Thermal Waste Processing
Pyrolysis / Vacuum Incinerator for Organic Waste
The thermal waste processor is an 80-kilogram Inconel chamber lined with magnesia refractory that thermally decomposes solid organic refuse—such as food residue, polymers, and paper—into char and recoverable gases. Operating at 700 °C with a 3,000-watt power draw, the system pyrolyzes up to 5 kilograms of waste per hour in an oxygen-deprived environment, preventing the loss of carbon essential for lunar manufacturing. Gaseous outputs, including carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen, are routed to volatile separation systems, while recovered thermal energy feeds habitat coolant loops. Sustaining continuous high-temperature reduction across 20,000 operating hours without ambient oxidizers requires high-integrity refractory containment built for a 15-year lifetime.
Pyrolysis chamber that thermally decomposes organic waste (food residue, polymers, paper) into char + gases, with energy recovery to L1-TCS.
Purpose
Pyrolysis chamber that thermally decomposes organic waste (food residue, polymers, paper) into char + gases, with energy recovery to L1-TCS.
Context
Child of L2-WMS-PROC within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Pyrolysis at 500-800 C in inert atmosphere decomposes organics
- ▸Char output usable as carbon source for L1-MFG
- ▸Gas output (CO, CH4, H2) routed to L3-ISR-VOL-SEP for separation
- ▸Heat recovered via L1-TCS coolant
- ▸Toxic residual capture (chlorine, heavy metals)
Typical implementations
- ▸NASA Trash-to-Gas technology demos
- ▸Industrial pyrolysis (terrestrial)
- ▸ESA MELiSSA organic waste processing
Lunar considerations
- ▸Closed-loop processing converts waste to useful resources
- ▸Inert (no oxygen) atmosphere preserves valuable carbon
- ▸Long-life refractory liner needed
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Pyrolysis chamber that thermally decomposes organic waste (food residue, polymers, paper) into char + gases, with energy recovery to L1-TCS. |
| throughput kg per hour | 5 |
| operating temperature c | 700 |
Physical
| mass kg | 80 |
| materials | Magnesia refractory liner, Inconel reactor body, Stainless gas piping |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 3000 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 20000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Char carbon source
- Pyrolysis gas to separation
- Recovered process heat
Requires
- Organic waste input
- Heater (~3 kW)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Thermal Waste Processing" (L3-WMS-PROC-THERM). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-WMS-PROC-THERM
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.