Water Wall

Ames is presenting a concept for life support that doesn’t biologically recycle, but utilizes membrane technology in a “water wall” (postulated as necessary for radiation protection) to help provide water and oxygen, using existing technologies. Uses osmotic concentration, distillation, forward osmosis power system to generate electricity. Usually concerned that this presentation is too futuristic for audiences, but happy to present to one that will consider it very conservative. Big recent breakthrough is in membrane technology. Waste water provides radiation protection, as does purified product. Can keep membrane from fouling for decades using forward osmosis. Membranes packed dry as part of expandable structure, then water is pumped into bags on orbit (eliminates need for heavy lift). Bags get “used up” after a while, at which point they get used for humus. Humus used for planetary applications. For transit mission, it becomes a precipitate radiation shield (sheet rock) even without water. Treats air by gas exchange membranes, strip out organics and CO2, can also control temperature, and even remove water vapor for dehumidifying. Might also grow algae to convert CO2 to oxygen with sunlight.

2 thoughts on “Water Wall”

  1. Otherwise it sounds good, but how does the “generate electricity” part not be a perpetual motion machine?

    Radiation separates the oxygen from the hydrogen and then you recombine them?

  2. The more I think about this, the less sense it makes. How does this system generate oxygen from H2O or CO2 without a net input of energy?

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