Scott Nicholas
NASA has awarded energy technology company Sustainable Innovations a phase two contract under the Small Business Innovation Research program for a commercial-scale system to recycle helium from ongoing rocket test operations at the agency’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
Sustainable Innovations said Friday its H2RENEW system works to recover hydrogen from helium purge gas utilized for rocket fueling operations and retain both gases for reuse with the aid of the company’s Proton Exchange Membrane platform.
“The goal of the NASA Phase I project was to double the capacity of the individual electrochemical separation cells while maintaining optimal operating efficiency and durability,” said Trent Molter, Sustainable Innovations president and CEO.
The company noted that it aims to scale its technology to capacities it says could help recover large quantities of helium and hydrogen used in the SSC fueling operation.
Sustainable Innovations offers common core technology, expandable modular architecture and high pressure electrochemical cell modules for energy and industry applications in the global commercial sector.
