Patent Application
20240057826
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for harvesting bodily waste and destroying pathogens in a waterless toilet.
Composting toilets have not lived up to their promise and potential because they do not destroy pathogens. First, it is important to point out that all composting toilets are not created equal. There are two types of composting toilets currently available for sale to the public around the world.
One of the most common that is manufactured and distributed globally are small self-contained units, suitable only for occasional use. Such toilets are often used in RVs, boats, cabins, etc. They are marketed as composting toilets by their manufacturers, but what little composting that could possibly take place in these small devices is only tertiary at best.
The second type of composting toilets are designed for daily, year-round use in various settings from places of business to public buildings and homes or permanent residences. This type comprises a composting chamber that sits apart from the toilet or stool, usually directly beneath the toilet or offset somewhat.
In one embodiment, a urine-harvesting urinal can comprise a collection conduit comprising a top opening, a bottom opening, and a side opening disposed on a wall of the collection conduit closer to the bottom opening than the top opening, a first venting conduit comprising a first opening near a first end of the first venting conduit and a second opening at a second end of the first venting conduit, the second opening configured to transfer air away from the collection conduit, the first venting conduit configured to provide negative air pressure, a transition conduit, connecting the side opening of the collection conduit to the first opening of the first venting conduit, and a storage conduit comprising a first opening near a first end of the storage conduit and a second opening at a second end of the storage conduit, the first opening of the storage conduit connected to the bottom opening of the collection conduit and configured to transfer fluids away from the collection conduit toward an external storage location.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which various embodiments are shown by way of illustration. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present description. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The disclosed devices, systems, and methods address the universal need to prevent human excreta from harming environmental and human health. This need can be met by making a dry composting toilet comprising components that transform feces into a dry odorless material that both significantly reduces its volume and destroys pathogens in situ, allowing safe periodic removal for further processing and subsequent appropriate uses. One of the components comprises the use of two hot water bath containment vessels for feces and carbonaceous additives which induces thermophilic aerobic bacterial activity that in turn produces more heat sufficient to destroy pathogens. In some embodiments, solar thermal collectors and tankless water heaters may comprise external sources of heat for the hot water bath containment vessels.
In addition, the devices, systems, and methods described herein include collecting and processing urine onsite that can also destroy potential pathogens while maintaining the nutritive value of key elements that reside in the undiluted, stored urine for subsequent and safe use as an agricultural fertilizer.
Numerous studies have been conducted by institutions around the world on removing urine from the wastewater flow and utilizing it as an agricultural fertilizer. In general, the findings of these studies show that urine comprises a very small fraction (less than 1%) of the flow entering public sewage treatment plants and private septic systems, but that it carries a large portion of the total nutrient load the systems receive (i.e., about 80% of the nitrogen and 50% of the phosphorous). Removal of these nutrients can be very difficult and extremely costly. Even the most advanced systems are stressed by ever increasing flows.
The key elements, nitrogen and phosphorus, are needed by both aquatic and terrestrial plants in order to survive and thrive. However, in amounts too great, these essential elements can be toxic, especially for aquatic plants. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in “treated” water returned to waterways from sewage treatment plants and septic systems, combined with excess fertilizer run-off from agricultural cropland, can lead to over-fertilization of aquatic plants.
There are a variety of existing methods worldwide for harvesting urine. A common urine harvesting method is a simple chamber pot or night pot. The urine collected is usually used the next day and applied directly to agricultural crops as fertilizer. Problems with this manual collection method include odor, spillage, and the loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere through evaporation, making the urine less effective as a fertilizer. Urine collected in this manner is also potentially unsanitary and unhygienic, and transportation to the fields and applying the urine to the crops is inefficient.
A second method of urine harvesting is a urine-separating flush toilet. A urine-separating flush toilet has a bowl which is separated into two sections. Urine is collected in the front section, and the water supply flushes the front section separately. The urine-separating flush toilet has several disadvantages. The undiluted urine collected in the front section may have an odor. There can be a problem with splash back from urine striking the front section. Men are required to sit during urination for the most efficient urine collection. The front section has its own drain trap, and valuable minerals from the urine can precipitate and create deposits in the drain trap and/or subsequent drainpipes. Flushing the front section with water causes an unnecessary dilution of the urine that is collected and increases the amount of storage and transportation capacity required.
A third method for harvesting urine uses a waterless urinal. These are typically installed in public restrooms and connected to a conventional sewer drain. The waterless urinal does not use water to wash the urine down a drain. Instead, a waterless urinal has a removable trap at the base of the urinal that allows urine to drain away but does not allow sewer gas to escape. These waterless systems have some unique disadvantages. Because the waterless urinal is not flushed with water, urine residue clings to the receptacle and can create an odor after use. The trap used at the bottom of the receptacle can create a slower flow of urine, leading to sedimentation and the loss of nutrients, as well as build-up on drainpipes.
