REMOVAL OF IMPURITIES FROM WATER HAS BEEN STUDIED EXTENSIVELY BY NASA IN THE CONTEXT OF WATER RECOVERY FROM…

Public award description

REMOVAL OF IMPURITIES FROM WATER HAS BEEN STUDIED EXTENSIVELY BY NASA IN THE CONTEXT OF WATER RECOVERY FROM WASTEWATER. HOWEVER, THE WATER RECOVERY SYSTEM AND URINE PROCESSOR ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CAN ONLY RECOVER AS MUCH AS 90% OF THE WATER (CARTER, 2009). COMPLETE DEWATERING IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THESE TECHNOLOGIES SINCE THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR HANDLING SOLIDS AND PROCESSING IS STOPPED BEFORE PRECIPITATES FORM. THE ONLY WATER RECOVERY PROCESS THAT CAN HANDLE SOLIDS IS THE AIR EVAPORATION SYSTEM (AES) WHICH USES POROUS RAYON WICKS BUT ITS PERFORMANCE IS SEVERELY LIMITED BY ITS LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MICROBIAL GROWTH. WE PROPOSE TO IMPROVE ON THE AES BY DESIGNING AN EVAPORATION SYSTEM USING THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE POROUS MEDIA. THE HIGH SURFACE AREA AND POROSITY OF THESE POROUS MEDIA COUPLED WITH THE USE OF VAPOR-COMPRESSION DISTILLATION RESULTS IN A NOVEL SYSTEM THAT CAN RECOVER ALMOST 100% OF THE WATER AT THE DESIRED PURITY WITH HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND MINIMAL CONSUMABLES.