Engineering Expo

The time has come for us to present our project. Feel free to stop by and see us at the University of Idaho Student Union Building (SUB). We will be presenting our project at 9:15 am in the Gold Room. Also we will have our booth and the experimental composter running out on the front patio of the SUB. Stop by and see us!

Compost Mix-Ratio Successful

The first compost mix-ratio testing ran very smoothly and the results were very good. From the data obtained from the composter the results show that the calculations were right and that if this ratio was applied to a large scale composting system the result would most likely be favorable. The graph below shows the compost temperature vs time.

The Composter is Alive!

After much frustration and hard work, the experimental composting is now running. Today we put in our first batch food waste mixture following the mix-ratio calculated by Duncan and John. The food waste was mixed with cow manure, and wood chips at the proper amounts calculated. Hopefully soon we will be able to see an increse in temperature.

Below is the complete composter set-up



The image below is a a screenshot of the

Analytical Lab Test Results

The analytical lab test results are back and we are now ready to calculate the mix ratios for the composting process. We will be testing the mix ratios with in the next week. The experimental composter rebuild is going very well. The image below is our calculated C:N ratios from the analytical data results.

Experimental Composter Resurrection

A significant part of our project is testing the mix-ratio of the campus dining food wastes that will be composted. Having the right mix-ratio is very important for composting because the biological processes that occur are dependent on a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N). Our team will be able to determine if our mix-ratio calculations are correct by using an experimental composter provided to us by Dr. Tom Hess. The composter is very old and will need to be re-programmed before it can be used. Kyle is currently working on the coding for the logic controller and testing the thermocouples.

Analytical Lab Testing for Mix-Ratio Determination

Today we gathered food waste samples along with wood chips, cow manure, and paper waste from the commons. Duncan will be breaking down the samples so that they can be processed at the analytical soils lab here at the University of Idaho. Duncan should have this done within the next week or so.

Updated Waste Streams

The University of Idaho has recently started composting some of their food wastes produced by campus dining. Currently the amount of food waste that is being produced appears to much less than the amount described in the 2008-2009 U of I Waste Characterization Report. Modifications of our current design may need to be implemented in the coming weeks.