A fourth method of urine harvesting uses composting toilets that divert urine to a common collection/storage point. Like the urine-separating flush toilets, they divide the opening under the seat into two parts, which means they share the disadvantages of the urine-separating flush toilets, including residual odor and sedimentation. The front portion usually takes the form of a bowl-like receptacle with a rather small drain hole for the urine to drain via a tube or hose to some sort of storage container.
What is needed in the art is a urine-harvesting system which eliminates the disadvantages of existing urine-harvesting methods, including, but not limited to, residual odor, dilution of the collected nutrients, and the problems related to sedimentation of the urine (e.g., from drain traps or slow draining receptacles.)
Some of the varieties of the daily use type of composting toilets do not divert urine. In other words, the urine falls directly into the chamber below. In most cases this results in anaerobic conditions, which produces malodorous “sewer gasses” such as hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell) and methane, though odorless, it and its smelly, sister gasses emitted by the anaerobic conditions these toilets produce are super potent “greenhouse” gasses. Some of these types of toilets aren't even waterless. They feature foam flush or ultra-low water flush systems. This is not composting—though they may still be sold as such. These “composting” chambers are really no more than holding tanks. In many cases, the manufacturers of these toilets recommend draining excess fluids to “French pit drains” (generally pea-rock or gravel filled pits). These toilets likely don't reduce pathogens and, in contrast, likely increase pathogen populations as they produce even more greenhouse gasses.
While these toilets may involve some composting, the composting stays in the much cooler mesophilic stage. None of them ever reach the thermophilic stage. For that to occur temperatures within the solid waste chamber has to reach 105-110 F. It can and does occur naturally, but not in these composters. Thermophilic aerobic activity occurs only if the right conditions combine to suit the goldilocks thermophiles. The compost pile must be quite large, so the inner parts of the pile are well insulated, allowing slow warming through stages of mesophilic bacterial activity. Then there must be enough water, but not too much; enough air, but not too much (making conditions too cool). The solid waste within these systems can comprise feces, toilet paper and a carbonaceous additive i.e. sawdust, rice hulls, chopped crop residue, peat moss etc.—all of which is combined and hereinafter referred to as humanure.
Some manufactures have cleverly resorted to batch composters: within a larger circular enclosure; a turn-table with separate pie-shaped bins are situated. When one bin is full the turn-table is rotated and another bin is filled, and so on. These batch composters have 3 to 6 bins. It was hoped that this would allow plenty of time for the mesophilic bacteria to slowly heat up humanure in the first bin before it came back around to the start to reach the thermophilic stage. As mentioned above, the bins are just not big enough. No matter how long the humanure sits there, the thermophiles just won't wake up unless it gets hot enough first. There have been attempts to heat the air within the chamber in the hope the humanure would heat up sufficiently, but that method hasn't worked either. Even when super-heating the air to 130 F the experiments did not attain the sought for thermophilic activity.
Human urine can be ruinous to water quality. Human urine accounts for less than 1% of the flow that ends up in private septic drain fields and municipal “wasted” water treatment plants (WWTPs). Yet it accounts for 50-80% of the nutrient load that should be removed (but most likely is not) before it continues its way to our surface waters (rivers) and into the sea. That same <1% of the flow also accounts for 100% of the unmetabolized pharmaceuticals, food additives, recreational drugs, hormones and other ingested compounds now found in measurable amounts in most of our surface waters, and even tap water (where it is derived from surface water).
Those nutrients in urine, primarily Nitrogen(N) and Phosphorous(P) are great fertilizers. In newer more efficient WWTPs most of the Nitrogen gets removed (albeit at great cost). Phosphorous is even harder to remove, at even greater cost. Unfortunately, most of our WWTPs aren't new and efficient. As a result, a lot of the Nitrogen and Phosphorous from our urine ends up in our rivers. The problem is that N and P are equal opportunity fertilizers. They not only fertilize ground crops they also fertilize algae and other aquatic plants, and that's the problem. Because in water, they combine with all of the excess Nitrogen and Phosphorous from agricultural run-off, resulting in monstrous algal blooms and super dense weed mats. All of the unnatural growth removes the oxygen out the water. The end result is de-oxygenated dead zones in major waterways. One dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the size of the state of Connecticut thanks to the nutrient-filled waters brought there by the Mississippi River.
