Lightweight and Regenerable CO₂ and H₂O Sequestration System

The research introduces a compact, lightweight, and regenerable non-venting CO₂ and H₂O architecture for use in Portable Life Support Systems (PLSSs). The architecture integrates spray-based absorption and chemical stripping, featuring a novel gravity-independent Capillary Condensing Heat Exchanger (CCHX) to condense and separate water vapor. A fine-droplet spray reactor enhances CO₂ absorption into a low-viscosity ionic liquid (IL), maximizing efficiency while minimizing mass and volume. The CO₂-rich, droplet-laden flow then passes through a Multiplexed Inertial Filter (MIF), which captures and collects the IL for subsequent stripping and recirculation. For regeneration, a low-power chemical stripping process converts the CO₂ into a solid, storing it without venting. This approach eliminates the need for energy-intensive thermal/vacuum desorption or gas compression, maintaining a closed loop with continuous CO2 uptake and storage. The resulting solid can be reprocessed at a habitat, enabling repeated use. The system meets CO₂ and H₂O requirements for an eight-hour extravehicular activity while adhering to strict mass (<12 lbm) and volume (<10″×8″×5″) constraints critical for partial-gravity. By combining advanced transport technologies, lightweight materials, capillary-driven condensation, optimized IL spraying, and efficient chemical stripping, this design delivers superior resource efficiency, reduced mass, and reliable closed-loop CO₂/H₂O management.