Regenerable CO2 Control System for Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (RCCS for SCBA)

Self Contained Breather Apparatus’ (SCBA’s) are a respiratory protection device that provide an independent supply of breathing air, and they are a critical piece of equipment for facilitating operations in hazardous environments. Closed circuit SCBA’s contain and circulate air that is exhaled in order to conserve oxygen and extend their usable duration, and as a result, they require technology to remove the metabolically generated CO2  from the circulating air.  The primary method that is used for doing so utilizes a non-regenerable sorbent which adsorbs CO2 in a highly exothermic reaction. The sorbent bed requires a large mass and volume and also requires use of a supplementary cooling system in order to mitigate the heat generated from the adsorption process, also contributing to size and weight allocation which could otherwise be used for oxygen.  Any method for increasing the lifetime and decreasing the overall volume and mass of the SCBA would represent a highly valuable improvement to the system, and the development of a regenerable CO2 control system could allow improvements in all of these areas.         Reaction Systems intends to develop a regenerable CO2 control system that accomplishes all of these goals.  The system will utilize a pressure swing adsorption system which can be continually operated without heat generation, thereby eliminating capacity limitations and the need for additional cooling.  The system will utilize a sorbent which is capable of removing CO2 at high metabolic rates while requiring less mass and volume than traditionally used sorbents.  The sorbent will be actively regenerable and exhibit a high cyclic uptake capacity for CO2 in a humid environment.  The sorbent will be contained within a custom housing module further reduces heat generation and increases the adsorption and desorption rates in both beds. The system will not require maintenance or replacement of sorbent in between uses, and it will be integrated into a modular component which can be incorporated into a closed circuit SCBA.