Human urine is a valuable crop fertilizer that is not utilized. Water is used to flush urine that contributes to the destruction of surface waters. Instead, the urine should be used for the purpose for which it seems intended—as a fertilizer to grow crops.
Human urine is a powerful Nitrogen fertilizer that carries Phosphorus and Potassium (K) too. The NPK ratio is roughly 13:2:4 with other important macro and micro-nutrients present as well. All of these nutrients are present in their ionic form, so they can be readily absorbed by plant roots. For decades the use of human urine as a fertilizer has been the subject of many studies and research around the globe beginning in the 1990s at the School of Agriculture at the University of Uppsala in Sweden under the direction of the lead investigator Dr. Hakan Jonsson. Since then notable studies have replicated and built upon those pioneering Swedish efforts in Finland, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, and in the US.
The Rich Earth Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont has been exploring the use of human urine as a fertilizer with a number of experiments. The University of Michigan is currently collaborating as coinvestigators, along with numerous other institutions, in the first major US based study. The National Science Foundation funded study is looking at various methods of processing urine into agricultural fertilizer products. The potential is enormous; according to the University of Michigan's website announcing the study: “9 Billion Pounds—the amount of chemical fertilizer that could be replaced by urine produced by Americans each year”. Storage of undiluted urine can eliminate potential pathogens in 60 days, and stored long enough, gene carrying plasmids break apart. A UMI study found that the plasmid code rings are broken apart after a year suspended in stored urine. No anti-biotic resistant bacteria production will be possible as a result of appliance onsite storage treatment.
The proposed method systems and methods herein keep it simple. Stored, safe urine pumped from storage tanks and applied directly with subsurface applicators is as safe, efficient, targeted and odor free as any fertilizer application system can be.
But what of the harmful contaminants found in urine and that end up in our surface waters. Could those same compounds pose a risk by accumulating in soils and possibly be assimilated by the plants? A study conducted by Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland in conjunction with the Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki in 2015 and 20161 took large undiluted human urine samples, stored the urine as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and applied it directly by subsurface injection to soil where two varieties of barley crops and a hay crop were grown side by side by side.
The study reaffirmed that after the storage period, as prescribed by WHO, bacterial pathogens were not detectable but, that of the 55 pharmaceuticals and hormones tested for, 16 were indeed present in measurable amounts in the stored urine. However, at the end of the study those same pharmaceuticals were not detectable, either in the test plot soils, or in the plant material. This finding was similar to many previous studies worldwide. This Finnish study is yet another data point that gives further evidence that the rich microbial activity in soil readily breaks down the pharmaceuticals that are present in the urine at the time of the application. Furthermore, this same study also showed that the urine was very nearly as effective to the conventional commercial chemical fertilizer applied to the side-by-side plantings of barley, and hay in crop yield.
An earlier Swedish studies concern over the possibility of heavy metal accumulations in the soil was expressed. This is still the a drawback to applying municipal sewer sludge on ag fields. Many studies have shown that detectable, down to trace amounts, in some individuals' urine, heavy metals are present. But interestingly, the Swedish studies couldn't find even find trace amounts in soil samples. As with other compounds that are present in the urine, they appear to get disassembled within a season by the myriad microbes hard at work in the soil. The use of human urine-based fertilizers, as with any fertilizer application practice; close monitoring is necessary. Crop rotation and fertilizer applications can be altered to meet changing circumstances.
No matter which way(s) urine will be utilized as a fertilizer two important problems are addressed by the systems and methods disclosed herein: 1.) Urine must be kept out of water first place; 2.) A safe, effective method to harvest urine must be employed, regardless of how it will eventually be used.
According to some aspects of the present description, a urine-harvesting urinal includes a collection conduit, a first venting conduit, a transition conduit that connects the collection conduit and the first venting conduit, and a storage conduit. In some embodiments, the collection conduit may have a top opening, a bottom opening, and a side opening disposed on a wall of the collection conduit closer to the bottom opening than the top opening. In some embodiments, the top opening of the collection conduit may be larger than the bottom opening of the collection conduit (e.g., creating a funnel shape). In some embodiments, the first venting conduit may have a first opening near a first end of the first venting conduit and a second opening at a second end of the first venting conduit, where the second opening of the first venting conduit is configured to transfer air away from the collection conduit. In some embodiments, the first venting conduit may be configured to provide negative air pressure. In some embodiments, the transition conduit may connect the side opening of the collection conduit to the first opening of the first venting conduit, providing a pathway for odors and gases from the collection conduit into the first venting conduit. In some embodiments, the storage conduit may have a first opening near a first end of the storage conduit and a second opening at a second end of the storage conduit. In some embodiments, the first opening of the storage conduit may be connected to the bottom opening (e.g., a drain hole) of the collection conduit and configured to transfer fluids (e.g., urine) away from the collection conduit toward an external storage location.
