Vacuum generation units collect wastewater and condensate water by vacuum pumping it into a sewage treatment plant or collection tank. The latter are used to collect black water, which is waste from toilets and urinals, and gray water, which is waste from sources like washbasins, sinks, and showers. Vacuum collection units are also used in conjunction with freezer and refrigeration equipment to collect condensate water.
Vacdrain vacuum toilet system are based on vacuum pumps and comprise three main elements: appliances such as toilets and washbasins, piping, and the collection units. The generation units generate the vacuum in the piping using a vacuum pump. When a toilet is flushed, the higher-pressure atmospheric air flows into the lower-pressure piping through the toilet. The air travels at high velocity because of the pressure difference, carrying the wastewater with it.
Typically, one toilet flush transports the wastewater between 10 and 20 meters. When the toilet is flushed again the wastewater moves another 10 to 20 meters until it finally reaches the collection unit. From here, it is pumped into a holding tank or sewage treatment plant in the case of ships, or into the municipal sewage system in a building.
