COMPOSTER FOR COMPOSTING VARIOUS ORGANIC WASTES

Abstract: A procedure for composting organic wastes, wherein the waste masses are placed in a composter. A drawback of all procedures of prior art for composting wastes is that altoge­ ther too much air is conducted into the composter through gaps and holes in its walls, whereby it either dries out easily or freezes in winter. In the procedure of the invention, the re­ quisite breathing taking place through the walls of the compo­ ster is managed in a controlled manner by means of varying the material and thickness of the walls. The invention also concerns a composter for implementing the procedure, con­ sisting of a space enclosed with walls (1), a bottom (2) and a cover (3) and in which the wastes are placed. The walls (1), at least, consist of thermal lagging sheets permeable to air, such as underdrain plastic sheets.

Description: PROCEDURE FOR COMPOSTING VARIOUS ORGANIC WASTES AND COMPOSTER FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROCEDURE The object of the present invention is a procedure for composting various organic wastes, in said procedure the waste masses being placed in a composter. In composting procedures of prior art, the air which is indispensable for operation of the compost is conducted through separate air ducts or apertures into the composting vessel. The thermally lagged composting vessel, or composter, has been introduced in order that the composting process could be made operative also in the winter. The gases produced in the composting process (water vapour, carbon dioxide, ammonia, etc.) and the superfluous air are usually, in constructions of prior art, conducted from the upper part of the vessel into the atmosphere. In the vicinity of the air intake apertures conditions differ from those prevailing in the interior of the composting vessel, whereby the microbial activity is disturbed and completely ceases when the external air cools down. Freezing of the mass being composted also starts around the air intake apertures in wintertime. In order to ensure continuous operation of the compost, it becomes necessary from time to time to add nitrogen in water-soluble form (for instance, urea or saltpetre). This is because for maintaining microbial activity the carbon/nitrogen ratio should be within given limits. Water has to be added if the wastes to be composted are dry. Since in composters of prior art the temperature rises to adequate height In view of weed seed destruction, it is perhaps only necessary in the central part of the composter to do mixing in order to achieve a proper end result. The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks pointed out in the foregoing. The procedure of the invention is characterized in that the requisite breathing through the walls of the composter is managed in a controlled manner with the aid of varying the material and the thickness. It is essential in view o+ efficient operation of the procedure of the invention that the air permeability of the walls is suitable. If the walls pass air through well, the composter fails to reach adequate operating temperature and the microbial activity slows down. If on the other hand the air passes poorly through the walls, the microbes do not receive oxygen enough and their activity slows down. With the aid of the Invention sufficient air is introduced in the composter and, all the sam, the temperature rises to very great height throughout the compost. Experiments have shown that the temperature rises even up to 60-70ec, at which weed roots and seeds are killed. Composting is also accomplished, owing to the high temperature, quite much faster than in any composts of prior art, and the compost that is obtained is of first grade. Experiments have shown that the compost also works perfectly in the winter in heavy cold, provided that enough waste is added. The invention also concerns a composter for implementing the process dure, this composter consisting of a space enclosed with walls, bottom and cover, into which the wastes are placed. The composter of the invention is characterized in that the walls, at least, consist of thermal lagging sheets permeable to air, such as underdrain plastic sheets. Experiments have shown that walls of about 10 cm are eminently suitable for a composter about I m' in size. The walls pass through enough air and they keep the temperature high enough also in wintertime. An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the inner surface of the walls is lined with fibre fabric. Hereby any plugging of the pores in the walls with compost mass is prevented. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is further character sized in that the outer surface of the walls is lined with fibre fabric. Hereby the composter gains sufficient strength and protec ton against ultraviolet light, and sunlight cannot act upon the material of the walls. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is further characterized in that on the outer surface of the cover is attached a gas tight, thermally well conductive surfacing material, such as an aluminium sheet. The water vapour produced in the composting process condenses, and the water drops thus formed run through the porous, but non-waterlogging, thermal lagging back into the compost. The ammonia gas produced in the composting process, in turn, is partly solved in the downwardly running water drops and is thereby returned to the microbial flora in the composter to use, whereby the need of adding nitrogen becomes substantially less. The gas-tight cover causes enrichment of uncondensable gases under the film, whereby the partial pressure of water vapour is lowered and the condensation temperature goes down. This phenomenon reduces the risk of wall icing in the upper part of the composter. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is further characterized in that the components of the composter consist of a composter component set for self-assembly. Thus the parts of the composter constitute a package of minimum bulk. It is light in transport, and the composter can be easily and rapidly assembled, or disassembled, on site by the user himself. When the composter is filled to capacity, its closing tape is undone and a compost heap of cubical shape is thereby obtained. The invention is described in the following with the aid of an example, referring to the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 presents a composter according to the invention, viewed obliquely from above and with its cover lifted off. Fig. 2 presents the components of the composter, packaged. Fig. 3 shows the walls of the composter after being opened out from the package. The composter consists of a space enclosed with walls 1, bottom 2 and cover 3 in which the wastes are placed. Walls, bottom and cover consist of thermal lagging sheets permeable to air, such as underdrain plastic sheets, for instance. This type of lagging sheet is also known under the name Munderdrain styrox". The inner surface of the walls I and of the bottom have been lined with fibre fabric 4, by which the plugging of the pores with compost mass is prevent- ed. The outer surface of the walls I has likewise been lined with fibre fabric J, whereby the composter gains excellent strength and resistance against ultraviolet light. On the outer surface of the cover 3 has been attached a gas-tight and thermally well conductive surfacing material, such as an aluminium sheet 6 for instance, whereby part of the ammonia gas produced in the composting process is returned to the compost by being dissolved in the water that has condensed from the exhaust gas. The components of the composter consist of a self-assembly composter part set, depicted in Figs 2 and 3. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not confined to the example presented in the foregoing and that it may instead vary within the scope of the claims stated below.

Claims: Claims 1. A procedure for composting organic wastes, wherein the waste masses are placed in a composter, characterized in that the requisite breathing taking place through the walls t1) of the composter is managed In a controlled mannQr by varying the material and thickness of the walls. 2. A composter for implementing a procedure according to claim 1, said composter consisting of a space enclosed with walls (1), a bottom (2) and a cover (3) and in which the wastes are placed, characterized in that at least the walls (1) consist of thermal lagging sheets permeable to air, such as underdrain plastic sheets. 3. Composter according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner surface of the walls (1) is lined with fibre fabric (4). 4. Composter according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the outer surface of the walls (1) is lined with fibre fabric (5). 5. Composter according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that on the outer surface of the cover (3) has been attached a gas-tight and thermally well conductive surfacing material, such as an aluminium sheet (6). 6. Composter according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that the components of the composter consist of a composter component set that can be self-assembled (Fig. 2).

Inventors: PELTOMAA, SEPPO
Applicants: ROLATE OY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C05F9
IPC codes: C05F11, C05F3, C05F9, C05F17