Comprehensive review of models and methods used for heat recovery from composting process

Zhao Rongfei, Gao Wei, Guo Huiqing

Abstract


The large amount of heat produced from solid waste composting has stimulated great interest in heat recovery and utilization. This paper reviews the advances in composting heat recovery researches in the last decade. Some experimental results and theoretical studies on composting heat utilization are summarized. The results indicate a great potential for utilization of heat produced by the composting process. Common problems experienced by current methods are how to realize the maximum heat recovery without negatively impacting compost quality and the economics of heat recovery methods. Further advancement of these methods is currently receiving comprehensive interests, both academically and commercially.
Keywords: composting, heat recovery, model and method, heat utilization, solid waste
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20171004.2292

Citation: Zhao R F, Gao W, Guo H Q. Comprehensive review of models and methods used for heat recovery from composting process. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(4): 1�12.

Keywords


composting, heat recovery, model and method, heat utilization, solid waste

Full Text:

PDF

References


Sundberg C. Food waste composting-effects of heat, acids and size. Licentiate Thesis. Sweden, Uppsala: Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences, 2004.

Rynk R. Fires at composting facilities: causes and conditions. BioCycle Magazine, 2000; 41(1): 54–58.

Hogland W, Bramryd T, Persson I. Physical, biological and chemical effects of unsorted fractions of industrial solid waste in waste fuel storage. Waste Mgt Res, 1996; 14(2): 197–210.

Nakasaki K, Sasaki M, Shoda M, Kubota H. Change in microbial numbers during thermophilic composting of sewage sludges with reference to CO2 evolution rate. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 1985; 49(1): 37–41.

Weppen P. Process calorimetry on composting of municipal organic wastes. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2001; 21: 289–299.

Garcia M, Otero D, Mato S. New bulking agents for composting sewage sludge (pteridium sp. and ulex sp.), a laboratory scale evaluation. In: M. de Bertoldi et al. (Eds.), The Science of Composting. An Imprint of Chapman & Hall, 1996; pp.1170–1173.

Richard T L, Hamelers H V M, Yeeken A, Silva T. Moisture relationship in composting process. Composting Science and Utilization, 2002; 10(4): 286–302.

Arslan E I, ünlü A, Topal M. Determination of the effect of aeration rate on composting of vegetable fruit wastes. Clean-Soil, Air, Water, 2011; 39(11): 1014–1021.

Nakasaki K, Yaguchi H, Sasaki Y, Kubota H. Effects of C/N ratio on thermophilic composting of garbage. Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering, 1992; 73(1): 43–45.

Dougherty M. Field guide to on farm composting. Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service, Ithaca, NY. Publication No. NRAES-114, 1999.

Haug R T. Practical handbook of compost engineering. Lewis Publishers, Boca, Raton, FL, USA. 1993.

Haug R T. Compost engineering: Principles & practice, Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor, Mich, USA. 1980.

Bernard E, Larkin R P, Tavantzis S M, Erich M S, Alyokhin A, Sewell G, Lannan A, Gross S. Compost, rapeseed rotation, and biocontrol agents significantly impact soil microbial communities in organic and conventional potato production systems. Applied Soil Ecology, 2012; 52: 29–41.

Butler T A, Sikora L J, Steinhilber P M, Douglass L W. Compost age and sample storage effects on maturity indicators of biosolids compost. Environ Qual, 2001; 30: 2141–2148.

Gomez R B, Lima F V, Ferrer A S. The use of respiration indices in the composting process: a review. Waste Mgt Res, 2006; 24: 37–47.

Carballo T, Gill V M, Gómez X, González-Andrés F, Morán A. Characterization of different compost extracts using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis. Biodegradation, 2008; 19: 815–830.

MacGregor S T, Miller F C, Psarianos K M, Finstein M S. Composting process control based on interaction between microbial heat output and temperature. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981; 41(6): 1321–1330.

EC, EU Animal By-Products Regulations (2003/31/EEC). European Commission. 2003.

Neugebauer M, Sołowiej P, Piechocki J. Fuzzy control for the process of heat removal during the composting of agricultural waste. J Mater Cycles Waste. 2014; 16: 291–297.

Mbah B N, Odili P N. Changes in moisture retention properties of five waste materials during short-term mesophilic composting. Compost Sci Util, 1998; 6(4): 67–73.

Adler P R. Effect of a temporal carbon gradient on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and decomposition during mesophilic composting. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2005; 36: 2047–2058.

Suler D J, Finstein M S. Effect of temperature, aeration, and moisture on CO2 formation in bench-scale, continuously thermophilic composting of solid waste. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 1977; 33(2): 345–350.

Miller F G. Composting as a process based on the control of ecologically selective factors. In: Metting FB (ed) Soil Microbial Ecology, Dekker, New York. 1993; 515–544.

Palmisano A, Barlaz M. Microbiology of Soil Waste. CRC Press. Boca Rate, FL. 1996; 121–134.

Rao N, Grethlein H E, Reddy C A. Effect of temperature on composting of atrazine amended lignocellulosic substrates. Compost Sci Util, 1996; 4: 83–88.

