Regenerative Life Support

Rahul Venkatraman Ruben Zavala

Requirement Verification MatrixReqt. # Requirement Verification

Method Systems

7.3Atmosphere maintained at an air pressure of 10.0 psi (+/- 0.5 PSI) Trade Study Atmosphere Pack

7.4Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, and Water Vapor maintained at 30%, 68%, <0.5%, .5-1%

respectivelyTrade Study Atmosphere Pack and Trace Contaminant

Mitigation

7.5A nutrition plan, including a variety of foods capable of maintaining optimum human health, shall be

developedAnalysis Food Production

7.6A self-sustaining agricultural system for the cultivation and growth of food Analysis Greenhouse

7.7Water and air shall be recycled Analysis Water Recycling and Air Recycling loops

7.8Waste products (human and other) shall be recycled where possible and discarded/destroyed if

necessaryAnalysis Anaerobic Digestion and Containment

7.9All habitable areas of the Lunar Station shall be protected from GCR Analysis Inflatables

7.12Limit individual crew annual exposure from all radiation sources to 0.5 Sv/yr Analysis Inflatables

7.13Various forms of entertainment and diversion shall be provided to enhance the crew's psychological

well-beingAnalysis

Air Pressure and Composition

• Pressure– 10.0 psi– ppO2 of 3 psi– All components will be rated for

higher oxygen content– Less stress on the habitats

NASA-3001 STD # Req. Met

Diluent Gas 6.2.1.1 Nitrogen

Total Pressure

6.2.2.1 10psi

ppO2 6.2.1.2 3psi

Molecule % of air

N2 69

O2 30

H2O 1-0.5

CO2 <0.5

Air Recycling• Carbon Dioxide Scrubbing

– Regenerative amine bed• Oxygen Regeneration

– Electrolysis• Sabatier Reactor

– Regeneration of water lost through electrolysis– 4H2 + CO2 2H2O + CH4

Crew

Amine BedSabatier Reactor

Electrolysis

Air Recycling Full Loop

CrewElectrolysis

Sabatier Reactor

Water

Amine Bed Trace Mit.

Clean Air

Air

Carbon Dioxide

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Recycled Water

Water Recycling and Treatment

• Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation– Uses ultraviolet (UV) light to kill or

inactivate microorganisms – 90 – 99% efficiency

• Water Retrieval– Filters for water collected by rovers– Mitigates dust entry through water

Food and Water Requirements

• Per average human capable for spaceflight– 2.2 L of drinking water/day– 3 – 5 lbs of food/day (based on a 2000 calorie diet)

• 1.5 lbs in carbohydrates

Plant Growth Solution

• Hydroponics– Nutrient-water solution without the

use of soil– Plants are immersed in solution to

access nutrients– Plant lights– 7 pounds of food per square foot

per harvest

Hydroponics Experiment

• Two systems running– Main System

• Fluorescent light/Tap water• Ten plants

– Second System• Plant lights versus halogens

Hydroponics Experiment

Waste Management

• Anaerobic Digestion– Breakdown of organic matter using micro-organisms in a no-

oxygen environment at 60 C⁰– Creates carbon dioxide and methane

• Compacted and contained– Remainder of digestion and non-organic material will be

compacted and contained

Psychological Needs

• Crew members will have:– Private rooms with time to relax– Control of their own schedules apart from work– The ability to contact family and friends back home– Food for special occasions with other members

• Tasks– Crew will be encouraged to collaborate with other members

and with experts on Earth

Exercise Requirements

• 1/6 G– Closer to zero-G than to 1G – Similar detrimental effects on the human body expected– Exercise routine will be the same as astronauts in zero-G

environment

Failure Mode & Effect Analysis # COMPONENT NAME COMPONENT DESCRIPTION/ FUNCTION FAILURE MODE CAUSE OF

