Method for disinfecting a water system of an aircraft

Abstract

A method for disinfecting a water system of an aircraft, comprising: admitting hot water at an inlet of the water system by a first ground unit; flushing the hot water from the inlet through a water line of the water system to an outlet of the water system; and discharging the hot water at the outlet by the first ground unit or a second ground unit; the hot water being flushed into the inlet and out of the outlet over a predetermined disinfection period; and the hot water being provided at the inlet via a continuous flow heater of the first ground unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for disinfecting the water system of an aircraft. Background Technology

[0002] Modern passenger aircraft typically employ a wide network of water pipes extending from inlets and outlets outside the fuselage through distribution pipes to consumable devices within the cabin, such as the galley and sanitation facilities. Additionally, the aircraft usually has at least one water tank for supplying the water system, which may, for example, have a capacity of approximately 1000 liters.

[0003] The German Association for Gas and Hydraulic Engineering (DVGW), in its October 2012 document "Reinigung und Desinfektion von Trinkwasser-Installationen (Cleaning and Disinfection of Drinking Water Facilities)" (Worksheet W 557), describes the practical implementation of cleaning, disinfection, and preventative measures to prevent contamination of drinking water systems. One disinfection possibility described is thermal disinfection, in which the entire drinking water system is rinsed with hot water. Another possibility, mentioned in many cases used in the aviation industry, is chemical disinfection, in which disinfectant chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide are used to condition the drinking water system at application-specific concentrations. The use of a hot flow at boiling water temperature (e.g., 100°C at 1 atm) for disinfection is occasionally proposed, particularly in medical and industrial applications.

[0004] Typically, for thermal and chemical disinfection of passenger aircraft water tanks, ground support units (GSEs) using tank trucks with sufficiently large tanks are employed to provide the appropriate amount of hot water or disinfectant mixture to fill the aircraft's water tanks, supply pipes, drainage pipes, and piping network with liquid. This requires supplying and heating (if appropriate) large quantities of liquid. Furthermore, several operations such as flushing the tanks and / or pipes may be necessary, and disinfection and occasional venting operations can take up an entire day. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the background art, the present invention is based on the goal of discovering a simpler, faster and more cost-effective solution for disinfecting the water system of aircraft.

[0006] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

[0007] This provides a method for disinfecting a water system, particularly a drinking water system, of an aircraft. The method includes: allowing hot water to enter the water system at an inlet by a first ground support unit; flushing the hot water from the inlet through a water pipe of the water system to an outlet of the water system; releasing the hot water at the outlet by either the first or second ground support unit; the hot water entering the inlet and exiting the outlet within a predetermined disinfection cycle; and the hot water being supplied at the inlet via a continuous flow heater of the first ground support unit.

[0008] The concept behind this invention is to avoid the use of chemicals and storage tanks by having a ground support unit (GSE) directly generate hot water on-site using a continuous flow heater and introduce the hot water into the pipes to be disinfected. For this purpose, the GSE only needs to be connected to a water supply source without requiring large liquid tanks, let alone consuming significant energy to heat them. In this way, the GSE can have a compact and flexible design, resulting in the selective application of the disinfection process to chosen critical (pipe) areas in a time-, cost-, and energy-saving manner. Moreover, due to the GSE's compact design and low (electrical) power consumption, (mobile) deployment in specialized aviation working environments can be facilitated or economically feasible. For example, standard commercially available electric continuous flow heaters with compact size and low power consumption can be used. For example, continuous flow heaters with a rated power of, for example, 20 kW or less can be used.

[0009] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and based on the further dependent claims and description, advantageous designs and improvements will become clear.

[0010] According to the improvement, the hot water can have a temperature of 60°C to 80°C. On the one hand, the faster the disinfection process, the higher the water temperature. On the other hand, the components of modern light aircraft often have only limited heat resistance, ruling out water temperatures of 80°C or higher, especially boiling water. Therefore, this improvement achieves a favorable balance between the shortest possible disinfection cycle and the minimum possible damage to the affected aircraft structure (e.g., pipes and surrounding areas). In this case, it is particularly possible to ensure that the hot water maintains a temperature of at least 60°C throughout the rinsing area of ​​the pipes. For example, the hot water can be supplied at approximately 70°C and used to rinse the pipes.

