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This paper describes the analysis on integration requirements, CO2 compressor in particular, for integration of Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) and CO2 Reduction Assembly (CRA) as a part of the Node 3 project previously conducted at JSC/NASA. A system analysis on the volume and operation pressure range of the CO2 accumulator was conducted. The hardware and operational configurations of the CO2 compressor were developed. The performance and interface requirements of the compressor were specified. An existing Four-Bed Molecular Sieve CO2 removal computer model was modified into a CDRA model and used in analyzing the requirements of the CDRA CO2 compressor. This CDRA model was also used in analyzing CDRA operation parameters that dictate CO2 pump sizing. Strategy for the pump activation was also analyzed.

A solid amine based Regenerative CO2 Removal System (RCRS) has been selected by NASA/JSC for extended Orbiter missions. To better understand the performance of solid amine, a bench scale solid amine test stand was built at JSC. The core of the test stand is a 1″ diameter by 3″ long adsorption bed, which was packed with solid amine adsorbent along with a heat transfer material, Duocel. The test bed was designed for evaluating mass and heat transfer performance of the solid amine system under various operating conditions. The paper will discuss the design and construction details of the test bed, as well as test results, including adsorption breakthrough, adsorption and desorption of CO2 and H2O vapor. A model for predicting the performance of regenerative CO2 and H2O vapor adsorption of the solid amine system under various operating conditions has been developed in parallel with the testing of the solid amine test stand.