In-situ resource utilization-derived water purification and hydrogen and oxygen production
US11168013B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/36
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This disclosure provides an integrated system and method for producing purified water, hydrogen, and oxygen from contaminated water. The contaminated water may be derived from regolith-based resources on the moon, Mars, near-Earth asteroids, or other destination in outer space. The integrated system and method utilize a cold trap to receive the contaminated water in a vapor phase and selectively freeze out water from one or more volatiles. A heat source increases temperature in the cold trap to vaporize the frozen contaminated water to produce a gas stream of water vapor and volatiles. A chemical scrubber may remove one or more volatiles. The integrated system and method utilize ionomer membrane technology to separate the water vapor from remaining volatiles. The water vapor is delivered for crew use or delivered to an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen and oxygen.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.