[0011] In the present context, it is necessary to distinguish between disinfection and sterilization. Disinfection, within the scope of this invention, refers to the action taken on a water supply system or, for example, a medium of drinking water, to bring it into a state where it is no longer capable of causing infection. In this sense, disinfection of drinking water devices can be performed at temperatures much lower than the boiling point of water, particularly at temperatures as low as approximately 60°C. Thus, sterilization not only means sufficiently reducing or eliminating bacteria and pathogens, but also means virtually completely removing or eliminating all microorganisms at every stage of development (including stationary phases, e.g., spores). Therefore, sterilization is typically performed at very high temperatures, such as 121°C, to ensure that the required process duration is as short as possible (e.g., 3 minutes at 121°C).

[0012] According to the improvement, the release of hot water at the outlet can be controlled by the pressure maintenance device of the first ground support unit and / or the second ground support unit. In particular, a pressure maintenance device such as a pressure regulating valve can be used to release hot water at a controlled pressure, thereby ensuring that the liquid flow is as consistent as possible and clearly defined through the pipe to be disinfected and the outlet point connected in the aircraft.

[0013] According to the improvements, the water pipes may include inlet pipes, distribution pipes, supply pipes, outlet pipes, and / or consumption pipes. Furthermore, the water pipes may include drain points, etc. For example, not only the inlet and outlet pipes connected to the inlet or outlet respectively, but also the supply or distribution pipes connected to them and, for example, passing under the accessible cabin floor, can be flushed. Additionally, the consumption pipes connected to the supply pipes of consumption devices in the passenger cabin, cockpit, and / or cargo hold, such as the galley and sanitary facilities, can also be disinfected.

[0014] With further improvements, pressure can be applied to the tank portion of the water system during hot water flushing to keep the hot water away from the tank portion. This improvement offers the advantage of being able to disinfect only selected areas of the water system, independent of the tank portion and therefore particularly independent of at least one tank to which it is connected. In particular, in this improvement, it is not necessary to fill the aircraft's typically larger than 1000-liter tanks with hot water. Therefore, the method can be carried out in a particularly time-efficient and cost-effective manner. Due to the utilization of the flow-through or flushing principle, the desired hot water temperature range can be reached very quickly within the water pipes, thus keeping the disinfection time cycle extremely short, for example, less than one hour (e.g., 30 minutes).

[0015] According to the improvement, compressed air can be supplied via a compressed air supply source of the first and / or second ground support unit to apply compressed air to the tank section. For example, the corresponding ground support unit may include a pressure maintaining device that can ensure a certain static air pressure in the tank section, specifically within the tank, to divert water flow into a piping system away from the tank.

[0016] According to the improvement, compressed air can be introduced into the tank section via the tank outlet. For example, an overflow drain or overflow outlet of the tank section can be used for this purpose.

[0017] According to the improvement, a hot water loop can be formed from the inlet through the tank section to the outlet and back to the inlet. This improvement is particularly suitable for the sterilization of the tank section and at least one tank connected therein, which can be as efficient, rapid, and cost-effective as possible. In this case, at least one tank can be thoroughly rinsed or filled with hot water. For this purpose, a GSE with a compact continuous flow heater and corresponding water circulation device is capable of continuously rinsing the tank section with water to raise the water in the entire tank section to a desired temperature between 60°C and 80°C, for example, 70°C. The hot water can be circulated in the hot water loop for a predetermined sterilization cycle. Thus, in this improvement, a large outer tank (e.g., 1000 liters or more) is not required to provide the necessary filling volume of hot water. Therefore, this improvement can be achieved in a particularly efficient and practical manner by moving the GSE. In this way, even very large tanks of 1500 liters or more can be sterilized in a few hours using only a continuous flow heater with low rated power (e.g., with a power consumption of 20 kW), which is particularly beneficial or economically feasible for applications in aviation-specific working environments.

[0018] According to the improvement, the hot water circuit between the outlet and inlet can be closed by a circulation pump in the first ground support unit. A circulation pump that can be easily implemented in a small, compact mobile ground support unit represents a possible technical device for implementing the hot water circuit explained above.

[0019] According to the improvement, the tank outlet of the tank section can be used as an outlet. Furthermore, the aircraft inlet, such as the tank outlet, which is given as a standard feature in any case, can be used as an inlet. Therefore, no special provisions are needed for the aircraft to implement the hot water circuit.

