Aircraft Graywater Ejection via Pressurized Transfer Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrafts face challenges in efficiently ejecting graywater without relying on gravity, which can lead to unnecessary water weight during flight and requires a discharge port on the fuselage for ground discharge, causing fuselage smoothness and sealing issues.
Innovation Solution
A graywater ejection system that uses pressurization of a transfer tank to eject graywater through a drainmast during flight and eliminates the need for a discharge port by allowing on-ground ejection through the drainmast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If graywater is stored in a tank and discharged through a port on the fuselage when grounded, then graywater can be discharged on ground, but the fuselage smoothness is compromised and sealing issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The drainmast is designed to serve dual purposes: ejecting graywater during flight and receiving discharge from ground equipment when the aircraft is on the ground. This eliminates the need for a separate fuselage discharge port, maintaining fuselage smoothness while ensuring graywater can be discharged in both flight and ground scenarios
2Weight of moving object
If graywater is ejected during flight, then water weight is reduced throughout the flight, but a mechanism is needed to eject graywater without gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a vacuum pump to create negative pressure (vacuum) that draws graywater from the storage tank and ejects it through the drainmast during flight. This pneumatic mechanism enables graywater ejection without relying on gravity, allowing weight reduction throughout the flight
3Adaptability or versatility
If a discharge port is included on the fuselage for ground discharge, then graywater can be discharged when grounded, but port-related issues such as freezing closed and sealing problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port is completely removed from the fuselage design. Instead, the drainmast serves as the discharge interface for both flight ejection and ground discharge operations, eliminating all port-related sealing and freezing issues while maintaining the ability to discharge graywater when grounded
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the elimination of graywater weight during flight and simplifies the fuselage design by eliminating the need for a discharge port, enhancing fuselage smoothness and reducing potential sealing issues.
Implementation Method 1
The aircraft includes tank-pressurizing means for pressurizing the transfer tank so that graywater may be ejected through drainmast 26 without the help of gravity
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft (10) having a cabin (14) with a plurality of potable-water-using stations (22) that drain graywater to a transfer tank (24). The graywater ejection system pressurizes the transfer tank (24) at appropriate times and/or places, so that graywater can be ejected through a drainmast (26) without the help of gravity This graywater ejection system eliminates the need for a discharge line from the transfer tank (24) and frees the aircraft's fuselage (12) from having an inconvenient port associated with such a discharge line.