FR3132707A3 - Urine treatment plant and method for treating urine using such a plant - Google Patents

Abstract

Urine treatment installation (1) comprising a fluid circulation circuit (2) with at least one urine supply inlet (3) of the circuit (2) and at least one outlet (4) of said circuit (2) , said installation (1) comprising, disposed on said circuit (2), at least one electrolyser (5) equipped with at least one liquid outlet (52). Said installation (1) further comprises, disposed on said circuit (2), at least: - an electrolyser urine supply tank (5) with function at least as a buffer tank (7) to allow operation called "by batch", that is to say a batch supply of the electrolyser (5) from said buffer tank (7), and- an ultrasound generator (6) positioned downstream of the electrolyser (5) and in fluid communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets (52) of the electrolyser (5). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Urine treatment installation and method of urine treatment using such an installation

The present invention relates to a urine treatment installation and a method of urine treatment using such an installation.

It relates in particular to a urine treatment installation which can be used as a substitute for a urinal or toilet, this urine treatment installation comprising a fluid circulation circuit with at least one urine supply inlet of the circuit and at least one outlet from said circuit, said installation comprising, arranged on said circuit, at least one electrolyser equipped with at least one liquid outlet,

Urine treatment facilities have developed in recent years. These urine treatment installations can be in the form of so-called autonomous installations which can also serve as a substitute for a urinal or toilet. In this case, the treatment of urine is carried out in situ, that is to say at or near the place of urine collection. The objective in terms of creating such a urine treatment installation is to limit the maintenance and nuisance of such an installation. Until now, such installations offer urine electrolysis which makes it possible to at least partially disinfect and deodorize urine. Electrolyzed urine is also called gray water. However, such a urine treatment facility must be emptied frequently. This results in tedious maintenance.

An aim of the invention is to propose a urine treatment installation whose design makes it possible to limit the manual emptying operations of such an installation without harming the compactness of the installation.

Another aim of the installation is to provide a urine treatment installation whose design guarantees the quality of the treatment.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a urine treatment installation comprising a fluid circulation circuit with at least one urine supply inlet of the circuit and at least one outlet of said circuit, said installation comprising, arranged on said circuit, at least one electrolyser equipped with at least one liquid outlet, characterized in that said installation further comprises, arranged on said circuit, at least:
- an electrolyzer urine supply tank with at least a buffer tank function to allow so-called "batch" operation, that is to say a batch supply of the electrolyzer from said buffer tank, and
- an ultrasound generator positioned downstream of the electrolyzer and in fluid communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets of the electrolyzer.

The presence of a buffer tank and the design of the assembly formed by the buffer tank and the electrolyzer make it possible to guarantee the effectiveness of the electrolytic treatment. Indeed, the presence of a urine supply tank for the electrolyser with at least a buffer tank function allows a controlled supply of urine to the electrolyser. In particular, the presence of a urine supply tank for the electrolyser with at least a buffer tank function allows so-called "batch" operation, that is to say a batch supply of the electrolyser. Supplying the electrolyser discontinuously and in a predetermined maximum quantity thanks to the presence of the buffer tank makes it possible to guarantee sufficient treatment time in the electrolyser with regard to the quantity of urine present in the electrolyser. The effectiveness of the treatment is thus guaranteed. The presence of an ultrasound generator downstream of the electrolyzer makes it possible to produce a mist from the liquid part of the urine resulting from electrolysis which can then be evacuated into the atmosphere. Thus, the emptying of such an installation is reduced due to the elimination of the liquid part of the electrolyzed urine in the form of a mist.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the buffer tank, in fluid communication with the electrolyser, is connected to the electrolyser by at least one automatically controllable closable connection. The presence of an automatically controllable shutter member on the or at least one of the connections between the buffer tank and the electrolyzer allows, on the one hand, at any time, to interrupt the urine supply to the electrolyzer from the buffer tank, on the other hand, to control the quantity of urine supplying the electrolyzer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the urine supply inlet of the circuit is equipped with a urine collector. This urine collector can affect a large number of forms. This urine collector can, for example, take the form of a urinal or a toilet bowl. Thus, urine treatment can be carried out as an extension of urine collection. Alternatively, this urine collector can be in the form of one or more receptacles connectable to a urinal or a toilet bowl.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the urine collector is a separator of feces and urine. Thus, urine and feces can be processed in parallel.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the installation comprises a fecal matter processing unit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fecal matter treatment unit comprises a dihydrogen production station connected at the input to the electrolyser to allow the dihydrogen production station to be supplied with electrolyzed urine and a combustion station of fecal matter operating on dihydrogen, that is to say comprising at least one dihydrogen burner. The urine treatment plant produces hydrogen from urine, which is used to burn fecal matter. This gives an installation in which, again, emptying operations can be reduced, the feces being reduced to ashes.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a siphon is placed between the urine supply inlet of the circuit and the buffer tank. Such a siphon makes it possible to isolate the contents of the buffer tank from the outside to prevent odors from rising.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the circuit comprises a tank, called an intermediate tank, arranged upstream of the buffer tank. This intermediate tank provides a smaller collector. This intermediate tank also ensures that the collection is not interrupted and prevents any malfunction of the buffer tank and/or the electrolyzer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the siphon, disposed between the urine supply inlet of the circuit and the buffer reservoir, is disposed between the urine supply inlet of the circuit and the intermediate reservoir.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the ultrasound generator comprises a chamber and an ultrasonic nebulization device housed inside said chamber, said chamber is equipped with at least one forced circulation device of fluid, at least one outlet to ambient air and at least one liquid inlet in fluid communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets of the electrolyzer for a supply of electrolyzed liquid urine to said chamber, said nebulization device is configured to transform at least part of the electrolyzed liquid urine from the electrolyzer into a cloud of fine fog-like particles, and the forced fluid circulation device is configured to guide the movement of the mist produced in the direction of the or at least one of the ambient air outlets of said chamber. The fact that the forced fluid circulation device is configured to guide the movement of the mist produced in the direction of the or at least one of the ambient air outlets of said chamber allows dispersion of the mist produced in the atmosphere. Thus, the amount of liquid volume to be drained is reduced. Preferably, the forced fluid circulation device is a fan placed in the or one of the ambient air outlets of said chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a non-return valve is placed on the ambient air outlet of the ultrasound generator.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrolyzer is equipped with at least one level sensor. The presence of such a level sensor makes it possible to confirm that the quantity of liquid contained in the electrolyzer is consistent with the effectiveness of the desired electrolytic treatment.

