Recycling shower

Low-tech Lab

https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Douche_%C3%A0_recyclage/en

Dernière modification le 26/03/2021

Difficulté

Medium Moyen

Durée

4 hour(s) heure(s)

Coût

150 EUR (€)

Description

Staying under shower without wasting water

Sommaire

douche, recyclage, shower, loop, eau, water, Low-tech Tour France, LTTFrance en fr 1

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Introduction

This shower prototype have been realized with Jonathan Benabed, auto-constructor o f his tiny-house

Ce prototype de douche a été réalisé avec Jonathan Benabed, autoconstructeur de sa tiny house.

This system is largely inspired by the recycling shower project of Jason Selvarajan.

"A few figures:

• 40% of the water consumption of a French household comes from the use of the shower. This represents 60 to 80L of water per shower.
• A shower head has a flow rate of about 15L/min if no water saving device is installed.
• A French person spends an average of 10 minutes in the shower to wash, most of which is spent "enjoying" the hot water, waking up, etc.

"The recycling shower:

• 40% de la consommation d'eau d'un ménage français provient de l'usage de la douche. Ce qui représente 60 à 80L d'eau par douche.
• Un pommeau de douche a un débit d'environ 15L/min si aucun dispositif d'économie d'eau n'est installé.
• Un français passe en moyenne 10 minutes dans la cabine de douche pour se laver, dont une majeure partie pour "profiter" de l'eau chaude, se reveiller, etc.

La douche à recyclage:

The objective of this shower prototype is to divide by 7 the water consumption of a shower without impacting the comfort of the user who want to stay under hot water for a while.

The shower is currently in the test phase in order to know its real environmental and economic impact. Indeed, depending on the purchase of new or second-hand equipment, the realization of this shower can very quickly become too expensive for real profitability (not to mention the ecological cost of new equipment).

In our case, we bought a maximum of second-hand equipment for a total cost of 150€.

According to the ShowerloopCalculator, this type of recycling shower is cost effective in less than a year of operation for a 4-person home.

The pictures presented come from a demonstration prototype, without housing integration for a better visibility of the system. However, it's relatively simple to adapt to a classic shower. Great care must be taken to ensure that the connections are watertight.

Principle of operation:

The principle of the recycling shower is to be able to fill a water tank of about 10L located under the shower tray.

When the user use the water from the shower to relax and enjoy, he can operate a valve to shut off the water supply to pump, filtrate, reheat and supply the shower head with water of the tank.

Estimates suggest a 7-fold reduction in the consumption of a conventional shower.

Any contribution that simplifies the system is welcome.

Sanitary Aspect:

The system permit a 20 microns water filtration then an activated carbon filtration to remove the last particles and smells

However, filters are not designed to eliminate potential bacteria.

It's possible to add a UV lamp ensuring the elimination of potential pathogens.

By comparing the use of the shower to a bath where user stay in his water, we have made the choice not to install UV lamp in view of the cost. We have not yet conducted a health test to determine whether or not such a lamp is useful.

Youtube

Matériaux

• A tank or a plastic container with a minimum capacity of 10L
• A bunghole with overflow system and closing system
• One 1/2" male gland
• An instantaneous water-heater (Electrical with fuse or gas depending on context)
• A self-priming pump type camping car, 12V, minimum 10L/min (example) + 220V>12V power supply adapted (about 4A in 12V)
• An accumulator adapted to the pump (example)
• A filtration station with associated cartridges ( 50 microns, 20 microns, activated carbon) (example)
• Male to male adapters 3/4>1/2 for filter holders and possibly wall passageways
• A 3-way valve
• Flexible female / female 1/2
• Teflon coil
• Optional: a shower tray
• Optional: UV lamp

Outils

• Flat keys
• Screwdriver
• Hole saw
• Drilling machine
• Cutter

Douche___recyclage_9_ForumClimat_DoucheRecyclage_VF.pdf

Étape 1 - Water tank and shower tray

• Using the hole saws, install the plug in the bottom of the tank and the overflow system at the maximum height of the tank.
• Install the wall passageway on the lowest level of the tank
• Perform a leak test
• Connect the outlet of the plug/overfill to the sewer system
• Remove the drain from the shower tray
• Install the reserve under the shower tray by aligning the hole in the shower tray with the drain in the reserve. (it is interesting to leave the reserve accessible from one side for maintenance)
• In order to be able to open or close the plug from the shower tray, adapt a rod, accessible by hand from the hole in the tray

