SE520325C2 - Equipment for heat-composting of organic domestic waste - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment for heat-composting of organic domestic waste has comparatively large grid apertures which allow coarse sifting, breakdown and aerating of the compost mass. In the bottom of the container is a horizontally movable plane-toothed grid for processing large difficulty composted waste and for sifting ready-composted waste. An upper space (1) comprises four framework walls (2) assemblable to form box, heat-insulated and plate-clad on their insides. A heat-insulated lid (3) for filling is plate-clad on its inside and closes tightly. An insert (4) comprises grids (5) positioned at different levels, each of which is raisable vertically from a rest position to upper locations. The grids raisable to different levels render effective the decomposition process and the successive breakdown even of waste matter which is difficult to compost. The movable plane grid (14) limiting the container at the bottom planes and sifts composted material, which is pressed downwards into a storage and emptying space (23) under the container. This space has walls made of earth-resistant bricks which are below ground level, but which have a vertical extension above ground level of approximately 10 cm.

Description

520 325 2 it is recommended to supply firewood in the form of sawdust or ice to raise the temperature. Garden waste such as branches and twigs are also recommended, but must then be chopped.

The reason is that household waste contains too little carbon to have a highly efficient pre-zeroing. If the temperature is high, large and difficult-to-compost parts are dissolved by the heat and you get a more even composting. Already at 45 degrees certain substances are destroyed, and a hygienization and purification of the compost begins. If the maximum temperature is reached, a clean and hygienic residual product is obtained.

This is very important because composting freely in nature or in leaky, poorly insulated containers emits carbon dioxide, a gas one is currently very concerned about. When the waste has undergone this biological process, it collapses and becomes more compact. Digestion can then occur due to lack of oxygen. The compost material then becomes a popular environment for ordinary earthworms, which continue processing by digging passages and looking for food, which means that air or oxygen regains access and new microorganisms begin to appear, now more similar to those found in ordinary topsoil.

The health authorities prescribe that composting of kitchen waste must take place in heat-insulated containers. They should also exclude unwanted rodents, birds and other small animals. If the compost bin is equipped with a grid for this, there are so far no uniform regulations for the size of the openings, but these can vary between 6 - 10 mm.

What is compostable kitchen waste is carefully listed. It is not recommended to put meat bones and fruit cores in the compost as they are difficult to compost. Ash, vacuum cleaner bags, cigarette butts, etc. must not be placed in a compost bin. There are minor differences between the municipalities' instructions.

General requirements that should be placed on a composting device are first and foremost that the waste is composted quickly, that it is efficient and emits the least possible carbon dioxide, that composting can continue even in cold climates, that the waste does not need to be sorted and that it is easy to maintain.

Most smaller composting devices on the market consist of a container of fully molded plastic. Insulation is either cast in from the beginning or can be purchased as an extra accessory. Others are made in sections that are assembled. Wooden constructions occur, but are mostly intended for composting garden waste. 520 525 3 The composting can take place either vertically with filling at the top and initially a gradually increasing biological decay downwards and after a maximum sinking.

The temperature is therefore highest in the upper parts and then decreases as the biological process decreases and the compost collapses. It may then need to be relaxed.

Ready-composted waste is taken out from the bottom through a hatch or pull-out box.

Loosening for air supply takes place from above with the help of various hand tools. Recently, containers have been added where an entire page can be lifted off. It is then easier to loosen up the interior of the compost, but means that waste falls out uncontrolled.

Another way is to arrange the composting in a horizontal or slightly inclined, round or square space, which is placed in a position so that the container can be brought into rotation so that the waste is mixed and unloaded. These are divided into two sections, one section being filled up and left to dry, while the other is filled with waste. (Duplicating containers or using fl your sections also occurs in other cases. The containers are then filled and emptied alternately as the waste rots). The heat dissipation in this type of container is significantly greater than those standing directly on the ground. Another problem is water drainage.

