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DEVELOPMENT OF A LIQUID-SORBENT/MEMBRANE-CONTACTOR SUBSYSTEM FOR CO2 REMOVAL
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LARGE CREW NUMBERS, LONG-DURATION MISSIONS, AND SEVERE LAUNCH AND RESUPPLY PENALTIES MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGENERATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS (ECLSS) A NECESSITY FOR BASES ON THE MOON OR MARS, AS WELL AS FOR DEEP-SPACE FLIGHTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE, CONTINUOUS ECLSS SYSTEMFOR CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL. THE FOCUS OF THE PHASE I PROGRAM WILL BE THE PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL, MEMBRANE-BASED SYSTEM FOR CO2 REMOVAL. RATHER THAN USING A POLYMERIC MEMBRANE THAT WOULD SELECTIVELY REMOVE CO2 FROM AIR, WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM THAT USES A MICROPOROUS MEMBRANE (IN A "MEMBRANE CONTACTOR" CONFIGURATION) IN COMBINATION WITH A LIQUID SORBENT. THIS NOVEL COMBINATION REPRESENTS A LIGHTWEIGHT, ENERGY-EFFICIENTALTERNATIVE TO THE CURRENT SYSTEMS BEING DEVELOPED BY NASA--A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE IN THE STATE OF THE ART.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *