Device for Recycling Grey Water in a Transportation Vehicle

Abstract

The invention pertains to a device (C) for recycling grey water, particularly for a transportation vehicle equipped with a tank (D) of clean on-board water, said device (C) being intended for providing recycled water for the emptying of at least one toilet mounted in said vehicle, said device comprising a vessel ( 2 ) for collecting grey water, a pump ( 4 ) to make at least at a part of the grey water stored in the vessel ( 2 ) circulate towards filtering means ( 8 ) and a tank ( 12 ) for storing filtered grey water useable for washing the toilets. said filtered grey water being stored under pressure in said tank ( 12 ). According to the invention, said filtering means ( 8 ) comprise an ultrafilter.

1 . Device for recycling grey water, particularly for a transportation vehicle equipped with a tank of clean on-board water, said device being intended for providing recycled water for the emptying of at least one toilet mounted in said vehicle, said device comprising a vessel for collecting grey water, a pump to make at least at a part of the grey water stored in the vessel circulate towards filtering means and a tank for storing filtered grey water useable for washing the toilets, said filtered grey water being stored under pressure in said tank, characterized in that said filtering means comprise an ultrafilter. 
     
     
         2 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said filtered grey water is stored in said tank at a pressure of 2 to 4 bars. 
     
     
         3 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means for reversible fastening to a toilet module comprising a wash-basin and a toilet. 
     
     
         4 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a valve to selectively connect said toilet to the filtered grey-water storage tank or to said clean on-board water tank. 
     
     
         5 . Device for recycling according to  claim 4 , characterized in that it comprises a non-return clack valve between said clean on-board water tank and said valve. 
     
     
         6 . Device for recycling according to  claim 4 , characterized in that it comprises a back-pressure valve between said valve and said vessel for collecting grey water. 
     
     
         7 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said device for recycling comprises pressure sensors placed respectively upstream and downstream to the filtering means so as to determine the difference in pressure between the inlet and the outlet of the filtering means. 
     
     
         8 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a sensor for sensing of grey water in the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it is connected to electronic control and command means. 
     
     
         10 . Device for recycling according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said electronic control and command means comprise means commanding the starting or stopping of said recycling device. 
     
     
         11 . Device for recycling according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said electronic control and command means include means commanding the back-washing of the filtering means with filtered grey water stored in said tank. 
     
     
         12 . Device for recycling according to  claim 11  characterized in that, to command the backwashing of the filtering means, said electronic control and command means take account of at least one of the following criteria:
 a predetermined duration of operation of the filtering means; 
 a predetermined loss of load through the filtering means; 
 a volume of water filtered by the filtering means; 
 a clock signal; 
 output signals from the pressure sensors; 
 a water flow-rate signal. 
 
     
     
         13 . Device for recycling according to  claim 10 , characterized in said electronic control and command means include means commanding the emptying of said recycling device and implementing said pump. 
     
     
         14 . Device for recycling according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said electronic control and command means include means commanding the draining of the matter in suspension from the grey water retained by the filtering means. 
     
     
         15 . Device for recycling according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means for linking the vessel for collecting grey water to a wash-basin or to a shower mounted in said vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A transportation device comprising:
 a toilet included on the transportation device;   a grey water source provided on the transportation device;   a tank for receiving and holding grey water disposed on the transportation device;   a membrane separation unit for filtering the grey water produced on the transportation device;   a pump for pumping grey water from the tank to the membrane separation unit;   wherein the membrane separation unit filters the grey water and produces a filtrate and a concentrated stream having matter removed from the grey water;   a pressure vessel located downstream from the membrane separation unit for receiving filtrate produced by the membrane separation unit and holding the filtrate under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and   a flush line operatively interconnected between the pressure vessel and the toilet for directing filtrate stored in the pressure vessel to the toilet for flushing the toilet.   
     
     
         17 . The transportation device of  claim 16  wherein the membrane separation unit includes an ultrafiltration membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The transportation device of  claim 16  wherein there is provided a flush control valve in the flush line for controlling the flow of filtrate into the toilet; and wherein there is provided a back pressure valve operatively associated with the flush control valve for regulating the flow of filtrate through the flush control valve into the toilet. 
     
     
         19 . The transportation device of  claim 18  wherein there is provided a recycle line operatively interconnected between the pressure vessel and the tank that receives and holds the grey water, and wherein the back pressure valve is operatively connected in the recycle line. 
     
     
         20 . A method of conserving and managing water used on an airplane, comprising:
 directing potable water to units on the airplane that produce grey water and producing grey water;   storing the grey water in a grey water tank on the airplane;   pumping the grey water from the grey water tank to a membrane separation unit and filtering the grey water with the membrane separation unit to produce a filtrate and a concentrated grey water stream;   directing the filtrate from the membrane separation unit to a pressure vessel located on the airplane downstream of the membrane separation unit;   maintaining the filtrate in the pressure vessel at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and   selectively directing filtrate in the pressure vessel to a toilet located on the airplane and utilizing the filtrate produced by the membrane separation unit to flush the toilet.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the membrane separation unit includes an ultrafiltration membrane. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  including utilizing a back pressure valve to control the flow of filtrate from the pressure vessel to the toilet. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  including maintaining the pressure in the pressure vessel at 2 to 4 bars. 
     
     
         24 . The transportation device of  claim 16  wherein the transportation device is an airplane having the toilet, tank, membrane separation unit, pump and pressure vessel disposed thereon.