Spacesuit Contaminant Removal via Liquid Sorbent Membranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contaminant removal systems in spacesuits, such as those using lithium hydroxide cartridges or rapid cycle amine systems, have limitations in duration and safety, with potential exposure to space vacuum in case of component failure, and do not adequately separate astronauts from the vacuum environment.
Innovation Solution
A contaminant removal system utilizing a liquid sorbent and membrane separators to absorb and desorb contaminants, providing at least two degrees of containment between the astronaut and space vacuum, allowing for safe, durable, and regenerable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single membrane or sorbent bed is used to separate the astronaut from space vacuum, then the system is simpler and lighter, but component failure may expose the astronaut to space vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system is divided into multiple independent layers: a primary membrane separator and a secondary membrane separator, each capable of providing containment. This segmentation ensures that failure of one layer does not result in complete loss of containment, thus improving reliability without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundant containment layers in advance to cushion against potential failure. The secondary membrane separator acts as a backup containment barrier that prevents vacuum exposure even if the primary membrane fails, providing beforehand protection against catastrophic failure.
2Device complexity
If a thin membrane is used for contaminant removal, then the system is lighter and simpler, but the membrane may not adequately contain the liquid sorbent, limiting lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid sorbent is contained within a porous membrane structure that is itself contained within a larger membrane housing. This nested arrangement allows the thin functional membrane to operate effectively while being protected and supported by additional structural layers, extending its operational lifetime without significant complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses flexible porous membranes that can contain the liquid sorbent while maintaining thin profiles. These membranes are designed with appropriate pore structures and mechanical properties to prevent sorbent leakage while allowing contaminant transport, extending membrane lifetime through optimized material selection and design.
3Productivity
If a rapid cycle amine system with swing-bed and vacuum regeneration is used, then contaminant removal capacity is improved, but valve failure may expose the astronaut to space vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the vulnerable valve mechanism from the critical containment path between the astronaut and space vacuum. By using a liquid sorbent system with membrane separators that do not require complex valve switching for regeneration, the design eliminates the single point of failure while maintaining high contaminant removal capacity through continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid sorbent acts as an intermediary medium that enables continuous contaminant removal without requiring mechanical valve switching. The sorbent continuously absorbs contaminants from the breathing zone and is regenerated separately, eliminating the need for valves in the astronaut containment path and thus improving safety.
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 extends extravehicular activity duration by continuously removing contaminants, reducing the risk of space vacuum exposure and enhancing safety through multiple containment layers, enabling longer and safer operations.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one membrane separator is configured to receive a spent air stream from a ventilation system of a spacesuit and absorb a contaminant from the spent air stream into a liquid sorbent
Implementation Method 2
The at least one membrane separator is configured to discharge the contaminant in a contaminant stream to a space environment using a vacuum of the space environment
Data Source
AI summary
A spacesuit contaminant removal system includes at least one membrane separator and a liquid sorbent circuit. The at least one membrane separator is configured to receive a spent air stream from a ventilation system of a spacesuit and absorb a contaminant from the spent air stream into a liquid sorbent. The at least one membrane separator is configured to discharge a clean air stream to the ventilation system and discharge the contaminant in a contaminant stream to a space environment using a vacuum of the space environment. The liquid sorbent circuit is configured to circulate the liquid sorbent through the at least one membrane separator.