The invention also relates to a method of treating urine in a urine treatment installation, characterized in that the urine treatment installation being in accordance with that described above, the method comprises, from of the buffer tank, a step of supplying the electrolyser with urine in a controlled manner followed by a step of ultrasonic treatment of the electrolyzed urine from the electrolyser.

According to one mode of implementation of the method, the entrance to the circuit of the installation being equipped with a urine collector in the form of a fecal matter and urine separator, the urine supply step of the electrolyzer from the buffer tank is preceded by a step of separation of urine and feces.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

represents a schematic view of a urine treatment installation according to the invention;

represents a schematic view of a urine treatment installation according to the invention, this urine treatment installation comprising a fecal matter treatment unit;

represents a schematic view of a urine treatment installation according to the invention;

represents a schematic view of a urine treatment installation according to the invention;

represents a schematic view of an electrolyzer of a urine treatment installation according to the invention;

represents a schematic view of an ultrasound generator of a urine treatment installation according to the invention.

As mentioned above, the subject of the invention is a urine treatment installation 1 which can be of the type shown in Figures 1 to 4. This urine treatment installation 1 is more particularly intended to be installed in mobile structures, such as a camper van, in public transport, such as bus or train, on construction sites, in light autonomous constructions or other.

Such a urine treatment installation 1 makes it possible to do without a connection to the sewer while requiring reduced maintenance. Such a urine treatment installation 1 can be a portable installation and can be connected to a urinal or a toilet bowl or directly integrate the urinal and/or the toilet bowl as will be described below.

Such a urine treatment installation 1 comprises a fluid circulation circuit 2 with at least one urine supply inlet 3 of the circuit 2 and at least one outlet 4 of said circuit 2. This fluid circulation circuit 2 can be more or less long and more or less complex as illustrated in the figures.

The installation 1 comprises, arranged on the fluid circulation circuit 2, at least one electrolyser 5 equipped with at least one liquid outlet 52, at least one ultrasound generator 6 positioned downstream of the electrolyser 5 and in fluidic communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets 52 of the electrolyser 5, and a urine supply tank of the electrolyser 5 with the function of a buffer tank 7 to allow a supply from said buffer tank 7 in urine from the electrolyser 5 discontinuously in batches and following a predetermined maximum quantity of urine.

It should be noted that the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are taken in relation to the direction of circulation of the liquid inside the circuit from the inlet towards the outlet of the circuit.

In the examples shown, the buffer tank 7 is supplied at the inlet either directly by a urine collector 10 placed at the inlet 3 of circuit 2 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or by an intermediate tank 13 placed upstream of the buffer tank 7 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Generally, a siphon 12 is placed between the urine supply inlet 3 of circuit 2 and the buffer tank 7. When the intermediate reservoir 13 is present, the siphon 12 placed between the urine supply inlet 3 of the circuit 2 and the buffer tank 7 is arranged between the urine supply inlet 3 of circuit 2 and the intermediate tank 13, as illustrated for example in Figures 3 and 4.

The buffer tank 7 into which the collected urine which has possibly passed through an intermediate tank 13 arrives is a buffer tank 7 intended to supply urine to the electrolyser 5. The buffer tank 7 in fluid communication with the electrolyser 5 is connected to the electrolyser 5 by one or more closable connections 8 according to the design of the circuit 2. The buffer tank 7 therefore comprises at least one outlet and the electrolyser comprises at least one inlet and the outlet of the buffer tank 7 is connected to the inlet of the electrolyzer by a fluidic connection 8.

The shutter member of the or each connection 8 closable to the buffer tank 7 can be a pump, a solenoid valve or any other shutter member capable of automatically allowing the transition from the open state to the closed state or vice versa of said connection. For this purpose, the urine treatment installation 1 obviously includes a control unit 16 for such a shutter member. The control of this shutter member can be carried out at predetermined periods of time, and/or as a function of data provided by sensors such as level sensors, and/or due to the design of the member. shutter which can open under the effect of a predetermined weight when, for example, it is spring loaded.

The connection 8 between the buffer tank 7 and the electrolyzer 5 can be a bidirectional connection as illustrated in where the shutter member 9 allows the passage of urine from the buffer reservoir 7 to the electrolyser 5 then by reversing the direction of the operation of the pump constituting the shutter member 9 the return of the electrolyzed urine from the electrolyser 5 towards the buffer tank 7.

Closing the connection between the buffer tank 7 and the electrolyser 5 allows a discontinuous supply of the electrolyser 5 from the buffer tank 7, that is to say by fraction or by batch. Thus, the electrolyzer 5 processes a batch of urine each time it operates. Batches may or may not be identical from one batch to another.

In the , which corresponds to the simplest version of the installation, the buffer tank 7 which is connected at the input to the urine collector 10 is connected directly at the output to the electrolyser 5 in particular to an inlet 51 of the electrolyser 5 This electrolyzer 5 is connected at the output, shown at 52 in the figures, to the ultrasound generator 6. A similar setup is shown in .

To the , the buffer tank 7 is connected by a first closable connection 8 to the inlet 51 of the electrolyser for a supply of urine to the electrolyser 5 and the outlet 52 of the electrolyzer is connected to the buffer tank 7 by a closable connection to return the electrolyzed urine to the buffer tank 7 before supplying this electrolyzed urine to the ultrasound generator 6.

Regardless of the design of the circuit, the electrolyser 5 always includes a liquid inlet 51 connected to the buffer tank 7 for a supply of urine to the electrolyser 5 from the buffer tank 7 and a liquid outlet shown at 52 in the figures. The liquid inlet 51 and outlet 52 of the electrolyser can be common in the case of bidirectional circulation between the buffer tank 7 and the electrolyser 5 as illustrated in Fig. .

The possibility of closing the connection between the electrolyser and the buffer tank makes it possible to control and possibly quantify the quantity of urine brought into the electrolyser and thus ensure a discontinuous supply, that is to say by batch, of said electrolyzer. Thus, the electrolyser, once supplied with urine, can process the quantity of urine received, then once the treatment is completed, empty itself before receiving a new batch of urine to process.

Independently of the design of circuit 2, the electrolyzer 5 can be equipped with at least one level sensor 14. The presence of such a level sensor again makes it possible to guarantee a supply of the electrolyzer in a quantity less than a predetermined maximum quantity of urine when this level sensor helps to control the member 9 for closing the closable connection 8 between the electrolyser and the buffer tank 7.

To allow this supply of urine to the electrolyser in a discontinuous manner, that is to say in batches, and according to a predetermined maximum quantity, the operating time of the pump placed on the connection 8 between the electrolyser 5 and the buffer tank 7 can also be precisely controlled. In the case of a solenoid valve type shutter member 9, this shutter member can be controlled by a control unit 16 as a function of the data provided by the level sensor fitted to the electrolyser. Thus, as soon as the maximum level, inside the electrolyser, is reached, the shutter member 9 is closed.

In the case of the presence of an intermediate tank 13, it can also be provided to supply the buffer tank 7 only with a predetermined quantity of liquid from the intermediate tank. Consequently, the level sensor 14, as described above, only constitutes a means of guaranteeing a maximum quantity of liquid inside the electrolyzer to guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment. Other means can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

The electrolyser 5, as shown in , comprises, in addition to the liquid inlet 51 and the liquid outlet 52, two electrodes, namely an anode 53 and a cathode 54. The anode 53 is preferably made of titanium and iridium, the cathode 54 of graphite or carbon or stainless steel or iron.

