We provide an update on the inaugural experimental results from the newly-commissioned ZeoDe (Zeolite Capacity Degradation) testbed at the UC Davis Center for Spaceflight Research. The testbed is a chemically functional CO2 removal system that is designed to generate system degradation data for AI-driven intelligent prognostics through the introduction of humidity into the system. Degradation of a Zeolite bed by introduction of humidity can occur in a space habitat due to leaks or other faults. Even low levels of humidity build-up within the reactor bed leads to degradation of the sorbent's CO2 removal capacity. Thus, the study of sorbent degradation is of paramount importance to any zeolite-based CO2 removal system deployed on future spacecraft. ZeoDe was created specifically to support research in the NASA-sponsored "Habitats Optimized for Missions of Exploration" (HOME) Space Technology Research Institute. The HOME institute is creating a foundation of technology for smart deep-space habitats that can both sustain human residents and sustain themselves without human residents. A vital element of any human-rated mission is the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), composed of multiple subsystems, including an Air Revitalization subsystem that maintains a breathable atmosphere. Tracking performance, identifying performance degradation, predicting the remaining useful life of components, and performing maintenance on such a critical system are paramount to creating a safe, habitable environment and are thus key research areas within HOME. This paper will report on the commissioning, design validation, performance characterization, and initial results of introducing low-level humidity on the ability of the Zeolite bed to adsorb CO2.
Ivey et al. (Sun,) studied this question.