3D "Printed" clothes

[BytePro]

...
BytePro, you mention synthesizing water. But, consider how easy it is to purify water, too, given a fusion reactor - just pop it into a steam chamber, then into a condenser, and let the plasma clean out the leftover waste products. (Or, as someone on the Life Support thread mentioned, turn it back into meat. *SHUDDER*) On top of which, why can't you use the exact same fresher an individual uses to take a shower, and deal with the resultant issues in the same manner? There's 4 settings: normal, delicates, body, delicate body. (That last one is for the girls. )

* I know that dirtside folk may have different opinions on "printed" clothes, too. I'm just saying it would be an option.

Synthesizing water bit was just in reference to a prior poster. Distilling water, though, still has problems with toxins and pathogens - so further treatment is necessary such as irradiation for biologicals. Exotic inorganic's are a tougher issue. In that respect, it is 'easier' to isolate O and H and synthesize water.

Its all about degrees (pun), though. 'Sanitizing' a body would be done to a much different level than clothes, linens and dishware. Just as its common to use higher concentrations of ammonia, bleach, peroxide, vinegar, etc. in laundry and dish-washing machines than one would be comfortable, or even safe, using in one's shower. In extreme biological environments - sanitation of gear often can simply mean incineration... and new gear.

I'm writing this between doing laundry, btw - and still have to do the d@*m dishes! I'd sure rather go for tossing the dirties in a chute and pressing a button for fresh duds and dishes!

 

[Timerover51]

Synthesizing water bit was just in reference to a prior poster. Distilling water, though, still has problems with toxins and pathogens - so further treatment is necessary such as irradiation for biologicals. Exotic inorganic's are a tougher issue. In that respect, it is 'easier' to isolate O and H and synthesize water.

Its all about degrees (pun), though. 'Sanitizing' a body would be done to a much different level than clothes, linens and dishware. Just as its common to use higher concentrations of ammonia, bleach, peroxide, vinegar, etc. in laundry and dish-washing machines than one would be comfortable, or even safe, using in one's shower. In extreme biological environments - sanitation of gear often can simply mean incineration... and new gear.

I'm writing this between doing laundry, btw - and still have to do the d@*m dishes! I'd sure rather go for tossing the dirties in a chute and pressing a button for fresh duds and dishes!

Actually, there are a fair number of commercially available units now that can pretty much clean up any water source, between using extremely fine filter systems and UV light. The size range goes from a suitcase unit capable of 60 gallons per hour to pallet size units capable of several thousand gallons an hour. For distilling, the US Army had pallet-sized distillation units in the late 1940s that could put out 6,000 gallons as day of potable water from sea water, using thermo-compression. With current reverse osmosis units, it is not that hard at all to clean up "grey water' on a ship, as long as the quantity is not excessive as you have on a cruise ship. There, the "grey water" is stored in deep bottom tanks, and then pumped out when in port once a week. A big cruise ship uses 1,000 tons of water per day.

 

[BytePro]

Actually, there are a fair number of commercially available units now that can pretty much clean up any water source, between using extremely fine filter systems and UV light. ...

Yep, that is what '- so further treatment is necessary such as irradiation for biologicals. ' means.

'Pretty much clean up any water source' is incorrect though - hence the 'Exotic inorganic's are a tougher issue. In that respect, it is 'easier' to isolate O and H and synthesize water.'

Existing filters and UV radiation will not remove all exotics - ala superfund cleanup sites. Removal or inactivation of viral pathogens is also very hard to assure.

 

[Zutroi]

Why recycle gray and black water? Feed it into the fuel processors, and then into the fusion plant...

Canonically, there's the Fusion Still, which turns anything (just about) into pure water and nutrient paste (or blocks, the user can choose which). Used wash water goes in, pure water comes out, and if you're not desperate enough to eat the nutrient you can sell it as compost on the next ag-world you hit...

 

[Enoki]

Why recycle gray and black water? Feed it into the fuel processors, and then into the fusion plant...

Canonically, there's the Fusion Still, which turns anything (just about) into pure water and nutrient paste (or blocks, the user can choose which). Used wash water goes in, pure water comes out, and if you're not desperate enough to eat the nutrient you can sell it as compost on the next ag-world you hit...

The problem there is that it would constitute "unrefined" fuel as opposed to refined. Easier to recycle the gray and black water for reuse than use it for fuel. A CHT (chemical holding tank) is an easy add (ie., septic tank) for the ship. Just blow the waste into space when it gets full...

Grey water run through a RO system or similar fixes the problem and gives you fresh water once again. Probably cheap as dirt (pun intended) by TL 12 -13

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Actually, Enoki, I think that would qualify as a fuel purifier. If your ship has scoops, then this is already built-in.

 

[Timerover51]

I guess that I keep thinking if the KISS principal. Do you really want all of the plumbing needed to run your "grey water" from a holding tank to your fusion drive? Also, you are looking at about 5 to 20 gallons maximum per person per day onboard a ship as crew, so unless you have a big ship, you are looking at maybe a ton of water per day. To get one ton of hydrogen, you need nine tons of water. Compared to the amount in your fuel tanks, that is not a lot of hydrogen.