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EP0043813A1 - Procede de production de compost - Google Patents

Procede de production de compost

Info

Publication number
EP0043813A1
EP0043813A1 EP80900840A EP80900840A EP0043813A1 EP 0043813 A1 EP0043813 A1 EP 0043813A1 EP 80900840 A EP80900840 A EP 80900840A EP 80900840 A EP80900840 A EP 80900840A EP 0043813 A1 EP0043813 A1 EP 0043813A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
mixture
shafts
air
fingers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP80900840A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0043813A4 (fr
Inventor
Joseph H. Brill
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DIGESTER SYSTEMS Ltd
Original Assignee
DIGESTER SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DIGESTER SYSTEMS Ltd filed Critical DIGESTER SYSTEMS Ltd
Publication of EP0043813A1 publication Critical patent/EP0043813A1/fr
Publication of EP0043813A4 publication Critical patent/EP0043813A4/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
    • C05F17/00—Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
    • C05F17/90—Apparatus therefor
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/141—Feedstock
    • Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
    • Y02W30/40—Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and ap paratus for making compost from organic matter.
  • the object of this invention resides in the provision of an economical method and apparatus for producing an organic compost which is not only an excellent soil conditioner, but which, unlike most organic composts, has a relatively high fertilizer value and in certain cases is useful as an animal feed.
  • Organic waste is converted into compost by the process of fermentation.
  • the waste is usually mixed with organic carbonaceous filler material and, when the mixture is agitated and aerated, the process of fermentation progresses through several states to decompose the mixture and produce the compost.
  • the first stage of the fermentation process is characterized by the production of and multiplication of aerobic bacteria in the presence of moisture and air. This reaction generates heat and the decomposition is then continued by thermophilic aerobic bacteria. With proper control of the moisture content and aeration, heat is generated as the mixture decomposes and the temperature of the mixture progressively rises to an optimum value.
  • the mixture remains at this elevated temperature while the decomposition process continues for a period of time, depending upon such variable conditions as moisture content, manner and extent of aeration, and the nature of the mixture ingredients. Thereafter the mixture gradually cools.
  • a predetermined low temperature usually considered to be about 100° F.
  • the production of aerobic bacteria ceases and the reaction then becomes anaerobic where anaerobic bacteria and fungi take over and further decompose the the mixture, particularly the cellulose therein, in the presence of moisture, but without further aeration required.
  • a predetermined low temperature usually considered to be about 100° F.
  • the moisture content of the compost is reduced to a predetermined maximum value by drying the compost within a reasonably short period of time after the aerobic reaction is completed.
  • the compost is permitted to cool to room temperature or about 100° F. in the composting chamber.
  • the compost is then transferred to a dryer where its moisture content is reduced to less than 50% by weight and is thereafter promptly packaged in containers which are generally moisture impervious so that the anaerobic reaction is arrested and prevented from re-occurring.
  • the mixture will be dried and cooled.
  • the air supplied is less than the optimum amount required or if the mass is not agitated properly the bacterial activity will not reach its maximum potential and the composting process will require an unduly long period of time.
  • the temperature of the mixture does not reach the maximum or optimum value to allow the reaction to progress at its maximum potential rate the process becomes a costly one a-nd the compost will not normally have a relatively high fertilizer value.
  • a mix ture of organic waste and organic filler having a particular range of moisture, at least a partially particulate nature, and containing appropriate bacteria is charged into a stationary composting chamber to partially fill the chamber.
  • a pair of horizontally extending rotatable shafts Within the chamber there is arranged a pair of horizontally extending rotatable shafts.
  • the shafts are spaced apart horizontally and each is preferably provided with two rows of radially projecting agitating fingers arranged diametrically opposite each other and spaced apart lengthwise of the shaft.
  • the fingers on each shaft have a length such that the outer ends thereof extend closely adjacent the adjacent side wall of the chamber.
  • the two shafts are spaced apart a distance less than twice the length of the fingers so that as the shaft rotate the paths of travel of the outer end portions of the fingers on the two shafts overlap at the central portion of the chamber between the shafts.
  • the shafts are rotated in opposite directions so that the fingers sweep in a direction upwardly toward the longitudinal central portion of the chamber.
  • the fingers in each row are spaced apart and the outer ends thereof are pre ferably interconnected by a tie bar so that, when the two shafts are rotated slowly while air is directed through the chamber, substantially all portions of the mixture are gently agitated.
  • Portions of the mixture are pro gressively displaced toward the center of the chamber and slowly lifted and agitated in a manner such that substantially all portions of the mixture are uniformly and progressively exposed to the air flowing through the chamber for a desired period of time.
  • the volume of air flowing through the chamber is adjusted to a relatively small amount such that, even though substantially all portions of the mixture are agitated slowly and exposed to the air so as to result in a relatively prolonged and intimate contact between the mixture and the air, the mixture is not cooled or substantially dried to a degree which would impair the thermophilic aerobic decomposition reaction.
  • FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the composting apparatus of this invention with at least some of the access doors at the upper end thereof removed;
  • FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.
