Interesting way to dump the black tank

[ctilsie242]

I saw a motorhome a couple weeks ago, apparently from the 1970s/1980s, that had an interesting way to dispose of black tank contents. It had a thermister in the exhaust pipe, and would slowly spray contents from the tanks into the exhaust stream if the gases were hot enough, effectively incinerating the contents. I think it was made by Dometic.

Anyone hear about a system like this made today, or is this something that is a relic of bygone days?

[Slowmover]

Matt_Colie wrote:
As the last engineer on the Thermasan commercial program, I can assure you that while it does stink, (no more so than many diesels) what manages to get out the end of a tail pipe will not have any biological content. It cooks everything and the control systems made certain that the heat was available to do just that.

From the RV side, I never say any substantiated evidence of it plugging up a muffler, and yes, this was discontinued long before O2 sensors and catalysts were in RVs.

Matt

Before their Silver Streak the folks had a 1975 30’ Landau. V8-440. The Thermasan system worked well. A long days drive and it felt a little lighter on its feet, so to speak. I recall it being serviced once, but don’t recall the problem as serious.

With as many as six people aboard, it was a welcomed change from the necessity of dumping.

That and the onboard Onan about the only thing missed when they moved to a trailer.

[burningman]

You know, 100 years ago automobiles were considered the solution to the pollution problem in cities!
The reason all those old apartment buildings were set up high with a big staircase up from the street was because the streets were such a sewage field.

[Lynnmor]

Of course Amish transportation systems dump on the road continuously. No attempt is made to clean it up and tourists come from far and wide to experience this wonderment.

[ctilsie242]

Matt_Colie wrote:
As the last engineer on the Thermasan commercial program, I can assure you that while it does stink, (no more so than many diesels) what manages to get out the end of a tail pipe will not have any biological content. It cooks everything and the control systems made certain that the heat was available to do just that.

From the RV side, I never say any substantiated evidence of it plugging up a muffler, and yes, this was discontinued long before O2 sensors and catalysts were in RVs.

Matt

Darn. Call me crazy, but this would be a perfect system to have, especially for long trips where there is enough space where the system can operate effectively without offending anyone else. I would assert this is far more eco-friendly than what we have now.

Maybe the best system would be something that can get the heat high enough to do genuine thermal depolymerization, perhaps using the reclaimed oil in the process to help keep the reaction going. That way, if someone tosses plastic in the toilet, it gets turned into monomers and burned up, rather than cluttering up the environment.

[burningman]

Who else remembers/knows about the “Destroilet”, the system in the original production motorhome, the early-60s Dodge/Travco?
It was an incinerating toilet system that had its own burner.
They were also used on boats. It actually worked. I still wouid’t run one.

[maddog348]

:E

[dewey02]

A whole new spin on "manure spreader."
Imagine this going down I-94

[profdant139]

Someone mentioned trains -- recall the Arlo Guthrie song, "Spirit of New Orleans." There is a line in there about "passengers will please refrain." The porter is asking the folks not to use the facilities when the train is in the station, for obvious reasons.

[RSD559]

I'm pretty sure that staying capped is the law in California. Everything else is!

[Matt_Colie]

As the last engineer on the Thermasan commercial program, I can assure you that while it does stink, (no more so than many diesels) what manages to get out the end of a tail pipe will not have any biological content. It cooks everything and the control systems made certain that the heat was available to do just that.

From the RV side, I never say any substantiated evidence of it plugging up a muffler, and yes, this was discontinued long before O2 sensors and catalysts were in RVs.

Matt

[dougrainer]

jfkmk wrote:

j-d wrote:

jfkmk wrote:
...Or while driving over a bridge...

I seem to recall an incident where a name band's tour bus dumped on a bridge right when an excursion boat was passing under it.

Which makes me think there's a requirement/regulation somewhere that our sewer connection must be capped for travel. Anybody know if that's true?

That was the Dave Matthews band tour bus that I was tongue in cheek referring to. The drive dumped the tank crossing the Chicago River. The disgusting thing is it landed on passengers in a boat taking a tour.
I'm not sure if it is a law to cap the outlet. It might be, but it it is, I think it was in existence before the bus dump incident.

The Driver/Bus Company got fined. I believe it also got fined by the EPA or other Federal agency because they dumped raw sewage in a water way, which you cannot do. Not all the sewage hit the Boat:E

[RandACampin]

I do the same thing...just without the exhaust.

[theczar]

Seems like they were ahead of the curve with that idea. Kind of Like modern day Diesels and DEF. 😄

[SaltiDawg]

NO RV experience, however reminds me of back in the day wondering why the train bathrooms were closed when we came in to a station.

Or using the facilities in our living barge in a Shipyard.

Or back in the day on the Submarines in which I served. Blowing Sanitary Tanks to "sea" every morning just after midnight while in port and moored alongside the pier.