Claims:I/We CLAIM:
1. An improved organic waste composting and transformer system, comprising:
an organic waste shredder and conveyor unit (110);
a sanitization( pre-digestion ) unit (120);
a vacuum unit (130) comprising a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank; and
an annelid bio reactor unit (140) forming a decentralized high yielding organic waste management system for use in a wide range of decentralized locations thereby decreasing the dependency on ongoing centralized waste management system.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the organic waste shredder and conveyor unit (110) for receiving the organic waste and shredding the organic waste into uniformed smaller sized particles wherein the conveyor uses a lift system using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity for conveying the shredded organic particles into a sanitization unit (120).
3.The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sanitization unit (120) performs the pre-digestion of the organic waste particles using a controlled decomposition process wherein the sanitization unit uses cow dung slurry (2 kgs of Cow dung mixed with 1 litre of water ) for providing inoculum for controlled decomposition of the organic waste particles wherein the churning is done only a few times a day , thereby eliminating the need for continuous churning of the sanitization unit (120).
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vacuum unit (130) comprising a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank configured at the bottom of the sanitization unit (120) wherein the vacuum unit (130) is used to remove the leachate & ensures thermophilic stage of composting which is the core component in composting of organic waste.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annelid bio reactor unit (140) takes only pre-digested materials from the sanitisation station (120) and is configured with a bed prepared by adding a 3 inch layer of a mixture of dry cow dung cakes, wood chips plus soil containing decaying organic matter at the bottom of the annelid reactor wherein the bed helps in organic composting of the organic waste without using heat treatment. The humidity is automatically adjusted in the Annelids bio reactor unit (140) via a water sprinkler system ,which is linked with humidity sensors to maintain the moisture at 30 per cent .
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conveyor ( 110 )uses a lift system using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity for conveying the shredded organic particles into a sanitization unit and hence ease labour requirements for filling the shredded materials into the sanitization station.
7.The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sanitization unit (120) is configured with a dump door for removal of dewatered organic waste from the system (100) wherein the dump door is operated using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity .
8.The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a programmable logical control unit/microprocessor for monitoring various parameters including, temperature, humidity, functioning of the units and its accessories within the system and thereby ensuring safe and controlled treatment of organic waste.
9.The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sanitization unit ensures perfect vector control as it is aerobic system wherein thermophilic composting ensures pathogenic control as it is done naturally, with no external artificial heating induced and temperature is monitored using an online heat curve through a digital based heat monitoring.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annelids bio reactor (140) having a vertical cylindrical type of annelids bioreactor, with opening on the top, bottom as well as on sides receives the processed (pre-digested )waste from the sanitization unit (120) wherein the earth worms in the annelids bio reactor (140) are protected well and thereby increase the productivity of the reactor. The Annelids bio reactor (140) has an automatic sensor based humidity control which will maintain moisture level at 30 percent in the Annelids Bio reactor.
, Description:IMPROVED ORGANIC WASTE COMPOSITION SYSTEM AND METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to organic waste management systems and methods. The present invention is additionally related to waste composting methods and techniques. The present invention further relates to organic waste convertors (OWC). The present inventions specifically relates to an improved organic waste composting and transformer system and method for yielding quality compost with a decentralized waste management approach.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the growing urban population in municipalities and corporations across the world, organic waste management has become highly difficult contributing to soil and ground water pollution in several parts of the world. Organic waste occurs in different forms and compositions including, but not limited to household waste, wood waste, commercial kitchen wastes and other forms of organic fats and residuals. The deposition of such organic biodegradable wastes in several municipalities and corporations has become a growing concern leading to restrictions and regulations on dumping and managing organic wastes.
[0003] A conventional approach for handing the organic waste teaches storing the waste at a centralized waste management center. Such centralized waste management systems pose serious environmental problems such as pollution of the ground water, gas emission, leachate, odour, contamination, dissemination, etc. Alternatively the organic waste can be composted by being fragmented, mixed and deposited in a pit or stack. In order to achieve the optimum conditions such as supply of the necessary quantity of oxygen, the waste is aerated from time to time by shifting the stacks. The composted waste can be used as a means of soil amelioration.
[0004] The public and private sectors are increasingly facing transportation and disposal challenging in processing the organic wastes through the conventional centralized waste management approaches. Also, there is an increasing concern about the sustainability of the prior art centralized disposal practices which are instigating investigations into more environmentally benign disposal options which renders the prior art centralized waste management systems unsustainable and hazardous.
[0005] Furthermore, transporting organic wastes to centralized waste management units contributes enormously to anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen and sulfur oxides as well as other general air pollutants such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide. Additionally, organic discards such as food scraps contribute to production of greenhouse gases, such as, methane which is 20-70 times more effective at trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
[0006] Alternatively, prior art waste management solutions propose domestic compositing systems and units that are used at households and commercial premises for processing organic wastes. Such domestic miniature waste management systems are not efficient and are not suitable for handing organic wastes beyond certain load. A need therefore exists for a decentralized waste management system and method composting of organic waste in a controlled efficient manner whilst meeting health and safety regulations. Also, there is an increasing need worldwide for ecological compost which under controllable and specific process circumstances produce organic compost with ideal quality without using conventional heating systems and controlling release of hazardous gases into the environment.
