You are on page 1of 4

PRECEDING

P,_GE aLAN,, b;OT F_,LMED

559

PLASMA REACTOR WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS


Robert O. Ness Jr., John
Research

N9 -l.< O00

R. Rindt,
Center

and

Sumitra

R. Ness

UntverMty of North Dakota Energy and Environmental P.O. Box 8213 University Station Grand Forks ND 58202

The Unit_csity of North Dakota is developing a plasma reaz-tor system for use in close, loop processing that includes biologica_ materials, manufacturing and u_ste lramessing. Direct,-'urrent, higt_frequency, or microwave discharges will be used to prrMuce plasmas for the treatment of materials. The piasma reactors offer several advantages over other systems, including low qoerating temperatures, low operatt'ng pressures, mechanical simplicity, and relaO'z_ely safe operation. Human fecal material, sunflouers, oats, soybeans, andplast_c were oxidized in a batch plasma reactor. Over 98% of the organic material was converted to gaseous lZroducts. The solids u_,re then analyzed and a large amount of u_ter and az'ia_soluble materials were detected These mater_is could possibly be used as nutrients for bioh)gical systems.

INTRODUCTION
50; _ L qod 6os

With mid-1990s, and to

the

launching the and likelih_x)d eventual more

of

the

U.S.

space

station

scheduled to the there

for

the

"--. t /
Orge_ e_

of longer lunar and

manned martian

missions bases,

Moon

Mars, develop

is a need

comprehensive (ECL6) size for use

Environmental in extraterrestrial will options in (2) or the will be dictate are

Control/Life activities. the Both type of for

Support energy ECLSS extended ables loop closed consumable on the

Systems and that

physical will space be living,

requirements Three

necessary. including and food are of

available consum-

(1)systems not all recycled;

which totally

such systems

as oxygen with

closed-

recovery The that decision will

consumables; regarding

(3)partially of
//

systems. material and

percentage based primarily system. they exist

be

recycled of the

size

energy

requirements Support

closed-loop as

Environmental current will been spacecraft, provide life

Control/Life are support. and, primarily The

Systems, with for not be waste

in that have
r AI ;

concerned raw materials extent, must and

subsystems systems

these recycled. expanded

self-contained such

to a large the processing handling, groups in

For larger to allow The

u+

.systems,

as bases, materials

....

MAN.J

A_. T ,j NI_4C;

manufacturing, interaction ing, re_urce The of North plasma processes producing of these and

treatment. manufactur-

between waste

the

(biological, the closed-loop

materials,

processing) system

processing 1. at the of

(CLP)

I 1

management primary Dakota reactor are objective is to systems those or that no are habitation both

is illustrated research the

by Fig. program

of this develop to require by-product those

University Fig. 1. Cloud-loop processing (CLP) resource management system.

application

low-temperature Closed-loop materials, while

closed-loop essentially or will

processing. no taw

little systems or

waste, be such used

qX/pical in as

applications either remote research The from intent one or of the more project of the and CLP future areas to research another is to pass in which products they will

that

processing communities, The the closely unit

communities and used the reactor the on

isolated

terrestrially be and

in space. the material could operation and site lunar surface processing be a central of waste will integrate as

systems

that will systems

serve

as reactants.

biological

systems processing treatment,

BASIC PLASMA
A plasma is a highly of are ions, formed ionized gas and gas or

GENERATION
that neutral molecules from is electrically particles. acquire neutral The and various by

as possible. that will serve

A plasma to integrate materials conducted are

biological of and which waste

processing, are being

processing, at a remote or

manufacturing, where and resupply

all

composed species

electrons, when

energy radiation.

dLqx)sal

impossible,

at least

difficult

costly.

intermolecular

collisions

electromagnetic

560
There thermal; charges. types.

2nd

Conference

on

Lunar

Bases

and

Space

Activities

are

three

basic

methods

of plasma and

generation: (3)

( 1 ) direct dis[-Direct L

Plasma

Generation

( 2 ) direct-current Figure Each 2 is a block group

discharges; diagram will be

high.frequency the in the generation

summarizing discussed

L
C ..... Discharge 1

7
I ] I

_
U--ThermsT-G ..... tion I High |

1
Frequen_

pertinent

following

o_.,..oo

paragraphs. Direct-current ions by one or of These termination (2) ion first elastic other (de) and high-frequency of and occur two discharge mechanisms: both produce

a combination photons reactions

( 1 ) molecular

.o Zo2
[
a

.:,oI .,@.o....
I ] j Cap".. ] [ '.,u*,,..

