Extracting Heat from Compost - Compost Council of … Project Begins Two aerobic, in-vessel...
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Transcript of Extracting Heat from Compost - Compost Council of … Project Begins Two aerobic, in-vessel...
Heat from CompostHeat from Compost
A Compost Story by Sam RogersA Compost Story by Sam RogersRMC Green TeamRMC Green Team
OutlineOutline
BackgroundBackground Project – extracting heat from compostProject – extracting heat from compost
HistoryHistory Two prototypesTwo prototypes
ResultsResults Future workFuture work
Questions and commentsQuestions and comments
Who We AreWho We Are
The Royal Military College (RMC) Green The Royal Military College (RMC) Green TeamTeam Program supervisor – Major Nicholas Program supervisor – Major Nicholas
VlachopoulosVlachopoulos Project managers / engineers – Sam Rogers Project managers / engineers – Sam Rogers
and Ted Baileyand Ted Bailey Summer student Mark DavisSummer student Mark Davis
The Green TeamThe Green Team
Department of National DefenceDepartment of National Defence Environmental stewardshipEnvironmental stewardship
Mission – promote DND as environmental Mission – promote DND as environmental leaderleader
Projects / capabilitiesProjects / capabilities Resource managementResource management
Water, wastewater, stormwater, solid wasteWater, wastewater, stormwater, solid waste Energy managementEnergy management
Savings, management, planning, sustainabilitySavings, management, planning, sustainability
The Project BeginsThe Project Begins
Two aerobic, in-vessel composters at Two aerobic, in-vessel composters at CFB TrentonCFB Trenton Compost the Base’s food wasteCompost the Base’s food waste Roads and Grounds managerRoads and Grounds manager
Noticed the large amounts of heat generatedNoticed the large amounts of heat generated Can we save energy and $$$?Can we save energy and $$$?
Called in the Green Team!Called in the Green Team! Here’s what we foundHere’s what we found
The CompostersThe Composters
Two composters (one currently not used)Two composters (one currently not used) 1500 and 2000 lbs/day capacity 1500 and 2000 lbs/day capacity
Manufactured by Wright EnvironmentalManufactured by Wright Environmental In-vesselIn-vessel Step feed, conveyer systemStep feed, conveyer system One tonne 3 times/weekOne tonne 3 times/week 28 day retention cycle28 day retention cycle
Compost is cured in pilesCompost is cured in piles
Composter SchematicComposter Schematic
Three separate zonesThree separate zones Compost moves on palatesCompost moves on palates
Pushed through with a hydraulic ramPushed through with a hydraulic ram Fans control air circulationFans control air circulation Biofilter removes odorsBiofilter removes odors
Where is the Heat?Where is the Heat?
First chamberFirst chamber Hot compostingHot composting
Compost 55-70 Compost 55-70 ºCºC Compost cooler in other chambersCompost cooler in other chambers
Freezes at the outlet in the winter!Freezes at the outlet in the winter!
Historical dataHistorical data
Where Will the Heat Go?Where Will the Heat Go?
Possible sourcesPossible sources Heating the compost buildingHeating the compost building
Building has inefficient electric space heatersBuilding has inefficient electric space heaters Often left openOften left open
Heating nearby hot water tanksHeating nearby hot water tanks Use 1-2 tanks/ day on-siteUse 1-2 tanks/ day on-site
Greenhouse boilerGreenhouse boiler Greenhouse near compostersGreenhouse near composters Shut down in winter to save energyShut down in winter to save energy
How Will We Get Heat?How Will We Get Heat?
