An Advanced CO ₂ Removal and Reduction System

The recovery of oxygen from a concentrated stream of carbon dioxide (CO₂) offers significant advantage to long duration manned space missions by reducing the requirement for consumables.

TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) has developed a chemical absorbent-based system to carry out CO₂ removal and CO₂ reduction for the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) at the International Space Station (ISS). The system eliminates interfacing problems associated with the currently operational CO₂ Removal Assembly (CDRA) and planned CO₂ Reduction Assembly (CRA). This paper discusses the plans for TDA’s CO₂ removal and CO₂ reduction system. A high capacity, long-life CO₂ sorbent was developed and tested under representative conditions. In addition, the performance of a state-of-the-art catalyst for CO₂ reduction to water and methane at the conditions of interest was tested.