absorption collisions. with photon, of the The a photon molecule such When netic which through tain as the

(2)inelastic simultaneously, that include collision, to form is the Effect; new

electron-molecular in equilibrium, of reaction Fig. 2. Plasma generation

reactions electron-molecular molecules mechanism Compton react with release these

(l)desorption and (3)

with

compounds. absorption The form activated products, a photon. electromagmolecules, ions cerPreliminary increase decrease the reacting in system pressure, The result and the rate be of an ion orderly production shutdown will of of techniques.

initiation (i.e., may the then or

molecular 1981). to

Befser, reactants energy are to

other the reactions

ions, the

it can of

by

emitting the ionic

markedly. system.

would

products will turn also will

ions, the of

field in

provide promote Because

kinetic the

energy production

additional activates in

OXYGEN

PLASMA

WASTE

CONVERSION

collisions.

a particular activation of

wavelength a single species

(oewc) aesvaaCl
testing for the completed. waste, plasma analysis and of the removal Samples a plastic system. of the Table feasibility of of oats, bag of using from sunflowers, were an HCN oxygen waste plasma material reactor has just systems been fecal oxygen organics freeze-dried reacted (hydrogenreactor. in

molecules,

selective system may be of energy

a muhi-

component The lisions. elastic to second The

accomplished. ionization of the is by molecules while ionization collisions the bulk electron-molecular is then inelastic of the increased collisions molecule. per unit and colby lead In gas the

method kinetic

electron-molecular fragmentation, the rate

collisions, or the to

human a batch

(Baggie) 1 shows

excitation, case,

every volume electron Either the will electric system.

at which proportional

occur gas

carbon-nitrogen)

material

remaining

in the

is directly density of the

pressure pp.

(Baddourand two of on mechanisms more electron and ions.

]tmmins, of ion The

1967, production

1, 55-59). will promote TABLE 1. Data summary for oxygen plasma waste conversion unit.

production depend field

mechanism bulk of

that gas

predominates temperature, in the

temperature, the concentration

intensity,

molecules

UNIQUE ASPECTS OF PLASMA REACTOR SYSTEMS


Plasma particularly ability to reactors attractive control and the pressures details and contribute offer for several use reactor contribute change, gravity to the in characteristics space and that make where operating safe operation. will work them the

_x, eze_led Human Fecal Sample OPWC % Residue ' % Carbon % Nitrogen % Hydrogen % Conversion: % 6M-HCI-SOlubIe % Water-Soluble Sunflou_r Root, Stalk, and OPWC % Residue HCN Analysis of Residue % Carbon % Nitrogen % Hydrogen % Conversion % Water-Soluble Oat Root, Stalk, and Head OPWC % Residue HCN Analysis of Residue % Carbon % Nitrogen % Hydrogen % Conversion Head Sample

31.00 5.205 + I).145 0.885 + 0.045 1.380 + 0.06 98.39 73.86 32.33

18.52 5.220 + 0.27 0.440 + 0.04 1.655 + 0.095 99.03 82.36 Sample 1 I. i 5 !.810 + 0.06 0.260 + 0.02 1.035 + 0.085 99.8

applications, the to moderate relatively

temperatures While in both

engineering microgravity that are

overall fields.

concept Particular and

operating safety of

characteristics plasma 1. the reactors Reaction electromagnetic

the

usefulness

SJ>eciflctty. source

The to

efficiency the parent

of energy gas

transfer

from

molecules when ionize the

depends a specific and cause frequency, thus

on the frequency specific the

frequency is used, reactions reactor a very to

of the radiation. Therefore, particular molecules will occur. can be With used the for ability

to vary of

plasma

a variety

reactions,

providing 2.

versatile Rate to

system. Control Because the field consequently, rate of ion generation the reaction concenrate

Reaction related of be very Rapid

is directly tration can 3.

electromagnetic species and,

strength, the

Soybean Root, Stalk, and Head Sample OPWC % Residue HCN Analysis of Residue % Carbon % Nitrogen % Hydrogen % Conversion

17.45 3.955 + 0. i 55 0.490 + 0.01 0.890 + 0.05 99.31

activated easily

controlled. and the "ion of or leak Reaction generator" reacting into the Shutdown. is inversely molecules generator in will The proportional the result system. in an ion

nast_ (BaggY)Sample
OPWC % Residue % Conversion
(Weight * Standard of trsidue HCN residue on out of OPWC)/( Equipment weight of sample in O PWC unit. sample weight - honor,game weight). ).