Vikman M, Karjomaa S, Kapanen A, Wallenius K, Itavaara M. The influence of lignin content and temperature on the biodegradation of lignocellulose in composting conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002; 59: 591–598.

Liang C, Das K C, McClendon R W. The influence of temperature and moisture contents regimes on the aerobic microbial activity of a biosolids composting blend. Bioresour Technol, 2003; 86: 131–137.

Bai F, Wang X C. Study on characteristics of fecal organic matters degradation in an aerobic composting reactor under mesophilic condition. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2011; 5(8): 1863–1866. (in Chinese)

Hu T, ang X C, Li Q, Shi H L, Bai F. A pilot scale study on

a human feces composting in aerobic medium temperature composting reactor. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2013; 7(12): 4965–4970. (in Chinese)

Grundy A C, Green J M, Lennartsson M. The effect of temperature on the viability of weed seeds in compost. Compost Sci Util, 1998; 6: 26–33.

Elorriota M A, Suarez-Estrella F, Lopez M J, Vargas-Garcia M C, Moreno J. Survival of phytopathogenic bacteria during waste composting. Agr Ecosyst Environ, 2003; 96: 141–146.

Raclavska H, Juchelkova D, Skrobankova H. Conditions for energy generation as an alternative approach to compost utilization. Environmental Technology, 2011; 32(4): 407–417.

Vergnoux A, Guiliano M, Le Dréau Y, Dupuy N. Monitoring of the evolution of some compost properties by NIR spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ, 2009; 407: 2390–2403.

Bari Q H, Koenig A. Effect of air recirculation and reuse on composting of organic solid waste. Res Cons Recycle, 2001; 33: 93–111.

Ekinci K, Keener H M, Akbolat D. Effects of feedstock, airflow rate, and recirculation ratio on performance of composting systems with air recirculation. Bioresource Technology, 2006; 97: 922–932.

Lin C. A negative-pressure aeration system for composting food waste. Biores Technol, 2008; 99: 7651–7656.

Guljajew N, Szapiro M. Determining of heat energy volume released by waste during biothermal disposal. Sbornik naucznych robot. Akademija Kommunalnowo Chozjajstwa, Moskow, Russia, 1962; 135–141.

Stainforth A. Cereal Straw, Clarendon, Oxford, UK. 1979.

Sobel A T, Muck R E. Energy in animal manures. Energy in Agriculture, 1983; 2: 161–176.

Ahn H k, Richard T L, Choi H L. Mass and thermal balance during composting of a poultry manure–wood shavings mixture at different aeration rates. Process Biochem, 2007; 42(2): 215–223.

Klejment E, Rosinski M. Testing of thermal properties of compost from municipal waste with a view to using it as a renewable, low temperature heat source. Bio-resource Technology, 2008; 99(18): 8850–8855.

Irvine G, Lamont E R, Ladislao B A. Energy from waste: reuse of compost heat as a source of renewable energy. Int J Chem Eng, 2010; 2010(3): 1–10.

Bernstad A, la Cour J. Review of comparative LCAs of food waste management systems current status and potential improvements. Waste Manage, 2012; 32(12): 2439–2455.

Lee H S, Kim D, Park J S, Chilingar G V. Advanced compost and energy (ACE) system converting livestock wastes to resources by exothermal microbial reactions: a case

study. Energy Sources, Part A, 2014; 36: 1507–1516.

Antonelli M, Baccioli A, Francesconi M, Psaroudakis P, Martorano L. Technologies for Energy Recovery from Waste Biomasses: A Study about Tuscan Potentialities, 2015; 81(12): 450–460.

Ginkel J T, Raats P A C, Haneghem V. Physical and biochemical processes in composting material. Agricultural University of Wageningen, Wageningen, the Netherlands. 1996.

Kaleta A. Thermal properties of plant materials. Warsaw Agricultural University Press, Warsaw, Poland, 1999.

Mason I G. Mathematical modeling of the composting process: a review. Waste Manage, 2006; 26(1): 3–21.

Rosso L, Lobry J R, Flandrois J P. An unexpected correlation between cardinal temperatures of microbial growth highlighted by a new model. J theor Biol, 1993; 162: 447–463.

Kaiser J. Modelling composting as a microbial ecosystem: a simulation approach. Ecological Modelling, 1996; 91(1-3): 25–37.

Stombaugh D P, Nokes S E. Development of a biologically based aerobic composting simulation model. Transactions of ASAE, 1996; 39(1): 239–250.

Neilsen H, Berthelsen L. A model for the temperature dependency of thermophilic composting rate. Compost Science and Utilisation, 2002; 10(3): 249–257.

Finger S M, Hatch R T, Regan T M. Aerobic microbial growth in semi-solid matrices: heat and mass transfer limitations. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 1976; 18(9): 1193–1218.

Vandergheynst J S, Walker L P, Parlange J Y. Energy transport in a high-solids aerobic degradation process: Mathematical modeling and analysis. Biotechnology Progress, 2008; 13(3): 238–248.

