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MODULE 13
Sub Module 13.19
Contents
INTRODUCTION
WATER TANK
Tank drain,
Fill connection,
Overflow connection (with stand pipe),
Air pressure connection,
Supply lines (to galleys and lavatories).
WATER SUPPLY
The water tank pressurization system provides air pressure into If a compressor is not fitted or for test purposes then an air
the tank to force the water up to the distribution line. The valve (Schrader) can be fitted onto the ground-replenishing
pressurized air is normally supplied by the aircraft's pneumatic panel to enable the tank to be pressurized whilst the pneumatic
system, but some types of aircraft also use an electric system is un-powered.
compressor, which will automatically start when the pneumatic
pressure falls below a predetermined pressure.
WATER SERVICING
The storage water tank is usually situated below the cabin floor.
Its capacity will vary with aircraft type. The water tank is filled
from its own external passenger water service panel. The water
pressure used for replenishment will depend on the tank The water fill connection, under a dirt excluder cap, is where the
construction but is typically above 25psi with a maximum of potable water rig is plugged in to replenish the tank; it is a
55psi on some tanks. standard size coupling.
The contents gauge is only required if the water tank is to be When the tank is at its full capacity the water flows up a stack
partly filled, otherwise the tank is filled until it overflows. pipe in the tank and overflows through the overflow connection
Contents gauges are calibrated in gallons or litres as required. onto the ground, which is remote from the panel.
A typical servicing panel is shown in Figure is normally covered To enable the tank to be vented of pressurizing air and to open
with a flush fitting panel. The servicing panel shown in figure the fill valve in the tank, the water/vent handle is pulled. If the
contains: aircraft has an electrical compressor, pulling this handle will also
shut off the compressor while the tank is being vented. The
A water fill connection, drain valve handle will allow the potable water tank and the
A water drain connection, supply lines to be drained through the water drain connection, a
pipe is normally fitted to the connection prior to draining to carry
A water/vent valve handle, away the drained water.
A drain valve handle,
A quantity gauge.
The quantity gauge will only be required for part loads otherwise
the tank is replenished until it overflows. If cold conditions are
encountered whilst the aircraft is parked for long periods (i.e.,
overnight) it will be necessary to drain the water system to
prevent fractures caused by frozen lines. If frost damage is to
be avoided all the delivery lines and the tank must be" emptied.
Note: if the water system is drained ensure all the water heaters
are turned off.
Waste water collection and drainage systems vary in design. Original solids such as coffee grounds, tea leaves, fruit
The waste water drain system connects the galley sinks, pulp, food debris, or small items like toothpicks and
lavatory sinks, and floor drains located near doors and galleys toothpaste tube caps.
to the drain masts at the underside of the airplane. Waste water
exits the airplane via these drain masts in flight or on the ground. Forming solids resulting from curdling of milk products
The waste water drain system is separate and distinct from the mixed with wine or fruit juice.
toilet waste system which connects to waste holding tanks
inside the airplane. In some types of aircraft, the waste water is Ice caused by malfunction of freeze protection heaters
drained via electrically heated drain masts under the fuselage. on drain lines or drain masts.
The wash basin drain plug is normally kept closed when not in Drain system blockage prevention is aimed at keeping solids
use, to prevent loss of cabin pressure. In other aircraft, the from entering the drains and removing any deposits that may
wash basin waste enters the toilet waste tank. build up in the drain lines before they completely block the
drains.
Waste Water Drain System
Galley sink strainers, if installed, are used to catch debris that is
The waste water drain system is designed to handle liquids only. inadvertently flushed down galley sinks and prevent it from
The drain line tubing is of a relatively small diameter (typically clogging the drain further downstream. These strainers are
one inch), and the slope of the tubing may be limited. To assist effective but require regular cleaning to prevent the galley sink
in drain flow, the system uses the difference between cabin drains from clogging and becoming unusable.
pressure and external pressure in flight to help push fluids
through the tubing as well as relying on the normal forces of
gravity. Where drain lines may be subject to freezing in flight
they are heated, as in the case of the drain masts.