Reactor rate in

1.40 98.60

production to the

concentration a hole

a Control - nonorgamc

Corporation

Therefore,

: I-(OPWC

weight)/(OPWC

Ness

et al... Plasma

reactor

waste

management

systems

561

Conversion was divided content Equipment exhibited respectively. Figure ment sample weighed, to place version remove rapidly defined by was

was as the

based one initial

on minus

the the

amount weight free

of C left of sample HCN and of

in

the

sample free The

and

inorganic weight. analysis plastic

residue carbon (Control samples 98.6%, _c_ _


_c

inorganic by

determined Corporation). the lowest

a standard The human

conversions

98.4%

and

'(

3 shows

the using

results human from replaced formed the

of

a simple matter.

residence Every cooled

time two in

experithe

_i _

completed w'a.s

fecal

hours

removed and residue to

chamber, in the at the 80%

a desiccator, is necessary takes


I_ _

stirred, any up

reactor. surface. and

Stirring

Conversion the rate

approximately

then

of con13 iz_ _ _ i , _ _ 8 "_e _r5 r T r i 1_ 2,_

declines. of the waste materials Figure including residue, of The of the 0.OO12 (HCI) the and included 4 summarizes the mass of two steps: the dehydra-

Processing tion of and organic

conversion. .sample

composition material The two figure steps step 0.27 ]b Sample Fig. 3. Percent combustor

a typical

fecal

water,

converted, gives need removed The water

water-soluble

insoluble of and

residue. the

carbon

conversion.

a perspective to handle. 99.56% remaining and acid

percentage

material organic

dehydration material. lb of solubility Figure the

conversion

inorganic tests

material and the X-ray results

was

evaluated

by and

of

Fecal

Material

diffraction of the results.

0 00e*

ib

fluorescence tests and Table have

analysis. 2 shows

5 shows X-ray structures crystalline

solubility These

fluorescence since structures the

test

materials

amorphous yield any

X-ray above

diffraction 5% of the

analysis did total mass. The The which 32% of X-ray only

not

fluorescence component that The to the be

results is

verify readily test while to be oxide, solubility this

the soluble

solubility in water

test

results. is P2Os,

decomposes. the residue of

solubility soluble,

indicated the P205. X-ray The

approximately fluorescence acid P2Os, (83%) solubility SO3, and Further this residue. of the CaO, the X-

indicates tests and ray are also Fe20_

31.7%

material Magnesium

correspond. are HCI

A1203, test

soluble.

The indicate

fluorescence being These done figures by

(81.57%) to determine show

relationship. uses for of

tests

potential

end

a systematic followed primary process goal by of

reduction the

99.56% of if

material material. plasma conversion process ments, information The not CO2; contained

dehydration the could

conversion

an organic an with oxygen high and requireetc. This


100

Since system was

determining of materials of the

a quantity further to for analysis

Fig.

4.

Fecal sample

composition.

achieved,

products

development size, residence will stream

is needed times feasibility the

determine fluidized for space

electrical beds, use. conversion gaseous plastic products bag

determine from

gas

oxygen that most

plasma of the the

unit

was were

90

analyzed. however,

It is assumed the gas

80 % Acid 70 Sol.

stream compounds.

from

probably

some

chlorine TABLE 2.

6O

Energy-dispersive RESULTS

X-ray analysis.

t_ 50

o
Oxide % Std. Dev.
40 % H20 Sol.

Weight O Mg AI Si P S Ca K 'ri Fc TOTAl.

Std. Dev.

37.340 3.319 (I.279 1.330 13.840 1.809 27.800 6.917 0.471 0.279 92.(ff_)

0.044 0.008 0.010 0.040 0.008 O. 1O0 0.049 0.010 0.003

MgO AI20 SiO2 P2Os SO_ CaO KzO 1102 Fe203

5.504 30.527 2.844 31.720 4.516 38.900 7.46S 0.786 0.399

0.072 O.014 0.022 0.090 0.021 O. 140 0.059 0.017 0.004

30

20

10

0 Fecal Fecal

Fig.

