Current RnD Projects

Umpqua Research Company is currently developing two different technologies for recovering O2 from CO2.  The first is the Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) that closes the resource recovery loop by decomposing methane (CH4) generated from the Sabatier reaction.  This allows for recovery of approximately 85% of the hydrogen that is used in the initial reaction with CO2 to produce CH4 and H2O.  The second is URC's Bosch reactor.  The Bosch reactor is a catalytic reactor that produces carbon and water from the direct reaction of CO2 and H2.  This processor permits recovery of nearly 100% of the valuable O2 and H2.

PPA Reactor: Second Generation Bosch Reactor: First Generation

In addition to oxygen recovery, URC has recently applied for patent on a microgravity compatible medical aspiration system for containment of bodily fluids and other hazardous liquids in a microgravity environment. Traditional aspiration devices use buoyancy to close off suction when the collection vessel is full.  This prevents distribution of contaminated air into the vacuum source and surrounding environment.  URC's microgravity compatible system functions regardless of orientation, which enables quick and reliable collection of these contaminants in a space habitation.  We are also marketing the cartridges for use in unstable environments on Earth.  Emergency medical care on uneven terrain, remote rescue situations, shipboard in rough seas, and within other highly mobile rescue platforms are all potential applications where an orientation independent system can enhance medical care.

Medical Grade Suction Device 

Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly

A first generation Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) prototype was developed for NASA to prove basic functionality of a novel microwave plasma methane decomposition technology. Methane (CH4), a byproduct of the Sabatier carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction reactor used aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to recover oxygen (O2) from waste CO2, is currently vented to space. The Sabatier reaction allows recovery of roughly 50% of the O2 in the form of water vapor via a catalytic reaction between CO2 and hydrogen (H2). The CH4 produced represents a 50% loss of required H2. The PPA technology was developed to recover up to 75% of this bound H2, which increases the O2 yield to roughly 86% for a given amount of consumed H2, thereby extending mission duration with minimal resupply of Crew Member (CM) life support O2.

The 1st generation PPA technology was demonstrated as both a stand-alone device and integrated with the Sabatier Development Unit (SDU), located at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville Alabama. In this testing, significant room for improvement was identified in both the core reactor and overall assembly design. To address these shortcomings, a Phase III advanced PPA reactor (2nd generation) development effort was initiated at Umpqua Research Company (URC) in February of 2011. The first part of this work improved both the scale (from ½-CM to 1-CM) and the efficiency of the PPA reactor technology over the 1st generation device. A Phase III extension was then awarded that scaled up the 1-CM PPA design to an even more efficient 4-CM scale, 3rd generation self-contained prototype PPA.

Both independent and SDU integrated tests have been performed by the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Air Revitalization (AR) group at MSFC using these three PPA prototype devices. Further advancement of the technology at URC has involved an investigation of a sorbent-based, microwave regenerable hydrogen purifier (2015) and, most recently (2017), the award of an SBIR Phase I for the proof-of-concept testing of a regenerable carbon filter. Future plans (2017-2018) include the design and zero-g parabolic flight testing of a PPA device in preparation for demonstration aboard the ISS (~2021).

 

Capillary Pressure Gradient Gas-Liquid Separation

This 3-year research effort culminated in the design and testing of a zero-g demonstration prototype. During zero-g testing, Capillary Pressure Gradient (CPG) cartridges prepared with hydrophilic (glass) and hydrophobic (Teflon) media during the second year’s work were each evaluated. Results obtained from ground testing at 1-g were compared to those obtained at reduced gravities spanning Martian (1/3-g), Lunar (1/6-g) and zero-g. These comparisons clearly demonstrate the relative strength of the CPG phenomena and the efficacy of its application in meeting NASA’s unique gas-liquid separation (GLS) requirements in non-terrestrial environments. The videos linked below show that in 1-g operation, normal buoyancy effects result in gas bubbles passing through the upper outlet port per our everyday experience. However, owing to capillary pressure gradient forces, as local gravity is reduced below 1-g, the gas bubbles separate to the lower outlet port demonstrating that the capillary pressure gradient has become the controlling/dominant separation force.

Earth Gravity

Mars Gravity

Lunar Gravity

Zero Gravity

Ground Test - Glass Media

Ground Test - Teflon Media

R&D Archive

Umpqua Research has worked on a wide variety of projects over our more than 40 years of operations.  URC has developed advancements in water purification technology, specialty catalyst development, alternative fuels production, environmental remediation, and medical device design.  Contact one of our researchers for more information.

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