Development of Waste Bag Air Flow and Drying Models for Solid Waste Management

NASA is developing a novel waste bag concept for filling, storing and drying astronaut fecal material. The three-layer bag is lined with a membrane that is impermeable to solid and liquid matter but permeable to gases. The air flow provided by a blower assists in containing the waste in the bag. After use, the bag is sealed and then connected to a vacuum manifold for drying the waste. This paper describes the development of theoretical models for analyzing the air flow patterns in the bag during the filling process as well as the parameters governing the drying rate. The models will be used to support the design and testing of the waste bag.