Rocket propellant production on Mars using microchannel technology

I&EC 139

Jamie Holladay1, Kriston P. Brooks, kriston.brooks@pnl.gov1, Paul H. Humble, Paul.Humble@pnl.gov2, Brian P. Lilley2, Jianli Hu, jianli.hu@pnl.gov1, and Thomas Simon3. (1) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, (2) Battelle, Pacific Northwest Division, Richland WA, 99352, (3) Nasa, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058
In–Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), the ability to use local resources to “live off the land,” is essential in expanding robotic and human extraterrestrial exploration, establishing a long-term human presence beyond low Earth orbit, and enabling the commercial development of space. To attain the goals of high reliability, high efficiency, low mass, and low power, the use of microchannel technology for oxygen and methane propellant production was investigated. This presentation will review development of a compact Sabatier reactor (SR) and a reverse water-gas-shift reactor (RWGS). The SR converts CO2 and H2 into methane and water. Using electrolysis, the water can be split into oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen could be recovered, while the hydrogen is recycled. To make up the rest of the oxygen, a RWGS converts CO2 and H2 into CO and water. The water is recovered and used to make up the needed oxygen, while the CO is released to the atmosphere.
 

Process Intensification, Sponsored by Novel Chemistry with Industrial Applications Sub-Division
1:30 PM-3:55 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 252/254, Oral

Division of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006