Abstract
During the composting process, waste biomass with high moisture content undergoes various transformation in the presence of oxygen. The composting process is analyzed in dedicated bioreactors which are air-tight facilities with external air supply. Subject to the type of composted plant material, biomass should be periodically turned to promote even aeration. The following information is required to build a model of the composting process: oxygen (air) uptake, moisture content of exhaust gas, production of carbon dioxide, ammonia and other gases in the composting process, and temperature distribution inside the bioreactor. A temperature monitoring system for a bioreactor is difficult to build due to challenging operating conditions including the airtight structure of a bioreactor, high moisture content, the operation of temperature sensors in a highly aggressive environment, problems with uninterrupted power supply for the monitoring system in a bioreactor. This article presents a patented temperature monitoring system for a bioreactor. The system’s design and structure are discussed, and recommendations for functional improvements are made.
Highlights
Composting, a natural process of converting biological waste into a useful product – compost, has been known to man for ages [1]
The following parameters play an important role during the composting process: aeration rate, gas production (CO2, odorous gases such as NH3), composting temperature, changes in the moisture content of the composted material, and the C/N ratio [8, 9]
The composting process should be optimized to ensure that different types of decomposed waste are effectively converted into compost that can be safely used as natural fertilizer, while minimizing the emission of odorous gases [10, 11]
Summary
Composting, a natural process of converting biological waste into a useful product – compost, has been known to man for ages [1]. The composting process should be optimized to ensure that different types of decomposed waste (or mixtures of waste material) are effectively converted into compost that can be safely used as natural fertilizer (free of pathogens, bacteria and heavy metals), while minimizing the emission of odorous gases [10, 11]. The decomposition of various types of waste has to be examined at different stages of composting to optimize process parameters at the planning stage Such analyses are conducted in dedicated bioreactors [12]. The temperature and moisture content of composted substrate are the key parameters of the composting process, but they are difficult to measure These parameters should be monitored continuously (without opening the bioreactor if possible) at several points in the fermentation chamber [15]. The probe supports fully automated temperature measurements inside an air-tight bioreactor (the bioreactor does not have to be opened during measurements), and it contributes to the integrity of measured temperature data
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