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A Study of Sabatier Reactor Operation in Zero “G”
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English
Abstract
The Sabatier reactor is an exothermic, heterogeneous catalytic reactor that has the function of reducing carbon dioxide to methane and water vapor. Sabatier reactor operation is affected by gravity through the effects of buoyant forces. The buoyant forces affect the transfer of heat and can be significant in determining the temperatures of the various portions of the reactor. The temperatures then affect the fundamental processes such as the chemical reaction rate.
This paper presents the results of zero “G” computer model simulations of Sabatier reactor operation. Groundbase experiments were made for various manned loadings under normal ambient and gravity (l-G) conditions and were correlated with normal gravity simulations. The zero “G” simulations show the reactor will run significantly hotter in a zero “G” environment if cooling air flow is not increased to compensate for the loss of natural convections.
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Citation
Forsythe, R., Verostko, C., Cusick, R., and Blakely, R., "A Study of Sabatier Reactor Operation in Zero “G”," SAE Technical Paper 840936, 1984, https://doi.org/10.4271/840936.Also In
References
- Forsythe R. K. “A Theoretical Investigation of the Effects of Zero-Gravity on the Sabatier Reactor,” Final Report NAS 9-15425 March 18 1983
- Lin C. H. “Effects of Zero-Gravity on the Sabatier CO 2 Reduction Subsystem - A Review of Recent Theoretical Investigations,” May 1983
- Dressier R. S. “Comparison of Convective to Forced Flow in a Sabatier Reactor,” NASA Headquarters Report 1982
- “Regenerative Life Support Evaluation (RLSE) Performance and Interface Specification” Hamilton Standard Specification No. 5VHS7216, Rev. B 1976