This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Development of the Next Generation Gas Trap for the Space Station Internal Thermal Control System
Technical Paper
2003-01-2566
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The current dual-membrane gas trap is designed to remove non-condensed gases (NCG) from the Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) coolant on board the International Space Station (ISS). To date it has successfully served its purpose of preventing depriming, overspeed, and shutdown of the ITCS pump. However, contamination in the ITCS coolant has adversely affected the gas venting rate and lifetime of the gas trap, warranting a development effort for a next-generation gas trap. Design goals are to meet or exceed the current requirements to (1) include greater operating ranges and conditions, (2) eliminate reliance on the current hydrophilic tube fabrication process, and (3) increase operational life and tolerance to particulate and microbial growth fouling. In addition, the next generation gas trap will essentially be a “drop-in” design such that no modifications to the ITCS pump package assembly (PPA) will be required, and the implementation of the new design will not affect changes to the ITCS operational conditions, interfaces, or software. This paper will present the initial membrane module design and development work which has included (1) a trade study among several conceptual designs, (2) performance modeling of a hydrophobic-only design, and (3) small-scale development test data for the hydrophobic-only design. Testing has shown that the hydrophobic-only design is capable of performing even better than the current dual-membrane design for both steady-state gas removal and gas slug removal.
Authors
Citation
Leimkuehler, T., Spelbring, C., Reeves, D., and Holt, J., "Development of the Next Generation Gas Trap for the Space Station Internal Thermal Control System," SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-2566, 2003, https://doi.org/10.4271/2003-01-2566.Also In
References
- Patel, V. P. Barido R. Johnson B. Ibarra T. “Development of the Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) for International Space Station (ISS),” SAE Paper 2001-01-2332 31st International Conference on Environmental Systems Orlando, Florida July 2001
- Faust, M. B. Zhou S. J. Brubaker I. M. “Dual-Membrane Gas Trap for the Space Station Freedom Internal Thermal Control System,” SAE Paper 932162 23rd International Conference on Environmental Systems Colorado Springs, Colorado July 1993
- Dittmer Supra, L. Faust M. Zhou S. “Development of a Thermal Control System Dual-Membrane Gas Trap,” SAE Paper 951461 25th International Conference on Environmental Systems San Diego, California July 1995
- Humphrey, J. Supra L. Faust M. “A Thermal Control System Dual Membrane Gas Trap for the International Space Station,” SAE Paper 972410 27th International Conference on Environmental Systems Lake Tahoe, Nevada July 1997
- Holder, D. W. O'Connor E. W. Zagaja J. Murdoch K. “Investigation into the Performance of Membrane Separator Technologies used in the International Space Station Regenerative Life Support Systems: Results and Lessons Learned,” SAE Paper 2001-01-2354 31st International Conference on Environmental Systems Orlando, Florida July 2001
- Thibaud-Erkey, C. Lanzarone A. Lurie A. Snowdon D. Cheng KS “Development of a Membrane Based Gas-Liquid Separator for the Space Station Water Processor,” SAE Paper 2001-01-2357 31st International Conference on Environmental Systems Orlando, Florida July 2001