scholarly journals Design suggestions on modified self-sustainable space toilet

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreyash A. Sakhare ◽  
Sourabh M. Pendkar ◽  
Nand Jee Kanu ◽  
Eva Gupta ◽  
Umesh Kumar Vates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Artificial Gravity ◽  
List Type ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Waste Storage ◽  
Interplanetary Missions

Abstract The present research investigates the design of compact and lightweight waste collection system (WCS) for interplanetary missions such as Mars, and the Moon as well as the space with the required features of NASA’s lunar loo challenge (released date: 25th June, 2020). Existing space toilets’ WCS store waste in small plastic bags and these bags are thrown in the space which increases the space junk. If these WCS are used on planets, they could pollute the planets. The newly designed—unisex and self-sustainable space toilet meets its objective of intimacy and warmth for the astronauts as it is equipped with all essential features such as (a) the basin for vomit collection, (b) the rotating waste storage based on the mechanism of artificial gravity, and (c) the noiseless bellow pump for air flow flushing system (AFFS). The WCS is designed for the storage of urine, faeces, vomit, diarrhoea, and menses. In the first half of the research article, the focus is kept on improving self-sustainability of the present WCS. In the second half of the present investigation analyses are done for multiphase flows of the CFD analysis in ANSYS fluent to simulate the flow of air through the nozzle provided with (a) the seat, (b) the urine funnel, and (c) the basin for air flow flushing system (AFFS). The design of the present self-sustainable space toilet proposed herewith is justified suitable for different gravitational conditions such as (a) Mars (3.721 m/s2), (b) the Moon (1.62 m/s2), and (c) the zero—or microgravity i.e., the space gravity. The proposed solar-operated WCS could be integrated to function with (a) water recovery and management (WRM) system, (b) the inbuilt composting unit, and (c) the bioregenerative life support system (BLSS). Furthermore, the assessment of the required electrical energy derived from the solar energy (harnessed using efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) modules) is conceptualized for the effective functioning of the present self-sustainable WCS. Article highlights The present investigation explores into the design of lightweight and compact WCS for interplanetary missions such as Mars and the Moon, as well as space missions with the functionality listed by NASA's lunar toilet competition (released date: 25th June, 2020). The actual space toilets, which are used on the International Space Station (ISS), are not designed to withstand varying gravity circumstances. The new advanced—unisex and self-sustaining space toilet achieves its goal of intimacy and warmth for astronauts by including all necessary features such as (a) a vomit collection basin, (b) rotating waste storage based on artificial gravity mechanism, and (c) a noiseless bellow pump for air flow flushing system (AFFS).

scholarly journals Physical Assets by SHS in the Framework of ISRU and ISFR Paradigms for Human Space Missions on the Moon

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
G. Corrias ◽  
R. Licheri ◽  
R. Orrù ◽  
G. Cao
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Starting Mixture ◽  
The Sixties ◽  
Important Processing ◽  
Physical Assets

<p>In this work a brief overview of the most important technologies for space exploration, with particular emphasis on the Moon missions, is presented. It is shown that the focus has been on the technologies to extract consumables (O<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O, N<sub>2</sub>) for human life-support replenishment. The fact that the exploitation of extraterrestrial resources to obtain the desired materials during each ongoing mission, which has been the subject of several investigations since the sixties of the last century, is discussed. The paradigms ISRU (In Situ Resources Utilization) and ISFR (In Situ Fabrication and Repair) are then introduced. In particular, one of the most important process for the production of oxygen, i.e. the reduction of ilmenite by hydrogen is analyzed. In addition, the current iteration of the roadmap which identifies two feasible pathways for human missions after ISS (International Space Station) is addressed. Next, the fabrication of Lunar physical assets is taken into account, while focusing particularly on those processes where combustion-like reactions are exploited. The main results recently obtained in the literature in this regards are also summarized. In particular, the choice of the reducing agent and the influence of the most important processing parameters (composition of the starting mixture, gas pressure level, and gravity conditions) are examined in a systematic manner.</p>

Use of rotary vacuum distillation for water recovery from urine and hygiene water aboard the space station

2020 ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
Petr O. ANDREYCHUK ◽  
Dmitry V. ARAKCHEEV ◽  
Leonid S. BOBE ◽  
Aleksandr G ZHELEZNYAKOV ◽  
Aleksey A. KOCHETKOV ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Reverse Osmosis ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Vacuum Distillation ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Type System ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Water Recovery

