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Incinerator Toilet

image22---Copy.jpgDesired Outcomes of this Project

The outcome of this project is to build a functioning toilet & urinal system that completely treats blackwater liquid and solid waste by incinerating it. The incinerator can run on a multi fuel burner that can use propane, kerosene, cooking oil (special to Panama), gas, diesel, plastic, wood, paper products, dried seaweed waste, and other combustible materials. Not all of these fuels may be deemed practical or desirable but it would be nice to have a system that can run on many types of fuel. The heat generated by incinerating is used to boil water which is used as a hot water supply for various household systems.

The original concept for the incinerator comes from https://incinolet.com/. This company has been making incinerator toilets for many years. There are yards in the local area in Panama where they have an incinerator toilet from this company that has been in use for 20+ years without problems. The downside of this system is that it is still very different from a normal toilet. So there is a little bit of a learning curve. You have to put down a paper sheet before you start using the toilet. One the toilet is flushed there's no actual water. The system has to be manually cleaned out frequently, meaning a couple times a week at the very least. It uses electricity to do the incineration. I'm not sure if there's a propane option. This may be too energy intensive for our purposes if it is using electricity. Electricity is at a premium on a floating structure that doesn't have power hook ups.

Hannes, came up with a modification that will allow us to use a normal toilet with flushing water where you would not have to do anything different when using the toilet. The system as described in this video that he made: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xg9wwc0adc85257/Incinerator.mp4?dl=0.

We are making further improvements on the system which will allow us to do two things that are a really great in addition to what was discussed in the video above.

We will be reusing the waste heat to heat water which can be used on the SeaPod for showers, powering steam turbines, and other uses. This will allow us to efficiently use all of the energy that we are using to incinerate the waste for very useful purposes.

 

Sponsorship

This project is sponsored by an anonymous donor. The prize will be held in escrow by Ocean Builders and released as each prize level is successfully completed.

 

Modified Version Diagram (January 15, 2021)

Video Explanation of January 2021 revision which accompanies the schematic below: http://files.oceanbuilders.com/f/9db76cd2d0224d469b90/

What's missing from the diagram below is the addition of a waterless urinal which feeds directly into the second burner for liquids.

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Components
  • Build rocket burner (propane or wood) with a sized for allowing a 2 gallon size solid waste holder + a second burner to boil the liquids.
  • Combine propane and wood rocket burner into one is feasible.
  • Heat resistant grill (too big but right idea) to catch solid waste that can be heated repeatedly for 10+ years without fail. The grill will have to allow liquids to pass through into a second burner.
  • Heat exchanger for possible preheating of blackwater liquid.
  • Water condensation system.
  • Exhaust vent.
  • Air intake for burners.
  • Cold water circulation pump.
  • Float valve switch.
  • Some way of detecting if there is solid waste that needs to be burned.
  • Charcoal filter
  • Heat exchangers
  • Various temperature sensors for testing purposes
  • Toilet tank reservoir

 

Sample Burners

 

Liquid Waste Treatment

Hold and Treat system (+PDF)

 

Project Prizes

Winner(s) for each level will be judged by Ocean Builders and the Sponsor.

  • Level 1: Submit a detailed outline of your proposal. The proposal should detail a realistic plan for the simplest, easiest, and lowest cost method of completing as much of this project as possible and a proposed timeline and cost estimates for various parts of the system and what external resources you would need help with which you cannot do yourself. The prize for this level is set to $150 which will be paid by our sponsor in cryptocurrency to each team entry or to single-member applicants. Level 1 winners may be supplied parts to build Level 2. A maximum of 3 winners will be awarded at this level. Apply to participate in this project here (link not functional yet).
  • Level 2: Build or acquire a working off-the-shelf rocket burner that uses propane, cooking fuel, LPG, or wood to incinerate solid waste which will work for our application. The burner should be connected to a working toilet and a grid to catch solid materials coming from the toilet which can be burned with the burner. Any fuel source is sufficient for Level 1. Any sample test material is sufficient for solid waste testing/demonstration simulation. The system should be able to separate the liquid from the solid waste material. The prize for this level is set to $650 which will be paid by our sponsor in cryptocurrency to each team entry or single-member applicants for the two best entries. There should be a practical plan on how to automatically trigger the burner to start when there is enough waste material on the grill but it does not need to be implemented. Level 2 winner(s) may be supplied with parts to build Level 3. A maximum of 2 winners will be awarded at this level.
  • Level 3: Build a working water condenser that efficiently produces water using the burner system from Level 2 and potentially cold seawater to encourage formation of condensation. The resulting water should be filtered with carbon to make the water scent-free so it can be returned to the toilet water reservoir. The condenser should be assembled in a system that builds on the burner in Level 2 so you can flush a sample test material down the toilet and have it incinerated and generate condensation on a condenser with the waste liquid. The prize for this level is set to $750 paid in cryptocurrency to the winning project. The compartment for this second burner should have an access door so that ashes can be removed periodically. Level 3 winner(s) may be supplied with parts to build Level 4. A maximum of 2 winners will be awarded at this level.
  • Level 4: Add heat exchangers to collect waste heat from burners & exhaust air in the most energy & cost efficient means possible. The prize for this level is set to $550 paid in cryptocurrency to the winning project. Level 4 winner(s) may be supplied with parts to build Level 5. A maximum of 2 winners will be awarded at this level.
  • Level 5: Add pumps and float valves and a system for determining if there is solid waste that needs to be incinerated. The prize for this level is set to $750 paid in cryptocurrency to the winning project. A maximum of 2 winners will be awarded at this level.
  • COMPLETION BONUS: Up to $2,150 or whatever is remaining from a total prize allotment of $5,000 for this project providing levels are not split with multiple participants. A maximum of 1 winner will be awarded a bonus.

 

Project Management Page

Coming soon

 

Participants/Teams:

Applicants needed

 
Project Manager
Grant Romundt (temporary). The main project manager will be announced soon.

 

Related Project(s)

Turbine Generator, Thermal Solar Collectors, Greywater Treatment, Blackwater Liquid Electric Treatment

 

This project is being developed as an open-source project with the following licensing:

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