Design considerationsDesign considerations Easy to operateEasy to operate Large forces in the compostLarge forces in the compost
Idea #1 – “Heat Spike Method”Idea #1 – “Heat Spike Method” Direct heat transferDirect heat transfer Run water through pipes embedded in Run water through pipes embedded in
compostcompost
Heat Spike MethodHeat Spike Method
Direct heat transfer Direct heat transfer From the compost to water inside the pipesFrom the compost to water inside the pipes
RemovableRemovable As compost palates are moved through, As compost palates are moved through,
pipes are retractedpipes are retracted Relatively inexpensiveRelatively inexpensive
Pipes, a pump, a ram systemPipes, a pump, a ram system
Prototype – Heat SpikePrototype – Heat Spike
Let’s test it!Let’s test it! Prototype built with materials from RMCPrototype built with materials from RMC One spike, ½ inch copper pipeOne spike, ½ inch copper pipe Run water through and note temperature Run water through and note temperature
changechange Change flow rateChange flow rate Timed testsTimed tests
Results – Heat Spikes Results – Heat Spikes
Very encouraging!Very encouraging! Large temperature changes at low flow ratesLarge temperature changes at low flow rates 55°C / meter of pipe at 0.42 L/min°C / meter of pipe at 0.42 L/min Napkin calculationNapkin calculation
10m of pipe can heat 600L of 4°C water to 50°C 10m of pipe can heat 600L of 4°C water to 50°C per day!per day!
Significant heat!Significant heat!
Is this energy transfer sustainable?Is this energy transfer sustainable?
ResultsResults
Heat transfer rate rapidly decreasesHeat transfer rate rapidly decreases ~0.5~0.5°C after 1 hr°C after 1 hr
Why?Why? Compost an insulatorCompost an insulator Condensation on pipesCondensation on pipes
Killing the processKilling the process Investigating other reason as wellInvestigating other reason as well
Conclusions?Conclusions?
Back to the drawing boardBack to the drawing board Other ways of getting heat?Other ways of getting heat?
Air above compost was warmAir above compost was warm 35-5035-50°C in 1°C in 1stst chamber chamber
How Will We Get Heat ReduxHow Will We Get Heat Redux
ThermosyphonsThermosyphons Heat pipesHeat pipes
Isobars by Acrolab!Isobars by Acrolab!
Isobar maintains a constant temperature Isobar maintains a constant temperature over its surfaceover its surface Heat transferHeat transfer
Isobar MethodIsobar Method
Mount water tank on composter exteriorMount water tank on composter exterior Mount isobars on composter interiorMount isobars on composter interior
Drill holes and “plug” isobars into water tankDrill holes and “plug” isobars into water tank
Isobars heat Isobars heat water in tankwater in tankWater Water pumped to hot pumped to hot water tank or water tank or boilerboiler
Isobar PrototypeIsobar Prototype
PurchasedPurchased Water coolerWater cooler IsobarIsobar
PrototypePrototype Drilled a holeDrilled a hole Inserted isobarInserted isobar Attached thermometersAttached thermometers
Ready to go!Ready to go!
ResultsResults
9L of water heated 18.5 9L of water heated 18.5 °C in 2 ½ hrs by °C in 2 ½ hrs by one isobarone isobar
Another napkin calculationAnother napkin calculation 5 isobars, 200L tank5 isobars, 200L tank Tank would increase ~40 °C per dayTank would increase ~40 °C per day Lots of assumptions made!Lots of assumptions made!
Project futureProject future
TestingTesting Zone 1 air temperature (especially in the winter)Zone 1 air temperature (especially in the winter)
More isobar testingMore isobar testing Flowing waterFlowing water Colder waterColder water Effects on chamber temperature, fan useEffects on chamber temperature, fan use Working conditionsWorking conditions
Moisture, blades, etc.Moisture, blades, etc.
Getting the water to its destinationGetting the water to its destination
Future Part 2Future Part 2
If testing results are positiveIf testing results are positive Build a working prototypeBuild a working prototype
TestTest
If final prototype works, construct a fully If final prototype works, construct a fully functional devicefunctional device
Save some energy!Save some energy!
Questions and CommentsQuestions and Comments
Thank you!Thank you!
ContactContact [email protected]@rmc.ca