Hydraulic Analysis of the MPLM Cabin Loop Using the Software Tool ECOSIM 972557

The Mini Pressurized Logistic Module (MPLM) of the International Space Station (ISSA) is foreseen for the transport of service equipment, experiment racks and service racks to the station. For the orbital operational phase it needs an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) to make it commissionable for the astronauts. Because of its short mission time and the usage as a transport vehicle it has no completely autonomous ECLSS functionality. The Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) is supported by the Space Station via an Inter Module Ventilation Interface (IMV l/F). The MPLM ECLS has the requirement to suck revitalized air through the IMV l/F and mix it up with the recirculated air in order to provide a comfortable atmosphere in the MPLM habitable area.

The fulfillment of the hydraulic and thermal requirements is verified by test and analysis. With this paper we provide the hydraulic analysis performed with ECOSIM, an ESA approved software tool. It is the first time that ECOSIM is used for an ECLSS analysis. It is a software tool for steady state and transient simulations of complex thermo-hydraulic systems. From a library of ECLSS components like ducts, valves, fan, etc. a hydraulic network can be built up by connecting the components with each other. With this paper we present the application of the ECOSIM S/W tool for the simulation of the MPLM ECLS. The results of the simulation are verified with partly available test results.