In some embodiments, the collection conduit may include an upper section and a lower section. In some embodiments, the upper section may include the top opening of the collection conduit and a second bottom opening. In some embodiments, the lower section may include a second top opening, the side opening of the collection conduit, and the bottom opening of the collection conduit. Stated another way, the collection conduit may be configured to be a two-piece construction, with an upper section configured to collect urine and direct it into a lower section, where the lower section interfaces to the first venting conduit through the side opening (e.g., a vent pipe taking gases and odors away from the collection conduit) and interfaces to the storage conduit through the bottom opening (e.g., an exit pipe through which collected urine passes into the storage conduit). The second bottom opening of the upper section connects to (and communicates fluidically to) the second top opening of the lower section.
In some embodiments, the arrangement and configuration of the transition conduit and the first venting conduit may be such that a natural negative air pressure is created between the collection conduit and an outside venting location (e.g., outside air flow over an external vent and an upward slope on the transition conduit from the side opening of the collection conduit to the first opening of the first venting conduit may act to create a natural source of negative air pressure). In other embodiments, the first venting conduit may include, or be connected to, an exhaust fan which is configured to pull air through the first venting conduit away from the collection conduit (e.g., creating a negative air pressure which pulls odors and gases toward an outside venting location). In such embodiments, the exhaust fan may be disposed within and in-line with the first venting conduit. In other embodiments, the exhaust fan may be disposed external to and proximate the second end of the first venting conduit (i.e., at an end of the first venting conduit closest to an external vent location).
In some embodiments, the storage conduit may be disposed such that it provides a downward slope from the first end of the storage conduit (i.e., the end of the storage conduit connected to the collection conduit) toward the second end of the storage conduit (i.e., the end of the storage conduit opposite the collection conduit, perhaps leading to a storage location). In some embodiments, the downward slope of the storage conduit may be greater than or equal to 1:12, or greater than or equal to 1:10, or greater than or equal to 1:8, or greater than or equal to 1:6.
For the purposes of this specification, the slope of a conduit shall be specified as a pair of numbers separated by a colon, where the first number (to the left of the colon) is the amount of height (or vertical) change and the second number is the amount of conduit “run” or horizontal change. For example, a conduit slope of 1:12 shall be interpreted as a slope in the conduit wherein for every 1 centimeter of height change for the conduit, there should be 12 centimeters of run or horizontal change. For a slope to be greater than a specified slope (e.g., “greater than 1:12”), that means the slope must be steeper than the specified slope, or have a greater height change relative to the run change. For example, a slope of 1:8 is steeper than a slope of 1:12, as there is 1 centimeter of height change for every 8 centimeters of run. Stated another way, if you increase the height change of a slope (increase the first number) from 1:12 to 2:12 (which can be reduced to 1:6), you have a slope that is twice as steep. In general, a steeper slope will aid the draining or transit of a fluid through a conduit than a shallower slope through the same conduit, because of gravity. For the purposes of this specification, the terms “pitch” and “slope” shall be considered to be interchangeable (i.e., a “pitch of 1:12” has the same meaning as a “slope of 1:12”). The legend at the bottom of
In some embodiments, the storage conduit may be substantially linear between the first end of the storage conduit and the second end of the storage conduit (i.e., there are no significant bends or drain traps in the length of the storage conduit). In some embodiments, the storage conduit may include a first section and a second section, where the first section is substantially linear in a first direction and a second section is substantially linear in a second, different location. In some embodiments, the downward slope of the first section is steeper than the downward slope of the second section. For example, the downward slope of the first section of the storage conduit may be substantially vertical, and the downward slope of the second section may be greater than or equal to about 1:12.
In some embodiments, the urine-harvesting urinal may further include a lid configured to cover the top opening of the collection conduit. The lid may be configured such that it substantially covers the top opening of the collection conduit but is not airtight when in the closed position, allowing for a continual intake of air around the lid due to the negative air pressure generated by the first venting conduit. In some embodiments, the urine-harvesting urinal may further include an operator control which can be used to selectively open and/or close the lid. For example, the operator control may be a button disposed on an exterior surface of the urine-harvesting urinal (e.g., a “shin-bump” switch which may be activated by a forward movement of the user's leg).
