Space Station Hygiene Water Reclamation By Multifiltration

The baseline hygiene water reclamation system for Space Station Freedom has been changed from Reverse Osmosis with Multifiltration post-treatment to stand-alone Multifiltration. The Multifiltration concept offers increased system reliability, a decrease in power consumption, and essentially 100% water recovery.

Multifiltration is based on well documented sorption technology for removal of contaminant species. System complexity is minimal. Moving parts are limited to one pump and simple valving. Reliable microbial control is obtained by heat sterilization and by the use of iodine as a bactericide. Iodine addition is accomplished in the Unibeds with an iodinated resin which is also used in the Microbial Check Valve (MCV). Microbial Check Valves have proven reliable and effective on board the Space Shuttle since the beginning of the Shuttle program.

Power consumption is primarily attributed to heat sterilization. The energy required for the pump and controls is relatively low.

This paper presents an overview of the Multifiltration Hygiene subsystem and its requirements, the waste water sources, and the Multifiltration Unibed technology.