A power supply for the electrodes shown in 55 at is planned. Generally, electrolytic treatment is carried out with a voltage between 2 and 12 volts. The treatment duration can be up to 20 minutes for a unit volume of 250 ml. The treatment duration depends on the selected current and potential. Electrolytic treatment of urine destroys all enzymes and bacteria, disinfects the urine, and oxidizes certain components of urine to nitrate, struvite, or other breakdown minerals.

Generally, the capacity of the buffer tank 7 is between 25 mL and 10 Liters.

In practice, to obtain the required treatment efficiency, a predetermined maximum quantity of urine is introduced via the connection 8 between the buffer tank 7 and the electrolyser 5 into the electrolyser 5.

At the end of a predetermined period of time, the electrolyzed urine is evacuated from the electrolyser 5 to arrive either directly or via the buffer tank 7 in the ultrasonic generator 6. Once this fraction of electrolyzed urine has reached the ultrasonic generator 6, a new fraction of urine can be introduced from the buffer reservoir 7 into the electrolyser 5. The treatment is thus carried out in a so-called discontinuous manner due to 'a supply in a discontinuous manner by batch or fraction of the electrolyzer 5.

In the example shown in , the ultrasound generator 6 comprises a chamber 62 and an ultrasonic nebulization device 61 housed inside the chamber 62. The nebulization device 61 is configured to transform at least part of the electrolyzed liquid urine produced of the electrolyser 5 into a cloud of fine mist-like particles inside the chamber 62.

Chamber 62 is also equipped with a device 64 for forced air circulation, such as a fan. This chamber further comprises at least one outlet 65 to ambient air and a liquid inlet 63 in fluid communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets 52 of the electrolyser 5 for a supply of electrolyzed liquid urine to said chamber 62, this electrolyzed liquid urine being transformed into a cloud of fine fog-like particles by the nebulization device 61.

The forced fluid circulation device 64 is configured to guide the movement of the fog produced in the direction of the outlet 65 to the ambient air of said chamber to allow dispersion of the fog produced in the atmosphere.

In the example shown in , the device 64 for forced circulation of fluid in the form of a fan is arranged in an ambient air outlet of the chamber to suck in said outside air and generate an air flow inside the chamber. This air flow carries the mist produced at the ultrasonic nebulization device 61 located in the lower part of the chamber towards another outlet to the ambient air of the chamber located in the upper part of the chamber. to allow this fog to disperse in the atmosphere. Thus, the ultrasonic generator makes it possible to evacuate into the atmosphere almost all of the electrolyzed urine from the electrolyzer and transferred to the ultrasonic generator.

To complete the installation, a non-return valve 66 is placed on the ambient air outlet 65 of the ultrasonic generator 6.

To obtain effective nebulization, the quantity of liquid to be introduced into the ultrasonic generator is controlled. Ideally, the electrolyzer and the ultrasonic generator are sized accordingly so that the maximum volume contained in the electrolyzer can be processed at one time by the ultrasonic generator.

The ultrasonic generator can be supplied with urine from the electrolyser directly by a direct fluid connection connecting the outlet 52 of the electrolyser to the liquid inlet 63 of the chamber of the ultrasonic generator 6 as illustrated to the .

The ultrasonic generator is supplied with urine from the electrolyser 5 can be done indirectly via the buffer tank 7 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The chamber of the ultrasonic generator 6 can also include an additional outlet in the form of an overflow shown at 67 in Figures 4 and 6, the overflow making it possible to discharge the excess liquid from the chamber of the ultrasonic generator 6 into the reservoir buffer 7 to which it is attached.

In a more complex version of the installation, as illustrated in , the urine collector 10 can be made in the form of a fecal matter and urine separator. In this embodiment, the installation additionally comprises a unit 11 for processing fecal matter. The feces are collected in 15 in installation 1 of the at the level of the urine collector 10 which in this case is a fecal matter and urine separator.

In other versions of the installation, this urine collector 10 can be made in the form of a simple urinal, a toilet bowl or any other container allowing the collection of urine.

The fecal matter treatment unit 11 comprises a dihydrogen production station 110 connected at the input to the electrolyser 5 to allow the dihydrogen production station 110 to be supplied with electrolyzed urine and a fecal matter combustion station 111 operating on dihydrogen , that is to say comprising at least one dihydrogen burner 1111 also called hydrogen burner.