According to some aspects of the present description, a urine-harvesting system includes a urine-harvesting urinal according to the present description, an external venting conduit, and at least one storage tank. The external venting conduit has a first opening near a first end of the external venting conduit and a second opening near a second end of the external venting conduit. The first opening of the external venting conduit is connected to the second opening of a first venting conduit of the urine-harvesting urinal, and the second opening of the external venting conduit is open and disposed to release gases traveling through the external venting conduit into a safe exhaust location (e.g., into an outside location). The at least one storage tank is connected to the second end of the storage conduit.
In some embodiments, the storage tank may be a sealed, airtight, ventless tank. In some embodiments, the storage tank may be buried in a location external to the location of the urine-harvesting urinal (e.g., in a location outside a building housing the urine-harvesting urinal). The use of a sealed, airtight, ventless tank may enable the elimination of a physical drain “trap” (e.g., a u-bend in the drainage pipes) which can allow the urine to drain into the tank quickly and with a minimum of solid residue accumulation in the drainage pipes.
In some embodiments, as described elsewhere herein, the arrangement and configuration of the transition conduit and the first venting conduit of the urine-harvesting urinal may be such that a natural negative air pressure is created between the collection conduit and the external venting conduit (e.g., outside air flow over the second end of the external venting conduit and the upward slope on the transition conduit may act to create a natural source of negative air pressure). In other embodiments, the urine-harvesting system may include an exhaust fan which is configured to pull air through the first venting conduit away and into the external venting conduit (e.g., creating a negative air pressure which pulls odors and gases toward the external venting conduit). In such embodiments, the exhaust fan may be disposed within and in-line with the first venting conduit. In other embodiments, the exhaust fan may be disposed within and in-line with the external venting conduit. In still other embodiments, the exhaust fan may be disposed between the second opening of the first venting conduit and the first opening of the external venting conduit. In some embodiments, the external venting conduit may be disposed such that it has a steep upward slope from the first end of the external venting conduit to the second end of the external venting conduit (e.g., a substantially vertical slope leading to an outside, roof-mounted vent location).
In some embodiments, the storage conduit may be substantially linear between the first end of the storage conduit and the second end of the storage conduit. For example, in some embodiments, the downward slope of the storage conduit (between the bottom opening of the collection conduit and the storage tank) may be greater than or equal to 1:12, or greater than or equal to 1:10, or greater than or equal to 1:8, or greater than or equal to 1:6. In some embodiments, the storage conduit may include a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is substantially linear in a first direction, and the second section is substantially linear in a second, different direction. For example, the downward slope of the second section of the storage conduit may be greater than or equal to about 1:12, and the downward slope of the first section may be greater than the downward slope of the second section (and, in some embodiments, the downward slope of the first section may be substantially vertical).
Turning now to the figures,
In some embodiments, urine-harvesting urinal 100 may further include a lid 40, disposed to substantially cover a top opening in collection conduit 10. In some embodiments, lid 40 may provide a substantially gapless but not airtight perimeter around the top opening of the collection conduit 10. In some embodiments, urine-harvesting urinal 100 may further include an operator control 50 which, when activated, provides a signal to an electric motor 42 or similar mechanism which may open and/or close lid 40. In some embodiments, a first activation of operator control 50 may open lid 40 for use, and a second activation of operator control 50 may close lid 40. In some embodiments, the lid 40 may be opened and closed manually, by a user pulling the lid open or pushing it closed. In such embodiments, lid 40 may further include a feature (e.g., a handle, pull, knob, etc.) or manual mechanism (e.g., a mechanical lever, latch, catch, etc.) that may be operated by the user to open and close lid 40 manually. In embodiments featuring an operator control 50 and a corresponding mechanism (e.g., electric motor 42) for opening and closing lid 40, a user may be able to manually override the mechanism by manually opening and closing lid 40.
In some embodiments, storage conduit 30 may have a first section 30a and a second section 30b. In some embodiments, first section 30a may be substantially vertical (e.g., providing a vertical or nearly vertical drop from the bottom of collection funnel 10 of urine into second section 30b). In some embodiments, first section 30a may have a slope that is greater than (steeper than) or equal to 10:1, or 12:1, or 20:1, or 50:1. In some embodiments, second section 30b may have a downward slope that is at least 1:12 or steeper to provide adequate transportation of urine to a storage tank (see
In some embodiments, bottom opening 12 of collection conduit 10 interfaces to and communicates fluidically with a first opening 31 of storage conduit 30. Urine deposited in top opening 11 of collection conduit 10 passes through collection conduit 10, exits collection conduit 10 through bottom opening 12, and passes into first opening 31 of storage conduit 30. The urine passes through first section 30a of storage conduit 30 into second section 30b of storage conduit 30 and exits storage conduit 30 via second opening 32 (where it may enter an external storage tank 60, as shown in
Odors and other gases created within the urine-harvesting urinal 100 may be drawn out of the system via a negative air pressure created within first venting conduit 20. Gases/vapors are pulled into a first opening 21 of first venting conduit 20, pass through venting conduit 20, and exit venting conduit 20 via second opening 22. Gases/vapors may then enter an external venting conduit 25 via first opening 26 and exit external venting conduit 25 via second opening 27.