FIG 9
INTRODUCTION
There are three types of toilet fitted to aircraft. The type used
will depend upon the number of passengers the aircraft can
carry, and also the age of the aircraft. In all cases it is essential
that the relevant health precautions be observed whenever the
toilet is serviced. Due to the nature of the fluids carried in the
toilet, protection must also be given to the structure of the
aircraft to protect it from corrosion caused by these fluids.
After the toilet has been used, the bin is removed complete with
its contents from the aircraft and the contents are disposed of in
an approved dumping site. The storage bin is refilled with the
correct amount of disinfectant and replaced in the aircraft and
recovered with the decorative shroud. Most removable toilet
assemblies are secured by a quick release method of
attachment such as pip-pins to facilitate removal and fitting. The
carry out toilet is usually fitted to the smaller types of aircraft
that operate over short ranges.
Liquid flush toilets are the most common type of toilet found in
passenger aircraft, each toilet is completely self contained,
having its waste collection tank mounted directly below the toilet
bowl, as shown in Figure.
The toilet bowl and the top of the waste tank are normally
covered by a decorative laminate shroud, which also contains
the toilet seat and cover. The waste tanks are shaped to fit into
the structure of the aircraft and attached to the structure by tie-
rods. Directly below the waste tank is a drain fitting.
Figure 2 shows the equipment that is fitted to the toilet tank and Operation
includes the:
The toilet is an electrically powered flushing unit. It collects
Motor and pump, waste material in the toilet tank, disinfects, deodorizes, dyes
Filter, and separates the liquids in the waste and uses these liquids for
flushing purposes.
Hinged separator,
Toilet flushing is initiated by pushing the toilet flush button; this
Rinse ring, energizes an electric timer which runs the motor in the waste
Flush line, tank for a 10 second cycle. The motor is attached to a pump
and a mechanical self-cleaning filter. The pump impeller draws
Related tubing, liquid through the rotating filter and pumps it through a flush ring
around the top of the toilet bowl with a swirling action. This
Drain valve. action carries the deposits into the waste tank by opening the
The other items required for toilet operation not fitted to the tank hinged separator. At the end of the 10-second cycle the motor
are: stops and rearms itself ready for the next operation. On the next
operation the motor will reverse its direction to prevent the
Flush handle, rotating filter becoming entangled with non-decomposable
waste.
Timer.
These items are found on the cabinet above the toilet bowl
attached to the decorative laminate.
The toilet bowl is mounted on the top of the waste tank; it is The filter basket surrounds the pump inlet, it is fitted to prevent
manufactured of stainless steel and is highly polished to enable the solid waste entering the flush ring, the basket (shown in Fig.
the waste to be easily flushed off its surface. The lower part of 2) that is gear driven by the motor, rotates with the pump. A
the bowl is closed off by a hinged separator which is very lightly stationary knife blade is placed adjacent to the wire mesh to
sprung loaded closed, this separator acts as a sight trap so the keep the exterior surface clear of waste. This type of filter does
waste is covered from the passengers view and also prevents not break down the solid waste into liquid.
splash back of the strong chemical during use.
A flush line, which is a perforated tube, is placed around the top
On the top of the waste tank a reversible three phase 115 Volt of the waste tank; its purpose is to clean the sides of the tank
AC motor is fitted, this assembly drives both the rotating filter whenever replenishment of the chemical takes place through
and an impeller to pump the flushing fluid to the flush ring. The the ground flush line. A tube enters the waste tank from the
pump is self-priming and fitted with a non-corrodible carbon toilet bowl, as the toilet sink also drains its wastewater into the
rotor. The toilet flush motor and pump is removed as a complete waste tank. A vent to atmosphere via a venturi acts as a choke,
unit. to limit the outflow of cabin air when the aircraft is pressurized.
The vent from the cabin and the atmosphere vent ensure that
The filter assembly can be of two types: any odors produced by the waste tank are exhausted overboard.