NO 300457, B1, (C05 F 9/02, 17/02) describes a vertical compost, provided with a pipe construction for loosening the compost bed consisting of angled, fork-like, obliquely upwardly directed pipes attached to a vertically movable pipe, connected, partly to a foot pedal and partly to the openable lid. By depressing the pedal, the feeders are lifted up through the compost bed while the lid is opened for filling. The container has a bottom consisting of a fixed grid without further information on the size of the grid openings. Emptying takes place through a pull-out drawer under the grille. The compost contents fall into the box due to their own weight.

DE 24 60 494, A1, (C05 F 9/02) describes horizontal ventilation or ventilation grilles of crossed, angular or round profiles standing on the base, which on the underside form ventilation ducts which are in communication with the outside air.

DE 36 24 761, A1, (C05 F 9/02) describes a vertical compost with the bottom of a movable grid of crossed angle or round steel which slides on rails. The grids must have a hole size of approximately 40 mm. Through the movement of the grid, the compost mass is shaken and sieved and falls down through the grid to a lower area. The grille is operated by hand through a lever. Lacks protection against pests.

SE 465 623, B, (C05 F 17/02) describes a vertical, heat-insulated gas-tight container with a vapor-tight lid. Inside the container there is a net basket for the waste, which is to prevent access for pests, but enable worms and microorganisms from the soil to work their way up into the compost. Between the mains basket and the walls there is a gap for gas circulation, and air supply via a drainage zone in the ground under the container. The insulated walls extend into the ground. Just above ground level there is a gas-tight hatch in the wall and a hatch in the net wall for removing composted material.

In this composting device, the composting takes place vertically. It can be made of environmentally friendly material and provided in a basic design that can be built on, whereby own material can also be used, for example leftover building material from new construction or renovation. Regarding outerwear, it can easily be adapted to the environment in which it is to be placed. Parts that are worn out or damaged can be easily replaced. The construction is also flexible and can easily be manufactured in different sizes, for example one, four or four households. Liftable grids on different levels, which can be locked in the raised position, lift and loosen the compost mass. Finely divided and easily composted waste falls down through the grids while coarser difficult-to-compost parts remain on top and are lifted up to a higher and warmer level and mixed with fresher waste. When the space under the grilles is filled, the locks are released so that the grilles fall into their rest positions together with the waste. The compost mass is thereby heavily loosened and aerated through vertical channels in the corners, connected to a horizontal channel at the bottom. Particularly difficult-to-compost material that has passed the grids is collected at the bottom of a planer-toothed grille with comparatively small openings and processed by the grille's planer teeth until this, together with other composted waste, passes the grille down to the lower storage and emptying space. This consists of ordinary building blocks which are buried in the ground in the same way as an ordinary house foundation with a wreath above ground. At the front, a recess is made to ground level for emptying the contents. Since the upper container does not have to be anchored in the lower one, it is quite simple to make the upper container tiltable by means of hinges and thus make the entire space easily accessible and replace the entire contents with, for example, semi-composted leaves mixed with topsoil or compost soil to renew and stimulate the worm population. 520 325 Unlike known and described constructions, this device can pre-compost large bone nodules, fruit kernels and such difficult-to-compost waste. This is extremely valuable because such waste contains many, for the organic cycle, important minerals and nutrients. Twigs and branches that are put in to add carbon only need to be cut off in shorter pieces because they then, together with the liftable grids, help to keep the compost mass porous and airy so that a powerful and efficient biological decomposition from above and below is achieved. Sheet metal clad insides and a bottom with small passage openings effectively protect the compost from pests and break it down to a suitable grain size at the same time as the compost mass has direct contact with the underlying soil. Emptying of composted waste is simple and can take place independently of the overlying compost mass.

The lifting device described in NO 300457, B1 consists of U- or V-shaped gaps, angled obliquely upwards and is called a grid. The intention is for the lifting device to loosen the compost content and supply air. The most significant difference is that the grilles cannot be locked in the raised position.

The grilles in DE 24 60 494, A1, are of the same construction, but are not liftable.

The bottom grilles described in all cases, apart from DE 36 24 761, A1, are not movable and are not designed to decompose waste.

