Possibly new category...

[Madscientist267]

Ok, I know what you're thinking. No, I don't want to add an 'experimenter' category to the site.

That said, I was taken off to a site earlier from a link in a post (but I cant find the original) to a page that had several different ideas scattered throughout.

One hit me in particular as a real good 'bang for the buck', and has me seriously contemplating such a thing. It's not new, by any means, but I haven't seen it mentioned in here yet (ok I haven't exactly dug for it either, but...)

As a teenager, we would pile the grass clippings up in a corner of the yard, and let them do their thing then use the result for top soil for the garden. One day I sprayed it down with the hose and saw steam coming out of it and got curious. I stuck my hand deep into the pile and retracted with reflex; it was hot as @&#% in there. I thought "Why not stick a tube inside it and run water through it to get hot water"...

The idea got shot down - didn't 'seem' practical to do.

Then I read this - almost 20 years later -

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/methane_pain.html

This guy took it a step further: Hot water, methane, enough juice to run his whole house, and even produces enough surplus that modifying his car to run on it was apparently an appropriate gamble!

Whatcha think? It is renewable, right?

[hiker]

its been kicked around a  few times here already....... :}

   http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.fieldlines.com%3Bwww.otherpower.com%3Bwww.forcefieldmagnets
.com&q=compost&sa=Search&sitesearch=www.fieldlines.com&client=pub-6689574870108535&a
mp;forid=1&channel=6019146814&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&safe=active&flav=0001&
amp;sig=9YAA3hciIHMnX_CG&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Ac
enter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIM
P%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en

[Madscientist267]

Ok, just a thought - hadn't run across it yet. Figured I'd try...

Steve

[jonas302]

Compost heat isn't a bad idea here is a story from this months farmshow magazine  http://www.farmshow.com/issues/32/06/320601.asp  acually I think you would like that magizine its full of homebrew ideas

As far as new catagories the main thing is it just can't happen that easy with there current software and ownership  but this would fit great under the heat section

[scottsAI]

Madscientist267,

Search Mother Earth News

Several articles on compost heating, 20 yr ago and more recent.

Compost must be covered (not too much water), insulated to keep heat so you can use it, not too cold or it stops composting. My home required 5 tons compost, most likely would heat my home for 6 to 8 weeks (worst part of winter!-)

If you have the compost... practical. I had to truck compost in... not practical!

Have fun,

Scott.

[SparWeb]

I have 5 horses.  I never thought of doing THAT with all the manure!

[jonas302]

Scott had you tried this or you mean you calculated for 5 tons? I know you were going for  a zero input home But I was thinking a dump truck load of fresh manure is a lot cheaper than calling for propane(: maybe if it was even for the spring and fall not the dead of winter

Stuff to think about

[scottsAI]

Based on the articles and lots of other research, 5 tons was best guess.

Since I do not have much compost, decided not practical for me.

Thinking of covering my outside battery box with compost. Winter only.

If I had a Farm or ready access to compost totally different story.

Delivery cost on 5 yards of dirt was $50... unless you have your own truck not cost effective.

Solar heating, much less crap to move around! With little effort can supply heating except for about two weeks (total) a year. Using Builditsolar PEX like design. Better long term investment!

Have fun,

Scott.

[jonas302]

Yes a lot less manure to deal with with solar plus once its installed you don't need to keep replenishing

It would definaly be an interesting project for someone that has to move the manure anyway

[wdyasq]

I remember a couple of articles on insulated, contained compost piles being used for domestic heat. As Scott said, it was a pile of compost.

With about 3 or 4 "ifs", it might make a good method. One would want a mechanical method to handle the compost, a small loader looked about right to me, a close place to keep the compost, a set of insulated panels would work and a use for the compost after it had 'finished'. 5 tons of compost will fertilize a large garden.

As I remember the heat recovery was loops of PEX pipe to, in the house I read about, floor radiant heating. The good thing is it was not dependent on solar for heat. This method would work as well in overcast areas as it would in areas with great winter sun.

Before I undertook a project like this I would want to do a lot of research and calculation to assure the heat transfer sizing was correct as well as the bin size and methods to 'work' the compost pile. I really think one might want two compost piles so one might be 'refreshed' while the other one is 'working'.

Ron

[scottsAI]

Problem I had with compost:

How to keep compost from composting?

Storing compost is the same as composting!!

How to keep compost fresh until its needed.

Then have to lay tubing within the compost heap.

How to turn compost pile with tubing in pile.

Etc, etc. For the benefit, decide compost was too troublesome.

If I had lots of compost to deal with might have a different perspective.

Have fun,

Scott.

[Todd T]

I visited a farm in Mississippi where they are making methane out of chicken litter. The tank is rather large, probably 20' to 24' dia and 24' tall. The chicken litter is dumped in with hot water (solar and/or wood-fired boiler heat). The methane coming off is pumped into a large propane tank. It then feeds a diesel generator that runs on about 15% diesel, the balance being methane. It also provides fuel for the gas heaters in the chicken houses.

The resulting water decanted from the digester has a 3-3-3 fertilizer value. The solids that come from the process have NO smell and an 11-11-11 fertilizer value.

They use an induction type generator to feed the grid through a bank of capacitors.