IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,501,013
Granted Patent B2
US 8,501,013 · App. 12/726,104 · Granted Aug 6, 2013

Recirculation shower for aircraft

Inventors: Simone Guttau (Buxtehude, DE); Christiane Lindauer (Hamburg, DE)
Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,501,013
App. No.
12/726,104
Granted
Aug 6, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system is provided for water purification for a recirculation shower in a transport with a filtration unit, a first backwash line and a second backwash line. The filtration unit is designed to filter used shower water. The first backwash line and the second backwash line are designed to clean the filtration unit with a backwashing. The first backwash line is designed to convey backwash water to the filtration unit. The second backwash line is designed to discharge backwash water from the filtration unit.

Claims (53)

1. A system for water purification for a recirculation shower in an aircraft, with the system comprising:

a filtration unit adapted to filter a used shower water;

a first backwash line that is adapted to clear the filtration unit with backwashing and convey backwash water to the filtration unit;

a second backwash line adapted to clear the filtration unit with backwashing and discharge backwash water from the filtration unit, the second backwash line in communication with a storage tank; and

an air check valve in communication with the storage tank that drains the backwash water to an exterior atmosphere surrounding the aircraft or to a container of the aircraft after backwashing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filtration unit is a microfiltration unit, and the filtration unit is separate from the storage tank.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filtration unit is an ultrafiltration unit.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a freshwater feed unit that feeds freshwater to supply the recirculation shower with water and is in communication with the first backwash line to feed backwash water for backwashing; and

a control unit that is adapted to control the freshwater feed unit.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is adapted to control water supply through the freshwater feed unit at least based partially on a shower water flow through the filtration unit.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is designed as a control valve.

7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a nonreturn valve that is adapted to prevent dirt build-up on the freshwater feed unit;

a freshwater shut-off valve that is adapted to the prevent dirt build-up on the freshwater feed unit; and

a shut-off valve that is adapted to block freshwater feed to the system if backwashing is triggered.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a detection unit that is adapted to determine a malfunction in the filtration unit and trigger backwashing based at least partially on the malfunction of the filtration unit.

9. A system of claim 8 , wherein the detection unit is designed as a pressure sensor and adapted to determine a differential pressure from a first pressure (p 1 ) upstream of the filtration unit and a second pressure (p 2 ) downstream of the filtration unit;

wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to trigger backwashing when a threshold value has been reached.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold value is a threshold value of the differential pressure.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold value is a threshold value of a loss of volume flow in the filtration unit determined from the differential pressure.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a backwash valve that is designed as a three-way valve and adapted to set a backwash position during backwashing; and

a disinfection unit that disinfects the shower water after filtration of the shower water through the filtration unit, receives a disinfectant by way of the backwash valve, and disinfects the shower water with the disinfectant.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pre-filtration unit that is adapted for first filtration of the shower water of the recirculation shower; and

an after-treatment unit is adapted for after-treatment of the shower water,

wherein the storage tank includes a refrigeration unit to bring about a particular temperature of the shower water after the first filtration and is adapted to hold a cleaning agent for use in backwashing the system.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a refrigeration unit that is adapted to bring about a particular temperature of the used shower water prior to filtering the shower water by the filtration unit

wherein the refrigeration unit in communication with the storage tank.

15. A transport; comprising:

a monument that comprises a recirculation shower,

a system for water purification for the recirculation shower, the system comprising:

a filtration unit adapted to filter a used shower water;

a first backwash line that is adapted to clear the filtration unit with backwashing and conveys backwash water to the filtration unit;

a second backwash line adapted to clear the filtration unit with backwashing and discharge backwash water from the filtration unit, the second backwash line in communication with a storage tank; and

an air check valve in communication with the storage tank that drains the backwash water to an exterior atmosphere of the transport or to a container of the transport after backwashing.

16. The transport of claim 15 , wherein the transport is an aero plane.

17. A method for water purification for a recirculation shower in an aircraft, the method comprising:

filtering used shower water through a filtration unit;

conveying backwash water to the filtration unit through a first backwash line;

cleaning the filtration unit by backwashing through the first backwash line and through a second backwash line;

discharging backwash water from the filtration unit through the second backwash line into a storage tank; and

draining the backwash water from the storage tank via an air check valve to an exterior atmosphere surrounding the aircraft or to a container of the aircraft after backwashing.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

feeding freshwater for supply of water to the recirculation shower;

feeding backwash water for backwashing through a freshwater feed unit; and

controlling water supply through the freshwater feed unit by a control unit.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining a malfunction of the filtration unit with a detection unit; and

triggering backwashing based at least in part on the malfunction of the filtration unit with the detection unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2010
From: GUTTAU, SIMONE; LINDAUER, CHRISTIANE
To: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 024155/0749 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2009 013 554 · Mar 17, 2009 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61160792 · Mar 17, 2009
Related Publication 20100237021A1 · Sep 23, 2010