Conversion of Hydrocarbons and Water in Closed Life Support Systems for Interplanetary Flights

The article presents an effective solution to the problem of increasing the degree of water and oxygen conversion from the crew’s waste products for interplanetary manned flights. The currently used water and oxygen regeneration complexes use the method of high-temperature electrolysis of carbon dioxide and water with a cyclic reaction of hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to methane, thus enabling the conversion rate of up to 61%. In this case, waste is emitted in the form of carbon monoxide (270 g/day), methane (140 g/day), hydrogen (60 g/day), and feces (150 g/day). The proposed method is based on the complete regeneration of water and oxygen in a reactor, in which additional water and higher alkanes are obtained from the waste of existing regeneration complexes by the action of low-temperature plasma in the presence of catalysts from hydrocarbons. The as-obtained products can be used on the International Space Station as plant fertilizers, as well as for the synthesis and biosynthesis of organic substances in demand, such as glucose. The proposed reactor implements a complete closed cycle of water conversion at a space station, thereby reducing the amount of waste, delivered cargo, and consumables necessary for interplanetary expeditions.