Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE A
ISSN 1673-565X(Print), 1862-1775(Online), Monthly

2009   Vol. 10   No. 11   p. 1642~1650

A novel application of the SAWD-Sabatier-SPE integrated system for CO₂ removal and O₂ regeneration in submarine cabins during prolonged voyages

Zhi HUANG¹, Zhao-bo CHEN^†‡1, Nan-qi REN¹, Dong-xue HU², Dong-huan ZHENG¹, Zhen-peng ZHANG³

(¹State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)
(²School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China)
(³Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637723, Singapore)
^‡ Corresponding Author
^†E-mail: czbhdx@163.com
Received Apr. 8, 2009; revision accepted Aug. 10, 2009; Crosschecked Sept. 10, 2009

Abstract: To improve the working and living environment of submarine crews, an integrated system of CO₂ removal and O₂ regeneration was designed to work under experimental conditions for 50 people in a submarine cabin during prolonged voyages. The integrated system comprises a solid amine water desorption (SAWD) unit for CO₂ collection and concentration, a Sabatier reactor for CO₂ reduction and a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) unit for O₂ regeneration by electrolysis. The performances of the SAWD-Sabatier-SPE integrated system were investigated. The experimental results from the SAWD unit showed that the average CO₂ concentration in the CO₂ storage tank was more than 96% and the outlet CO₂ concentration was nearly zero in the first 45 min, and less than 1/10 of inlet CO₂ after 60 min when input CO₂ was 0.5% (1000 L). About 950 L of CO₂ was recovered with a recovery rate of 92%~97%. The output CO₂ concentration was less than 0.2%, which showed that the adsorption-desorption performance of this unit was excellent. In the CO₂ reduction unit we investigated mainly the start-up and reaction performance of the Sabatier reactor. The start-up time of the Sabatier reactor was 6, 8 and 10 min when the start-up temperature was 187.3, 179.5 and 168 °C, respectively. The product water was colorless, transparent, and had a pH of 6.9~7.5, and an electrical conductivity of 80 µs/cm. The sum of the concentration of metal ions (Ru³⁺, Al³⁺, Pb²⁺) was 0.028% and that of nonmetal ions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻) was 0.05%. In the O₂ regeneration unit, the O₂ generation rate was 0.48 m³/d and the quantity was 2400 L, sufficient to meet the submariners’ basic oxygen demands. These results may be useful as a basis for establishing CO₂-level limits and O₂ regeneration systems in submarines or similar enclosed compartments during prolonged voyages.

Key words: CO₂ removal, O₂ regeneration, Solid amine water desorption (SAWD), Sabatier reactor, Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), Submarine
doi:10.1631/jzus.A0920017             CLC number: X703

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