The feces collected in installation 1 are introduced into combustion station 111 to be burned and transformed into ashes. In parallel, the collected urine is treated, as mentioned above, by passing through the electrolyzer and the ultrasonic generator before being evacuated as mist into the atmosphere. A part of the electrolysed urine is, at the outlet of the electrolyser, brought not to the ultrasonic generator, but to the station 110 for producing dihydrogen, after possible filtration of the electrolysed urine including for example a passage through an ion exchanger.

This dihydrogen production station 110 is again an electrolyser but this electrolyser is here a membrane electrolyser.

The dihydrogen from this dihydrogen production station 110 feeds the burner of the combustion chamber where the feces are transformed into ashes and collected in an ash tray which is preferably extractable.

In practice, the treatment method in a urine treatment installation 1, as described above, always comprises, from the buffer tank 7, a step of supplying the electrolyser 5 in a controlled manner with a quantity predetermined maximum urine output followed by a step of ultrasonic treatment of the electrolyzed urine from the electrolyser.

Obviously, when the inlet 3 of circuit 2 of the installation is equipped with a urine collector 10 in the form of a fecal matter and urine separator, the liquid supply step of the electrolyzer 5 from the buffer tank 7 is preceded by a step of separating urine and feces.

Claims (14)

Urine treatment installation (1) comprising a fluid circulation circuit (2) with at least one urine supply inlet (3) of the circuit (2) and at least one outlet (4) of said circuit (2) , said installation (1) comprising, arranged on said circuit (2), at least one electrolyzer (5) equipped with at least one liquid outlet (52), characterized in that said installation (1) further comprises, arranged on said circuit (2), at least:
- an electrolyzer urine supply tank (5) with at least the function of a buffer tank (7) to allow so-called "batch" operation, that is to say a batch supply of the electrolyzer ( 5) from said buffer tank (7), and
- an ultrasound generator (6) positioned downstream of the electrolyzer (5) and in fluid communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets (52) of the electrolyzer (5). Urine treatment installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the buffer tank (7), in fluid communication with the electrolyser (5), is connected to the electrolyser (5) by at least one connection (8) automatically controllable shutter. Urine treatment installation (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the urine supply inlet (3) of the circuit (2) is equipped with a collector (10) of urine. Urine treatment installation (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the urine collector (10) is a fecal matter and urine separator. Urine treatment installation (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the installation (1) comprises a fecal matter treatment unit (11). Urine treatment installation (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the fecal matter treatment unit (11) comprises a dihydrogen production station (110) connected at the input to the electrolyser to allow a supply of the station (110) for producing dihydrogen in electrolyzed urine and a station (111) for combustion of fecal matter operating with dihydrogen, that is to say comprising at least one dihydrogen burner (1111). Urine treatment installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a siphon (12) is arranged between the urine supply inlet (3) of the circuit (2) and the buffer tank (7). Urine treatment installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the circuit (2) comprises a reservoir, called intermediate (13), disposed upstream of the buffer reservoir (7). Urine treatment installation (1) according to claim 8 taken in combination with claim 7, characterized in that the siphon (12), arranged between the urine supply inlet (3) of the circuit (2) and the buffer tank (7) is arranged between the urine supply inlet (3) of the circuit (2) and the intermediate tank (13). Urine treatment installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ultrasound generator (6) comprises a chamber (62) and an ultrasonic nebulization device (61) housed inside said chamber (62), in that said chamber (62) is equipped with at least one device (64) for forced fluid circulation, with at least one outlet (65) to ambient air and at least one liquid inlet (63) in fluid communication with the or at least one of the liquid outlets (52) of the electrolyzer (5) for supplying electrolyzed liquid urine to said chamber (62) , in that said nebulization device (61) is configured to transform at least part of the electrolyzed liquid urine from the electrolyser (5) into a cloud of fine fog-like particles, and in that the device ( 64) of forced circulation of fluid is configured to guide the movement of the fog produced in the direction of the or at least one of the outlets (65) to the ambient air of said chamber (62). Urine treatment installation (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that a non-return valve (66) is arranged on the ambient air outlet (65) of the ultrasound generator (6). Urine treatment installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the electrolyser (5) is equipped with at least one level sensor (14). Method for treating urine in a urine treatment installation (1), characterized in that the urine treatment installation (1) being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 12, the method comprises, from the buffer tank (7), a step of supplying the electrolyser (5) with urine in a controlled manner followed by a step of ultrasonic treatment of the electrolyzed urine from the electrolyser (5). Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the inlet (3) of the circuit (2) of the installation (1) being equipped with a urine collector (10) in the form of a fecal matter separator and urine, the step of supplying urine to the electrolyser (5) from the buffer tank (7) is preceded by a step of separating urine and feces.