  • the appa.ra.tus illustrated in FIGURE 1 comprises a composting chamber 10 and a drying chamber 12 which ex tend horizontally side by side.
  • Each of these chambers has a bottom wall 14, side walls 16, end walls 18 and top walls 20. These walls are preferably made of wood or other material which has relatively good heat insula ting properties.
  • the major portion of the top wall of each chamber is divided into a plurality of covers or hatches 22 which are adapted to be lifted or otherwise opened to permit access to and inspection of the interior of the chambers.
  • Within each chamber there are arranged two shafts 24. 26. These shafts are journalled at each end in the end walls 18 and are supported intermediate their ends by horizontal braces 28 extending between the side walls of the chamber at generally the vertical mid portion thereof (FIG.3).
  • Shafts 24a and 26a in composting chamber 10 are driven by an electric motor 30 through a gear and chain drive 32. As shown in FIGURE 3, shafts 24a, 26a are driven in opposite directions. Shafts 24b and 26b in dryer chamber 12 are driven by an electric motor 34 through a gear and chain drive 36. Shafts 24b and 26b can be driven in either the same or opposite directions.
  • Each of the shafts referred to has two rows of radially extending fingers 38 thereon. As shown in FIGURE 4, the fingers are preferably formed from angle iron. The two rows of fingers on each shaft are arranged diametrically opposite one another and the fingers are spaced along the shaft in a spiral fashion. Between each of the intermediate braces 28 the outer ends of fingers 38 are interconnected by spiral tie bars 40.
  • the fingers 38 have a length such that, as the shafts are rotated, the tie bars 40 traverse a path closely adjacent the lower portion of side walls 16 and bottom wall 14. These wall portions are generally semi-circular in cross section. It will be also observed from FIGURE 3 that the spacing between the shafts in each chamber is substantially less than twice the length of fingers 38 so that the paths of travel of the outer end portions of the fingers overlap substantially in the space between the shafts. In order to obtain a more or less constant agitation of the mixture in the chambers and to prevent the interference of the tie bars 40 the fingers 38 on one shaft are staggered 90° circumferentially relative to the fingers on the other shaft at any one section of a chamber.
  • 26a is rotated counterclockwise. Fingers 38 are spaced apart on shafts 24a, 26a a distance of between 7 to 12 inches. This spacing insures complete agitation and churning of the whole mass, which, because of its moisture content, is quite viscous, without lifting too much of the mixture as the shafts are rotated. If the major portion of the mass is simply lifted by the fingers and then permitted to fall or roll downwardly over the fingers, all portions thereof would not be brought into intimate and relatively prolonged contact with the air flowing through the chamber. It is essential, therefore, that the fingers produce a substantial churning action throughout the mixture so as to allow the air to repeatedly reach all parts thereof.
  • composting chamber 10 At one end thereof composting chamber 10 is provided with a manifold 42 connected with an air intake 44 for admitting air to the chamber. Depending upon the length of chamber 10, one or more additional air inlets 46 may be provided along the side walls of the chamber. At the opposite end of the chamber there is provided an air outlet duct 48 to which is connected a motor-driven fan 50 for exhausting air from the chamber.
  • the flow of air through the chamber can be controlled by any suitable means (such as dampers or the like) or by controlling the speed of motor-driven fan 50.
  • the spiral arrangement of the fingers 38 on the two shafts 24a, 26a. is provided to facilitate discharge of the compost from the chamber 10. When the two shafts are rotated at a proper speed the mixture is advanced . toward the end of the chamber opposite the drive 32.
  • a discharge door 52 operable by a hand lever 54.
  • the discharge door is open and the shafts 24a, 26a are rotated at the proper speed the contents of the compost chamber are discharged into a trough 56 in which there is located a feed auger 58 driven by a motor 60.
  • the air outlet duct discharges the air from the dryer chamber and is connected to an acid trap for absorbing the noxious gases and fumes from the discharged air.
  • the material to be composted is preferably entirely organic material.
  • the material may be animal in origin, such as chicken, cow or hog manure, slaughterhouse scrap or the like; animal in origin such as hay, straw, paper, cardboard, corncob, cornstalk, brewer's yeast, or the like; or mixed such as sewage sludge.
  • the material preferably has a moisture content of 30-70% by volume. Fermentation will not proceed at a reasonable rate in material that is too dry or too moist. Additionally, the material must have some particulate content so that it will become aerated as it is churned and agitated in the compost chamber 10. In general, a minimum of about at least 5-7% of the material by volume must be of a particulate nature, as opposed to a powdery, finely divided state. Finally, the mixture must contain aerobic bacteria and a portion of the aerobic bacteria must be thermophilic. The mixture preferably also contains an aerobic bacteria.
  • the formulation of a proper charge for the composting machine will begin with a consideration of the organic waste material that is to form the basis for the charge. If that waste consists of animal waste such as manure, it will already contain the required forms of bacteria and the balance of the charge must consist of such organic material as will provide the necessary particulate matter and bring the total moisture content within the range of about 30% to 70% by volume.
  • organic filler material may typically constitute hay, straw, corncob, cornstalk, shredded paper, shredded cardboard, or sawdust. The sawdust or the corncob will provide the necessary particulate elements of the composition but if the other carbonaceous filler materials are used some sawdust or corncob or the like will have to be added to the mixture.
  • a desirable raw material for the process constitutes brewer's yeast reclaimed from a beer brewing process.
  • Organic filler material which will absorb some of the natural excess moisture of the brewer's yeast to bring the total moisture in the batch to below 70% by volume, and will add the particulate nature required for aeration, can be added, but the resultant mixture will still be lacking in the appropriate aerobic and thermophilic aerobic bacteria.
