PROCESS FOR CONVERTING ORGANIC WASTES INTO COMPOST

摘要

1402955 Composting organic waste F KNEER 4 April 1973 [25 Oct 1972] 16195/73 Heading C1B A process for converting organic wastes 30 into compost by biological decomposition is illustrated with reference to the Figure and comprises moving comminuted raw garbage optionally containing sewage sludge, continuously through an aeration reactor 1, the reactor being kept full of garbage which is continuously fed therein from above at 2, and feeding continuously through the bottom of the reactor the entire supply of air required for the decomposition of the waste material, the entire column of air moving upwards from the bottom of the reactor towards the top without ventilating it through the side(s) of the reactor, wherein the rate of air flowing continuously in countercurrent flow through the waste material is so adjusted and arranged that in different zones in the body of the waste material different temperatures and different oxygen concentrations prevail, with the highest temperatures being confined to the upper third of the reactor and the lowest temperatures confined to a region close to the delivery outlet 3 of the reactor and the highest oxygen concentrations being confined to a region close to the bottom of the reactor and the lowest oxygen concentrations being confined to a region close to the top of the reactor. The air may be fed into the reactor by a blower 5 and through small-bore nozzles 6. Gas samples may be taken from zones in the body of the waste material by means of probes 11, 12, 13, and temperature may be monitored by probes 15 to 20. A system of sprinklers 10 is provided to allow for addition of water.