EDC Development and Testing for the Space Station Program

Progressive development of Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Concentration (EDC) technology by Life Systems under the sponsorship of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has resulted in subsystem hardware and Control and Monitor Instrumentation (C/M I) that are ideally suited for application to the Space Station program. The development effort has simplified the mechanical assembly to where only seven Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs), including two integrated components, are required to perform the process function. This simplification results in subsystem weight, power and volume requirements that are less than those of competing technologies. Further, process simplification provides both superior reliability and enhanced maintainability. Control and Monitor Instrumentation development has focused on utilization of state-of-the art electronics and software features that enhance subsystem reliability through fault detection and isolation. Information presented in this paper documents the results of the development effort, endurance testing performed and identifies future enhancements that will provide further power, weight and volume savings and enhanced maintainability. The benefits of the present and projected capabilities of EDC technology for the Space Station program are identified.