Operational Performance and Reliability of Advanced Magnetic-Bearing Supported Carbon Dioxide Blower for Space Applications

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engineered the Four Bed Carbon Dioxide Scrubber (FBCO2), serving as a technology demonstration for implementation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). A critical component of the FBCO2 system is the magnetic-bearing-supported blower, developed by Calnetix Technologies, which facilitates air circulation through the sorbent beds. The blower was integrated into the existing FBCO2 infrastructure onboard the ISS in February 2023 as a retrofitted enhancement. The active magnetic bearings exhibit superior reliability and minimal energy consumption characteristics, rendering them an optimal technology solution for space applications. While previous papers have focused on the design of the blower, the testing of the blower, the ground test data collected for the blower, and the commissioning of the blower, this paper focuses on the reliability of the blower, including technical issues encountered during operation, the blower telemetry captured during the first 2 years of operation, and recent touchdown bearing testing conducted on ground. Details of the motor, magnetic bearing, blower data and touchdown bearing testing are discussed.