NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA) · 1981 · 10 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesChemical EngineeringChemistryCatalysisInorganic ChemistryReaction EngineeringCatalyst DesignCatalytic MaterialsCatalytic Reaction EngineeringCatalytic Reactor DesignEnergy ConversionReactor DesignCarbon Dioxide Conversion CatalysisCarbon Dioxide ReductionCarbon Dioxide Reduction CatalysisCatalyst Design For Carbon Dioxide UtilizationCatalytic Energy ConversionCompact Reactor DesignLow-carbon Process DesignReaction Engineering Of Catalytic Reactors
A preprototype Sabatier CO2 reduction subsystem was successfully designed, fabricated and tested. The lightweight, quick starting (less than 5 minutes) reactor utlizes a highly active and physically durable methanation catalyst composed of ruthenium on alumina. The use of this improved catalyst permits a simple, passively controlled reactor design with an average lean component H2/CO2 conversion efficiency of over 99% over a range of H2/CO2 molar ratios of 1.8 to 5 while operating with process flows equivalent to a crew size of up to five persons. The subsystem requires no heater operation after start-up even during simulated 55 minute lightside/39 minute darkside orbital operation.