Cranfield Nano Membrane Toilet

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$750.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Cranfield University plans to partner with local organizations is target regions to rent toilets to households.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The toilet structure is made entirely of composite material and can therefore be manufactured entirely using a 3-D printer and a laser cutter.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

The proposed user provision model is for toilets to be rented by households.

Distributions to Date Status

No distributions to date; the product is still in its testing phase.

Design Specifications

The toilet rotates the solid and liquid waste mixture to empty it from the toilet, and then sedimentation separates solids from the mixture. Pathogens and odors are removed as water is transported through the membrane walls in the vapor state, and then recycled for household use. The partly-dry solids are then transported via mechanical screw to a gasifier, which converts the waste to ash and energy. The energy produced continues to power the membrane process, and extra energy can be used to charge devices.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Support is proposed to be provided every six months by a franchised maintenance company.

Replacement Components

The technicians would replace the membrane cartridge, bead cartridge, and the polymer.

Lifecycle

7 years (average)

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Designer specified performance targets include the daily operation cost being 0.05 USD/user/day, the energy recovered being 90 kW/user/day, and the water recovered being 1.5 L/user/day.

Vetted Performance Status

Field testing of a prototype was conducted in both a semi-public institutional setting and in peri-urban households in the Republic of South Africa. Additionally, laboratory experiments were conducted to determine that the best cleaning material for wiping the toilet bowl was a silicone rubber with oil-bleed-effect. The following study explains a new method for quantifying liquid fecal odors, which is an important aspect in promoting user acceptance of the Nano Membrane Toilet. The study also examines various membranes considered for use in the Nano Membrane Toilet. The following study highlights the potential of slow progressive burning and fuel blending to promote combustion of human feces - an important pre-treatment step for converting feces into energy. A performance assessment determined that a Sterling Engine within the toilet could potentially provide a net power output while simultaneously reducing harmful gas emissions.

Safety

In the unlikely event that the toilet breaks, the hydrophobic beads pose a potential choking hazard to children.

Complementary Technical Systems

Unknown

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Unknown

Evaluation methods

The manufacturer cites evaluation criteria based on the amount of energy they can produce in specific environments, the environmental impact they have, and how effective they are at killing pathogens

Other Information

Cranfield University produced a video to explain how their toilet works. Winner of the CleanEquity Monaco 2015 award.