Vacuum-Based Waste Collection System for Low-Gravity Environments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waste collection systems in low-gravity environments require separate collection of urine and non-urine waste streams, leading to complex design constraints and reduced user-friendliness, particularly for women, and limit the reusability of hardware from terrestrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A waste collection and processing system that utilizes a vacuum for motive force, incorporating a commode with a bowl and waste tank, featuring valves and filters to manage waste collection and air treatment, allowing for integrated or separate waste streams, and includes optional vacuum generation or manual cleaning mechanisms to reduce complexity and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate collection of urine and non-urine waste streams is implemented, then waste processing completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate urine and non-urine waste collection ports into a single integrated waste collection system. The commode receives all waste streams through one port, and a single vacuum system handles both liquid and solid waste, eliminating the need for separate collection and processing systems while maintaining complete waste processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum system is designed to perform multiple functions: it collects both urine and non-urine waste, provides air treatment through filters, and enables water reclamation from mixed waste streams. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple specialized systems with a single versatile platform
2Productivity
If separate collection ports for urine and non-urine waste are provided, then waste capture efficiency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple waste deposition functions into a single commode interface. Users interact with one familiar toilet-like structure rather than separate collection devices, maintaining ease of operation while the vacuum system efficiently captures all waste types through this unified interface
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional plumbing systems are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to low-gravity environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gravity-dependent conventional plumbing systems with a vacuum-based mechanical system. The vacuum generator creates pressure differentials that drive waste movement and air flow, eliminating the need for gravity to function while maintaining effective waste collection and air treatment capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles through the vacuum generator to create controlled pressure differentials that move waste and air through the system. This pneumatic approach replaces gravity-driven hydraulic systems, enabling operation in low-gravity environments while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
4Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum-based waste collection is implemented, then adaptability to low-gravity environments is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system serves multiple purposes: waste collection, air treatment through integrated filters, and water reclamation. By making the vacuum system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate subsystems, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability to low-gravity environments
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 simplifies waste collection and processing in low-gravity environments by reducing complexity, improving user-friendliness, and enabling efficient water and air reclamation, while minimizing hardware modifications from terrestrial designs.
Implementation Method 1
A waste collection and processing system is disclosed that utilizes a vacuum for motive force
Data Source
AI summary
Waste collection and processing systems for use in low-gravity environments include a toilet having a bowl and a lid with a waste tank having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the bowl of the toilet is fluidly coupled to the inlet of the waste tank. A waste bag is arranged within the waste tank to capture human waste deposited into the waste tank from the toilet bowl. The waste bag is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquid waste and solid waste. A filter assembly is fluidly coupled to the outlet of the waste tank and configured to treat air that passes through the filter assembly. A first valve is operably arranged between the bowl and the waste tank and a second valve is operably arranged between the waste tank and the filter assembly.