[USCC] compost heat recovery

[john cossham]

Hi Hal, I have only seen one successful heat recovery system using compost.

It is in operation at 'Offshoots' Permaculture garden in Burnley, England 
(near Manchester) where they have a compostables collection from a lot of 
households.  They use three 'Rocket' compost machines 
(http://www.quickcompost.co.uk/)  which have an archimedes screw type device 
and heating elements to satisfy the legislation which exists in the UK to 
allow food waste to be composted (the Animal By-Products Regulations) and a 
retention time of about 14 days in the machine.

When the stuff is spat out of the rear end of the Rockets, it is held for a 
while in a maturation area where it is fairly exothermic for a while (Yes, 
I've got to the crucial bit!) and some of it is used to heat hand-washing 
water thus:
There is a sealed container of water, a large barrel or oil-drum thingy, 
full of water.  This has a long coiled hosepipe in it, one end connected to 
the mains water supply and the other going to a tap (faucet in US) and a 
sink (Wash-hand basin?).  The water within the drum is heated by maturing 
compost piled around it... the pile of compost completely covers and 
surrounds the barrel, and makes the water quite warm.  The coiled hose 
within the barrel acts as heat exchanger and the potable water becomes 
warm... warm enough to wash composty hands.  I do not know how many 
litres/gallons the coiled hose contains before it flows cold, nor do I know 
how long it takes to reheat the water in the hose.

To heat air from this system might be possible.. perhaps using a 'ground 
source heat pump' type system (like a fridge in reverse) but I'm not an 
expert, just an enthusiast!
Offshoots website: http://www.offshoots.org.uk/

John Cossham, keen home composter, wannabe community composter, founder of 
York Rotters, York UK
johncossham at tiscali.co.uk

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <hkreher at aol.com>
To: <compost at mailman.cloudnet.com>
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 4:25 PM
Subject: [USCC] compost heat recovery


>
> I am investigating heat recovery from composting to be used to heat 
> incoming air in our compost building.
>
> I am considering installing pipes in the floor to recover heat from the 
> floor or using negative ventilation on the?windorws and recovering heat 
> from the air drawn through the windrows.
>
> My compost building is used to compost poultry manure and we are located 
> in upstate NY.
>
> I am interested in hearing others' experience with heat recovery.
>
> Hal Kreher
> hkreher at aol.com
>
>