[0020] The above designs and modifications can be combined with each other in any manner, provided they are appropriate. Further possible designs, modifications, and implementations of the invention include combinations of features of the invention not explicitly described above or below with respect to exemplary embodiments. Specifically, those skilled in the art can also add individual aspects as improvements or supplements to the various basic forms of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail based on exemplary embodiments illustrated in the schematic drawings. As shown below:

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic side view of an aircraft having a water system prior to performing a method for disinfection, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 During the execution of the method Figure 1 A schematic side view of the aircraft;

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic side view of an aircraft having a water system during the execution of a method for disinfection, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 A schematic side view of an aircraft having a water system during the execution of a method for disinfection, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0026] Figure 5 A schematic flowchart illustrating a method for disinfecting the water system of an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They illustrate the embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain the principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many advantages stated therein become apparent with respect to the drawings. Elements in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with respect to each other.

[0028] In the various figures of the accompanying drawings, the same elements, features and components have the same function and operate in the same manner (unless otherwise stated), and are indicated by the same reference numerals in each case. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic side view of an aircraft 100 having a water system 10 during the execution of a method M for disinfection, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. Figure 5 A schematic flowchart of method M is shown.

[0030] For example, the aircraft 100 of a passenger plane includes a water system 10, specifically a drinking water system, which has a network of water pipes 1a-d and a tank 8 located in the tank section 9a of the water system 10. Purely by example, the aircraft 100 includes a front water connection 5 at the front and a rear water connection 6 at the rear, both of which can in principle serve as inlets and / or outlets. From the water connections 5 and 6, different water pipes 1a-d, including an inlet pipe 1a, a distribution pipe or supply pipe 1b, an outlet pipe 1c, and a consumption pipe 1d, pass through the fuselage of the aircraft 100 in a network manner between the tank section 9a and the adjacent distribution section 9b. In this case, the consumption pipe 1d may lead to consumption devices in, for example, the cabin, cockpit, or cargo hold, such as to the galley, sanitary facilities such as showers, lavatories, and toilets. The distribution pipe or water supply pipe 1b may, for example, run beneath the cabin floor, along the cabin floor (not shown), and connect to the inlet pipe 1a and the outlet pipe 1c, which in turn lead to water connectors 5 and 6. Furthermore, the tank portion 9a of the water system 10 is also connected to water pipes 1a-d of the distribution portion 9b of the water system 10. Additionally, the tank portion 9a has a separate tank drain 4, which is implemented as an overflow or drain connection for the tank 8. The tank 8 may have a capacity of, for example, 1000 liters or more. In principle, it must be noted that the water connectors 5 and 6, or the tank drain 4, water pipes 1a-d, and tank 8 specifically given in this exemplary embodiment are merely illustrative. Based on the present teachings, those skilled in the art will arbitrarily infer that the specific configuration of these components may be designed differently in alternative embodiments. For example, more than two water connectors 5 and 6 may be provided, the routes of the water pipes 1a-d or their connection points may differ, or more than one tank 8 may be installed, etc. Furthermore, the tank 8, or the tank section 9, can be located in different positions within the aircraft 100.

[0031] Figure 1 Also shown are, for example, a first ground support unit 11 of a ground vehicle and, for example, a second ground support unit 12 of another ground vehicle. The first ground support unit 11 includes a continuous flow heater 13, which is supplied with electrical energy via a power supply source 7. The continuous flow heater 13 is connected to a water supply source 19 and heats water supplied from the water supply source 19 to a temperature between 60°C and 80°C, for example, 70°C. The first ground support unit 11 can use hot water 20 to fill the water system 10 of the aircraft 100 (see...). Figure 2 The first ground support unit 11 is also designed to provide compressed air 21 from compressed air supply source 15. Compressed air 21 can optionally be connected or disconnected via shut-off valve 18. The first ground support unit 11 also has a pressure maintaining device 14, through which the air pressure can be regulated or set to a fixed value. The second ground support unit 12 also includes a pressure maintaining device 14, through which hot water can be released from the aircraft 100 in a controlled manner, as shown in the following reference. Figure 2 The explanation given.

[0032] exist Figure 2 In this configuration, the first ground support unit 11 is connected to the rear water connector 6 for guiding hot water 20, and also connected to the tank outlet 4 for guiding compressed air 21. Therefore, in this case, the rear water connector 6 serves as the inlet 2 for the hot water 20. Additionally, in... Figure 2 The second ground support unit 12 is connected to the front water connector 5 to release hot water 20, which flows from the inlet 2 through water pipes 1a-d to the front water connector 5. Therefore, in this example, the front water connector 5 serves as the outlet 3.