Transition conduit 55 connects side opening 14 to corresponding first opening 21 in first venting conduit 20. It should be noted that, in the perspective of
In some embodiments, an operator control 50 for opening lid 40 (see
In some embodiments, a transition conduit may connect side opening 14 in collection conduit 10/10b to a corresponding opening (e.g., first opening 21) in first venting conduit 20. It should be noted that, although first opening 21 is shown in
In some embodiments, gases/vapors 70, which may come from within the collection conduit 10/10b or up from storage conduit 30, may be drawn up into side opening 14, through transition conduit 55, and into first venting conduit 20. In some embodiments, first venting conduit 20 may possess a negative air pressure, which works to draw gases/vapors 70 out of collection conduit 10/10b toward an external venting location. In some embodiments, this negative air pressure may be created naturally (e.g., without an exhaust fan) by the arrangement of the components and conduits. For example, in some embodiments, transition conduit 55 may have an upward slope leading from side opening 14 up into first venting conduit 20, and first venting conduit 20 may be in turn connected to a substantially vertical external venting conduit leading to an external venting location. This arrangement and configuration of components and conduits may create a natural flow of air from inside the collection conduit 10/10b to the external venting location.
In other embodiments, the creation of a negative air pressure may be aided by an exhaust fan or similar electrical or mechanical device. For example,
Further,
Additional embodiments of the system and method can further comprise at least one bin to collect humanure.
In the embodiment illustrated in
The urine can be stored in sealed ventless tanks so as to maintain a constant vacuum in the tanks by the fan and/or the chimney effect created in the exhaust vent. As mentioned above this is an important step because the most valuable portion of the urine in terms of its fertilizer value is the nitrogen. Because the nitrogen resides in the ammonia in the stored urine it should not be allowed to be exposed to the atmosphere or the ammonia would volatilize and the nitrogen in it would be lost. However, in some embodiments, exposure can occur, but decreased yield should be expected.
In one embodiment, a bracket/holder can be attached to a lower surface of the seat, located behind the opening and following the contour of the back of the opening in the seat. This bracket/holder can allow placement of a removable contoured shield whose purpose it is to deflect and prevent fecal material from coming into contact with the chute assembly. The shield can comprise a top flange perpendicular to its vertical contoured surface so that it can easily be removed for cleaning and replaced afterwards by sliding it out of and back into the contoured bracket/holder attached to the lower surface of the seat.
In another embodiment, beneath the seat, the toilet base can sit on and is fastened to the floor. It bears the weight of the seat and user. The fluted, tapered shape provides the greatest compression strength with least amount of material. The shape makes the toilet base stackable, which along with its light weight can reduce shipping costs. The base can be made of ABS plastic (or other material with similar physical properties) and can be shaped employing vacuum thermoforming methodology, as is the aforementioned chute assembly comprising a chute in two parts and a deep funnel shaped urinal.
The seat can rest on top of the chute assembly and the toilet base. The chute assembly can extend through the floor to which the toilet base is fastened. The chute assembly can be fastened to the top of a thermophilic aerobic digester (TAD) cabinet enclosure, which rests on a TAD enclosure base, which rests on the floor of the story or lower level directly beneath the toilet base in the structure in which it is installed.
An inline fan can be located in the exhaust vent pipe. In one embodiment, the inline fan can run continuously. The inline fan can be positioned at the point where the vent pipe starts a vertical ascent without hindrance of bends, terminating outside of the structure where the toilet is installed. In one embodiment, the vent pipe can terminate through the roof of the structure in which it is installed. The termination of the exhaust pipe can be in a position where the airflow will not likely be impeded by downdrafts i.e. above or near the highest point of the roof.
This exhaust system can continually pull air through the air inlet on the lower, left side of the TAD which assures that there is a constant supply of air flowing through the TAD. It also produces a negative air pressure within the TAD, which means when the toilet lid opens there is a downdraft at the opening in the seat. Therefore, use of the toilet can be completely odorless.
