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Performance and Endurance Testing of a Prototype Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control System for Space Shuttle Extended Mission Capability
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Abstract
A regenerative carbon dioxide (CO2) and humidity control system which uses a polyethyleneimine sorbent material (designated HS-C) is being developed for potential uses in extended duration Space Shuttle missions. The system design offers a substantial weight saving over the baseline Shuttle lithium hydroxide (LiOH) CO2 removal system for a mission beyond four men and 7 days. Performance and endurance testing of a flight prototype HS-C system was recently conducted by NASA Johnson Space Center to evaluate its capability and reliability under simulated Shuttle cabin conditions. The testing included 10 days of performance evaluation, 60 days of endurance, at 101,325 N/m2 (14.7 psia), and 5 days of performance at a 70,300 N/m2 (10.2 psia) cabin pressure.
This paper describes the objectives, approach, System configuration, and test condition matrix/timeline of the testing. The results of the testing are summarized and compared with the performance data obtained in 1978 for the same flight prototype system. Analysis of the testing results shows that the system has experienced 25 to 30 percent degradation in CO2 removal capacity, but only slight degradation in humidity removal capacity in more than 5 years of sealed storage. The observed dependency of the HS-C system CO2 and humidity control capacity on the cabin conditions and operating parameters is discussed with computer model predicted performance maps of the system. The findings of the 60-day endurance and 70,300 N/m2 (10.2 psia) cabin pressure tests are also reported.
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Citation
Lin, C. and Cusick, R., "Performance and Endurance Testing of a Prototype Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control System for Space Shuttle Extended Mission Capability," SAE Technical Paper 851374, 1985, https://doi.org/10.4271/851374.Also In
References
- Boehm, A. M. “A Regenerable CO 2 and Humidity Control System for Shuttle,” Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems San Diego, California July 1976
- Cusick, R.J. Boehm A. M. “A Prototype Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control System for Shuttle Mission Extension Capability,” IAF publication IAF-76-045 October 1976
- Rudy, K. M. “Flight Prototype CO 2 and Humidity Control System,” Final Report Addendum Hamilton Standard Division of United Technologies Corp. May 1979
- Rudy, K. M. “Flight Prototype CO 2 and Humidity Control System,” Final Report Hamilton Standard Division of United Technologies Corp. September 1977
- Davis, S. H. Kissinger L. D. “CO 2 and Humidity Removal System for Extended Shuttle Missions: Equilibrium Testing and Performance Analysis,” Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems San Diego, California July 1976
- Davis, S. H. Kissinger L. D. “CO 2 and Humidity Removal System for Extended Shuttle Missions: CO 2 , H 2 O, and Trace Contaminant Equilibrium Testing,” Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems San Francisco, California July 1977