[0007] Based on the foregoing a need therefore exists for a sustainable decentralized organic waste management system and method. Also, an improved organic waste composting and transformer system and method for yielding quality compost with a decentralized waste management approach, as discussed in greater detail herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiment and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
[0009] Therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide for an improved organic waste management system and method for handling organic wastes.
[00010] It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiment to provide for an improved and sustainable decentralized organic waste management system and method.
[00011] It is further aspect of the disclosed embodiment to provide for an improved organic waste composting and transformer system and method for yielding quality compost with a decentralized waste management approach.
[00012] The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. An improved organic waste composting and transformer system and method for yielding quality compost with a decentralized waste management approach, is disclosed herein. A organic waste shredder and conveyor unit (110) for receiving the organic waste and shredding the organic waste into uniformed smaller sized particles wherein the conveyor lift using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity is used for conveying the shredded organic particles into a sanitization unit (120). The sanitization unit (120) performs the pre-digestion of the organic waste particles using a controlled decomposition process wherein the sanitization unit uses cow dung slurry (2:1 ratio of cow dung and water) for providing inoculum for controlled decomposition of the organic waste particles. The sanitization unit (120) is churned only few times a day , thereby eliminating the need for continuous churning of the sanitization unit (120).
[00013] The sanitization unit (120) ensures perfect vector control as it is aerobic system wherein thermophilic composting ensures pathogenic control, is done naturally and the temperature is monitored using an online heat curve through a digital based heat monitoring. No artificial external heat is infused into the sanitization unit( 120) .A space kept for segregation of solids and leachate for leachate to flow into the trap using perforated sheets to segregate the leachate collection basin. The system has stringent odour control as leachate is always in a close loop as otherwise leachate produces bad odour. The leachate is not exposed to air which helps in odour control.
[00014] The annelids bio reactor (140) receives the processed waste from the sanitization unit (120). As the processed waste from the sanitization unit (120) is inputted to the annelids bio reactor (140), the earth worms in the annelids bio reactor (140) are protected well and thereby increase the productivity of the reactor. Also, there can be more output in the annelids bio reactor (140) due to pre-digested matter from the sanitization unit (120). The proposed invention therefore is a unique system that proposes the use of pre-processed waste from the sanitization unit is fed to a vertical or cylindrical type of annelids bioreactor, with opening on all sides - top ,bottom as well as the sides for harvesting the compost .
[00015] A vacuum unit (130) comprising a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank configured at the bottom of the sanitization unit (120) wherein the vacuum unit (130) is used to remove the leachate. An annelid bio reactor unit (140) configured with a bed prepared by adding a 3 inch layer of a mixture of dry cow dung cakes, wood chips plus soil containing decaying organic matter at the bottom of the annelid reactor wherein the bed helps in organic composting of the organic waste without using heat treatment. The Annelids reactor has an inbuilt spraying system whereby water is sprayed automatically as it is linked via humidity sensors to retain the moisture at 30%. The system (100) teaches a decentralized high yielding organic waste management technique for use in a wide range of decentralized locations including, but not limited to, wards, townships, gated communities, institutions and apartment, thereby decreasing the dependency on ongoing centralized waste management system.
[00016] The system (100) effectively addresses the issue of removal of leachate & ensures thermophilic stage of composting which is the core component in composting of organic waste. The conveyor system (110) uses a lift system using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity. The sanitization unit (120) is configured with a dump door for removal of dewatered organic waste from the system (100) wherein the dump door is operated using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity . The system (100) comprises a programmable logical control unit/micro-processor unit for monitoring various parameters including, temperature, humidity, functioning of the units and its accessories within the system (100) and thereby ensuring safe and controlled treatment of organic waste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00017] The drawings shown here are for illustration purpose and the actual system will not be limited by the size, shape, and arrangement of components or number of components represented in the drawings.
[00018] FIG. 1 illustrates a graphical representation of organic waste composting and transformer system (100) for yielding quality compost with a decentralized waste management approach, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments;
[00019] FIG. 2 illustrates a graph 200 illustrating the daily leachate production during the four cycles of composting in the organic waste composting system (100), in accordance with the disclosed embodiments;
[00020] FIG. 3 illustrates a graph 300 illustrating daily temperature monitoring post closure for pre digester for ensuring thermophilic stage of decomposition. in the organic waste composting system (100), in accordance with the disclosed embodiments; and
[00021] FIG. 4 illustrates a graph 400 illustrating showing various stages of composting in the organic waste composting system (100), in accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00022] The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
FIG. 1 illustrates a graphical representation of organic waste composting and transformer system (100) for yielding quality compost with a decentralized waste management approach, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments. The system (100) comprises an organic waste shredder and conveyor unit (110), a sanitization unit (120), a vacuum unit (130) comprising a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank, and an annelid bio reactor unit (140). The system teaches a decentralized high yielding organic waste management technique for use in a wide range of decentralized locations including, but not limited to, gated communities, institutions and apartment, there decreasing the dependency on ongoing centralized waste management system.
