This paper reports on fabrication, installation, start-up and shakedown of a full-scale prototype solid waste management system designed to be a principal component in a bio-regenerative solid waste management system to support a 6-person crew on long-term space missions. System design is based upon a patented process for odorless bioconversion of organic solid wastes to biogas and compost by anaerobic digestion. The system consists of five reactors and two gas-liquid separators designed for operation under conditions of micro-gravity. During any week of operation, one reactor is used for feed collection and compaction, three for stage-wise anaerobic composting, and one for post-treatment aerobic stabilization, while simultaneously serving as a bio-filter in the pretreatment of cabin air within the air revitalization subsystem. Each reactor carries its one-week charge of feedstock through all five stages of bioconversion in completing a five-week sequential batch cycle. Preliminary operating performance for the anaerobic stages is presented, along with plans for further design improvement and integration with other ALS subsystems.
Prototype Space Mission SEBAC Biological Solid Waste Management System
Sae Technical Papers
International Conference On Environmental Systems ; 2004
2004-07-19
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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