Astronauts in space drink recycled water

21 March 2011

Where does it come from you may ask? There are no water coolers in space! Here on earth, the natural method of purification is as follows: Evaporation where when water evaporates, and changes from a liquid state to vapour, a high proportion of pollutants and contaminants are removed. Then condensation and precipitation: this is where water condenses and falls back to earth in the form of rain. The reason it is not pure when it falls is that it has to fall through pollution in the atmosphere caused by rising greenhouse gases.

On the International Space Stations (ISS), all the astronauts life systems are managed by the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECCLSS) including the water recycling system. A specially designed water distiller is spun to produce an artificial gravity field which causes the contaminants to press against the sides of the water purifier while the steam gathers in the middle and is pumped into a filter.

Fundamentally, this means that all expirated waste is gathered including sweat in the humidity. The ECCLSS reclaims waste waters from the shuttles fuel cells as well as urine, oral hygiene, hand washing etc. The water purification machines on the ISS will cleanse wastewater in a three-step process. It is the same reverse osmosis technology used in water coolers to filter unwanted contaminants in offices. The first step is a filter that removes particles and debris. Then the water passes through the "multi-filtration beds," which contain substances that remove organic and inorganic impurities. And finally, the "catalytic oxidation reactor" removes volatile organic compounds and kills bacteria and viruses.

The process of recycling the water results finally through ultra filtration, in pure water, possible cleaner and safer than what is drank on earth.

Pure Eau may not have reached the lofty heights of space but we do sell water filters, water coolers and home water purification water using reverse osmosis to give pure water of the highest quality.

Article Links

water filter http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/water-filters.cfm
pure water http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/benefits/crystal-clear.cfm
water coolers http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/water-coolers.cfm
reverse osmosis http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/the-process.cfm

Page Title
Water Filters | water for health| Water coolers
Keywords
Water coolers, water filters, keeping healthy,  reverse osmosis
Description
Pure-Eau water coolers can eliminate chemicals and other contaminants from drinking water

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