First Prototype:

Proposed Design:

This composter is made up with whatever resources available from ashram like  scrap and workshop in Vigyan Ashram. The primary objective is to make a functional model, test it and get result so why much to invest money on that. So our actual model was looks like below, we Put wet garbage+Culture and rotate it once in a day.:

Constructional specifications of first prototype:-

1. Diameter of central cylinder = 125mm.
2. Diameter hole on the circumference of buckets = 3mm.

Operating procedure followed:- 

• Put wet garbage and rotate it once in a day.
• Only non-cooked food is added.
• No brown matter  added.
• Only culture from Dixit sir is added.

Trials, Results and Modification:

1. First Field trial:

Date	Quantity of waste(Kg)
03/01/2018	1+1.5 kg(Culture)
04/01/2018	1
05/01/2018	1.2
06/01/2018	1.5
07/01/2018	0.8
08/01/2018	1
Total	08 Kg

 

Observations after first trial:

1. Liquid is formed at the bottom of composter.
2. Odor is formed strongly.
3. When composter rotates, waste is not freely moving and mixing , it requires to push down.

 

Conclusions:

1. We have to add some Green matter or bhusa in the Drum.
2. We have to provide holes for the Ventilation in order to stop odor.
3. We have to increase Central pipe diameter in order to avoid chocking.

Modifications done before Second Trial:

1. We made No. of holes on the circumference of buckets.
2. Central cylinder made of Dia. 175mm.

2. Second Field trial:

Date	Quantity of waste(Kg)
17/01/2018	1+0.5 kg(Culture)
18/01/2018	1
21/01/2018	1
22/01/2018	1.2
23/01/2018	1
Total	5.7 Kg

 

On 25 January 2018

Observations:-

1. Very small amount of liquid is formed and low odour.
2. 25% weight reduction

Waste addition is continued…

Date	Quantity of waste(Kg)
25/01/2018	1.1
26/01/2018	0.5
28/01/2018	0.5
29/01/2018	0.5
Total	2.6 Kg

 

On 30 January 2018

Liquid and odour is still there but less as compare to first trial.

Conclusion:-

Air circulation must be improved.

Mistake-

Weight is not measured at the end of the second trial.

Modifications for third trial:-

1. Diameter of hole on the circumference of bucket is made of 5 mm.

 

3. Third Field Trial:

From the results of second trial conclusion is, open area is not sufficient for ventilation in first prototype, So we increased diameter of holes to 5 mm.

It is observed that results of increasing opening are very good as compared to first two trials. In 12 days of testing we added 14 kg of waste includes 1 kg culture at the beginning. On 11^th day of testing small amount of moisture and odor is observed in core of composter. Hence there is anaerobic growth in core of composter. It’s may be because of shape of that buckets. On an average 10% weight loss is observed. Hence open area matters a lot for aerobic composting.