CREARE LLC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: Z13

Description

Creare proposes an Autonomous Habitat Filtration System (AHFS) that uses an electrostatic precipitator and autonomous regeneration system to effectively remove dust from habitable environments in long-duration space missions. Currently, HEPA style filters are a bulky consumable that have a large pressure drop across the filter that increases over time from particle loading. Human Lunar and Mars missions will generate a lot of dust from EVAs and need to be low maintenance. The AHFS has low pressure drop so it uses a compact and efficient blower. The proposed AHFS is also highly efficient in all particles of interest including collecting ultrafine (lt;100 nm) particles. In Phase I, we will prove the feasibility of the AHFS by building a breadboard unit, demonstrating operation in proof-of-concept tests, and producing a design for a Phase II system. In the Phase II, we will build the full AHFS and measure its performance under conditions that simulate habitable environments using simulated lunar dust.