Method for accelerating composting of organic matter and composting reactor therefor

A continuous plug-flow composting reactor for organic matter, said reactor comprising:

• (a) a longitudinal hollow chamber having a floor, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and a top wall;
• (b) said floor of said chamber further comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats slidably mounted for longitudinal reciprocation relative said side and top walls of said chamber, said slats being located in parallel relationship to one another along the longitudinal chamber, with adjacent slats being laterally spaced from one another by interposed means for providing aeration gases to the interior of said chamber;
• (c) means for exhausting said aeration gases from said chamber to ensure a predetermined flow of such gases through said chamber;
• and
• (d) means for selectively longitudinally reciprocating said slats within said chamber, thereby imposing movement of organic wastes through said reactor within said longitudinal chamber without substantially compressing the organic wastes.

A continuous composting reactor for organic matter, said reactor comprising:

• (a) a longitudinal hollow chamber having a floor, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and a top wall;
• (b) an entrance structure and an exit structure located at opposite ends of said chamber, said entrance and exit structures substantially closing said reactor to the ambient when desired;
• (c) said floor of said chamber further comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats slidably mounted for longitudinal reciprocation relative said side and top walls, said slats being located in parallel relationship to one another along their length, with adjacent slats being laterally spaced from one another by interposed aeration headers;
• (d) means for exhausting aeration gases and reaction gases from said chamber, said means located adjacent said top wall to provide a flow of aeration gases from the lower portions of said chamber to the top thereof;
• and
• (e) means for selectively reciprocating said slats within said chamber to impose movement of organic matter through said reactor within said longitudinal chamber without substantially compressing the same.

A method for accelerating the composting of organic matter, comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing the organic matter within a reaction chamber, said chamber having a floor, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and a top wall;
• (b) moving the organic matter through said reaction chamber at a relatively slow predetermined speed by means of a flooring system within said reactor chamber comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats slidably mounted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said longitudinal slats being selectively reciprocated to impose movement of the organic matter without substantially compressing the same;
• (c) aerating the organic matter within said chamber via aeration conduits;
• and
• (d) exhausting aeration and reaction gases from said reaction chamber, thereby ensuring a predetermined flow of aeration gases through the organic matter.