solid waste compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate processing systems are used for liquid waste and solid waste, then each waste stream can be processed with dedicated equipment, but the overall system footprint and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The processing chamber is designed to handle multiple waste streams (liquid waste, solid waste, and contaminated items) through a single unified system. The chamber can process different types of waste by adjusting operational parameters such as heating temperature, vacuum level, and piston compression force, eliminating the need for separate dedicated processing systems for each waste type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines water recovery functions and solid waste compaction functions into a single integrated processing chamber. The heating elements evaporate water from liquid waste while the piston simultaneously compacts solid waste, allowing both functions to occur in the same chamber and reducing overall system complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional waste storage methods are used in space, then waste can be stored without processing, but the volume and weight of waste accumulates rapidly consuming valuable resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through heating, allowing water to be separated from waste materials. The evaporated water is then condensed and collected as liquid water, achieving water recovery while simultaneously reducing the volume of remaining waste solids and contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters including temperature (heating to evaporate water), pressure (vacuum to lower boiling point and enhance evaporation), and density (piston compression to compact solids). These parameter changes enable efficient water recovery and waste volume reduction within a compact system suitable for space applications.
3Productivity
If vacuum pressure is applied to reduce boiling point for water evaporation, then water recovery efficiency increases, but the energy required to maintain vacuum and heat the waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous vacuum and heating operations throughout the processing cycle, allowing water evaporation and separation to proceed continuously rather than in batches. The vacuum pump and heating elements operate continuously to ensure uninterrupted water recovery, maximizing productivity while managing energy consumption through efficient continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying vacuum pressure, the system lowers the boiling point of water, allowing evaporation to occur at lower temperatures. This reduces the energy required for heating while maintaining high water recovery rates, as water transitions from liquid to vapor phase more easily under reduced pressure conditions.
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
The system effectively reduces the volume and weight of waste by over 80%, achieving greater than 90% water recovery and compacting solid waste, while also sterilizing and stabilizing the waste for efficient storage and resource utilization in space exploration.
Implementation Method 1
heating the processing chamber via one or more heaters to evaporate the liquid waste therein
Implementation Method 2
heating the processing chamber via one or more heaters to evaporate the liquid waste therein
Implementation Method 3
condensing water from the evaporated liquid waste in gas phase at the condenser
Implementation Method 4
a vacuum pump is operably connected to the processing chamber to reduce a pressure inside the processing chamber thereby reducing a boiling point of the liquid waste
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-waste processing system includes a processing chamber. The processing chamber includes one or more heaters and a piston, and the processing chamber is configured to evaporate liquid waste and compact solid waste input. A condenser is operably connected to the processing chamber. The condenser is configured to condense water from the evaporated liquid waste output from the processing chamber. A gas and water separator is operably connected to the condenser. The gas and water separator is configured to separate water from the evaporated liquid waste output from the processing chamber. A recirculation pathway connects the gas and water separator to the processing chamber to recirculate gas from the gas and water separator to the processing chamber. The piston is actuated to keep the one or more heaters in close proximity to the solid waste and the liquid waste in the processing chamber.