Waste to Energy: Heat Recovery from the Compost Reactor as a Source of Renewable Energy

Abstract

A static aerated Compost Reactor (CR) was developed in Kitele, Kenya, and used for evaluating the efficacy of generating, extraction, and utilization of compost heat as a source of clean energy. A Compost Heat Exchanger (COHE), hydronically operated, was developed in order to extract and transfer the heat. Energy generated by the compost reactor was calculated, using temperature profiles, captured by the TC-08 data loggers via the K type (PTFE) thermocouples. Heated water to 55°C was obtainable. The total extracted energy from compost was and 174 kWh.