Development Status for a Combined Solid Oxide Co-Electrolyzer and Carbon Formation Reactor System for Oxygen Regeneration
Open accessAbstract
A critical component in spacecraft life support loop closure is the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2, produced by the crew) from the cabin atmosphere and chemical reduction of this CO2 to recover the oxygen.In 2015, we initiated development of an oxygen recovery system for life support applications consisting of a solid oxide co-electrolyzer (SOCE) and a carbon formation reactor (CFR).The SOCE electrolyzes a combined stream of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) gas mixtures to produce synthesis gas (e.g., CO and H2 gas) and pure dry oxygen as separate products.This SOCE is being developed from a NASA GRC solid oxide fuel cell and stack design originally developed for aeronautics longduration power applications.The CFR, being developed by pHMatter LLC, takes the CO and H2 output from the SOCE, and converts it primarily to solid carbon (C(s)) and H2O and CO2.Although the solid carbon accumulates in the CFR, the innovative design allows easy removal of the carbon product, requiring minimal crew member (CM) time and low resupply mass (1.0 kg/year/CM) for replacement of the solid carbon catalyst, a significant improvement over previous Bosch reactor approaches.In this work, we will provide a status of our Phase I efforts in the development and testing of both the SOCE and CFR prototype units, along with an initial assessment of the combined SOCE-CFR system, including a mass and power projections, along with an estimate of the oxygen recovery rate.
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The most widely adopted methods for CO2 removal are the Sabatier and Bosch reactions.
“The most widely adopted methods are the Sabatier and Bosch reactions, in which CO2 reacts with H2 (from the abovementioned water electrolysis) to produce water with methane (Sabatier reaction), 37,38 or water with elemental carbon (Bosch reaction). 39”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [39]
The Introduction says the ISS uses the Sabatier process to reduce CO2 with hydrogen, producing methane and water. The section on basic CFR operation gives the Bosch reaction as CO2 plus hydrogen producing elemental carbon and water. The paper discusses previous Bosch reactors, but does not establish that Sabatier and Bosch are the most widely adopted methods. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese reactions can result in a 50%-78% oxygen recovery rate.
“These reactions can result in a 50%-78% oxygen recovery rate. 39”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [39]
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Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review
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- Authors
- Green, R. D., Matter, P. H., Holt, C., Beachy, M., Gaydos, J., Farmer, S. C., & Setlock, J. A.
- Affiliations
- Glenn Research Center (US)
- pH Matter (United States) (US)
- Venue
- AIAA SPACE 2016
- Published
- 2016-09-09
- OpenAlex
- W2508202654
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.74
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- AIAA SPACE 2016 (publishedVersion)
- NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Marshall Space Flight Center
- Space Technology Mission Directorate
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Catalysis › Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies
- Keywords
- oxygen regeneration, carbon dioxide removal, spacecraft life support, syngas, solid oxide fuel cell stack
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