Abstract
In this paper the possibility of utilising a plasma centrifuge for oxygen generation in outer space is discussed. It is proposed that a plasma centrifuge can not only create oxygen for human consumption very efficiently but is also able to produce useful by-products. Special emphasis is given to life support systems working in the atmosphere of Mars, where oxygen and carbon raw materials can be obtained directly from the atmosphere. The system under consideration in this work is a plasma centrifuge with axial circulation that contains a fully ionised plasma. Under these conditions the carbon dioxide from the Mars atmosphere will be entirely dissociated. Thus, the atomic oxygen and carbon can easily be separated.
Highlights
Using centrifugal force and plasma to dissociate and separate molecules from the Mars atmosphere or from CO2 that is exhaled by humans, has been proposed by different authors over the last view years [1,2,3,4,5]
They are able to turn at least a part of the separated gas particles into useful byproducts via chemical vapour deposition (CVD) or plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD)
The usage of plasma centrifuges (PC) for oxygen and carbon raw material creation with a strong focus on Mars life support systems has been presented in this work
Summary
Using centrifugal force and plasma to dissociate and separate molecules from the Mars atmosphere or from CO2 that is exhaled by humans, has been proposed by different authors over the last view years [1,2,3,4,5]. PCs have yet another additional feature that has to the knowledge of the author not been discussed before They are able to turn at least a part of the separated gas particles into useful byproducts via chemical vapour deposition (CVD) or plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). It shall be noted that such a hybrid system of PC and deposition reactor can, in principle, be used for manned Mars missions and for life support on long term space missions and here on Earth for coating/deposition technologies and for CO2 sequestration from the Earth atmosphere Another interesting field of application might be the usage of such a system for chemical treatment of exhaled air in submarines, where the need for compact air recycling systems is very high
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