List of figures Figure 1 is a cut-away view of the entire composting device in perspective.

Figure 2 a, b and c: section from the side of the compost device.

Figure 3: Front view of the compost device. Further clarification according to Figure 2 of the horizontal frame and the planer grid.

Figure 4 shows the interconnection of the horizontal air duct with the vertical air ducts. 520 325 6 Figure 5: Schematic representation of the pressing force of the planer teeth.

The device according to the present invention (Fig. 1) consists of an upper space (1) made of four interlocking truss walls of wood (2), lined on the inside with sheet metal and the gaps between the joists filled with cellular plastic or similar solid insulating material. The space has an openable, tight-fitting lid (3) of wood, as well as sheet metal clad on the inside. The space is provided with an insert (4) for loosening and aerating the compost mass, consisting of liftable grids (5), which can be locked in the raised position. The grid openings must be so adapted that the waste passes the grids slowly after the grids are lifted up and locked. Heavily composted waste such as twigs and larger pieces remain and is lifted off the grids and mixed with newer lightly composted waste and helps to keep the waste porous to eventually decompose and pass down through the openings together with other lightly composted waste. The grids are suspended in vertical telescopic tubes (6), which in turn are suspended in a lifting device (9) of horizontal double tubes with the inner extendable to achieve leverage effect. The pipes go straight through the walls.

The passages are provided with seals. The lifting device must be able to be locked in the raised position. Other forms of lifting device are also conceivable, for example hydraulic or pneumatic, which may be necessary for larger containers. The telescopic tubes (6), in which the lifting racks (5) are suspended, are connected to through-going pins (7) in such a way that the hole (8) for the pin in the outer tube and along it is elongated and the hole in the inner tube is cylindrical (Fig. 2 a, b and c).

Thereby, the upper outer telescopic tubes, together with the upper grid, can be lifted one step from their fixed stop positions (II Fig. 2 a) from H0 to H1 (Fig. 2 b). After continued lifting, the next, inner tube is connected, and both grids are lifted to H2 and H3 (Fig. 2 c) and so on. By temporarily locking the lifting device in the raised position with locking devices (Fig. 1), large air spaces are formed under the grids before waste has had time to fall down through them and fill the air spaces. When the locks are then released, follow the grilles down to their resp. dormant states as the waste decays, after which the same procedure is repeated with longer or shorter time intervals depending on the temperature and humidity in the compost.

The bottom consists of a planing grid (12 Figs. 1, 3 and 4) movable on rollers or rolling bearings (22 Fig. 3) with planing teeth (15) and grid openings (16) which serve as a release for the planed compost mass. The cutting edge or edge of the teeth can be straight, semicircular or triangular with a corresponding shape on the grid openings and the entire grid can be pressed out of a single 520 325 in * piece of sheet metal. By dividing the force in the planing movement P2 into the two sub-forces pa and pb, ready-composted waste is pressed down through the grid openings (16) during the planing, partly by gravity P1 and partly by said sub-force pb, which is schematically shown in Figs. 5. The openings can therefore be made very small without impeding the efficient passage of compost material. The grid has flat side edges (13 Fig. 4) against which a plate frame (17) runs around the space with an angular cross-section with one side vertically and parallel to the inner walls of the container and resting on a solid surface on the wall and the other side with a certain inclination inwards against the side lines of the planer grid, and with the edge against the flat side edges of the grid, without loading them so that the grid is freely movable under the frame. The flat side edges also form supports and guide rails for rolling storage (22). The frame (17) also forms a funnel-like working area (18) for the grille planing teeth where all the compost mass is controlled.

Hard-to-compost material, such as larger and harder pieces, such as fruit kernels and bone fragments, remains above the grid where it is broken down by the grid and continues to be broken down also by worms and microorganisms from the soil. Finally, this material passes the grille down into the lower area (23) for storage and emptying. In the processing area (18) and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the planer grid, stops (19) are placed, which distribute the compost mass, and then especially larger pieces, over the entire planing surface. By making the holders adjustable horizontally so that the compost mass rests on them, the grid can be easily pulled out for cleaning or repair as well as to remove non-compostable material that has been accidentally placed in the container.

