Search Results

Fuel cells have become a very important part of the energy supply in past, current and future space activities. In the past they have been used in the Gemini missions - their first application in space - and later in the Apollo programme. Fuel cells will be employed in future American, Russian and European space vehicles where significantly larger electrical power generation is envisaged compared to early applications. This increased capacity is linked to a correspondingly larger amount of waste heat which must be managed in turn. Effective study of how best to accommodate such fuel cell systems into a space vehicle and of the impact on other subsystems - e.g. thermal control - requires a suitable simulation tool.

The Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) equipment is one of the most sensitive subsystems aboard a manned spacecraft and the ECLSS envisaged for oncoming European programs such as Columbus or Hermes will be very complex in nature. Its development relies on the intense use of computer software during all phases of design and operations. A modern ECLS system consists of a variety of components and assemblies and contains a number of loop-type structures where components mutually influence each other. The computer software required to support the ECLSS engineer can be categorised in two groups. ‘Design Software’ is mainly employed on component and assembly level and aids the engineer in reaching the required design point. ‘Simulation Software’ is rather employed on subsystem and system level and allows to analyse a given lay-out or design and to obtain performance data for a wide range of conditions.