A Vapour-Compression Distillation Water-Recovery System: Recovery Fraction, Energy and Resupply Saving Over 900 Days

This paper presents a computed design for a vapour-compression distillation processor that recovers water from urine and humidity condensate, reducing resupply mass over a long mission by an amount set by the recovery fraction and the brine loss. The study is simulated, not measured. Using the stated assumptions in the Methods and the deposited calculation, the headline results are: inp = 13.2, rec = 12.3, loss = 0.92, saved = 11048, power = 92. All quantities are derived in the accompanying script, which writes the full numerical record to results.json, including inputs, outputs and, where relevant, a parameter sweep. The design is assessed on its computed performance, its mass and power budgets where relevant, and its failure behaviour. Where the computed result is impractical, that outcome is stated plainly in the abstract's terms as well as in the Discussion: the numbers, not the intention, decide whether the principle is attractive at the stated scale. No measurement of a built system is reported, and no flight performance is claimed.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-11-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24145356
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Space Exploration and Technology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.98
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article

A Vapour-Compression Distillation Water-Recovery System: Recovery Fraction, Energy and Resupply Saving Over 900 Days

William Alexander Aldred
1 citations
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Space Exploration and Technology
1.98
article

A Vapour-Compression Distillation Water-Recovery System: Recovery Fraction, Energy and Resupply Saving Over 900 Days

William Alexander Aldred
article en
1 citations

Abstract

This paper presents a computed design for a vapour-compression distillation processor that recovers water from urine and humidity condensate, reducing resupply mass over a long mission by an amount set by the recovery fraction and the brine loss. The study is simulated, not measured. Using the stated assumptions in the Methods and the deposited calculation, the headline results are: inp = 13.2, rec = 12.3, loss = 0.92, saved = 11048, power = 92. All quantities are derived in the accompanying script, which writes the full numerical record to results.json, including inputs, outputs and, where relevant, a parameter sweep. The design is assessed on its computed performance, its mass and power budgets where relevant, and its failure behaviour. Where the computed result is impractical, that outcome is stated plainly in the abstract's terms as well as in the Discussion: the numbers, not the intention, decide whether the principle is attractive at the stated scale. No measurement of a built system is reported, and no flight performance is claimed.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Openalex Percentile: Top 21%
Space Exploration and Technology
1.98
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