  • charges for the com posting process are illustrative of the range of possibilities:
  • the sawdust is preferably 1/4 inch sieve size or larger.
  • the sewer sludge contains the required bacteria.
  • EXAMPLE III One part by volume brewer's yeast refuse from a beer brewing process with about 90% by. volume moisture content; one part manure; one part sawdust and one part hay. The animal waste provides the necessary bacteria and the hay and the sawdust absorb the excess moisture from the brewer's yeast to bring the total moisture volume under 70%, and the sawdust provides the necessary particulate matter.
  • EXAMPLE IV One part by volume sewer sludge; one part sawdust.
  • the sawdust is preferably 1/4 inch sieve size or larger.
  • the sewer sludge contains the required bacteria.
  • EXAMPLE III One part by volume brewer's yeast refuse from a beer brewing process with about 90% by. volume moisture content; one part manure; one part sawdust and one part hay. The animal waste provides the necessary
  • paunch i.e., the rumen or second stomach of cows as obtained from a slaughterhouse, typically with each stomach containing 40 to 50 pounds of undigested vegetable matter; 1-1/2 parts by volume sawdust.
  • Chamber 10 is preferably filled to a level just below the cross braces 28, this level being indicated by the broken line 70 in FIGURE 3.
  • covers 22 and hatch 68 are closed and the flow of air and rotation of shafts 24, 26a are initiated.
  • shafts 24a, 26a are rotated at between 1 revolution per minute and 1 revolution every 6 minutes.
  • a mixture containing about 40% chicken manure and the balance sawdust the shafts are rotated 1 revolution every 4 minutes.
  • it is important tha/t the air flowing through the compost chamber is controlled in relation to the unit volume of the mixture in the compost chamber.
  • the air flowing through the chamber should equal at least about 1/4 cubic foot per minute (CFM) per ton, but should not exceed about 1 CFM per ton.
  • the amount of air will vary between these limits depending upon its temperature and the moisture content and the nature and proportions of the manure and sawdust.
  • the optimum air flow should be about 1/2 CFM per ton.
  • a ton of said mixture will vary in volume between about 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cubic yards, depending upon the mixture proportions and its moisture content.
  • the air flow rates referred to may be considered to be a minimum of about 1/2 to 2-1/4 CFM per 100 cubic feet of mixture in the chamber. With the specific mixture and moisture content referred to above the preferred air flow rate is about 1 CFM per 100 cubic feet of mixture.
  • the temperature of the mixture When the composter is operated under these conditions and the air admitted is at room temperature (at least 65° F.), the temperature of the mixture will gradually rise to between about 210 to 240° F. and on the average to about 225° F. in a, period of about 14 to 18 hours. The mixture will remain within this temperature range for about 8 to 10 hours. Thereafter the temperature of the mixture will gradually decrease in about 8 to 9 hours to room temperature or at least to about 100° F , at which time the speed of rotation of the shafts 24a, 26a increased to advance the material in the compost chamber and discharge it through door 52.
  • the compost chamber is formed of a material such as wood having good heat insulating properties, the mixture is capable of being heated to the relatively high temperatures referred to (210 to 240°F.) solely by the bacterial reactions occurring in the fermentation process.
  • the mixture will normally cool from the maximum tempera- ture attained in the composting chamber (210 to 240°F.) down to about 100°F. or less in about 8 to 9 hours. If the compost so produced is then promptly subjected to a drying operation (within a matter of 2 or 3 hours), I have found that its nutrient content (particularly nitrogen) is not substantially diminished.
  • the moisture content of the compost In order to prevent the initiation of the anaerobic reaction to any substantial extent following the aerobic reaction, it is necessary to reduce the moisture content of the compost to less than 50% by weight. Normally when the composting is completed in the composting chamber it will have a moisture content of 55 to 65% when chicken manure is used and slightly less with cow manure. This moisture content can be reduced to less than 50% in the drying chamber 12 within a period of not more than 4 hours.
  • other drying apparatus can be employed if desired.
  • the two shafts 24b, 26b are rotated at approximately 25 RPM and air is directed through the chamber in a relatively high volume.
  • the air admitted to the drying chamber is preferably at room temperature and in no event should it be hotter than about 120 °F.
  • a discharge door at the drive end of the drying chamber is opened and the dried compost is discharged to a conveyor 74.
  • Conveyor 74 conveys the dried compost to a pulverizer (not Illustrated). After the compost is pulverized it is promptly packaged in plastic bags to prevent it from reahsorbing moisture which would tend to promote anaerobic decomposition. It will be appreciated, however, that, after the material is once dried, it will not reahsorb moisture at a rapid rate.
  • the number of fingers on the shafts, the spacing between the fingers, and the number of rows of fingers are not critical.
  • the function of the fingers is to agitate and churn themass slowly and more or less constantly so that all portions of the mixture are repeatedly brought into intimate and relatively prolonged contact with the air.
  • the utilization of two rows of fingers is preferred, it will be appreciated that more than two rows can be employed. For example, if four rows of fingers were employed on each shaft in composting chamber 10/ then the speed of rotation of the shafts would be half of those stated above and the air flow would remain at the same rate as stated.
  • the resulting compost can be used as a soil conditioner or fertilizer or as an additive for animal feed. For example, when the composter is charged with hog manure and fertilizer, the resulting compost can be re-fed to the hogs as a protein replacement at a rate in the range of one pound per day per hog.
  • the high protein compost product may also be used as a soil for raising mushrooms.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Fertilizers (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)

