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Development of a Fan for Future Space Suit ApplicationsNASA's next generation space suit system will place new demands on the fan used to circulate breathing gas through the ventilation loop of the portable life support system. Long duration missions with frequent extravehicular activities (EVAs), the requirement for significant increases in reliability and durability, and a mission profile that imposes strict limits on weight, volume and power create the basis for a set of requirements that demand more performance than is available from existing fan designs. This paper describes the development of a new fan to meet these needs. A centrifugal fan was designed with a normal operating speed of approximately 39,400 rpm to meet the ventilation flow requirements while also meeting the aggressive minimal packaging, weight and power requirements. The prototype fan also operates at 56,000 rpm to satisfy a second operating condition associated with a single fan providing ventilation flow to two spacesuits connected in series. This fan incorporates a novel nonmetallic "can" to keep the oxygen flow separate from the motor electronics, thus eliminating ignition potential. The nonmetallic can enables a small package size and low power consumption. To keep cost and schedule within project bounds a commercial motor controller was used. The fan design has been detailed and implemented using materials and approaches selected to address anticipated mission needs. Test data is presented to show how this fan performs relative to anticipated ventilation requirements for the EVA portable life support system. Additionally, data is presented to show tolerance to anticipated environmental factors such as acoustics, shock, and vibration. Recommendations for forward work to progress the technology readiness level and prepare the fan for the next EVA space suit system are also discussed.
Document ID
20100019156
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Paul. Heather L. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Converse, David (Hamilton Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea United States)
Dionne, Steven (Hamilton Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea United States)
Moser, Jeff (Sierra Nevada Corp. NV, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2010
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-20006
Meeting Information
40th International Conference on Environmental Systems(Barcelona)
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 903184.04.02.03.03
CONTRACT_GRANT: CRAVE-EC-039
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNJ05HB39B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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