Functioning of Airplane Lavatories and the Cleverness of that Loud Flush: An Explanation Revealing More Intelligence Than Appears
In the skies above, a seemingly mundane aspect of air travel — the humble airplane toilet — has undergone a remarkable transformation. This transformation began in the 1970s, when the patent for the vacuum toilet system commonly used in aviation today was granted to Astro Turbo Vac.
Before vacuum systems, aircraft relied on chemical toilets, which led to the infamous phenomenon of "blue ice." At high altitudes, any leaks from these chemical toilets would freeze instantly, forming icy chunks of waste that sometimes detached mid-flight and fell to the ground.
The vacuum toilet system, patented in 1975, proved to be a game-changer. By harnessing the existing cabin pressure, the design saves weight, reduces the chance of malfunction, and minimizes maintenance demands. The system quickly became standard in aviation due to its safety, reliability, and lightweight design.
The simplicity of the vacuum toilet system stands in stark contrast to the complex Lockheed TriStar's toilet system. The TriStar's system was linked to tanks at both the front and rear, and multiple pumps were controlled by a "logic box" that decided which pump flushed next. Repairs on this intricate system could be challenging, requiring engineers to climb onto tanks and work in unpleasant conditions.
In contrast, the airplane toilet system does not need a vacuum pump at altitude as the plane's environment provides the force for free. The loud slurping sound during airplane toilet flushing is due to pressure differentials. The slurping sound is a result of matter moving from the higher-pressure cabin to a lower-pressure tank when the flush valve opens.
Today, chemical systems are mostly gone, except in small business jets where regulations require a toilet but the cost and weight of a vacuum system don't make sense. In these cases, chemical toilets are essentially "a fancy port-a-potty."
Retired aircraft engineer Nigel Jones recalled that not all aircraft toilet systems were elegant, with the Lockheed TriStar having a notoriously intricate system. The era of "blue ice" has largely been replaced by vacuum systems in aviation, ensuring a smoother, cleaner, and safer flight experience for all.
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