"Note:

The tank is to be installed under the shower tray. According to the availability of each one:

• Either, take down the actual shower tray, raise him with a structure and install the tank behind (This option can need works more or less important)
• Or, use the actual shower tray to support the tank and install a second tray (From second-hand if possible) above, all thanks to a supporting structure

Étape 2 - Assembly of the recycling system

With the flexible female/female flexible

• Connect the wall pass-through from the reserve to the inlet of the filtration plant
• Connect the outlet of the filtration station to the pump
• Connect the pump to the accumulator
• Connect the accumulator to the inlet of the instantaneous water heater
• Connect the instantaneous water heater output to one of the 3-way valve inputs
• After turning off the water upstream, unscrew the hot water inlet of the mixer tap.
• Connect the second inlet of the 3-way valve to the inlet of the hot water from the network.
• Connect the outlet of the 3-way valve to the hot inlet of the mixer tap
• Check the tightness by pressurizing
• Make the electrical connection to the water heater and pump, taking care to comply with the installation rules (fuse, out of water, etc.)

Optional:

• If the choice is made to install a UV lamp, install it after the tank

"'Remarks:

1. The entire recycling circuit can be, for example, fixed to a wall adjacent to the shower or hidden in a cupboard at the bottom of the shower.
2. The use of electricity (pump and water heater) requires careful assembly according to the assembly rules of each system to avoid any incident.
3. Be careful to locate the 2 inputs (which have a "closed" position) of the 3-way valve and the output, which always remains open
4. If the instantaneous water heater allows it, set the hot outlet to the temperature that you think is ideal for a shower.
5. Be careful with the positioning of the filter holders: you must leave 10 to 15 centimeters under them in order to be able to unscrew them.

Étape 3 - Use of the system

• During the washing phase, with soap, use the shower on the classic way, 3-way valve on sanitary hot water
• When passing on relax mode:
  • Close the bunghole of the tank
  • Put the mixer to the maximum on hot, only if you have been able to adjust the temperature of the water-heater (Otherwise, beware of burns!)
  • The pump and the water heater are automatically switched on, allowing you to stay under the hot water for the desired time.

• When the shower is finished, empty the tank and switch the 3-way valve and the mixer to the classic position

Note:

This is one of the possible utilization. Other tests have to be done like using of the recycling with well soapy water or even using of the tank for multiple showers.

Étape 4 - Maintenance

• The bottom of the tank should be cleaned regularly to remove hair and other coarse impurities (As a classic shower)
• The 20 and 50 microns should be cleaned when the shower flow rate decreases (In prnciple every year)

Étape 5 - version mobile / exemple de mise en situation

voici une version mobile minimaliste (en essais , le filtre est en commande)

une simple bassine est remplie lors du début de la douche avec le circuit classique,

une fois pleine on change de circuit, il suffit d'actionner l'interrupteur pour mettre en route une pompe de circulation (avec une crépine sur l'aspiration pour les impuretés grossières)

une fois la douche terminée, on vide simplement la bassine

ce projet n'est pas équipé d'un réchauffeur en ligne, le brassage rend très vite l'eau froide, mais suffit pour 1 à 2 personnes se lavant rapidement... (il peut-être ajouter)

le projet dans cette configuration n'est pas intrusif et permet une installation presque partout (ici en appartement )

la batterie est rechargée par un vélo modifié

tout le matériel présent est issus de récupération

Étape 6 - Contenu pédagogique à télécharger

Vous pouvez télécharger une fiche pédagogique créée par le Low-tech Lab à l'occasion de l'exposition "En Quête d'un Habitat Durable" dans la partie "Fichiers" du tutoriel (onglet au niveau de la section "Outils-Matériaux")

Notes et références

• Tutorial directed by Pierre-Alain Lévêque, Low-tech Tour France in collaboration with Jonathan Benabed
• System largely inspired by the showerloop

Published