Due to planning of the Moon and deep space exploration programs, the crew sanitary hygiene support with a closed loop of hygiene water assumes great importance. Currently, Russia and the USA are investigating the hygiene water recovery process using reverse osmosis as the most energy efficient method. In the meantime, the urine water processor (SRV-U-RS) based on vacuum distillation method with thermal energy recovery has been developed in Russia and is being tested aboard the ISS. The processor energy consumption is comparable with the energy consumption in hygiene water recovery through reverse osmosis. Therefore, research and testing of a prototype integrated urine water and hygiene water processor as applied to the space station conditions have been arranged and conducted. The investigations demonstrated the recoverability of the hygiene water, including its mixture with urine by vacuum distillation in science hardware SRV-U-RS-type system. The results obtained ensure development of an integrated urine water and hygiene water processing system. Key words: space station, life support system, water recovery, distillation, hygiene water, urine, energy recovery.

Developing a vitamin greenhouse for the life support system of the international space station and for future interplanetary missions

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1552-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.A. Berkovich ◽  
N.M. Krivobok ◽  
Yu.Ye. Sinyak ◽  
S.O. Smolyanina ◽  
Yu.I. Grigoriev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Support System ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Life Support System ◽  
International Space ◽  
Interplanetary Missions

scholarly journals Urine Treatment on the International Space Station: Current Practice and Novel Approaches

Membranes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Volpin ◽  
Umakant Badeti ◽  
Chen Wang ◽  
Jiaxi Jiang ◽  
Jörg Vogel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Human Urine ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
International Space ◽  
One Year ◽  
Treat All ◽  
Urine Processing

A reliable, robust, and resilient water recovery system is of paramount importance on board the International Space Station (ISS). Such a system must be able to treat all sources of water, thereby reducing resupply costs and allowing for longer-term space missions. As such, technologies able to dewater urine in microgravity have been investigated by different space agencies. However, despite over 50 years of research and advancements on water extraction from human urine, the Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) and the Water Processor Assembly (WPA) now operating on the ISS still achieve suboptimal water recovery rates and require periodic consumables resupply. Additionally, urine brine from the treatment is collected for disposal and not yet reused. These factors, combined with the need for a life support system capable of tolerating even dormant periods of up to one year, make the research in this field ever more critical. As such, in the last decade, extensive research was conducted on the adaptation of existing or emerging technologies for the ISS context. In virtue of having a strong chemical resistance, small footprint, tuneable selectivity and versatility, novel membrane-based processes have been in focus for treating human urine. Their hybridisation with thermal and biological processes as well as the combination with new nanomaterials have been particularly investigated. This article critically reviews the UPA and WPA processes currently in operation on the ISS, summarising the research directions and needs, highlighted by major space agencies, necessary for allowing life support for missions outside the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Additionally, it reviews the technologies recently proposed to improve the performance of the system as well as new concepts to allow for the valorisation of the nutrients in urine or the brine after urine dewatering.

Analysis and calculation of the process of low-pressure reverse osmosis during recycling of hygienic water

2019 ◽  
pp. 28-36
Author(s):  
Leonid S. Bobe ◽  
Nikolay A. Salnikov
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Reverse Osmosis ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
Life Support System ◽  
Cleaning Agent ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Pressure Channel

Analysis and calculation have been conducted of the process of low-pressure reverse osmosis in the membrane apparatus of the system for recycling hygiene water for the space station. The paper describes the physics of the reverse osmosis treatment and determines the motive force of the process, which is the difference of effective pressures (operating pressure minus osmotic pressure) in the solution near the surface of the membrane and in the purified water. It is demonstrated that the membrane scrubbing action is accompanied by diffusion outflow of the cleaning agent components away from the membrane. The mass transfer coefficient and the difference of concentrations (and, accordingly, the difference of osmotic pressures) in the boundary layer of the pressure channel can be determined using an extended analogy between mass transfer and heat transfer. A procedure has been proposed and proven in an experiment for calculating the throughput of a reverse osmosis apparatus purifying the hygiene water obtained through the use of a cleaning agent used in sanitation and housekeeping procedures on Earth. Key words: life support system, hygiene water, water processing, low-pressure reverse osmosis, space station.

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