Climate Enhancing Resource Utilization

Scope Title:

Sustainable Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Extraction and Transformation

Scope Description:

Component and subsystem technologies are sought to demonstrate sustainable, energy-efficient extraction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a defined planetary or habitable atmosphere fully integrated with CO₂ transformation into one or more stable products such as manufacturing feedstock polymers or readily storable, noncryogenic propellants or fuels. This scope is intended to incentivize revolutionary, dual-use technologies that may lead to reduced dependence of sustainable space exploration activity on terrestrial supplies of carbon-containing resources and also lead to products with commercial promise for repurposing terrestrial atmospheric CO₂. At the core of this scope is a requirement for integrated technology solutions that dramatically reduce mass, volume, and end-to-end energy consumption of highly integrated CO₂ collection and transformation. 

Proposals must specifically and clearly describe: (1) physical and/or chemical processes to be implemented for CO₂ collection and transformation, including reference to the current state of the art; (2) specific engineering approaches to be used in dramatically reducing mass, volume, and end-to-end energy consumption per mass of product carbon content mass; (3) validated performance estimates of high-cycle utilization of any sorption, catalytic, or other unconsumed materials used in the CO₂ collection or transformation processes; (4) suitability or adaptability of the proposed CO₂ capture approach for operation in various ambient CO₂ mixture and partial pressure environments (i.e., ambient Mars atmosphere to ambient Earth atmosphere conditions); (5) substantiated estimates of the mass conversion efficiency of ingested carbon to product carbon; and (6) estimated total end-to-end energy consumption per unit mass of product carbon.

The scope specifically excludes: (1) evolutionary improvements in mature CO₂ collection technologies that do not provide large reductions in mass, volume, and end-to-end energy consumption; (2) CO₂ collection approaches that employ CO₂ absorbing materials that require frequent replenishment or replacement (e.g., greater than 50% reduction in absorption efficiency after 500 cycles); (3) technologies considered as life support systems including air revitalization, water processing, or waste processing; (4) biological or biology-based components or subsystems of any kind; and (5) CO₂ transformation products that are not readily stored at approximately Earth-ambient conditions such as cryogenic propellants.

Expected TRL or TRL Range at completion of the Project: 3 to 5

Primary Technology Taxonomy:

• Level 1 07 Exploration Destination Systems
• Level 2 07.1 In-Situ Resource Utilization

Desired Deliverables of Phase I and Phase II:

• Prototype
• Research
• Analysis

Desired Deliverables Description:

Phase I deliverable is defined as a detailed feasibility study that clearly defines the specific technical innovation and estimated performance of CO₂ collection and transformation into products, identifying critical development risks anticipated in a Phase II effort. Technology feasibility evaluation should address the scope proposal elements including: (1) process descriptions; (2) results of engineered mass, volume, and energy consumption efficiency designs; (3) cyclic performance of participating unconsumed process materials; (4) adaptability to different atmospheric CO₂ mixtures and partial pressures; (5) ingested atmosphere throughput and carbon conversion efficiency to product carbon, and (6) estimated total end-to-end energy consumption per unit mass of product carbon. Phase I feasibility deliverables should include laboratory test results that demonstrate the performance of unit processes, components, or subsystems against these metrics.

Phase II deliverables are to include matured feasibility analysis provided in Phase I, and matured laboratory prototype components or subsystems integrated into an end-to-end CO₂ collection and transformation prototype system, including design drawings. Component, subsystem, and integrated system performance test data is a specific deliverable and must include: (1) cyclic performance; (2) ingested atmosphere throughput and carbon conversion efficiency to product carbon; (3) evaluated properties of products; and (4) the results of engineered mass, volume, and energy consumption efficiency designs including measured end-to-end energy consumption per unit mass of product carbon. Analysis deliverables for Phase II should address a credible path toward maturation of the technology and approaches to scaling the technologies to larger processing capacities.

State of the Art and Critical Gaps:

This topic is intended to solicit innovative technologies with clear dual use: (1) adoption by NASA for infusion into long-term mission capabilities enabling mission scale in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) use of the martian atmosphere and (2) commercialization and the potential formation of a terrestrial industry to meet potentially significant future demand for terrestrial atmospheric CO₂ extraction and repurposing. Additionally, if or as a viable industry associated with terrestrial applications of these technologies emerges, commercial competition may continue to drive innovation and contribute over the long term to improved NASA mission capability. Early-stage innovations in this topic are anticipated from teams of small businesses and research institutions, which can demonstrate feasibility and readiness for accelerated maturation.