[0033] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the example, the water system 10 of the aircraft 100 is disinfected by allowing hot water 20 to enter at inlet 2 via the first ground support unit 11 based on M1, then flushing the hot water 20 from inlet 2 through water pipes 1a, 1b, and 1d of the distribution section 9b to outlet 3, and then releasing the hot water 20 again at outlet 3 by the second ground support unit 12 (in this case, it is clear that some hot water 20 may be flushed out, for example, at consumption pipe 1d). The flow of hot water 20 in... Figure 2 The middle section is indicated by a thick dashed line. This rinsing operation is performed during a predetermined disinfection cycle. Simultaneously, compressed air is applied by the first ground support unit 11 via the tank outlet 4 and the outlet pipe 1c to the tank section 9a, including the tank 8, to keep the hot water 20 away from the tank section 9a (see...). Figure 2 This thick dashed line does not lead to the can section 9a).

[0034] As a result, a practical disinfection method is provided for disinfecting the water pipes 1a, 1b, and 1d of the distribution section 9b of the water system 10. This method is rapid, cost-effective, and energy-efficient. This is achieved, in particular, by avoiding filling the tank 8 with hot water 20. Due to the flow principle used, depending on the size of the aircraft 100, a sufficiently high temperature of at least 60°C can be reached very quickly, for example, within 10 to 30 minutes, in the water pipes 1a, 1b, and 1d. Thus, the disinfection cycle can be much shorter than conventional disinfection methods, for example, significantly less than one hour. In many applications, such as if the tank 8 is new and / or in a sufficiently clean state, this selective disinfection of the water pipes 1a, 1b, and 1d outside the tank section 9a may be sufficient to achieve a hygienic and acceptable state for the entire water system 10. In principle, assuming the existence of corresponding connections and water pipes to allow for dedicated rinsing, the explained method can also be used for localized areas of the aircraft 100, such as separate onboard galleys and / or separate sanitary facilities.

[0035] Figure 3 An exemplary variant of method M is given, in which the aircraft 100 and its water system 10 are used in conjunction with... Figure 1 and Figure 2Implemented in the same way. Different from... Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the implementation described above, the first ground support unit 11 is connected to the front water connector 5, whereby the front water connector 5 now serves as the inlet 2. On the other hand, the second ground support unit 12 is connected to the rear water connector 6, i.e., the rear water connector 6 serves as the outlet 3. In this example, due to the changed basic arrangement, the second ground support unit 12 is now connected to the compressed air supply source 15 on one side and to the tank outlet 4 on the other. In this example, the compressed air supply source for the tank 8 can optionally be omitted, for example, because only the tank outlet 4 is closed by a cap or the like. Apart from these differences, method M is similar to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 Same.

[0036] Figure 4 Another exemplary variant of the disinfection method M is given, in which the aircraft 100 and its water system 10 are combined with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The same method is used. In this exemplary embodiment, only the first ground support unit 11 is used. The first ground support unit 11 is connected to the rear water connection 6 and the tank outlet 4, with the rear water connection serving as the inlet 2 and the tank outlet 4 serving as the outlet 3. In addition to the continuous flow heater 13, the first ground support unit 11 also includes a circulation pump 17, which is connected to the outlet 3 via an inserted vent valve 22. The first ground support unit 11 heats water from the water supply source 19 and feeds it at the inlet 2 into the water pipe 1a of the tank section 9a and the tank 8 of the water system 10. The water reappears at the outlet 3 via the water pipe 1c. Through the circulation pump 17, the hot water 20 returns to the continuous flow heater 13, thus establishing a hot water loop 16 between the tank section 9a and the first ground support unit 11. Here, the hot water 20 flows in a manner consistent with... Figure 2 and Figure 3 Similar patterns are indicated by thick dashed lines.