FAILURE MODECONSEQUENCE OF

FAILURECRITICALITY OF

FAILURE MITIGATION

1

Electrolysis System Produces oxygen and hydrogen from water

Water Leak Bad Seal Loss of Water Low Inspection

2 Gas Leak Bad Seal Leak of O2 or H2 High Multiple Outlets/Inspection

3 Cathode Short Corrosion No production of O2 & H2 Low Inspection

4

Sabatier Reactor Uses H2 and CO2 to produce H20 and CH4

Gas Leak Corrosion/Bad Seal

Leak/Loss of H2, CO2, H2O, CH4 High Multiple Outlets/Inspection

5 Clogged Outlets Build up of particles Pressures Increases High Inspection

6

Lithium Candle Produces O2 from Lithium canisters

Fire Container Fails FIRE Very High Quality checks

7 Dud Reaction doesn't occur No production of O2 Medium Have Backups

8 Amine-bed System Scrubs CO2 and some trace contaminants Gas Leak Bad Seal Leak of CO2 Low Inspection

9 Water Treatment System UV Purification Power UV light particle/bacteria/chemical exposure High Inspection/ Replace

10

Water Pump System

Pump Lack of water supply Power failure/clog Insufficient water Medium Pump cleaning

11 Water Tank Contanmination Bad filter/poor sanitation

Occupany illness/vegetation damage High Water flush and recover

Failure Mode & Effect Analysis # COMPONENT NAME COMPONENT DESCRIPTION/ FUNCTION FAILURE MODE CAUSE OF

FAILURE MODECONSEQUENCE OF

FAILURECRITICALITY OF

FAILURE MITIGATION

12

Lavatory

Waste Pump Pump failure clog/power loss out of order latrine Medium Replace ump

13 piping pipe leak bad pipe/improper plumbing contamination Medium Inspection/ Replace

14

Greenhouse

Power supply power failure loss of power from EPS

Lack of heat and energy for plants Medium Backup power source

15 Water supply loss of water flow Pressure Pump fails Clogging of amine-bed Low Inspection/ Replace

16 Air filtration Bad air composition Bad filter/Gas leak plant poisoning High Replace filter/ other components

17 Water purification Water toxicity purifier failure plant poisoning High Replace water system/remove poisoned plants

18

Cabin Life Support ECLSS

DecompressionLarge air

evactuated/cabin breach

plant poisoning High Replace filter/ other components

19 Hypoxia/Hyperoxia

O2 generation failure/Bad atmophere readout

Air poisoning/ occupant suffocation/hyperventilatio

nHigh Inspection/ Replace/Emergency

protocols

20 Power failure power loss CO2 buildup/ air toxic High Inspection/ Replace/Emergency protocols

21 CO2/ Gas Poisoning gas filter/ leak Air poisoning High Air flush/Emergency protocols

BACKUP SLIDES

Radiation

• Solar Particle Events– Inside the crater

• Galactic Cosmic Radiation– Reduced on the Moon– Based on NASA-STD-3001 Vol 1 - 4.2.10.1 and F9 appendix

Nutrition Solutions

• Fruits and Vegetables– Types with less maintenance and more product– Provide the essential vitamins– Avoids bacteria and/or organisms to sustain growth

• Protein– Beans and soy products– can be grown with hydroponics– B12 vitamins/vaccination

Plant Growth and Development

• What are we growing?– Tomatoes, soybeans, peas, berries, etc.

• Environment– Clean area to limit infections and disease/high humidity

• Growth space• Estimated 7lbs food/sq. ft./harvest – number from current hydroponics

systems• Approximately 6 harvests/year (~60 days for growth), and food requirement of

3.5 lbs food/crewmember/day(not carbs) one can get a sq. ft. area req.• This number is around 245 sq. ft. but some excess food would be preferred in

case of emergencies. using 300 sq. ft.

Protein Solutions

• Sent from Earth• Beans, beans, beans…• B12 vitamins/vaccination• Different meats

H2O Flow Diagram

Tank 2

Other

Main Tank

Greenhouse

R

Drinking

R

Liquid Waste

Tank 3

Food Storage

• Refrigerators/Freezers• Food produced on the base can utilize sterilization

systems– Electronic-beam (E-beam) sterilization

• Food storage will be in the kitchen of the habitat

H2O Usage

• Drinking: 6424 L/year• O2(electrolysis): 1937 L/year• Other: 100 L/year

– Experiments– Medical

Total Amount of Water per Year: 10000 L

Air Composition

• Trace Contaminant Mitigation– Regenerative system

Crew

Trace Mit.

Oxygen Regeneration

• Oxygen Regeneration– Electrolysis– Necessary water usage

• Backup Oxygen– Lithium Canisters

Water

Electrolysis

Crew

Carbon Dioxide Scrubbing

• An regenerative amine swing-bed system• Sabatier Reaction System

– 4H2 + CO2 2H2O + CH4

– Water is added back to system• Back up scrubbing

– Lithium PeroxideCrew

Amine BedSabatier Reactor

Electrolysis