As described herein, urine can be captured by the urine funnel situated directly under the front portion of the opening that functions simultaneously as both a drain and a vacuum system to prevent valuable nitrogen bearing ammonia gasses from escaping into the atmosphere. The funnel can be connected to the chute near the top of the chute where they share a straight intersection along the front of the chute and back of the funnel to form a septum that separates the two components (chute in the back—funnel in the front). The bottom of the deep funnel culminates in a conduit in which the urine is conveyed to one of at least two ventless storage tanks as described herein. The configuration of the exhaust system discussed above creates a vacuum in the urine storage tanks precisely because they are ventless. The vacuum is needed to prevent the nitrogen bearing ammonia from volatilizing and escaping through the exhaust vent and into the atmosphere.
In one embodiment, inner and outer guide rods run through the square bin base plate and the bin top plate which sits atop a 0.75-inch diameter thermal hose coil that is tapped into a flat pan tank that sits on the bin base plate. The thermal hose encircles a vertically slotted inner-sleeve from the base plate at the bottom to the top of the guide rods and bin top plate. A vertically slotted outer-sleeve covers this assembly (from the inside) comprising: 1.) the inner-sleeve; 2.) the inner guide rods; 3.) the encircling hose coil; 4.) the outer guide rods and; 5.) a fitted woven natural fiber sack. The encircling hose (starting at the base) is coiled with 0.25-inch gaps between coils for the first 5 coils. Starting at the 6th coil the gaps expand to 0.75 inch between coils to the bin top plate. This configuration allows air to reach the humanure being held within the bin. In other embodiments, different configurations and spacings of the coil and related components can be used.
In the embodiment described above the encircling hose assembly is subsequently filled with water or similar heat transferring liquid which is heated to and maintained at a heat sufficient to induce thermophilic aerobic bacterial activity in the humanure held within the bins. External pumps circulate the water or similar medium in the coils to an external heat source to assure the heat is maintained evenly.
In another embodiment the bin assembly and the heat circulation system described above could also be effectuated by the use of a hydronic thermal jacket (HTJ). The HTJ can comprise a sealed conduit of extruded aluminum or similar material, within a larger sealed conduit to create a void between the two conduits whose cross-sections are prescribed by the chute connecting the toilet seat to the TAD. The void between the sleeved conduits can be filled with water or other liquid heat transferring solution which is also maintained at heat sufficient to induce thermophilic aerobic activity in the humanure by means of external pumps and heat sources to maintain a base level of heat. The preferred sources of the heat can comprise primarily solar thermal collectors supplemented (if necessary) by tankless spot water heaters. Within the inner conduit of the HTJ multiple vertically oriented perforated pipes can be situated against the surface of the inner conduit in order to supply air to the humanure. Both embodiments described above can utilize the same 0.75-inch fittings, quick-couplings and connecting hoses between the bins that allow easy, dripless disconnection and re-connection for emptying and moving of the bins.
In the illustrated embodiment, there are two bins housed in the TAD. In one embodiment, when the accumulated humanure in the bin located directly below the chute nears the top of that bin it will interrupt a through beam laser sensor which activates a relay switch, which in turn activates an indicator light. In one embodiment, the indicator light can be housed within a micro switch that that the user can tap to open the lid. The indicator light thus flashes when the through beam laser is interrupted. This alerts the user/owner/servicer that the toilet bin directly below the toilet and chute is full and will have to be moved into the finishing position within the next few days. To do this, the TAD doors can be opened. The exhaust fan creates a negative pressure, so when the TAD doors are opened air is pulled past the bin under the chute and out the exhaust vent. This will assure that the following process will not be accompanied by offensive odors. Additionally, the other bin (in the finishing position) must be emptied. First, the bin to be emptied must be removed from the TAD. Then the fitted woven fiber sack containing the finished humanure is removed from the bin.
In one embodiment, the second bin has been in the finishing position for at least 2 months depending on the rate of use. In that period of time the humanure in the bin has been utilized by various species of spore-forming thermophilic aerobic bacteria (SFTAB) that occur naturally in a person's gut. In one embodiment, the hot water bath in which the humanure has been immersed over that period of time (in the form of either the encircling hydronic coils or the HTJ) has been maintained at a temperature of 45 degrees C. (˜110 F). It essentially creates a hot water bath and total immersion. This creates a uniform and steady heat source that can be maintained at a much lower temperature to achieve the same results. Heat does not dissipate in the humanure as it accumulates in the bins. This is the temperature at which the various species of SFTAB can become active. A chain reaction of activity is sparked as different species reproduce rapidly and decline to be replaced by another. Temperatures within the humanure/fuel/food reach to the 70-80 C range (160-175 F). This heat destroys other bacteria and viruses that may have resided in the humanure. The process also desiccates and greatly reduces the volume of the humanure. The resulting mass of less than 2 cubic feet (for the size of the bins in this embodiment) is very light weight, and it is essentially odorless. In other embodiments, additional temperatures or temperature ranges can be used in the hot water bath. In one embodiment, a temperature of at least 45 degrees C. can be used. The temperature or range of temperatures available for use in the hot water bath to activate the various species of SFTAB can also vary by region, climate, elevation, or other variables external to the system. These variables can result in other ranges of temperatures being effective for activating the various species of SFTAB to destroy any bacteria and viruses that may reside within the mixture. In some embodiments, the humanure is mostly pathogen free, though it is not thoroughly composted. The sack is a convenient container in which to carry and transport the contents to a central location where mixing with other compostable materials such as crop residue and yard waste can take place for further composting.