Well-developed and mature technologies for atmospheric CO₂ capture have been flown and operated on NASA spacecraft, based on phase change (freezing) of ambient gas; accepting the power requirements and efficiency levels of both the refrigeration and heating devices in a freeze/thaw-based collection cycle. The NASA operational collection of CO₂ from habitable atmospheres is performed using flow-through beds of sorption materials driven to saturation followed by either desorption processes or discarding of the sorption material and the collected CO₂. Similarly, CO₂ processing based on electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into carbon monoxide (CO) has been flown demonstrating production of oxygen from atmospheric sources. However, the collected carbon is a disposable byproduct. Significantly, these systems are not developed nor optimized for recovery and repurposing of considerable process heat drawn from spacecraft power sources, nor for repurposing of the collected carbon. Recent literature suggests emerging laboratory research of both efficient CO₂ capture and repurposing processes is occurring and may be well positioned for development into components and subsystems suitable for longer-term infusion by NASA into ISRU systems and an emerging terrestrial industry.

Relevance / Science Traceability:

The quantification of resources on Mars suitable for the local production of a variety of mission consumables, manufactured products, and other mission support materials has become much better understood through recent in situ measurements and introductory technology demonstrations. Evolving mission scenarios for expanded robotic and human exploration of Mars uniformly depend on the utilization of these resources to dramatically reduce the cost and risks associated with these exploration goals. In order to reduce the broad goal of utilizing the CO₂ of the martian atmosphere as a source of both carbon and oxygen to practical, full-scale reality, substantial improvements in system mass, volume, and power requirements are needed. This solicitation is intended to incentivize these innovations in the service of future NASA missions.

Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the planetwide consequences of accumulating CO₂ in the terrestrial atmosphere. Technologies that advance NASA's Mars ISRU aspirations may be created with the necessary energy efficiencies to support scaling up to terrestrial industrial capacity large enough to begin to reduce or reverse atmospheric CO₂ accumulation. 

References:

[1] I. Ghiat and T. Al-Ansari, "A review of carbon capture and utilisation as a CO₂ abatement opportunity within the EWF nexus," J. CO2 Util., vol. 45, December 2020, p. 101432, 2021.

[2] J. Sekera and A. Lichtenberger, "Assessing carbon capture: Public policy, science, and societal need," Biophys. Econ. Sustain., vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 1–28, 2020.

[3] F. Nocito and A. Dibenedetto, "Atmospheric CO₂ mitigation technologies: carbon capture utilization and storage," Curr. Opin. Green Sustain. Chem., vol. 21, pp. 34–43, 2020.

[4] H. Sun et al., "Understanding the interaction between active sites and sorbents during the integrated carbon capture and utilization process," Fuel, vol. 286, no. P1, p. 119308, 2021.

[5] J. Godin, W. Liu, S. Ren, and C. C. Xu, "Advances in recovery and utilization of carbon dioxide: A brief review," J. Environ. Chem. Eng., vol. 9, no. 4, p. 105644, 2021.

[6] J. Hyun Park, J. Yang, D. Kim, H. Gim, W. Yeong Choi, and J. W. Lee, "Review of recent technologies for transforming carbon dioxide to carbon materials," Chem. Eng. J., vol. 427, April 2021, p. 130980, 2021.

[7] M. A. Abdelkareem et al., "Fuel cells for carbon capture applications," Sci. Total Environ., vol. 769, p. 144243, 2021.

[8] Jussara Lopes de Miranda, "CO2 Conversion to Organic Compounds and Polymeric Precursors," in Frank Zhu, ed., CO2 Summit: Technology and Opportunity, ECI Symposium Series, 2010. https://dc.engconfintl.org/co2_summit/14

[9] Y. Qin and X. Wang, "Conversion of CO₂ into Polymers," in B. Han and T. Wu, eds., Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology Series, Springer, New York, NY, pp. 323-347, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9060-3_1013

[10] Q. Liu, L. Wu, R. Jackstell, et al., Using carbon dioxide as a building block in organic synthesis. Nat. Commun., vol. 6, no. 5933, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms6933

[11] Kuan Huang, Jia-Yin Zhang, Fujian Liu, and Sheng Dai, "Synthesis of porous polymeric catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide," ACS Catalysis, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 9079-9102, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.8b02151

[12] Vignesh Kumaravel, John Bartlett, and Suresh C. Pillai, "Photoelectrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels and value-added products," ACS Energy Letters, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 486-519, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.9b02585

[13] Erdogan Alper and Ozge Yuksel Orhan, "CO₂ utilization: Developments in conversion processes," Petroleum, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 109-126, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petlm.2016.11.003

[14] Erivaldo J.C. Lopes, Ana P.C. Ribeiro, and Luísa M.D.R.S. Martins, "New trends in the conversion of CO₂ to cyclic carbonates, "Catalysts, 2020, 10, 479, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10050479

Scope Title:

Sustainable Production of Hydrogen for Transportation and Energy Storage Applications

