WATER RECLAMATION: URINE PRETREATMENT AND PHASE CHANGE PROCESSING

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Current phase change technology for the reclamation of water from urine and other brines is represented by two processes: the Air Evaporation System used aboard the Mir, and Vapor Compression Distillation (VCD) to be used aboard ISSA. These two systems and methods of urine pre-treatment are discussed below. More information on two related systems, Thermoelectric Integrated Memebrane Evaporation Subsystem (TIMES), and the Wick Evaporator are provided under Advanced Life Support Systems (ALSS).

URINE PRE-TREATMENT

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REFERENCES:

Howard, S.G., and Miernik, J.H., An Analysis of Urine Pretreatment Methods for Use on Space Station Freedom, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 911549, presented 21st International Conference on Environmental Systems, San Francisco, CA, July 15-18, 1991.

Hutchens, C.F., Rethke, D.W., Urine Pretreatment Methods and Testing for Micro- Gravity Application, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 951585, presented at 25th International Conference on Environmental Systems, San Diego, CA, July 10-13, 1995.

RUSSIAN AIR EVAPORATION SYSTEM

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REFERENCES:

Kennedy, J.J., Buchmann, O.A., MacKnight, A.L., Samsonov, N.M., Bobe, L.S., and Novikov, V.M., An Advanced Water Recovery Program, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 961336, presented 26th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Monterey, CA, July 1996.

Samsonov, N.M., Bobe, L.S., Novikov, V.M., Pinsky, B.J., Rykhlov, N.V., Soloukhin, V.A., Farafonov, N.S., Filonenko, V.B., Rifert, V.G., and Rakov, V.V., Problems of Developing Systems for Water Reclamation from Urine for Perspective Space Stations, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 961409, presented at 26th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Monterey, CA, July 8-11, 1996.

Samsonov, N.M., Bobe, L.S., Novikov, V.M., Farafonov, N.S., Abramov, G.K., Pinsky, B.J., Grigorov, E.I., Zaitsev, E.N., Protasov, N.N., Komolov, V.V., Grigoriev, A.I., and Sinjak, J.E., Water Supply Based on Water Reclamation from Humidity Condensate and Urine on a Space Station, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 961408, presented at 26th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Monterey, CA, July 8-11, 1996.

Samsonov, N.M., Bobe, L.S., Novikov, V.M., Pinsky, B.J., Rakov, V.V., Farafonov, N.S., Rifert, V.G., Barabash, P.A., Protasov, N.N., and Komolov, V.V., Development of Urine Processor Distillation Hardware for Space Stations, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 951605, presented at 25th International Conference on Environmental Systems, San Diego, CA, July 10-13, 1995.

VAPOR COMPRESSION DISTILLATION

Vapor Compression Distillation (VCD) is the process selected for primary treatement of urine aboard ISSA. The process uses a thin walled rotating drum. Contaminated water enters the drum and coats its surface as a thin layer. Water is evaporated from the surface of the drum. The water vapor loaded air is first compressed and then condensed on the opposite side of the drum. Compression allows the water to liquify at a higher temperature than that at which it was originally evaporated. The condensed urine distillate flows out of the system. The latent heat of vaporization is reclaimed in the condenser and conducted across the rotating drum where it energizes the evaporation of more contaminated water. The process produces a urine distillate and a brine. Energy requirements for this process are in the range of 77-110 W-hr/kg.

REFERENCES:

Miernik, J.H., Shah, B.H., and McGriff, C.F., Waste Water Processing Technology for Space Station Freedom: Comparative Test Data Analysis, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 911416, presented 21st International Conference on Environmental Systems, San Francisco, CA, July 15-18, 1991.

Noble, L.D., Jr., Schubert, F.H., Graves, R.E., and Miernik, J.H., An Assessment of the Readiness of Vapor Compression Distillation for Spacecraft Wastewater Processing, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 911454, presented 21st International Conference on Environmental Systems, San Francisco, CA, July 15-18, 1991.

Noble, L.D., Schubert, F.H., Pudoka, R.J., and Miernik, J.H., Phase Change Water Recovery for the Space Station Freedom and Future Exploration Missions, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 901294, presented at 20th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Williamsburg, VA, July 9-12, 1990.

Orlando, R., Thouvenin, X., Dellut, M., Desjean, M.C., and Witt, J., Development of a Urine and Waste Water Separator, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 961407, presented at 26th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Monterey, CA, July 8-11,1996.

Schmidt, R.N., Water Recovery by Vapor Compression Distillation, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 891444, presented 19th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems, San Diego, CA, July 24-26, 1989.

Zdankiewicz, E.M., and Chu, J., Phase Change Water Recovery for Space Station - Parametric Testing and Analysis, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 860986, presented 16th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems, San Diego, CA, July 14-16, 1986.

Zdankiewicz, E.M., and Price, D.F., Phase Change Water Processing for Space Station, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 851346, presented 15th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems, San Francisco, CA, July 1985.

Zelibor, J.L., Huff, T.L., Kilgore, M.V., Jr., Otey, N.R., Traweek, M.S., and Whitman, G.A., Vapor Compression Distillation Subsystem Evaluation: Microbiological Analysis of System Hardware, Pretreatment Solutions and Product Water, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 891551, presented 19th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems, San Diego, CA, July 24-26, 1989.

Copyright © 1996, James E. Atwater