The frame (17) also forms against the flat sides of the grid a horizontal air duct (20), which communicates with vertical air ducts in the corner (21) of the container. Air supply is provided through gaps between the underside of the planer grille and the lower part of the compost.

The lower space (23) with walls of aerated concrete or similar earth-resistant material and with the same form and suitable wall thickness as the upper, shall be partially buried in the ground so that about 10 cm of it protrudes above the ground surface. At the front, make a recess (24) from the top edge down to the ground surface. The recess must have a removable cover (25) of the same size as the recess for emptying the contents. Alternatively, the upper part can be easily anchored in the lower with hinges on one side. You can then expose the entire lower space by tipping the entire upper part, which may be suitable for smaller containers.

All parts must be prepared for assembly, which can be done by anyone. Preparations must also be made to apply an outer layer of insulation (26) and 520 325 8 outer cladding (27). Homeowners can, for example, use panels of the same type that are already available at the villa. Leftover material can often be used, even as insulation. It must also be possible to replace parts after wear.

When the compost is completely filled, composted waste is taken out through the opening (24). Then new planing is done by pulling the control lever (28) back and forth until the lower space is filled and to some extent also pressed together, which is possible by the planing force pb. In this way, an attractive environment is created for earthworms, which prefer compact material to search for their food in and are therefore stimulated to work their way up into the lower parts of the upper area and process the compost there.

Claims (1)

1 520 325 7 Claims Device for hot composting of organic household waste consisting of a heat-insulated upper container of wood clad on the inside with vertically liftable grids with comparatively large grid openings for coarse screening, loosening and aeration of the compost mass, and partly a compost bottom. planer-toothed grid for processing larger hard-to-compost waste and screening of ready-composted waste characterized by an upper space (1) consisting of four to a box assembled, heat-insulated and on the inside sheet metal truss walls of wood (2), a heat-insulated, on the inside plated and on the inside tight-fitting lid (3) for filling, an insert (4) consisting of grids (5) placed at different levels, each vertically liftable from rest position H0 to H1, H2, H3, etc. (fi g 2) by hanging in telescopic tubes (6) , connected to transverse pins (7), in such a way that the hole (8) for the pin in the outer tube and along it is elongated and in the inner tube a cylindrical hole for the pin so that the outer tubes with the upper grid through the lifting device (9) are first lifted up from Ho to H1, after which the inner tubes with the grating below, when continuing to lift are hooked in and lifted to position H2 and the upper grid at the same time continue to be moved to position H3, after which the grids are kept raised by locking devices (10) and air is supplied from a gap between an emptying hatch (25), and a planer grid (12) through air ducts (20 and 21) until lightly composted, distributed waste passes through the grids and fills the air spaces formed by the lifting under the grids with loose and aerated waste, while coarser difficult-to-compost waste remains on top of the grid and follows downwards as it continues to rot to position H0 after the locks (10) released, a bottom consisting of a planing grid (12) movable on rolling bearings or rollers (22) with flat side edges (13), which form running rails and supports for the roller device and on the top form a horizontal air duct (20) together with a frame (17) of angular profile around the space, and a funnel-like working area (18) for the planer grid with transverse stop (19) perpendicular to the planer direction, which distributes coarser, difficult-to-compost waste over the whole the planing surface where all waste is guided through the funnel-like shape of the frame and where coarser waste that has passed through the entire compost without completely decaying remains and decomposes by the planer grid's iron bars (15) to finally pass the grid through grid openings (16) together with other waste, to some extent pressed through the grid (Fig. 5) why the openings in the grid can be made small enough to exclude small animals and at the same time have efficient passage through the 520 325 / o grid down to the lower storage and emptying space (23), from where emptying of the contents takes place, either through an opening (24) on the front and emptying hatch (25), or by anchoring the upper space in the lower with hinges on one side and tipping so that the entire lower space is exposed.