Atmospheric Processing Module for Fuel and Water Production on Mars: An Engineering Model and Intrinsic Kinetic Study of the Sabatier Reactor
- Paper number
IAC-15,B3,9-YPVF.2,4,x31665
- Coauthor
Ms. Anne Caraccio, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Paul Hintze, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Kennedy Space Center, United States
- Year
2015
- Abstract
The Mars Atmosphere and Regolith COllector/PrOcessor for Lander Operations (MARCO POLO) project is designed to build and demonstrate a methane and oxygen propellant production system in a Mars environment. MARCO POLO could arrive on the surface of Mars prior to human crew arrival and produce liquefied methane fuel, hydrogen and oxygen for crew life support. Work at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has focused on the Atmospheric Processing Module (APM). The Martian atmosphere consists of approximately 95% carbon dioxide (CO2) and residual argon and nitrogen. The purpose of the APM is to freeze CO2 from a simulated Martian atmosphere at Martian pressures (approximately 5 Torr) by using two cryocoolers. The frozen carbon dioxide is then sublimed and pressurized for feedstock into a Sabatier reactor. The Sabatier reactor reacts CO2 that was captured from the simulated Mars atmosphere, plus hydrogen, to produce methane and water vapor. The reaction occurs over a catalyst bed and is an exothermic reaction. This paper will discuss the overall APM approach as well as intrinsic kinetics of the Sabatier reactor performance for methane production over a ruthenium catalyst.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)