Airlock Pump System
Atmosphere Recovery Pump and Vacuum System
The atmosphere recovery pump and vacuum system is a mechanical pumping assembly—typically using scroll or diaphragm mechanisms—that evacuates airlock compartments and transfers the gas into storage accumulators prior to venting to vacuum. Operating via staged pump-down sequences to reduce power demand, the system recovers over 95 percent of the airlock atmosphere for subsequent repressurization. Because habitat gas is an irreplaceable resource over a 100-year mission lifespan, maximum atmospheric recovery is vital. The hardware must maintain vacuum performance across thousands of cycles spanning decades while tolerating abrasive, entrained dust particles that can cause mechanical wear and pump damage.
Pump system recovering atmosphere during airlock depressurization to minimize gas losses
Purpose
Pump system recovering atmosphere during airlock depressurization to minimize gas losses
Context
Child of L2-STR-LOCK
Principles
- ▸Scroll or diaphragm pump recovers >95% of airlock atmosphere before opening to vacuum
- ▸Staged pump-down reduces pump power by evacuating to intermediate pressure first
- ▸Gas recovery tanks store recovered atmosphere for repressurization
- ▸Pump bypass valve enables rapid emergency depressurization if needed
Typical implementations
- ▸ISS airlock pump system design
- ▸Vacuum chamber rough pumping systems
- ▸Submarine atmosphere management equipment
Lunar considerations
- ▸Atmosphere is irreplaceable resource - maximum recovery critical over 100-year mission
- ▸Pump must handle entrained dust particles without damage
- ▸Pump reliability over thousands of airlock cycles spanning decades
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Pump system recovering atmosphere during airlock depressurization to minimize gas losses |
Physical
| materials | Scroll pump mechanism, Gas storage accumulator, Solenoid valves |
Interfaces
Provides
- Atmosphere recovery during airlock cycling
Requires
- Power for pump operation (~200-500W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Airlock Pump System" (L3-STR-LOCK-PUMP). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-STR-LOCK-PUMP
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.