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Advanced PPA Reactor and Process DevelopmentDesign and development of a second generation Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) reactor is currently underway as part of NASA s Atmosphere Revitalization Resource Recovery effort. By recovering up to 75% of the hydrogen currently lost as methane in the Sabatier reactor effluent, the PPA helps to minimize life support resupply costs for extended duration missions. To date, second generation PPA development has demonstrated significant technology advancements over the first generation device by doubling the methane processing rate while, at the same time, more than halving the required power. One development area of particular interest to NASA system engineers is fouling of the PPA reactor with carbonaceous products. As a mitigation plan, NASA MSFC has explored the feasibility of using an oxidative plasma based upon metabolic CO2 to regenerate the reactor window and gas inlet ports. The results and implications of this testing are addressed along with the advanced PPA reactor development work.
Document ID
20120015324
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wheeler, Raymond
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Aske, James
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Abney, Morgan B.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Miller, Lee A.
(Ecls Technologies, LLC Huntsville, AL, United States)
Greenwood, Zachary
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
July 15, 2012
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
M11-1309
Meeting Information
Meeting: 42nd International Conference on Environmental Systems
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 15, 2012
End Date: July 19, 2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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