Abstract: The disclosure describes a system for generating hydrogen gas from a hydrocarbon through pyrolysis with reduced soot formation and increased carbon loading. The system includes one or more pyrolysis reactors configured to generate the hydrogen gas from the hydrocarbon through pyrolysis. Each pyrolysis reactor of the one or more pyrolysis reactors includes one or more fibrous substrates and a concentration sensor downstream of at least one fibrous substrate of the one or more fibrous substrates. Each fibrous substrate of the one or more fibrous substrates defines a deposition surface for carbon generated from the pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon and includes a plurality of fibers configured to maintain chemical and structural stability between 850° C. and 1300° C. The concentration sensor is configured to measure a concentration of at least one of a hydrocarbon byproduct or a hydrocarbon soot precursor, such as acetylene.

Abstract: A thermal process system includes a retort assembly, a heating assembly, and a vessel housing. The retort assembly includes a retort chamber and is configured to substantially form a containment boundary to contain one or more gases in the retort chamber during a thermal process. The heating assembly includes one or more heating elements and is configured to heat the retort chamber. The vessel housing is positioned around the retort chamber and the one or more heating elements and configured to form a pressure boundary to maintain a pressure within the retort chamber and reduce a pressure across the retort chamber.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes: a first gas-liquid contactor-separator; a second gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a dehumidifier disposed either upstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator or downstream of the second gas-liquid contactor-separator.

Abstract: A spacesuit contaminant removal system includes at least one membrane separator and a liquid sorbent circuit. The at least one membrane separator is configured to receive a spent air stream from a ventilation system of a spacesuit and absorb a contaminant from the spent air stream into a liquid sorbent. The at least one membrane separator is configured to discharge a clean air stream to the ventilation system and discharge the contaminant in a contaminant stream to a space environment using a vacuum of the space environment. The liquid sorbent circuit is configured to circulate the liquid sorbent through the at least one membrane separator.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide conversion system for an environment includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator downstream of the environment; an electrochemical conversion cell downstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a cleaned ionic liquid storage intermediate the first gas-liquid contactor-separator and the electrochemical conversion cell.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide conversion system for an environment includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator downstream of the environment; an electrochemical conversion cell downstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a cleaned ionic liquid storage intermediate the first gas-liquid contactor-separator and the electrochemical conversion cell.

Abstract: A contaminant removal system for removing a contaminant from an environment includes a gas separator, a scrubber-separator downstream of the gas separator, and a stripper-separator downstream of the scrubber-separator. The gas separator is configured to receive a cabin air stream from the environment and concentrate the contaminant from the cabin air stream to produce a concentrated cabin air stream. The cabin air stream includes the contaminant, and the concentrated cabin air stream has a higher concentration of the contaminant than the cabin air stream. The scrubber-separator is configured to absorb the contaminant from the concentrated cabin air stream into a liquid sorbent and discharge a clean air stream to the environment. The stripper-separator is configured to desorb the contaminant from the liquid sorbent into a contaminant stream.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide conversion system for an environment includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator downstream of the environment; an electrochemical conversion cell downstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a cleaned ionic liquid storage intermediate the first gas-liquid contactor-separator and the electrochemical conversion cell.

Abstract: A system configured to be installed in an air flow channel includes a metal surface configured to convert liquid-phase contamination in the air flow channel of a vehicle to vapor-phase contamination; a sensor configured to sense the vapor-phase contamination in the air flow channel; and communication circuitry configured to transmit data indicating sensed levels of the vapor-phase contamination.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a system for generating hydrogen gas from a hydrocarbon through pyrolysis with reduced soot formation and increased carbon loading. The system includes one or more pyrolysis reactors configured to generate the hydrogen gas from the hydrocarbon through pyrolysis. Each pyrolysis reactor of the one or more pyrolysis reactors includes one or more fibrous substrates and a concentration sensor downstream of at least one fibrous substrate of the one or more fibrous substrates. Each fibrous substrate of the one or more fibrous substrates defines a deposition surface for carbon generated from the pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon and includes a plurality of fibers configured to maintain chemical and structural stability between 850° C. and 1300° C. The concentration sensor is configured to measure a concentration of at least one of a hydrocarbon byproduct or a hydrocarbon soot precursor, such as acetylene.

Abstract: In some examples, a membrane module includes a fiber bundle. The fiber bundle includes a tubular first region and a tubular second region positioned around the tubular first region. One of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers oriented along an axis of the fiber bundle. Another of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers that are not colinear in a radial direction from the axis of the fiber bundle. A void fraction of the second region is different from a void fraction of the first region.

Abstract: An aircraft disinfecting system. The system includes a trolley that can move along an aisle of an aircraft and an arm assembly coupled to the trolley. The arm assembly includes at least first and second arms that can extend over one or more seats on either side of the aisle along respective axes of extension. An electromagnetic radiation apparatus coupled to the trolley and the arm assembly for disinfecting, by electromagnetic irradiation, surfaces associated with the seats. The first and second arms are rotatable about the axes of extension, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for sanitizing a surface within an aircraft includes emitting UV radiation from a UV radiation source toward the surface, and emitting visible light from a visible light source toward the surface. A UV sensor senses an intensity of the UV radiation reflected by a reflector that is disposed on a least a portion of the surface and a visible light senses an intensity of the visible light reflected by the reflector. A processor processes the UV intensity signal and the visible light intensity signal to determine the intensity of the UV radiation on the surface and a UV dose to the surface.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes: a first gas-liquid contactor-separator; a second gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a dehumidifier disposed either upstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator or downstream of the second gas-liquid contactor-separator.

Abstract: A gas compression system includes a system inlet to receive a gas stream containing a first component and a second component, a vapor system outlet to discharge the gas stream, and a plurality of compression stages coupled in series between the system inlet and the vapor system outlet. Each of the plurality of compression stages includes a compressor, a condenser coupled to the compressor, and a gravity-independent phase separator coupled to the condenser. The compressor is configured to receive the gas stream from either the system inlet or another of the plurality of compression stages and compress the gas stream. The condenser is configured to condense the second component from the gas stream. The gravity-independent phase separator is configured to remove the second component from the gas stream and discharge the gas stream to either the system outlet or another of the plurality of compression stages.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first rotating porous bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: In some examples, a membrane module includes a fiber bundle. The fiber bundle includes a tubular first region and a tubular second region positioned around the tubular first region. One of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers oriented along an axis of the fiber bundle. Another of the first or second regions includes hollow fibers that are not colinear in a radial direction from the axis of the fiber bundle. A void fraction of the second region is different from a void fraction of the first region.

Abstract: A spacesuit contaminant removal system includes at least one membrane separator and a liquid sorbent circuit. The at least one membrane separator is configured to receive a spent air stream from a ventilation system of a spacesuit and absorb a contaminant from the spent air stream into a liquid sorbent. The at least one membrane separator is configured to discharge a clean air stream to the ventilation system and discharge the contaminant in a contaminant stream to a space environment using a vacuum of the space environment. The liquid sorbent circuit is configured to circulate the liquid sorbent through the at least one membrane separator.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first packed, stationary bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes: a first gas-liquid contactor-separator; a second gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a dehumidifier disposed either upstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator or downstream of the second gas-liquid contactor-separator.