Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron: 972220

Proposal Number: 10.04-3390

Project Title: Advanced Waste Management in Space Missions

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

This NASA SBIR Phase I project is a feasibility study for treating wastes generated during space missions and producing emissions that are within the Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations (SMAC), using wet carbonization and advanced combustion technologies. EnerTech's innovative wet carbonization technology will transform heterogeneous metabolic wastes and trash components, through a moderate temperature and pressure carbonization, into a uniform and pumpable slurry, which the Energy & Environmental Research Corporations's (EER) advanced combustion technology of Hybrid Fluidized Bed Incinerator (HFBI) will combust with emissions that are within SMAC standards. The CO2 and H2O generated during conversion of the wastes can be used to support plant growth systems and provide for a closed-loop, regenerative life support system. The objective of this Phase I proposal is to determine the characteristics of the product slurry from wet carbonization experiments and an acceptable range of combustion onditions to are within SMAC standards. In Phase I, wet carbonization and advanced combustion experiments will be conducted with existing bench-scale facilities using actual metabolic wastes and trash components. It is anticipated that Phase I and Phase II research will produce a prototype unit that can be integrated into a functional life support system in Phase III.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

The commercial product and technology to be developed under this Phase I and Phase II proposal is being targeted at the specific needs of NASA, the ultimate customer. The commercial product to be developed will be an integrated wet carbonization and advanced combustion unit, with associated automated control systems, capable of treating the wastes generated from a four person space ission and producing emissions that exceed SMAC standards. In addition, the small-scale unit to be developed will form the basis for much larger units that will be necessary for larger spacecraft missions (e.g. S.S. Freedom) or lanetary colonization. In addition to NASA applications, the technology to be developed has potential applications for treatment of wastes generated on-board U.S. Navy ships and other commercial vessels at sea and radioactive and hazardous wastes generated at laboratories.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Michael Klosky

EnerTech Environmental, Inc.

739 Trabert Ave., N.W.

Atlanta , GA 30318

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

Kevin Bolin

EnerTech Environmental, Inc.

739 Trabert Ave., N.W.

Atlanta , GA 30318