Mohee R, White R K, Das K C. Simulation model for composting cellulosic (bagasse) substrates. Compost Science and Utilisation, 1998; 6(2): 82–92.

Andrews J F, Kambhu K. Thermophilic aerobic digestion of organic solid wastes. EPA-670/2-73-061, PB-222 396, USEPA, Springfield, IL, USA. 1973.

Ratkowsky D A, Lowry R K, McMeekin T A, Stokes A N, Chandler R E. Model for bacterial culture and growth rate throughout the entire biokinetic temperature range. Journal of Bacteriology, 1983; 154(3): 1222–1226.

Richard T L, Walker L P. Modeling the temperature kinetics of aerobic solid-state biodegradation. Biotechnology Progress, 2006; 22(1): 70–77.

Smith R, Eilers R G. Numerical simulation of activated sludge composting. EPA-600/2-8C-191, USEPA, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 1980.

Hamelers B V F, Richard T L. The effect of dry matter on the composting rate: Theoretical analysis and practical implications. ASAE paper 017004, ASAE, St Joseph, MI, USA. 2001.

Richard T L, Walker L P, Gossett J M. Effects of oxygen on aerobic solid-state biodegradation kinetics. Biotechnology Progress, 2006; 22(1): 60–69.

Higgins C, Walker L. Validation of a new model for aerobic organic solids decomposition: simulations with substrate specific kinetics. Process Biochemistry, 2001; 36(8-9): 875–884.

Nelson M I, Balakrishnan E, Chen X D. A Semenov model of self-heating in compost piles. Transactions of I Chem E. Part B, 2003; 81: 375–383.

Golubitsky M, Schaeffer D. The classification theorem in singularities and groups in bifurcation theory. 1st edition, Springer, Berlin, Germany. 1985.

Sidhu H S, Nelson M I, Chen X D. Mathematical modeling of the self-heating process in compost piles. Chemical Product and Process Modeling, 2007.

Nelson M I, Marchanta T R, Wake G C, Balakrishnan E. Self-heating in compost piles due to biological effects. Chemical Engineering Science, 2007; 62: 4612–4619.

Luangwilai T, Sidhu H S, Nelson M I. Modelling air flow and ambient temperature effects on the biological self-heating of compost piles. Asia-Pac J Chem Eng, 2010; 5: 609–618.

Boniecki P, Dach J, Mueller W, Koszela K. Neural prediction of heat loss in the pig manure composting process. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2013; 58: 650–655.

Wang Y J, Huang G Q, Zhang A Q, Han L J. Estimating thermal balance during composting of swine manure and wheat straw: A simulation method. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2014; 75: 362–367.

Khater E G, Bahnasawy A H, Ali S A. Mathematical model of compost pile temperature prediction. J Environ Anal Toxicol, 2014; 4(6): 242.

Barrena R, Canovas C, Sánchez A. Prediction of temperature and thermal inertia effect in the maturation stage and stockpiling of a large composting mass. Waste Management, 2006; 26(9): 953–959.

Chroni C, Kyriacou A, Georgaki I, Manios T. Microbial characterization during composting of biowaste. Waste Manag (Oxford), 2009; 29: 1520–1525.

Xiao Y, Zeng G M, Yang Z H. Continuous thermophilic

composting (CTC) for rapid biodegradation and maturation of organic municipal solid waste. Biores Technol, 2009; 100: 4807–4813.

Smith M M, Aber J D. Heat Recovery from Compost: A guide to building an aerated static pile heat recovery composting facility. UNH cooperative Extension. 2014.

Gorton S. Is it really possible to extract heat from compost to warm your barn, greenhouse or home? A grassroots research network is finding out. Cornell Small Farms Program, 2012.

Courtney G. Designing a compost-heated greenhouse to foster sustainable food security, Faculty of Environment, Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2009.

Lekic S. Possibilities of Heat Recovery from Waste Composting Process, Centre for Sustainable Development, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. 2005.

Seki H, Komori T. Packed-column-type heating tower for recovery of heat generated in compost. Journal of Agricultural Meteorology, 1992; 48(3): 237–246.

Smith M M. Creating an economically viable, closed system, energy-independent dairy farm through the on farm production of animal bedding and heat capture from an aerated static pile heat recovery composting operation. PhD dissertation. Durham: University of New Hampshire, 2016.

Epstein E. Industrial composting: environmental engineering and facilities management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011.

Seki H, Kiyose S, Sakida S. An experimental system for the recovery, accumulation, and utilization of heat generated by bamboo chip biodegradation using a small scale apparatus. Journal Agricultural Meteorology, 2014; 70(1): 1–11.

Fulford B. The composting greenhouse at new alchemy institute: A Report on Two Years of Operation and Monitoring. New Alchemy Institute, Research Report No. 3. 1986.

Smith M M, Aber J D. Heat recovery from compost. Bio Cycle, 2014; 55(2): 26–29.

Smith M M, Aber J D, Rynk R. Heat recovery from composting: A comprehensive review of system design, recovery rate, and utilization. Compost Science & Utilization, 2016; 12: 2326–2397.




Copyright (c)



2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office