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US 8,985,474 B2Granted
Space humidity control systems
AssigneeParagon Space Development Corporation
InventorTaber K. MacCallum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods utilizing water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential across a chemically-selective membrane to remove water vapor from a habitable spacecraft environment(s). The system preferably utilizes heat from an exothermic CO2 removal process to prevent condensation at the chemically-selective membrane.
Claims33
A system, relating to assisting removing water vapor from at least one breathable atmosphere within at least one enclosed environment, said system comprising:
- a) at least one water-vapor remover structured and arranged to remove the water vapor from at least one airflow derived from the at least one breathable atmosphere;
- b) wherein said at least one water-vapor remover comprises
- i) at least one chemically-selective passage structured and arranged to provide selective passage of the water vapor based on chemical affinity, and
- ii) at least one transport-driver structured and arranged to drive transport of the water vapor across said at least one chemically-selective passage;
- c) wherein said at least one transport-driver comprises at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential provider structured and arranged to provide at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure differential across said at least one chemically-selective passage;
- d) wherein said at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential provider comprises at least one exposure pathway structured and arranged to expose said at least one chemically-selective passage to at least one ambient environment external of the at least one enclosed environment;
- and
- e) wherein said at least one water-vapor remover is structured and arranged to selectively purge the water vapor from the at least one airflow through said at least one chemically-selective passage to the at least one ambient environment when at least one water-vapor partial pressure of the at least one ambient environment is less than that of the at least one airflow.
5 more elements
A system, relating to assisting removing water vapor from at least one breathable atmosphere within at least one enclosed environment, said system comprising:
- a) a set of water-vapor removers each water-vapor remover of said set structured and arranged to remove the water vapor from at least one airflow derived from the at least one breathable atmosphere;
- b) wherein each said water-vapor remover comprises at least one chemically-selective membrane structured and arranged to provide selective passage of the water vapor based on chemical affinity;
- and
- c) at least one transport-driver structured and arranged to drive transport of the water vapor across said at least one chemically-selective membrane;
- d) wherein said at least one transport-driver comprises at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential provider structured and arranged to provide at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure differential across said at least one chemically-selective membrane;
- e) wherein said at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential provider comprises at least one exposure pathway structured and arranged to enable exposure of said at least one chemically-selective membrane to at least one gas-pressure region having at least one water-vapor partial pressure lower than that of the at least one airflow;
- f) wherein said at least one exposure pathway comprises at least one isolator valve structured and arranged to reversibly isolate either one of said water-vapor removers from said at least one exposure pathway;
- and
- g) wherein operation of each said water-vapor removers is independently terminatable by closing of said at least one isolator valve.
6 more elements
A system, relating to assisting removing metabolic water vapor from at least one habitable spacecraft environment, comprising:
- a) water-vapor-remover means for removing the metabolic water vapor from the at least one habitable spacecraft environment;
- b) wherein said water-vapor remover means comprises
- i) chemically-selective-passage means for allowing the selective passage of the metabolic water vapor based on chemical affinity, and
- ii) transport-driver means for driving transport of the metabolic water vapor across said chemically-selective passage means;
- c) wherein said transport-driver means comprises water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential provider means for providing at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure differential across said chemically-selective passage means;
- d) wherein said at least one water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential provider comprises exposure means for exposing said chemically-selective-passage means to at least one ambient flight environment external of the at least one habitable spacecraft environment;
- and
- e) wherein said chemically-selective-passage means selectively removes the metabolic water vapor from the at least one airflow when at least one water-vapor partial pressure of the at least one ambient flight environment is less than that of the at least one airflow.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.