CO2 Removal for Closed Loop Breathing Systems Using Continuously Regenerated Sorbents

Creare proposes to utilize an advanced amine-based sorbent contained within a novel integrated CO2 Adsorber/Regenerator Core (CO2-ARC) to enable continuously regenerated CO2 scrubbing within a closed-circuit breathing apparatus (rebreather). Creare’s proposed CO2-ARC has no expendable components and requires no heat exchange with the ambient environment or additional heat sink material such as ice or other phase change material to be included in the rebreather system. It only requires power provided by the included rechargeable batteries. CO2-ARC is lightweight and low volume compared to the equivalent non-regenerable sorbent and phase change material it replaces. In Phase I, we will design a subscale CO2-ARC; conduct tests at simulated rebreather conditions; measure the cyclical performance of the sorbent and subsystem; and produce a concept design for a full-scale system based on the Phase I results and lessons learned.