Scope Description:

Component and subsystem technologies are sought to demonstrate sustainable, energy-efficient production of hydrogen from water and organic materials. Dual-use technologies are sought that may reduce dependence of sustainable space exploration activity on terrestrial supplies of hydrogen-containing resources, provide a source of advanced aviation and surface transportation fuels, provide advanced energy storage capabilities for aerospace or terrestrial power systems, or may be integrated into production of derivative products including structural materials, manufacturing feedstock, or other condensed-phase products. Dual use of hydrogen production capability extends to a focus for NASA applications on size, weight, and energy consumption and utilization efficiencies, and applying those efficiencies to terrestrial implementations with opportunities for scale up to commercial hydrogen production. This scope is therefore intended to strongly emphasize significant overall efficiencies in size, weight, and energy consumption and utilization. The scope specifically excludes incremental improvements in existing water electrolysis technologies.

Expected TRL or TRL Range at completion of the Project: 3 to 5

Primary Technology Taxonomy:

• Level 1 03 Aerospace Power and Energy Storage
• Level 2 03.2 Energy Storage

Desired Deliverables of Phase I and Phase II:

• Analysis
• Prototype
• Research

Desired Deliverables Description:

Phase I Deliverable is defined as a detailed feasibility study that clearly defines the specific technical innovations in hydrogen production. Technology feasibility evaluation should include persuasive rationale showing process conversion effectiveness, approaches to minimization of specific mass and volume (i.e., per mass and volume of hydrogen produced), and substantial innovation in the utilization and minimization of total energy consumption. Phase I feasibility deliverables could be significantly strengthened by laboratory test results that demonstrate the performance of unit processes, components, or subsystems against these metrics.

Phase II Deliverables are to include matured feasibility analysis and laboratory prototype components or subsystems integrated into an end-to-end hydrogen production system at a laboratory scale of maturity, and performance testing data that address metrics including process conversion effectiveness, specific mass and/or volume, energy utilization, and product properties. Analysis deliverables for Phase II should address a credible path toward maturation of the technology and approaches to scaling the technologies to larger processing capacities. Phase II hardware delivery may possibly be waived to enable well-secured follow-on technology maturation support.

State of the Art and Critical Gaps:

This topic is intended to solicit innovative technologies with clear dual use: (1) adoption by NASA for infusion into long-term mission capabilities enabling quasi-industrial scale ISRU and energy storage use of indigenous water resources and (2) commercialization and the potential formation of a terrestrial industry to meet potentially significant future demand for hydrogen for energy storage, advanced aviation and surface transportation fuels, and feedstock for manufactured products. Additionally, if or as a viable industry associated with terrestrial applications of these technologies emerge, a commercial competition may continue to innovate and contribute over the longer term to improved NASA mission capability. Early-stage innovations in this topic are anticipated from teams of small businesses and research institutions, which can demonstrate feasibility and readiness for accelerated maturation.

Relevance / Science Traceability:

The application of compact, energy-efficient hydrogen production technologies will occur in future power and energy storage and ISRU implementations on the Moon and on Mars, which are currently constrained by the use of conventional water electrolysis approaches. Technologies that successfully address size, mass, and energy consumption constraints for spaceflight applications will enable the utilization of those efficiencies as the basis for scaling up to commercial production for terrestrial applications at far larger production volumes than needed for spaceflight applications. This solicitation is intended to incentivize these innovations in the service of future NASA missions.

References:

[1]       R. Yukesh Kannah et al., "Techno-economic assessment of various hydrogen production methods – A review," Bioresour. Technol., vol. 319, September 2020, p. 124175, 2021.

[2]       A. Bauen, N. Bitossi, L. German, A. Harris, and K. Leow, "Sustainable aviation fuels status, challenges and prospects of drop-in liquid fuels, hydrogen and electrification in aviation," Johnson Matthey Technol. Rev., vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 263–278, 2020.

[3]       I. Dincer and C. Acar, "Review and evaluation of hydrogen production methods for better sustainability," Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 40, no. 34, pp. 11094–11111, 2014.

[4]       Y. Cheng et al., "Mg and K dual-decorated Fe-on-reduced graphene oxide for selective catalyzing CO hydrogenation to light olefins with mitigated CO2 emission and enhanced activity," Appl. Catal. B Environ., vol. 204, pp. 475–485, May 2017.

[5]       F. Safari and I. Dincer, "A review and comparative evaluation of thermochemical water splitting cycles for hydrogen production," Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 205, October 2019, p. 112182, 2020.

[6]       A. Baroutaji, T. Wilberforce, M. Ramadan, and A. G. Olabi, "Comprehensive investigation on hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the aviation and aerospace sectors," Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 106, September 2018, pp. 31–40, 2019.