# US 10,479,739 B2 · Integrated system for oxygen recovery for deep space mission

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- Number: US 10,479,739 B2
- Document ID: US10479739B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/586,537
- Filed: 2017-05-04
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-04
- Assignees: Honeywell International Inc.
- Applicants: Honeywell International Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen Yates; Alexander Bershitsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479739B2

## CPC

- C07C 1/12: from carbon dioxide with hydrogen
- C01B 3/56: by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids
- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C01B 2203/0272: containing a non-catalytic decomposition step
- C01B 2203/0405: Purification by membrane separation
- C01B 2203/065: using hydrotreating, e.g. hydrogenation, hydrodesulfurisation
- C01B 2203/1241: Natural gas or methane
- C01B 2203/145: At least two purification steps in parallel
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An environmental control system includes a carbon dioxide source; a compressor downstream of the carbon dioxide source; a Sabatier reactor downstream of the compressor, wherein the Sabatier reactor reacts carbon dioxide with hydrogen to produce methane and water; a water separator downstream of the Sabatier reactor, wherein the water separator separates hydrocarbons from water, wherein the hydrocarbons include methane; a pyrolysis assembly downstream of the water separator and upstream of the compressor, wherein the pyrolysis assembly pyrolyzes methane to produce carbon and hydrogen, wherein the pyrolysis assembly includes a pre-form that adheres carbon; and an oxygen generating assembly (OGA) downstream of the water separator and upstream of the compressor, wherein the OGA converts water to hydrogen and oxygen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An environmental control system, comprising:
a carbon dioxide source;
a compressor downstream of the carbon dioxide source;
a Sabatier reactor downstream of the compressor, wherein the Sabatier reactor produces methane and water;
a water separator downstream of the Sabatier reactor, wherein the water separator produces methane and water;
a pyrolysis assembly downstream of the water separator and upstream of the compressor, wherein the pyrolysis assembly includes a pre-form that adheres carbon and has a surface area/volume ratio of at least 20 cm−1, wherein the pyrolysis assembly produces hydrogen;
an oxygen generating assembly (OGA) directly downstream of the water separator, wherein the OGA produces hydrogen and oxygen; and
wherein hydrogen produced from the OGA mixes with carbon dioxide exiting the compressor and before the exiting carbon dioxide enters the Sabatier reactor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor receives hydrogen from the pyrolysis assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the Sabatier reactor receives carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source and receives hydrogen from the OGA.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pyrolysis assembly receives methane from the water separator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide source is a Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is in a gravity free environment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is in a deep space vehicle.

### Claim 8

An environmental control system, comprising:
a carbon dioxide source;
a compressor downstream of the carbon dioxide source;
a Sabatier reactor downstream of the compressor, wherein the Sabatier reactor reacts carbon dioxide with hydrogen;
a water separator downstream of the Sabatier reactor, wherein the water separator separates hydrocarbons from water, wherein the hydrocarbons include methane and ethane;
a pyrolysis assembly downstream of the water separator and upstream of the compressor, wherein the pyrolysis assembly includes a pre-form that adheres carbon, wherein the pyrolysis assembly pyrolyzes methane;
an oxygen generating assembly (OGA) directly downstream of the water separator, wherein the OGA electrolyzes water;
wherein hydrogen produced from the OGA mixes with carbon dioxide exiting the compressor and before the exiting carbon dioxide enters the Sabatier reactor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the pre-form comprises carbon fibers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the carbon fibers are tightly configured into criss-crossed layers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the carbon fibers are loosely and randomly arranged.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the pre-form includes alternating tight regions and loose regions of carbon fibers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the Sabatier reactor produces methane and water.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the pyrolysis assembly produces carbon, hydrogen, acetylene, and benzene.

### Claim 15

An environmental control system, comprising:
a carbon dioxide source;
a compressor downstream of the carbon dioxide source;
a Sabatier reactor downstream of the compressor, wherein the Sabatier reactor reacts carbon dioxide with hydrogen to produce methane and water;
a water separator downstream of the Sabatier reactor, wherein the water separator separates hydrocarbons from water, wherein the hydrocarbons include methane;
a pyrolysis assembly downstream of the water separator and upstream of the compressor, wherein the pyrolysis assembly pyrolyzes methane to produce carbon and hydrogen, wherein the pyrolysis assembly includes a pre-form that adheres carbon;
an oxygen generating assembly (OGA) directly downstream of the water separator, wherein the OGA electrolyzes water to hydrogen and oxygen;
wherein hydrogen produced from the OGA mixes with carbon dioxide exiting the compressor and before the exiting carbon dioxide enters the Sabatier reactor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the Sabatier reactor operates at 400° C. and 1 atm.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the pyrolysis assembly operates at 1100° C. and 20-100 torr.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the pre-form is removable from the pyrolysis assembly once the pre-form is loaded with carbon.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein oxygen produced by the OGA is routed to an environment for occupants.