MOROCOMP (LIFE TCY05/MA000141) - Unit of Environmental ...

increasing the void volume of the substrate without involving into the biochemical
process of composting due to its inert properties.
4.2.1. Pretreatment and preparation of the composting raw material
Green waste was being shredded using a shredding device in order to minimize the
size of waste and to increase the porosity of the substrate and to ease the agitation of
the composting raw material. All the materials used as feedstock to supply the
bioreactor were weighted, according to the composting recipe of each composting
trial, and packed in order to be ready to be fed into the bioreactor.
4.2.2. Feeding the in-vessel bioreactor
The feeding of the bioreactor was performed via the conveyor belt on which the
feedstock was loaded manually using shovels.
4.3. Composting process control
Composting process control involves all the actions that had been planned and carried
out with respect to the operational conditions of the in-vessel bioreactor.
4.3.1. Programming the plc of the in-vessel bioreactor
The operation of the agitation, hydration and aeration systems is being performed by
the PLC (Programming Logic Controller) automatic control system. These operations
can also be performed manually. The specifications of each operation are given
below:
Programming the frequency and duration of the substrate’s agitation
The electric monitor can operate X times per day for a duration of Y minutes per
hour. The maximum set values are Χmax = 12 times/day and Ymax = 15 minutes
while the minimum ones are Χmin = 0 times/day and Ymin = 0 minutes.
Programming the frequency and duration of the substrate’s aeration
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