NASASBIR/STTR SUCCESS STORIES Lewis Research Center
Johnson Space Center
1983 Phase II

Membrane-Based Washwater Recovery System

Bend Research, Inc.

Bend, OR

INNOVATION
    Two-stage system designed to recover and treat washwaters on long-duration space missions, produces high quality water and recovers 95% of the washwater for reuse
Waswater Recovery Subsystem
Washwater Recovery Subsystem

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • System incorporates fouling- resistant ultrafiltration (UF) modules in the first stage, with spiral-wound reverse-osmosis (RO) modules in the second stage
  • No interstage pump needed, reducing the power requirements
  • Prototype UF/RO subsystem delivered to JSC for 1996 tests
COMMERCIALIZATION
  • Innovation generated additional non-SBIR funding of more than $1 million
  • Commercial uses include recycle of laundry, car-wash, and dishwasher wastewater
  • Technology commercialized in 1990 by spin-off company, AquaAir Inc., raising more than $5 million for start-up and product development
GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
  • Original UF/RO prototype delivered to NASA JSC
  • Second UF/RO unit test in the Technology Demonstration Program at MSFC
  • Washwater-Recovery Subsystem being considered by NASA for long-duration space missions
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