Abstract

Procede et dispositif pour la production de compost possedant une valeur nutritive elevee a partir d'un melange de matieres organiques humides au moins partiellement broyees contenant des bacteries aerobies. Le dispositif de production de compost possede deux arbres paralleles (24, 26) avec des doigts (38) s'etendant radialement qui, lorsque les arbres sont en rotation, brassent et agitent lentement et delicatement le melange dans la chambre de production du compost (10) pendant que l'on fait circuler de l'air au travers de la chambre a une vitesse d'ecoulement faible predeterminee. Lorsque l'etape de fabrication du compost est terminee le compost est immediatement seche et stocke dans des recipients impermeables a l'humidite.
EP19800900840 1980-01-14 1980-01-14 Procede de production de compost. Ceased EP0043813A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1980/000069 WO1981002011A1 (fr) 1980-01-14 1980-01-14 Procede de production de compost

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0043813A1 true EP0043813A1 (fr) 1982-01-20
EP0043813A4 EP0043813A4 (fr) 1982-04-22

Family

ID=22154169

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19800900840 Ceased EP0043813A4 (fr) 1980-01-14 1980-01-14 Procede de production de compost.

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0043813A4 (fr)
JP (1) JPS56501878A (fr)
AU (1) AU6618181A (fr)
BR (1) BR8009015A (fr)
GB (1) GB2081241B (fr)
IN (1) IN151485B (fr)
NL (1) NL8020166A (fr)
WO (1) WO1981002011A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2474833A (en) * 1946-02-27 1949-07-05 Eric W Eweson Method for making organic fertilizer
US2864672A (en) * 1953-12-28 1958-12-16 Edward H Brooks Jr Organic waste reduction apparatus
US3041157A (en) * 1955-10-05 1962-06-26 Crane Thomas Archibald Method for making fertilizer
US3138447A (en) * 1960-05-17 1964-06-23 Eric W Eweson Multistage process of producing organic fertilizer
FR2125168A1 (en) * 1971-02-16 1972-09-29 Cidr Complete fertilizer - by continuous composting of waste organic matter with added complete mineral fertilizer
US3718451A (en) * 1971-07-07 1973-02-27 H Baumann Method of making fertilizer from chicken manure
GB1381877A (en) * 1971-10-21 1975-01-29 Waters C N Fertilizers

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8102011A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0043813A4 (fr) 1982-04-22
AU6618181A (en) 1981-07-23
WO1981002011A1 (fr) 1981-07-23
BR8009015A (pt) 1981-11-24
NL8020166A (nl) 1981-12-01
GB2081241A (en) 1982-02-17
IN151485B (fr) 1983-05-07
GB2081241B (en) 1984-09-19
JPS56501878A (fr) 1981-12-24

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Inventor name: BRILL, JOSEPH H.