Patent — available for licensing
Carbon Capture Filter
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
On the International Space Station (ISS), the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) serves as a waste recovery system, air revitalization system, and oxygen generation system. Recently, Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) technology, a supporting technology for CO2 chemical reduction that could enable the recovery of over 86% of the oxygen from CO2 produced on the ISS, has been under development at NASA. One of the main issues with plasma pyrolysis is that it generates effluent containing fine (100-200 nm) particles that could foul the PPA reactor and downstream ECLSS systems. To address this challenge, NASA has developed a new Carbon Capture Filter system that uses a variety of mechanisms to trap and remove solid carbon dust. This NASA invention may provide value for a variety of terrestrial applications requiring continuous or batch removal of solid carbon emissions of pyrolyzed hydrocarbons, or high-capacity removal of inert fine dust. The filter system can be scaled up or down in size to accommodate different applications, and could also be applied for consumer products including portable vacuum cleaners and filter systems.