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.


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    Title :

    Prototype Space Mission SEBAC Biological Solid Waste Management System


    Additional title:

    Sae Technical Papers


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    International Conference On Environmental Systems ; 2004



    Publication date :

    2004-07-19




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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