Soil/waste systems, vacuum-driven: AcornVacAcornVac is an engineered plumbing system that uses vacuum and air to transport condensation or waste water through a network of waste drainage piping (which can be conveniently located overhead to a central collection location) which is then discharged into the sewer main.
The AcornVac Condensate Collection System provides facility owners and operators with an alternative to conventional,
under-slab piping systems for condensate and grey-water drainage. It reduces the cost of remodelling, installs quickly and provides layout flexibility.
The AcornVac Waste Collection System can also be utilised to accept waste drainage from a variety of waste fittings and sanitaryware including floor drains, urinals, showers, sinks and vacuum toilets, in which the interface of vacuum and atmospheric pressures allows for a highly-efficient cost saving and ecologically-friendly flush cycle, requiring a maximum of only 2 litres of water for solids removal.
Operation and control
Toilets: when the flush is activated, the extraction valve opens, allowing atmospheric pressure to push the sewage into the piping network and towards the vacuum collection centre. Simultaneously, a water valve opens and the toilet bowl is rinsed by incoming water and then refilled at the end of the flush cycle.
The interface of vacuum and air moves the waste along, with the added advantage of fewer waste-pipe blockages than similar conventional gravity systems.
Sinks, lavatory and showers: waste flows by gravity towards a pipe accumulator where the level of waste water triggers open the extraction valve. The interface of vacuum and air present at the opening of the extraction valve forces waste into the vacuum piping network and on towards the vacuum collection centre. The vacuum collection centre includes waste-collection tanks, vacuum and waste discharge pumps and system controls, which allow for automatic operation of the system. The controls monitor and maintain constant vacuum pressure throughout the system, ensuring waste transport through the piping network. The controls also monitor the operation and co-ordination of the sewage grinders and ejector pumps.
Once sewage reaches a set level in the collection tanks, the waste is automatically discharged into the sewer main.