(359b) On the Use of Structured Adsorbents in Ptsa Cycles for CO2 Removal from Spacecraft Cabins

The overall goal of this project is to design a pressure temperature swing adsorption (PTSA) process that utilizes a structured 13X adsorbent. This TSA cycle design would be perhaps a drop-in replacement for the PTSA unit on board the ISS or it may be a grass roots design for future applications. This design is based on simulations being carried out with the USC dynamic adsorption process simulator (DAPS) and validated experimentally using the USC single bed apparatus in a PTSA mode.

Two different structured adsorbents are being considered. One consists of a steel foil support coated with a layer of 13X crystals that is being developed by Catacel and the other consists of a metal microfibrous media with entrapped ground and sieved 13X adsorbent particles. These tow structured adsorbents are being contrasted against traditional beaded 13X. This study is evaluating the performance in terms of CO₂/N₂ inside the bed and outside the bed breakthrough curves, and CO₂ removal during PTSA cyclic operation. The latest results of this project will be presented.