Spacecraft Air Revitalization via Shared Vacuum Vent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spacecraft air revitalization systems are inefficient as they rely on separate systems for carbon dioxide and water vapor removal, do not utilize incidental pressure differentials for airflow, and lack resource sharing, leading to increased complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An air revitalization system that extracts water vapor and carbon dioxide from a pressurized volume, using a shared vacuum vent duct and leveraging pressure differentials to enhance airflow, with sheet lithium hydroxide for CO2 removal and an air ejector to increase cabin airflow, while integrating humidity and sublimator functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate systems are used for carbon dioxide and water vapor removal, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate carbon dioxide removal and water vapor removal systems into a single integrated air revitalization system. The common conduit allows both systems to share the same vacuum vent duct, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the specialized functions of each removal mechanism through dedicated processing sections within the unified system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum vent duct is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it handles water vapor removal from the humidity control device, carbon dioxide removal from the lithium hydroxide system, and provides a common exhaust path for both removal processes. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed.
2Ease of operation
If fans are used to move air through the system, then airflow can be controlled, but energy consumption increases and incidental pressure differentials are not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes incidental pressure differentials that naturally occur during spacecraft operations to drive airflow through the air revitalization system. This self-service approach allows the system to leverage existing pressure variations without requiring additional energy input from dedicated airflow generation devices, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanically-driven airflow systems with a design that exploits natural pressure differentials. Instead of relying solely on mechanical fans or pumps to move air, the system uses the existing pressure gradients in the spacecraft environment to drive气流 through the humidity control device and carbon dioxide removal system.
3Reliability
If resources are not shared between systems, then each system can operate independently, but resource efficiency decreases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the resource utilization of separate air revitalization functions by implementing a shared common conduit and vacuum vent duct infrastructure. This allows water vapor removal and carbon dioxide removal systems to share common components while maintaining independent operational capabilities through dedicated processing sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The common conduit and vacuum vent duct are designed as universal components that serve multiple air revitalization functions simultaneously. These shared resources handle both water vapor exhaust from the humidity control device and carbon dioxide exhaust from the lithium hydroxide system, improving resource efficiency while maintaining system reliability.
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 integrated system reduces complexity and cost by sharing resources, enhances airflow, and effectively maintains breathable air quality within spacecraft, improving safety and resource efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a humidity control device configured to remove water vapor from air within a pressurized enclosed volume
Implementation Method 2
a sublimator configured to cool the air within the pressurized enclosed volume while generating additional water vapor
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum vent duct configured to transport the water vapor from the humidity control device and the additional water vapor from the sublimator to an exterior of the pressurized enclosed volume
Implementation Method 4
the air from the outlet duct creates a pressure differential that draws additional air from the pressurized enclosed volume through the inlet vent and into the mixing section
Data Source
AI summary
An air revitalization system may include a humidity control device configured to remove water vapor from air within a pressurized enclosed volume. The system may further include an inlet duct configured to transport the air from the pressurized enclosed volume to the humidity control device. The system may also include an outlet duct configured to transport the air from the humidity control device to the pressurized enclosed volume. The system may include a sublimator configured to cool the air within the pressurized enclosed volume while generating additional water vapor. The system may further include a vacuum vent duct configured to transport the water vapor from the humidity control device and the additional water vapor from the sublimator to an exterior of the pressurized enclosed volume.