With the new direction of NASA to emphasize the exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond, quick development and demonstration of efficient systems for In‐Situ Resources Utilization (ISRU) is more critical and timely than ever before. Affordable planning and execution of prolonged manned space missions depend upon the utilization of local resources and the waste products which are formed in manned spacecraft and surface bases. This paper presents current development of miniaturized chemical processing systems that combine microchannel reactor design with nanofabricated catalysts. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are used to produce a nanostructure within microchannel reactors, as support for catalysts. By virtue of their nanoscale dimensions, nanotubes geometrically restrict the catalyst particle size that can be supported upon the tube walls. By confining catalyst particles to sizes smaller than the CNT diameter, a more uniform catalyst particle size distribution may be maintained. The high dispersion permitted by the vast surface area of the nanoscale material serves to retain the integrity of the catalyst by reducing sintering or coalescence. Additionally, catalytic efficiency increases with decreasing catalyst particle size (reflecting higher surface area per unit mass) while chemical reactivity frequently is enhanced at the nanoscale. Particularly significant is the catalyst exposure. Rather than being confined within a porous material or deposited upon a 2‐d surface, the catalyst is fully exposed to the reactant gases by virtue of the nanofabricated support structure. The combination of microchannel technology with nanofabricated catalysts provides a synergistic effect, enhancing both technologies with the potential to produce much more efficient systems than either technology alone. The development of highly efficient microchannel reactors will be applicable to multiple ISRU programs. By selection of proper nanofabricated catalysts, the microchannel reactors can be designed for the processes that generate the most benefit for each mission, from early demonstration missions to long term settlements.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    MicroChannel Reactors for ISRU Applications Using Nanofabricated Catalysts


    Beteiligte:

    Kongress:

    SPACE TECH.& APPLIC.INT.FORUM-STAIF 2006: 10th Conf Thermophys Applic Microgravity; 23rd Symp Space Nucl Pwr & Propulsion; 4th Conf Human/Robotic Tech & Nat'l Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp on New Frontiers & Future Concepts ; 2006 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Erschienen in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 813 , 1 ; 1130-1137


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    20.01.2006


    Format / Umfang :

    8 pages





    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    Microchannel Reactors for ISRU Applications Using Nanofabricated Catalysts

    Carranza, S. / Makel, D. B. / Wal, R. L. V. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    Microchannel Reactors for ISRU Applications

    Carranza, S. / Makel, D. B. / Blizman, B. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Microchannel Reactors for ISRU Applications

    Carranza, Susana / Makel, Darby B. / Blizman, Brandon et al. | American Institute of Physics | 2005


    Microchannel CO Methanation Reactors for Martian and Lunar ISRU

    Dagle, Robert / Wegeng, Robert | AIAA | 2008


    Lunar ISRU

    Rapp, Donald | Springer Verlag | 2018