Patent ID: 6352855
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: C05F,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
An in-vessel composting apparatus for continuous processing of food waste into bulk composting material and liquid compost tea, comprising:a rotable horizontal drum with an input end having an axial input port and an output end having a relatively larger axial discharge port, said drum divided in length by interior partitions into at least first, second and final chambers, each said partition having an axial port by which adjacent said chambers are connected, a compost tea holding tank, means for shredding and inserting said food waste into said first chamber, means for draining and collecting excess fluid from said first chamber, means for passing remaining said food waste in incremental amounts from said first chamber to said second chamber and from said second chamber as bulk composting material into said final chamber, means for permitting low pressure outgassing from said drum, means for measuring temperature in said second chamber, means for incrementally rotating said drum about its axis, means for exchanging air in said drum for outside air, means for containing a batch volume of said excess fluid at elevated temperature for a predetermined holding period, means for percolating said batch volume of excess fluid into said final chamber and out of said final chamber as compost tea into said compost tea holding tank.