Disc filter,
A drain valve spring loaded closed, can be opened to allow the
Filter basket. waste tank to be emptied via a 4-inch diameter pipe to a
standard Roylin connection on a toilet-servicing vehicle. Some
Disc Filter
aircraft also have lavatory floor drains to allow any liquid spilled
This consists of a stack of flat wheel shaped discs; each disc on the floor covering to be drained during toilet servicing.
being separated by a spacer. The thickness of the spacer
holding the discs apart determines the degree of filtration. A
stationary knife blade is mounted beside the disc stack, and the
blade extends into the slots created by the spacers. When the
filter is rotated by the motor all the waste is combed through the
slots by the cleaner blades and it is then broken down into liquid
waste. This type of filter will break down the waste particles to
300 microns.
ISO 9001 - 2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only
PTC/CM/B2/M13/07 Rev. 01
13.19 - 22 Nov 2017
PIA TRAINING CENTRE (PTC) Module 13 - AIRCRAFT AERODYNAMICS, STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS
Category – B2 Sub Module 13.19 - Water / Waste
VACUUM TOILETS
Vacuum Toilet Components
On an aircraft fitted with a number of liquid flush toilets there
were two major problems, e.g., the corrosion risk and the time The components of a typical vacuum toilet are shown in Fig.
taken to drain and replenish each individual toilet. Aircraft fitted
with vacuum toilets overcome these problems by having dry Toilet Bowl
toilet assemblies located at convenient points around the
passenger cabin and connected to a centralized storage tank by The toilet bowl is manufactured from stainless steel; some
pipelines. A typical vacuum toilet assembly is shown in Figure manufacturers coat the bowl with Teflon to give it a 'non-stick'
on the next page. effect. A rinse ring around the top of the bowl allows a supply of
clean flushing water to clean the bowl after use.
The vacuum toilet uses a waste container that has a negative
pressure inside it, (vacuum). When the remote toilet bowl is
flushed a valve opens and the waste is sucked down the
pipeline into the storage tank. Water is used for rinsing the bowl
but vacuum toilets use clean water from the drinking water tank,
this water once used also goes to the waste tank.
On large aircraft with many toilets two waste tanks are used, a
number of toilet bowls using one tank the remaining remote
toilets using the other tank. This arrangement ensures that if
one tank is full or not working, the rest of the toilets using the
remaining tank will still be operative.
FLUSHING
Flush Control
Timing Module
Vacuum Breaker
The vacuum breaker is in the rinse water line between the rinse
ring in the toilet bowl and the water valve. It prevents water
being drawn back into the drinking water system from the rinse
ring.
The storage tanks are situated over a common drain point. They They provide the tank with a negative pressure source, which
are manufactured from stainless steel with a jacket of fiberglass. source is used depends on the altitude at which the aircraft is
Mountings are fabricated into the tank, and the tanks are flying.
mounted into a cradle, which is held onto the aircraft structure
by support struts. Into the top of the tanks are mounted the Rinse Fittings
connections for toilet operation, that is:
These direct a jet of cleaning fluid from a connection on the
Waste line connections, ground service panel to clean the level sensors and the inside
of the storage tank.
Level sensors,
Liquid Separator
Vacuum blower connection,
This filter prevents the contents of the tank, particularly liquids,
Differential pressure connection, from entering the vacuum source lines during aircraft
maneuvers.
Rinse fittings,
Liquid separator.
These are the input from the toilet assemblies into the waste
tanks.
Level Sensors
These are fitted to the top of each tank to prevent it over filling.
The level sensor when operated illuminates a light on a cabin
attendant's panel to indicate which toilets are not functioning.
Toilet Servicing
Special Features
Toilet Safety and Health Precautions
Many aircraft toilet drainpipe fittings include a safety plug; the
plug is made from rubber or plastic material. The fitment of the The following notes relate to toilets in general, for specific
plug prevents inadvertent drainage of the toilet; it also acts as a precautions you should refer to the aircraft's Maintenance
second seal. The drain cap is prevented from being closed Manual {Chapter 38,Water -Waste).
unless the plug is fitted and the exterior panel will not lie flush if
the cap is not secured. On completion of maintenance of toilet systems you
should clean all the tools used.
Always use rubber gloves when you do work on the toilet waste
system or on parts that have contamination from the waste
system. Do not work on the waste system and the potable water
system at the same time to prevent contamination of the potable
water system.