5.

Combustor

residue

solubilit3'.

562

2nd

Conference

on

Lunar

Bases

and

Space

Activities

APPLICATIONS SPACE
A process process processes relatively biological environments, roles. treatment types could ments, of This waste have high flow

OF PLASMA ENGINEERING

REACTORS SYSTEMS

TO

approximately water electrolyzed (Gibson to the the by this

900C and produce

and

reducing

ilmenite 1985). and The

to

Fe, water

TiO2, is this which

and then

Knudsen, hydrogen of of large larger plasma

oxygen. of on

Since heat, the may

system will

diagram, fi'om proposed

as

shown

in

Fig. 6, or

could lunar

be base.

used Similar

to

requires require

injection presence a hydrogen

quantities radiators atmosphere in reducing that need

material been electrical

a space for as

station terrestrial compared were electrical

lunar be

surface, practical. there

use, with

but those

because of In other space

of

reduction While remain

costs the other systems

presents technical

advantages questions

process

severity,

processes, factors system system systems

uneconomical. costs play of

many

to be addressed.

than be either

important a biological These they requireof


Human Uqu*d/Sohd Waste Uquad Wastes Sohcl/laqu_d Waste

could or in

independent with each by changing and "allow such other

conjunction complement flexibility time,

a system. because

could

provide size,

operating weight,

electrical high

residence

conversion

all organic

feed

materials. processes, the following (1)operating technical and economical (tempera-

In terrestrial factors ture, must pressure, be

considered: pH); (4)size;

conditiotls complexity; (6)electrical materials; (10) safety. system based low used on operating to process and

(2)operating (5)weight; and rejection; the plasma other processed and

(3)equipment requirements; (8) Due may the location to the have of many
_91 water Watel +

]o,LI
_ave Waste Materials

maintainability; (7) raw storage materials;

of processing (9) heat

operating ational ( 1 ) low (3)mechanical liquids, operation. A plasma of a process

restrictions, advantages operating over

reactor schemes (2) be safe

oper-

following: pressures; solids, of

ten'q:mratures; simplicity; (4)can

and

gases;

(5)relatively

operation;

(6)ease

t uO'C' I
V
Ash

io,
CO, { ReOum_on Bosch

Gas

reactor stream This, in

may while effect, reactor.

oxidize leaving

or

reduce the

specific of

components the stream process of the Fig. 6. Waste

t
Waste Gases

remainder and is the and

unaffected. taking organic the can place

is a separation An human example waste, unchanged. to other simple or

conversion conversion to gases

in one

management

process

flow

diagram.

fraction

of plants, fraction

plastics The

while

inorganic then Plasma be

remains recycled are

inorganic

materials

directly

operations. to operate or because the they addition can Baddour RE and

REFERENCES
Tmunins KS. (1967) The Application of Technology, pp. 132-133. of Plasmas to

reactors require or high acids

relatively temperatures

do of be step.

not caustics treated

pressures, Aqueous step before mild to a

for

chemical

reactions. drying

solutions the oxidation

by using the

a microwave ,,_/stem offer does be very of the the soils are use operates an not

Because reactor The

under alternative require

conditions, high-temperature

the

Processing. Massachusetts Beiser A. (1981) Concepts of Modern New York. Control Center, Gibson Equipment upon Box 8213, M. A. and Corporation request University (date

Institute Physics, unknown)

"C'Cambridge. McGraw-Hill, Scheme. Research (Phone from

plasma proce_sses. peritxl, to the Other the

may system can and

CHN Ana/ys/s Environmental Forks oxygen ND 58202 production

heating this

or

cooling

Available

at the LIND Energy Station,

and

Grand Lunar

so reactions efficiency

tightly ._stem. of for

controlled;

contributes

701-777-5000). Knudsen C. XYL (1985) in ilmenite. In Lunar Bases and Space (W.W. Mcndell, ed.), pp. 543-558. Houston. Activities of the 21st Century Lunar and Planetary Institute,

safety for lunar

applications of researchers

plasma the

reactors production heating

could of hydrogen

be oxygen.

reduction

Presently,

thermally

to

You might also like