Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for servicing an aircraft by a ground service unit. The method comprises reading a wireless parameter signal from a transponder at the aircraft, decoding the wireless parameter signal to derive at least one aircraft parameter of a water supply system and/or a waste system of the aircraft, moving a servicing equipment interface to a service panel of the aircraft, connecting the servicing equipment interface to a coupling at the service panel, servicing the aircraft via the servicing equipment interface corresponding to the at least one aircraft parameter, and writing a service parameter into the transponder at the aircraft.

Abstract: A buffer for storing liquid at a consumer pressure includes a storage volume for holding a liquid and a gas. The storage volume may be separated by a partition element into a liquid compartment for holding the liquid and a gas compartment for holding the gas. A pressurizer is configured for increasing the pressure of gas in the storage volume to an operating pressure when liquid is or has been drained from the storage volume. A ventilator reduces the pressure of gas in the storage volume back to the operating pressure when the storage volume is filled with liquid. A water supply system for an aircraft including the buffer and an aircraft including such a water supply system are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central water tank, first consumer assemblies with buffer tanks each including a heater to heat up water in the buffer tank to a disinfection temperature, pump having upstream and downstream sides to operate in supply and reverse modes, and high-pressure conduit system. The central water tank connects to the pump's upstream side. The conduit system connects the downstream side with a first consumer assembly. The method includes operating the pump in supply mode where water from the central tank goes to a first consumer assembly to fill a buffer tank, operating a buffer tank heater so water heats to a predetermined disinfection temperature, and operating the pump in reverse mode so heated water passes through a part of the conduit system and the upstream side of the pump.

Abstract: A water supply system for an aircraft includes a water supply tank, water consumers, a pressurization unit to convey water from the water supply tank to the water consumers, water consumer supply units, each of the water consumer supply units configured to control water supply from the pressurization unit to one of the water consumers, and a controller. Each of the water consumer supply units is configured to output a consumer signal indicating a water supply of the respective water consumer, wherein the controller is configured to receive the consumer signal of the water consumer supply units and to control a flow rate and/or pressure of the pressurization unit depending on the consumer signal.

Abstract: A high pressure water supply system for an aircraft includes a main water supply tank, water consumers, pressurization units configured to convey water from the main water supply tank to the water consumers, and a controller. One pressurization unit of the pressurization units conveys water to a first subset of water consumers of the water consumers via a corresponding high pressure water supply line, and the controller is configured to control an output pressure of the one pressurization unit depending on a hydraulic resistance length of the high pressure water supply line.

Abstract: A water supply system for an aircraft and a method for draining water from or passing air into or out of a buffer tank of a water supply system in an aircraft. The system includes a water buffer tank having a fluid inlet and outlet, a supply arrangement for selective flow from the fluid outlet to a user equipment, and a relief arrangement for permitting fluid flow from the fluid outlet. The relief arrangement includes a relief conduit having a separation element with a separation element inlet positioned above a separation element outlet and separated therefrom by a separation distance such that water flowing in a forwards direction therethrough flows from the inlet to the outlet across the separation distance, and water flowing in a reverse direction therethrough flows into the separation element outlet and is retained therein, and wherein the separation element is defined by the user equipment.

Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft includes a central water tank, central pump, consumer assemblies each including a supply device to supply water, and a high-pressure conduit system. The high-pressure conduit system connects the downstream side and consumer assemblies and is configured where the central pump can deliver water from the downstream side to the consumer assemblies. The method includes operating the central pump where water in the high-pressure conduit system is pressurized to a predetermined first pressure, operating the consumer assemblies where in each of the consumer assemblies the connection between the buffer tank of the consumer assembly and the high-pressure conduit system is in a closed position, monitoring pressure for a predetermined first period of time, and providing a first failure signal when pressure drops below a predetermined second pressure within the first period of time.

Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central water tank, central pump, having an upstream side and a downstream side for conveying and pressurizing water from the upstream side to the downstream side, consumer assemblies including a supply device and a buffer tank including a pressurizing device. A high-pressure conduit system connects the downstream side with the consumer assemblies and is configured where the central pump operating can deliver water from the downstream side to the buffer tank of each of the consumer assemblies. The method includes operating the central pump where water is pressurized to a first pressure, monitoring pressure in the high-pressure conduit system for a first period of time, and providing a first failure signal when pressure in the high-pressure conduit system drops below a second pressure within the first period of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for servicing an aircraft by a ground service unit. The method comprises reading a wireless parameter signal from a transponder at the aircraft, decoding the wireless parameter signal to derive at least one aircraft parameter of a water supply system and/or a waste system of the aircraft, moving a servicing equipment interface to a service panel of the aircraft, connecting the servicing equipment interface to a coupling at the service panel, servicing the aircraft via the servicing equipment interface corresponding to the at least one aircraft parameter, and writing a service parameter into the transponder at the aircraft.

Abstract: A water supply system for a plurality of water consumer units in an aircraft. The system includes a main tank configured to store a main supply of water, a main water pipe connected to an outlet of the main tank, and a plurality of water networks, each configured to conduct water from the main tank to at least one of the plurality of water consumer units. The plurality of water consumer units is partitioned in a first group of water consumer units and at least a second group of water consumer units. Each of the plurality of water networks includes a conveying device configured to convey water to each water consumer unit of one of the groups. The water supply system further includes a cross-feed valve configured to fluidically connect or separate the plurality of water networks downstream of the conveying devices in the plurality of water networks.

Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central tank, consumer assemblies with a supply device and a buffer tank, pump operable in a supply mode and reverse mode, filter device, and high-pressure conduit system. The central tank connects to the pump's upstream side. The conduit system connects the downstream side and consumer assemblies. The pump in supply mode delivers water from the downstream side to the buffer tank. In reverse mode, the pump can convey water from the downstream side to the upstream side. The method includes operating the pump in supply mode so water from the central tank goes to a consumer assembly in a first time interval to fill the buffer tank, and operating the pump in reverse mode in a second time interval so water from the buffer tank passes through the filter device.

Abstract: A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central water tank, first consumer assemblies with buffer tanks each including a heater to heat up water in the buffer tank to a disinfection temperature, pump having upstream and downstream sides to operate in supply and reverse modes, and high-pressure conduit system. The central water tank connects to the pump's upstream side. The conduit system connects the downstream side with a first consumer assembly. The method includes operating the pump in supply mode where water from the central tank goes to a first consumer assembly to fill a buffer tank, operating a buffer tank heater so water heats to a predetermined disinfection temperature, and operating the pump in reverse mode so heated water passes through a part of the conduit system and the upstream side of the pump.

Abstract: A method for draining a water supply system onboard an aircraft which supplies water from a central water tank to consumers. Water is supplied by a supply pump from the central water tank through supply lines of a conduit system to consumers. Each consumer is associated with a supply valve for drawing water from the conduit system. The supply lines have a maximum internal diameter of 8 mm or less. The method includes closing the supply valves of all consumers, subjecting the supply lines of the conduit system at the at the supply pump to a draining pressure and sequentially opening the supply valves of all consumers for removing water from the supply lines of the conduit system. A corresponding water supply system and an aircraft are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for draining a local water distribution system including a buffer, supply lines connecting one or more consumers to the buffer and consumer valves associated with the one or more consumers. The buffer is configured for locally storing water from an aircraft water supply system to be distributed to the one or more consumers. Water from the buffer can be dispensed through a consumer of the one or more consumers by opening the consumer valve associated with the respective consumer. Water is drained from the supply lines by opening the consumer valves. Water is drained from the buffer through one of the supply lines and the consumer valves or through a drain valve connecting the buffer to a wastewater system of an aircraft. A corresponding local water distribution system and an aircraft are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an induction heating element is disclosed. The apparatus includes a ferromagnetic base to convert magnetic energy from the induction heating element into thermal energy, an induction coil to convert magnetic energy from said induction heating element into electrical energy, a waterproof housing containing an electronic circuit conductively coupled to the induction coil; and a motor controlled by said electronic circuit using the electrical energy; and an agitator driven by the motor. Also disclosed is a system that includes the induction heating element, an apparatus, and a method of heating and stirring a food product in a diamagnetic container using the apparatus on the induction heating element.

Abstract: A buffer for storing liquid at a consumer pressure includes a storage volume for holding a liquid and a gas. The storage volume may be separated by a partition element into a liquid compartment for holding the liquid and a gas compartment for holding the gas. A pressurizer is configured for increasing the pressure of gas in the storage volume to an operating pressure when liquid is or has been drained from the storage volume. A ventilator reduces the pressure of gas in the storage volume back to the operating pressure when the storage volume is filled with liquid. A water supply system for an aircraft including the buffer and an aircraft including such a water supply system are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for sensing temperature of an object. The apparatus includes a sensing element to be inserted into or placed adjacent to the object, the sensing element including a resonant circuit, and the resonant circuit having a temperature-dependent resonant frequency and including a capacitor. The apparatus further includes a detection unit configured to interface with the resonant circuit to receive a response associated with a current resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, and a control unit configured to determine the current resonant frequency of the resonant circuit based on the received response, and to determine the temperature of the object based on the determined current resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The sensing element and the detection unit are physically unconnected.

Abstract: A water supply system includes a first pipe, a water reservoir, and a Venturi pipe having a first Venturi nozzle terminal, a second Venturi nozzle terminal and a Venturi nozzle branch arranged between the first and second Venturi nozzle terminal. The first Venturi nozzle terminal is connected via the first pipe to the water reservoir. The first Venturi nozzle terminal is connectable to a second pipe to fill the water reservoir. The branch of the Venturi pipe is connectable to a third pipe to supply taps. Water flows through the Venturi pipe from the first Venturi nozzle terminal to the second Venturi nozzle terminal when the water reservoir is filled, and water flows through the Venturi pipe from the second Venturi nozzle terminal to the Venturi nozzle branch during the supply procedure, to provide a water supply system which requires less maintenance and is less temperamental.

Abstract: A water disinfection system includes a water disinfection device, having a UV light generator for the UV treatment of water, and a water pipe, having a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion and a third pipe portion which branches off between the first and the second pipe portion. The water disinfection device includes a first water connection and a second water connection. The first water connection is connected to the first pipe portion. The second water connection is connectable to a water reservoir which is to be provided. The second pipe portion is connectable to a water source which is to be attached. The third pipe portion is connectable to a tap for water, so as to be able in this way to provide an improvement in the water quality.

Abstract: A water disinfection system includes a water disinfection device, having a UV light generator for the UV treatment of water, and a water pipe, having a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion and a third pipe portion which branches off between the first and the second pipe portion. The water disinfection device includes a first water connection and a second water connection. The first water connection is connected to the first pipe portion. The second water connection is connectable to a water reservoir which is to be provided. The second pipe portion is connectable to a water source which is to be attached. The third pipe portion is connectable to a tap for water, so as to be able in this way to provide an improvement in the water quality.