i have been experimenting with various ways of collecting heat from a compost heap my latest model was built with a with help of Johan ..thank you matey for all your help

Thursday 24 February 2011


hi 
i have not been home much this past week so my daily log is behind and as expected the compost has cooled down to 17c

also the compost has reduced by 1/3 .

i have been to the farm and collected soiled straw and hay one bag full (approximately .25m volume)

i have also rotated the drum 

i will also be making the door to keep the heat in tomorrow 


Air Temp 0c
Compost Temp 0c
time
date
day count
counter from filling
rotation
8
8
12:00
Thu, Feb 3, 2011
0
0
0
11
16
07:00
Fri, Feb 4, 2011
1
1
0
9
22
08:00
Sat, Feb 5, 2011
2
2
0
11
27
13:00
Mon, Feb 7, 2011
4
4
0
4
24
07:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
5
0
8
25
16:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
0
1
7
24
08:00
Wed, Feb 9, 2011
6
1
0
10
28
11:00
Thu, Feb 10, 2011
7
2
0
9
30
08:00
Fri, Feb 11, 2011
8
3
0
7
19
13:00
Tue, Feb 15, 2011
12
7
1
10
17
10:00
Thu, Feb 24, 2011
17
0
1

Tuesday 15 February 2011



Having returned home from a few days away i find the compost has cooled to 19c i have rotated the drum and hoping it will recover.

i am bit disappointed it has not maintained a higher temperature, but that is all part of the game to see how this will work 

several things to try out rotating drum will mix air in. but i am still convinced i need to add more green nitrogen rich material into the drum , this may not happen for a few weeks till grass cutting season


Air Temp 0c
Compost Temp 0c
time
date
day count
counter from filling
rotation
8
8
12:00
Thu, Feb 3, 2011
0
0
0
11
16
07:00
Fri, Feb 4, 2011
1
1
0
9
22
08:00
Sat, Feb 5, 2011
2
2
0
11
27
13:00
Mon, Feb 7, 2011
4
4
0
4
24
07:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
5
0
8
25
16:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
0
1
7
24
08:00
Wed, Feb 9, 2011
6
1
0
10
28
11:00
Thu, Feb 10, 2011
7
2
0
9
30
08:00
Fri, Feb 11, 2011
8
3
0
7
19
13:00
Tue, Feb 15, 2011
12
7
1

Friday 11 February 2011





a slight increase in temp from yesterday  i am more convinced i do not have the compost ratio between green and brown in my chamber i have far too much brown (woody stuff) my understanding is that brown stuff heats up at lower temp but last longer and green stuff (grass) heats up to higher temp quickly but does not last long 

as no real source of green until the grass cutting season in a few weeks

as away the weekend i will update monday . i may be able to source some soiled hay at the farm which is not as good as fresh grass cuttings but should help raise temp 

Air Temp 0c
Compost Temp 0c
time
date
day count
counter from filling
rotation
8
8
12:00
Thu, Feb 3, 2011
0
0
0
11
16
07:00
Fri, Feb 4, 2011
1
1
0
9
22
08:00
Sat, Feb 5, 2011
2
2
0
11
27
13:00
Mon, Feb 7, 2011
4
4
0
4
24
07:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
5
0
8
25
16:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
0
1
7
24
08:00
Wed, Feb 9, 2011
6
1
0
10
28
11:00
Thu, Feb 10, 2011
7
2
0
9
30
08:00
Fri, Feb 11, 2011
8
3
0

Thursday 10 February 2011


the temperature has risen by 4c since yesterday, as it is raining today i will leave the chamber alone and give it a rotation  later if it dries up




Air Temp 0c
Compost Temp 0c
time
date
day count
counter from filling
rotation
8
8
12:00
Thu, Feb 3, 2011
0
0
0
11
16
07:00
Fri, Feb 4, 2011
1
1
0
9
22
08:00
Sat, Feb 5, 2011
2
2
0
11
27
13:00
Mon, Feb 7, 2011
4
4
0
4
24
07:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
5
0
8
25
16:00
Tue, Feb 8, 2011
5
0
1
7
24
08:00
Wed, Feb 9, 2011
6
1
0
10
28
11:00
Thu, Feb 10, 2011
7
2
0