[Analysis of mass minimization of Thermoelectric Integrated Membrane Evaporation Subsystem in waste water processing].
OBJECTIVE
To minimize in the system level the designed mass of Thermoelectric Integrated Membrane Evaporation Subsystem (TIMES) of Environment Control Life Support System (ECLSS) in manned spacecraft, when the requirement of the production rate of fresh water and its hygiene is fulfilled.


METHODS
According to the characteristics of the operational process of TIMES, the physical and mathematical model for fluid flow, heat transfer and mass composition in its main parts were established to investigate numerically the relation between the system mass and those parameters associated with the structure and operation of the system.


RESULTS
The system mass depended not only on the structural parameters and operational parameters of TIMES, but also on the operational characteristics of power subsystem and thermal control subsystem. The relative mass covered a large part of the system mass.


CONCLUSIONS
There existed an optimum of the number of thermoelectric cooling parts and flow rate of circular waste water of the TIMES when the designed system mass was minimum. Moreover, higher condensation pressure in the system contributed to lower system mass.
Ren
J X
JX
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Ji
C Y
CY
Zhang
X R
XR
Wang
S
S
Liang
X G
XG
Guo
Z Y
ZY
D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D004560:Electricity; D004867:Equipment Design; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation; D018505:Waste Management / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014893:Weightlessness
D008567:Membranes, Artificial