A pump can be used to circulate water heated to 110 F. In one embodiment, while testing the system the temperature of the humanure was consistently in the 160-170 F range. The spot water heater through which the water circulated remained set at 110 F. Humanure samples were taken from three different bins 30, 60 and 90 days after each bin had last been used. The samples were then sent to an independent lab for the universally accepted method of testing for fecal coliform in various media: Most Probable Number (MPN/gram) of likely fecal coliform colonizing units per gram. The results were 9, 4, and 2 MPN/gram. Context: 1.) One NIH study revealed that washed, ready-to-eat, bagged, cut lettuce and spinach had values of anywhere from 3.6-9.2 MPN/gram; 2.) An EPA certified Class A Biosolid can be used as a fertilizer for food crops, and have up to 1000 MPN/gram.
Some other types of toilets only provides heat from beneath the bin. This causes it to be difficult if not impossible for heat to be maintained as the humanure mass increases. The high heat required would dry out the mass as it grows, thus impeding thermophilic activity for lack of moisture. The desiccation of the humanure would also act to insulate the heat source underneath the chamber from the waste being added, making it even less likely for heat to reach the humanure evenly as it is added.
Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the system has two bins, not only making for even heat distribution but for consistent uninterrupted use. Some other types of toilets have only one bin. For that bin to be emptied hygienically it would require weeks of down time while the mass was heated. The humanure in the bins as described herein is exposed to a constant heat source requiring a low even temperature of 45 C in one embodiment. The bins requires no manipulation of the humanure via mixing mechanisms to achieve an even temperature. In other systems, when those mixing mechanisms require repairs it can be difficult and will require downtime. Further, in some embodiments the mechanisms of the system described herein—pumps, solar thermal collectors, and tankless water heaters—are located outside of the bins. This makes maintenance and repair more convenient, and most importantly, the unit can still be used. There is no downtime.
Terms such as “about” will be understood in the context in which they are used and described in the present description by one of ordinary skill in the art. If the use of “about” as applied to quantities expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “about” will be understood to mean within 10 percent of the specified value. A quantity given as about a specified value can be precisely the specified value. For example, if it is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, a quantity having a value of about 1, means that the quantity has a value between 0.9 and 1.1, and that the value could be 1.
Terms such as “substantially” will be understood in the context in which they are used and described in the present description by one of ordinary skill in the art. If the use of “substantially equal” is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “substantially equal” will mean about equal where about is as described above. If the use of “substantially parallel” is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “substantially parallel” will mean within 30 degrees of parallel. Directions or surfaces described as substantially parallel to one another may, in some embodiments, be within 20 degrees, or within 10 degrees of parallel, or may be parallel or nominally parallel. If the use of “substantially aligned” is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “substantially aligned” will mean aligned to within 20% of a width of the objects being aligned. Objects described as substantially aligned may, in some embodiments, be aligned to within 10% or to within 5% of a width of the objects being aligned.
All references, patents, and patent applications referenced in the foregoing are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in a consistent manner. In the event of inconsistencies or contradictions between portions of the incorporated references and this application, the information in the preceding description shall control.
Descriptions for elements in figures should be understood to apply equally to corresponding elements in other figures, unless indicated otherwise. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Although several embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the present disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present teachings. The foregoing description and following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations.
Various embodiments are described herein of various apparatuses, systems, and methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments, the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims.
Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation.
It will be appreciated that the terms “proximal” and “distal” may be used throughout the specification with reference to a clinician manipulating one end of an instrument used to treat a patient. The term “proximal” refers to the portion of the instrument closest to the clinician and the term “distal” refers to the portion located furthest from the clinician. It will be further appreciated that for conciseness and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “up,” and “down” may be used herein with respect to the illustrated embodiments. However, surgical instruments may be used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute.
Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/400,001, filed 22 Aug. 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63400001 | Aug 2022 | US |
