Water recuperation for a carbon dioxide (co2) removal system

Abstract

Water vapor is removed from a mixture of air, metabolic carbon dioxide (CO ), and water vapor prior to removing the CO from the mixture. The water vapor-containing mixture is passed through a membrane module which is operative to separate the water vapor from the air and CO mixture. The water vapor in the entering mixture will pass in one direction through the membrane in the module from an entry side of the membrane to an exit side of the membrane. The membrane divides the module into two chambers, one of which receives the water vapor-containing mixture, and the other of which receives CO -free air from a CO adsorbant station. The water vapor-containing mixture is removed from a closed habitable environment such as a space station, a space suit, a submarine, or the like, and is moved through the membrane module where the water vapor is removed from the gas stream. The water vapor-free gas stream then flows through the CO adsorption station where the CO and any remaining water vapor are separated from the air in the mixture. The CO -free air then flows back through the membrane module via the membrane module exit chamber where the air is rehumidified with the water vapor that has passed through the membrane. The rehumidified air stream is then returned to the dosed habitable environment where it can be used for breathing purposes.