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