Aimee Turner discovers how Diehl Aviation’s ECO Grey Water Reuse System is heading towards in-service evaluation, with the German business actively seeking to partner with a mixed fleet operator of both Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
The system collects water used in hand washing, filters it and pumps it to the lavatories, enabling a potable water saving of up to 25%. On an advanced widebody aircraft, Diehl said that this could save up to 250 litres of potable water per flight which would generate a weight saving under typical operating conditions of up to 90 tons per year.
Reduced operating costs have also been factored in through a self-cleaning mechanism which also supports a clean and hygienic lavatory environment where bacteria and odour are managed. The entire system weighs less than 3 kg per lavatory.
Diehl Aviation reckons that when integrating the ECO Grey Water Reuse System, the operating take-off weight of an aircraft can be reduced by 220 kg, generating a fuel saving of 28 tons per aircraft per year.
Speaking at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, Bertram Skiblinski, Research Engineer, Product Innovation, Diehl Aviation told Inflight that the grey water recycling system had been put through its paces on the Boeing EcoDemonstrator 777-200ER.
He said: “We are now heading towards in-service evaluation with the support of both Boeing and Airbus next year and are seeking to partner with an airline with a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. We are currently working with Boeing on the B777 and the first application with Airbus will probably be on the A350, with entry into service expected in two years’ time.”