[00023] Segregated waste consisting of wet and dry wastes was collected at the decentralized locations within the municipality and corporation on a daily basis. The wet waste comprising food, vegetable, fruit, leaf litter, non-vegetarian waste etc. are used for the composting process. The segregated wet wastes are weighed on a weighing scale before shredding to record the quantity of waste which goes into the pre-digester.
[00024] The organic waste shredder and conveyor unit (110) receives the organic waste and shredding the organic waste into uniformed smaller sized particles wherein the conveyor uses a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity for conveying the shredded organic particles into a sanitization unit (120). The sanitization unit (120) performs the pre-digestion of the organic waste particles using a controlled decomposition process wherein the sanitization unit uses cow dung slurry (2:1 ratio of cow dung and water) initially for providing inoculum for controlled decomposition of the organic waste particles. No external artificial heat is infused in the sanitization system .
[00025] The vacuum unit (130) comprising a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank configured at the bottom of the sanitization unit (120) wherein the vacuum unit (130) is used to remove the leachate. The annelid bio reactor unit (140) configured with a bed prepared by adding a 3 inch layer of a mixture of dry cow dung cakes, wood chips plus soil containing decaying organic matter at the bottom of the annelid reactor wherein the bed helps in organic composting of the organic waste. The Annelids bio reactor has either a square box or a cylindrical horizontal /vertical height system. The system (100) teaches a decentralized high yielding organic waste management technique for use in a wide range of decentralized locations including, but not limited to, gated communities, institutions and apartment, thereby decreasing the dependency on ongoing centralized waste management system.
[00026] The shredder unit (110) comprises a motor which is used to shred/cut the large sized organic waste into smaller and uniform size particles of about 15- 20 mm to increase the surface area for microbial action. Hard components of the waste like bones, coconut shells, large plant stems were avoided.
[00027] The shredded material of size 20 mm from shredder unit (110) are transferred through the conveyor(110) into one of the pre-digesters or sanitization unit (120) The conveyor (110)uses a lift system using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity for conveying the shredded organic particles into a sanitization unit
[00028] The sanitization unit (120) acts as a pre-processor and is primarily used for pre digestion of the shredded organic waste by the process of controlled decomposition. The shredded organic matter is placed in the pre digester through the conveyor mechanism on a daily basis. Cow dung slurry (1 Kg of cow dung: 2 liter water) was sprinkled layer by layer to provide inoculum for initiating decomposition.
[00029] The pre digester is rotated for aeration at periodic intervals and there is no need to run it continuously till the pre digester was full. The leachate was removed daily by the vacuum unit (130). Once the pre digester (120) is full after daily filling , it is left undisturbed for a period of time.. The temperature started to rise rapidly with the activity of psychrophilic and mesophilic microorganism (Optimum growth temperature range 20-45 degrees C) taking over the process of composting and multiply rapidly using the readily available sugars and amino acids present in the organic matter.
[00030] This was followed the thermophilic phase which ensures pathogen inactivation and degradation of complex bio chemical molecules. The process is continued with further turning, leading to the cooling phase followed by the maturity phase where in the temperature comes down to ambient level (25-28 degrees C). The compost is removed and is passed through 25mm sieve followed by 6mm sieves to obtain fine uniform sized compost. The compost so obtained is of good quality. If vermicomposting is to be carried out, Claire Fontaine has an optional attachment knows as Annelid Bio Reactor. The Predigested organic material was cooled to 25 degrees C before transferring to Annelid Bio Reactor.
[00031] The Annelid bioreactor (140) is a shallow tank of 2 feet height to which the predigested material is added. Before the pre-digested materials are transferred, the annelid reactor bed is prepared by adding a 3 inch layer of a mixture of dry cow dung cakes, wood chips plus soil containing decaying organic matter at the bottom of the annelid reactor. The moisture level was maintained in the bed at about 30 percent through an automated sprinkler system which works on sensors to spray water to keep the moisture level at 30 percent .
[00032] Care was taken to avoid over drying and over flooding of the prepared bed. The pre-digested material is evenly layered into which earth worms are introduced and later covered with a moist jute bag on the top. The earthworms start to feed on the organic matter and vermi-casts (excreta of earthworms) are deposited on the surface. The organic matter volume comes down with time and the vermi-compost which is deposited on the upper layers and eventually falls to the bottom can be harvested weekly and stored in drums.
[00033] The system (100) effectively addresses the issue of removal of leachate & ensures thermophilic stage of composting which is the core component in composting of organic waste. The shredder and conveyor unit(110) is configured with an The sanitization unit (120) is configured with a dump door for removal of dewatered organic waste from the system (100) wherein the dump door is operated using a hydraulic cylinder powered by electricity . The system (100) comprises a programmable logical control/microprocessor unit for monitoring various parameters including, temperature, humidity, functioning of the units and its accessories within the system (100) and thereby ensuring safe and controlled treatment of organic waste.
[00034] It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.