[0037] This example provides a disinfection method specifically for tank section 9a, its water pipes 1a and 1c, and tank 8. This method is rapid, cost-effective, and energy-efficient. In this case, unlike... Figures 1 to 3In the example, tank 8 is filled with hot water 20, resulting in method M being less rapid than the previous method. However, method M is more cost-effective and energy-efficient than conventional thermal methods used to sterilize tank 8. This is achieved, in particular, by establishing a water loop between tank 8 and tank section 9a, where water can be gradually heated to a temperature between 60°C and 80°C, for example, 70°C, by a continuous flow heater 13 in an energy-efficient manner. Therefore, like the previous method M, a large heated outer tank is avoided, which in the case of conventional methods must have a capacity corresponding to the capacity of tank 8 of aircraft 100. Moreover, because no external liquid tank or high-power heating device is required, the first ground support unit 11 can have a compact mobile design. The larger the tank 8 of aircraft 100, the more pronounced these advantages become.

[0038] In the preceding detailed description, various features were combined in one or more examples to achieve a more concise expression. However, it should be understood that the above description is illustrative in nature and not limiting. It covers all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the various features and exemplary embodiments. By considering the above description, many examples will immediately and directly become apparent to those skilled in the art based on their expertise.

[0039] For example, the number of connectors used, the direction of hot water flow, and the route of the water pipes can be adapted to the existing configuration of the aircraft to be disinfected.

[0040] Exemplary embodiments have been selected and described to illustrate the principles upon which the invention is based and their practical applicability in the best possible manner. Therefore, those skilled in the art will be able to optionally modify and use the invention and its various exemplary embodiments with respect to intended applications. In the claims and description, the terms “comprising” and “having” are used as neutral expressions of the corresponding term “including”. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a” and “an” is not fundamentally intended to exclude the plurality of features and components described in this manner.

[0041] Reference List

[0042] 1a-d water pipes

[0043] 1a Water inlet pipe

[0044] 1b Distribution pipe

[0045] 1c Water outlet pipe

[0046] 1d Consumption Tube

[0047] 2 entrances

[0048] 3. Exports

[0049] 4 cans exported

[0050] 5. Front-end water connector

[0051] 6. Rear water connection components

[0052] 7. Power supply sources

[0053] 8 cans

[0054] 9a Tank Section / Rear Section

[0055] 9b Allocation Section

[0056] 10 Water System

[0057] 11 First Ground Support Unit

[0058] 12 Second Ground Support Unit

[0059] 13 Continuous flow heater

[0060] 14 Pressure maintaining device

[0061] 15 Compressed air supply source

[0062] 16 Hot water circuit

[0063] 17. Circulating pump

[0064] 18. Stop valve

[0065] 19 Water supply sources

[0066] 20 Hot water

[0067] 21 Compressed air

[0068] 22 Relief valve

[0069] 100 aircraft

[0070] M method

[0071] M1 Method Steps

[0072] M2 Method Steps

[0073] M3 Method Steps

Claims

1. A method for disinfecting the water system (10) of an aircraft (100), comprising: Hot water (20) is introduced into (M1) at the inlet (2) of the water system (10) by the first ground support unit (11); The hot water (20) is flushed (M2) from the inlet (2) through the water pipes (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) of the water system (10) to the outlet (3) of the water system (10); and The hot water (20) is released (M3) at the outlet (3) by the first ground support unit (11) or the second ground support unit (12); The hot water (20) is introduced into the inlet (2) and discharged from the outlet (3) within a predetermined disinfection cycle; and The hot water (20) is supplied at the inlet (2) via the continuous flow heater (13) of the first ground support unit (11). The hot water (20) has a temperature between 60°C and 80°C. During the flushing (M2) of the hot water (20), pressure is applied to the tank portion (9a) of the water system (10) to keep the hot water (20) away from the tank portion (9a).

2. The method (M) according to claim 1, wherein the water system (10) is a drinking water system.

3. According to the method (M) of claim 1, the hot water (20) released (M3) at the outlet (3) is controlled by the pressure maintaining device (14) of the first ground support unit (11) and / or the second ground support unit (12).

4. The method (M) according to claim 1, wherein the water pipes (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) include at least one of an inlet pipe (1a), a distribution pipe (1b), an outlet pipe (1c), and a consumption pipe (1d).

5. The method (M) according to claim 1, wherein compressed air (21) is supplied via a compressed air supply source (15) of the first ground support unit (11) and / or the second ground support unit (12) to apply compressed air to the tank portion (9a).

6. The method (M) according to claim 5, wherein compressed air (21) is introduced into the tank section (9a) via the tank outlet (4) of the tank section (9a).

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