How the toilet works
The toilet is a very practical object that deserves more attention than we give it. For example by its design. It depends on the country it can be called in different ways: toilet , toilet , toilet, water , candy box, latrine , etc. But what is certain is that the toilet is one of the great wonders of physics . It is one of the best examples of the strength of the siphon effect, and it is what allows you to quickly get rid of excess water and "waste". The toilet makes use of water to push and pull more water. So ... how does the toilet work ? we explain it to you.
TOTO CST744SL#01 Drake 2-Piece Ada Toilet with Elongated Bowl, Cotton White
First the analysis: the toilet is formed by the bowl , the cistern , the chain mechanism and the recharging system . All these pieces together make an efficient and ecological work. We will study the cup through physics. Its design allows to evacuate a large amount of water very fast. Without the cup and without its unique design, this great contribution to modern health services would not be possible. It may also be interesting to know the history of the toilet.
The key is in the siphon effect . The siphon is an "s" shaped pipe that is connected to the cup. Its function is to maintain the constant water level of the bowl and acts as a hydraulic closure, thus preventing gases and unpleasant odors from rising up the pipes and reaching home. In the following video of Discovery MAX, you can see how a toilet works in a very graphic, easy and fast way:
Little by little, if water is added to the cup, the toilet will not be flooded. So, when the toilet is used and the water level increases slightly, the water recedes towards the siphon but not so much as to activate the siphon effect. So that the water surpasses the curve and falls by the siphon, it is necessary to throw a great amount of water at the same time.
For example, if a large bucket of water is poured through the cup, the siphon will fill and the chain will activate. The water and its contents will fall through the pipe with that familiar noise that occurs when pulling the chain . When the cup runs out of water, air enters through the siphon that deactivates the chain and produces that gurgling sound that is also very familiar to us.
Although there is no cistern, you can also "pull the chain" by throwing a bucket of water through the cup. The crucial step is to fill the siphon and gravity does the rest thanks to the cohesive forces of the liquids. These forces take advantage of water molecules to drag everything in the cup and drop it from the highest point of the siphon. In the following video you can see how the toilet works each time you pull the chain:
What creates the siphon effect is gravity and not a change in pressure . The cistern acts like a bucket of water. When the chain is pulled, there is another chain that activates the level valve and unclogs the drain . Then the tank flushes all its contents into the cup in about 5 seconds. Water enters the cup through the holes in the rim and through a larger hole that pushes most of the water from the cistern directly into the siphon.
The speed that that amount of water carries activates the siphon, which pushes water and waste down the pipe . The level valve that has been floating since it was pulled from the chain returns to its place when the tank runs out of water. In this way, it closes the drain and the tank is ready to be refilled. The water pressure keeps the valve in place until next time.
In toilets, the direction of water rotation does not depend on the hemisphere of the planet on which the toilet is located as some believe. But it is related to more mundane factors, such as the shape of the cup, the inclination and the direction in which the water enters the house.
When the tank is emptied , a float drops to the base of the tank and activates a filling valve . When the float drops, the valve opens. The filling valve sends the water in two directions: towards the cistern and towards the cup. As the tank fills, the float rises until it reaches a point where the fill valve closes.
If for some reason the filling valve does not close, there is a drain pipe that would prevent the flood, as it would send the excess water to the bowl. But while toilets are specialized in waste disposal, a leaking toilet can waste a lot of water. For example: if you lose one milliliter per minute, you will spend 526 liters of water per year.
In fact, the toilet consumes more than 30% of all the water used in a house . Consumes more than any other domestic appliance. Over the years, the design of the toilets has been refined to reduce the amount of water necessary for a good drainage and to be more respectful with the environment. In 1960 the toilet consumed 20 liters of water each time it was used, but nowadays, it only needs five to six liters. This advance is thanks to the use of the force of the siphon effect.
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