Aircraft Water System Self-Disinfection via Reverse Pump Flush
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water supply and distribution systems on aircraft require significant maintenance efforts and operational interruptions for disinfection, often relying on external equipment and personnel, and are limited by the ineffective use of hot water due to temperature constraints of tank materials.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a central water tank and consumer assemblies with buffer tanks equipped with heaters capable of reaching disinfection temperatures, a pump operating in both supply and reverse modes, and a high-pressure conduit system. The method involves filling buffer tanks, heating water to disinfection temperature, and using the pump in reverse mode to flush heated water through the conduit system, allowing for automatic and efficient disinfection without external equipment or personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot water is used for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but the temperature is limited by the maximum tolerable temperature of the tank inner-liner (around 70°C)
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water storage into a central water tank and multiple buffer tanks at consumer assemblies. The buffer tanks are equipped with heaters that can reach higher temperatures (up to 95°C) than the central tank's 70°C limit, allowing effective disinfection while the central tank operates within its temperature constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the water system have different temperature capabilities. The buffer tanks at consumer assemblies are designed with heaters capable of achieving higher temperatures locally for disinfection purposes, while the central water tank operates at lower temperatures due to its material constraints. This local differentiation allows the system to overcome the overall temperature limitation.
2Reliability
If disinfection is performed using external ground service equipment, then disinfection capability is improved, but additional equipment and manual personnel are required
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system performs its own disinfection using internally located buffer tanks equipped with heaters and pumps. The system circulates heated water through the conduit system without requiring external ground service equipment or manual intervention, achieving autonomous disinfection operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tanks serve multiple functions: they store water for consumer assemblies, heat water to disinfection temperatures, and circulate heated water through the conduit system for self-disinfection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external disinfection equipment.
3Ease of operation
If manual disinfection process is used, then flexibility is improved, but additional service personnel and operational interruptions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically circulates heated water through the conduit system without requiring manual operation. The pump and heater systems are controlled to perform disinfection autonomously, eliminating the need for service personnel and minimizing operational interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The disinfection process can be performed continuously or periodically without interrupting normal water supply operations. The system maintains continuous circulation of heated water through the conduit system, allowing disinfection to occur during normal operation or with minimal interruption to service.
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
This solution enables efficient and automatic disinfection of the water supply system without the need for additional equipment or manual intervention, reducing operational interruptions and enhancing disinfection effectiveness by using heated water above 70°C.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the buffer tanks of the first consumer assemblies comprises a heater configured to heat up water in the buffer tank to a disinfection temperature... the heaters are configured such that they are capable of heating up water in the buffer tank to which they are associated to a temperature of at least 60°C, more preferably to at least 70°C
Implementation Method 2
a pump having an upstream side and a downstream side and being configured such that it may operate in a supply mode and a reverse mode... operating the pump in the reverse mode so that the heated water in the buffer tank of the at least one of the first consumer assemblies passes through a part of the high pressure conduit system and the upstream side of the pump
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water, the system comprising a central water tank (7), first consumer assemblies (5), wherein each of the buffer tanks (37) of the first consumer assemblies (5) comprises a heater configured to heat up water in the buffer tank (37) to a disinfection temperature, a pump (21) having an upstream side and a downstream side and being configured such that it may operate in a supply mode and a reverse mode, and a high pressure conduit system (27), wherein the central water tank (7) is connected to the upstream side of the pump (21), wherein the high pressure conduit system (27) connects the downstream side with the plurality of first consumer assemblies (5), the method comprising the following steps: - operating the pump (21) in the supply mode so that water from the central tank (7) is supplied to at least one of the first consumer assemblies (5) wherein the buffer tank (37) of the at least one of the first consumer assemblies (5) is filled, - operating the heater of the buffer tank (37) of the at least one of the first consumer assemblies (5) in such a manner, that the water in the buffer tank (37) of the at least one of the first consumer assemblies (5) is heated up to a predetermined disinfection temperature, and - operating the pump (21) in the reverse mode so that the heated water in the buffer tank (37) of the at least one of the first consumer assemblies (5) passes through a part of the high pressure conduit system (27) and the upstream side of the pump (21).