CFD Study of Ventilation and Carbon Dioxide Transport for ISS Node 2 and Attached Modules

The objective of this study is to evaluate ventilation efficiency regarding to the International Space Station (ISS) cabin ventilation during the ISS assembly mission 1J. The focus is on carbon dioxide spatial/temporal variations within the Node 2 and attached modules. An integrated model for CO₂ transport analysis that combines 3D CFD modeling with the lumped parameter approach has been implemented. CO₂ scrubbing from the air by means of two ISS removal systems is taken into account. It has been established that the ventilation scheme with an ISS Node 2 bypass duct reduces short-circuiting effects and provides less CO₂ gradients when the Space Shuttle Orbiter is docked to the ISS. This configuration results in reduced CO₂ level within the ISS cabin.