PORTABLE CATHODE-AIR-VAPOR-FEED ELECTROCHEMICAL MEDICAL OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIO…

Public award description

PORTABLE CATHODE-AIR-VAPOR-FEED ELECTROCHEMICAL MEDICAL OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS PRESENT SIGNIFICANT NEW CHALLENGES TO CREW HEALTH CARE CAPABILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF ON-BOARD OXYGEN RESOURCES. THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND FUTURE EXPLORATION VEHICLES REQUIRE A LIGHT WEIGHT, COMPACT, PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR TECHNOLOGY (OCT) THAT CAN PROVIDE MEDICAL GRADE OXYGEN FROM THE AMBIENT CABIN AIR. CURRENT OCTS ARE HEAVY, BULKY, HAVE A NARROW OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE (AMBIENT TO 40 DEGREES C), AND REQUIRE 15 TO 30 MINUTES START-UP TIME TO REACH THEIR FULL OPERATING CAPACITY. LYNNTECH'S PROPOSED ELECTROCHEMICAL OCT SOLVES THESE ISSUES BY OPERATING THE OCT WITH A CATHODE-AIR VAPOR FEED, UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL ELECTROCHEMICAL OCTS WHICH REQUIRE A LIQUID WATER FEED. THIS IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE USE OF IN-HOUSE DEVELOPED PROPRIETARY NANOCOMPOSITE PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE AND OXYGEN REDUCTION/EVOLUTION CATALYST TECHNOLOGIES. CATHODE-AIR VAPOR FEED OPERATION ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR A BULKY ON-BOARD WATER SUPPLY, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE COMPLEXITY OF THE BALANCE-OF-PLANT, AND GREATLY INCREASES THE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY. LYNNTECH'S OCT WILL BE A QUARTER THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF CONVENTIONAL OCTS, BE CAPABLE OF INSTANT START-UP, AND HAVE AN OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE OF 10 DEGREES C TO 110 DEGREES C.