Sewage Tank Suction Float for Water Recycling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Holding tanks in portable sanitary facilities quickly fill up due to absorption of faeces and rinsing water, requiring frequent emptying by specialist personnel and are prone to clogging, which leads to maintenance issues and limited flexibility in use.
Innovation Solution
A holding tank with a suction float and sieve system that allows for the reuse of liquid as flushing water, reducing the need for frequent emptying and maintenance, and a transportable sanitary container equipped with solar panels for independent power supply, enabling long-term use without external connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If liquid is suctioned from the holding tank using a suction device, then rinsing liquid can be recovered and reused, but the suction device becomes clogged by solid components and suspended particles
Solution Approach 1:
A floating screen is introduced as an intermediary element between the suction device and the holding tank contents. The screen captures solid components and suspended particles before they can enter the suction device, allowing liquid to pass through while blocking contaminants. This mediator protects the suction device from clogging while enabling continuous liquid recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating screen utilizes porous material structure with specific mesh sizes that allow liquid passage while retaining solid particles. The porous structure enables selective filtration based on particle size, permitting water to pass through while trapping fecal matter and other solids, thus maintaining suction device reliability.
2Loss of substance
If pumps are used to reuse liquid from the holding tank, then water recycling is achieved, but external power supply is required which limits flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The floating screen is designed to automatically follow the liquid level changes in the holding tank through buoyancy, maintaining constant engagement with the liquid surface without requiring external control systems or power supply. The system serves itself by utilizing natural physical principles (buoyancy and gravity) rather than requiring pumped or motorized mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating screen utilizes hydraulic principles by leveraging buoyancy forces from the liquid it displaces. This passive hydraulic mechanism allows the screen to rise and fall with liquid level changes, enabling continuous operation without electrical pumps or external power sources, thus enhancing portability and flexibility.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the holding tank capacity is increased to reduce emptying frequency, then the service period is extended, but the device complexity and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floating screen acts as a continuous intermediary that separates liquids from solids throughout the service period. By continuously capturing solids at the liquid surface, the screen prevents tank bottom accumulation and maintains liquid quality, extending the interval between emptyings without requiring oversized tank capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating screen operates continuously as long as liquid is present in the tank, constantly filtering and separating phases. This continuous action maintains liquid quality throughout the service period, allowing the same tank volume to serve longer by preventing degradation that would otherwise require early emptying.
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
The system allows for extended use of holding tanks without intermediate emptying or maintenance, reduces maintenance costs, and provides flexible and independent operation of sanitary facilities, with low energy requirements and efficient water recycling.
Implementation Method 1
the suction float (5) having at least one floating chamber (12) and wherein the floating chamber (12) is filled with air or essentially with air
Implementation Method 2
at least one suction sieve (7) wherein solid components and suspended particles can be retained by the suction sieve (7)
Implementation Method 3
The transportable sanitary container according to the invention can be operated independently for a certain period of time, in particular by means of solar panels
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a sewage tank for a sanitary facility, wherein the sewage tank serves to collect the sewage or wastewater from at least one sanitary fixture of the sanitary facility. The sewage tank has at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and at least one suction float with at least one suction chamber and at least one suction screen is arranged in the sewage tank. At least one suction line for connection to at least one suction pump is connected to the suction chamber. Liquid can be extracted from the sewage tank by means of the suction float or the suction line. This liquid is used as flushing fluid for at least one sanitary fixture of the sanitary facility. The invention further relates to a transportable sanitary container, in particular with a sewage tank according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for recycling flushing water in a sanitary facility.