Modeling Integrated Air Revitalization Subsystems in Aspen Custom Modeler

Dynamic modeling can be a powerful tool to predict the performance of life support technologies, especially those with strong transient behaviors or those that cycle between on and off states regularly. The Advanced Life Support (ALS) Air Revitalization System (ARS) is an example of a system where detailed integrated simulations can be a useful technique for studying the system behavior. This paper describes the results of integrating models of three components of the ARS: the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA), Carbon Dioxide Management Subsystem (CMS) made of a mechanical compressor and accumulator, and the Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA). The combination of these systems has been proposed as an upgrade to the International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), and is considered a baseline for further ALS studies. There are other configurations for the ALS ARS than what is considered here, such as using a Temperature Swing Adsorption Compressor (TSAC) as the CMS. Future work is planned to study cases using the alternate technologies.