Systems for human waste collection and processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025257555-A1
Application number	US-202418734373-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2024
Priority date	Feb 12, 2024
Publication date	Aug 14, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Waste collection and processing systems for use in low-gravity environments include a toilet having a bowl and a lid; a first waste tank having an inlet and an outlet, with the bowl of the toilet selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet of the first waste tank; a second waste tank having an inlet and an outlet, with the bowl of the toilet is selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet of the second waste tank; a controller configured to selectively operate each of the first waste tank and the second waste tank between reclamation modes of operation and collection modes of operation. When the first waste tank is operated in the reclamation mode of operation the second waste tank is operated in the collection mode of operation and vice versa.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A waste collection and processing system for use in low-gravity environments, the waste collection and processing system comprising:
a toilet having a bowl and a lid; a first waste tank having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the bowl of the toilet is selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet of the first waste tank; a second waste tank having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the bowl of the toilet is selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet of the second waste tank; a controller configured to selectively operate each of the first waste tank and the second waste tank between reclamation modes of operation and collection modes of operation, wherein:
when the first waste tank is operated in the reclamation mode of operation the second waste tank is operated in the collection mode of operation; and
when the first waste tank is operated in the collection mode of operation the second waste tank is operated in the reclamation mode of operation.

2 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a switch configured to be actuated to cause operation of the controller.

3 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 2 , wherein the switch is integral with the toilet and configured to be actuated in response to opening and closing of the lid.

4 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly arranged downstream from the first waste tank and the second waste tank and configured to receive a gas from the first waste tank and the second waste tank when the respective waste tank is in the reclamation mode of operation.

5 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 4 , further comprising a fan configured to pull the gas from the respective waste tank into the filter assembly.

6 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 4 , further comprising waste capture hardware arranged at the outlet of each of the first waste tank and the second waste tank, and upstream from the filter assembly.

7 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 4 , further comprising an outlet valve at the outlet of each of each of the first waste tank and the second waste tank, and upstream from the filter assembly.

8 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a first waste bag arranged within the first waste tank and a second waste bag arranged within the second waste tank, wherein each of the first waste bag and the second waste bag are permeable to gas and impermeable to liquid waste and solid waste.

9 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a first heater operably coupled to the first waste tank and a second heater operably coupled to the second waste tank.

10 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluid injector arranged to inject at least one of water, cleaning fluid, and waste treatment fluid into at least one of the bowl and a flow path between the bowl and the first and second waste tanks.

11 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a waste capture airflow system integrated with the toilet, the waste capture airflow system configured to generate a flow of air through the bowl.

12 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 11 , wherein the generated flow of air from the waste capture airflow system is directed to capture and direct human waste into and through the bowl toward the waste tank that is operated in the capture mode of operation.

13 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause an airflow through the waste tank operated in the reclamation mode of operation to direct air from the respective waste tank to a system outlet.

14 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 13 , wherein the system outlet is an occupied space that is part of a spacecraft.

15 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 13 , wherein the system outlet is an occupied space that is part of a space station.

16 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a waste bag arranged within the bowl, the waste bag being permeable to gas and impermeable to liquid waste and solid waste.

17 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a venting system fluidly coupled to the outlets of each of the first waste tank and the second waste thank, the venting system operable to perform a sanitation operate to vent the first and second waste tanks.

18 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a recapture system arranged downstream from the first waste tank and the second waste tank, the recapture system configured to process humid air received from the first and second waste tanks.

19 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 18 , wherein the recapture system comprises:
a condenser arranged to receive the humid air from the first and second waste tanks and cool the humid air; a phase separator arranged to receive the cooled humid air and separate water content from the air, wherein the air from the phase separator is treated at an air filter system, and wherein the water from the phase separator is treated in a liquid filter system.

20 . The waste collection and processing system of claim 19 , further comprising a regenerative heat exchanger configured to receive an output from the first and second waste tanks as a first working fluid and the treated air from the air filter system as a second working fluid, the regenerative heat exchanger configured to cool the output from the first and second waste tanks prior to entering the condenser.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Space Sys

Inventors

• Schuster Ashley Rose Himmelmann
• Woldemariam Beakal Teshome
• Hoang Thao
• Monson Timothy
• Litton Kevin
• Gay Thomas
• Myers Casey
• He Liana J

Classifications

• E03D9/05

  ventilating the bowl · CPC title

• E03D9/08

  Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices (showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ){; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting} · CPC title

• B64G1/60

  Crew or passenger accommodations · CPC title

• E03D2201/40

  Devices for distribution of flush water inside the bowl · CPC title

• A47K11/02

  Dry closets, e.g. incinerator closets · CPC title