Performance of Adsorption-Based CO2 Acquisition Hardware for Mars ISRU

Chemical processing of the dusty, low-pressure Martian atmosphere for production of propellants and other consumables will require conditioning and compression of the gases as first steps. A temperature-swing adsorption process can perform these tasks using solid-state hardware and with relatively low power consumption compared to alternative processes. The process can also separate the atmospheric constituents, producing both pressurized CO2 and a buffer gas mixture of nitrogen and argon. We have developed and tested adsorption-based compressors with production levels appropriate for near-term robotic flight experiments, which are needed to demonstrate the basic technologies for ISRU-based human exploration missions. In this talk we describe the characteristics, testing, and performance of these devices. We also discuss scale-up issues associated with meeting the processing demands of sample return and human missions.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.4271/2000-01-2238
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of SAE International.
• Authors:
  • Finn, John E
  • Mulloth, Lila M
  • Borchers, Bruce A
• Conference:
  • International Conference On Environmental Systems
  • Location: San Francisco California, United States
  • Date: 2008-6-29 to 2008-7-2
• Publication Date: 1998-7-13

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon dioxide; Chemicals; Compressors; Energy consumption; Gases; Production; Propellants; Robotics; Vehicle components
• Non-Preferred Terms: Chemicals (Manufactures)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01796452
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: SAE International
• Report/Paper Numbers: 2000-01-2238
• Files: TRIS, SAE
• Created Date: Dec 9 2021 10:18AM