Temperature and Humidity Control by Means of a Membrane Based Condensing Heat Exchanger (MCHX)

Temperature and humidity control are vital functions of an environmental control and life support system in a manned spacecraft. A MCHX Technology Demonstrator has been developed using hollow fiber membranes to remove heat and water vapor from the cabin air. The functional principle of the MCHX is based on micro porous hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes. Heat and water vapor are transferred through the membrane to the cooling the water. The water vapor will condense at the cooling water side. The technique promises a good alternative for the conventional noisy and power-consuming rotary condensate separator. This paper describes the MCHX development work including the rational for its concept, the module design and its performance data as a result of numerical predictions and a test campaign. The MCHX performance requirements are linked to those of the Columbus Laboratory, the European contribution to the International Space Station (ISS).