Integrated Computational Fluid Dynamics Carbon Dioxide Concentration Study for the International Space Station

This paper reports results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gradient variations in twelve ISS modules. Computations were performed using two 3D integrated models: one from the U.S. Laboratory to the forward end, and the other from the U.S. Laboratory to the aft end of the ISS. Operation of the CO₂ removal systems and CO₂ generation among six International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers' metabolic processes were included in the model. For several crew location scenarios, a detailed analysis of the CO₂ gradients and time evolution in zones potentially occupied by astronauts is presented. In general, the paper gives an extended example of the application of CFD analysis to complex problems related to the quality of the cabin air.