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While the heating of older dwelling houses require more than 20,000 kWh per year, the recently developed well insulated houses require less than 10000 kWh. The latter can be easily served, for instance, by a compost heater silo of the size 2000 l, making the interior of the house comfortably warm throughout the year.
While the heating of older dwelling houses require more than 20,000 kWh per year, the recently developed well insulated houses require less than 10000 kWh. For example, the [[House in a house|House-in-a-House]] can be easily served by a compost heater silo of the size 2000 l, making the interior of the house comfortably warm throughout the year.


== Further Information on the Internet ==
== Further Information on the Internet ==

Revision as of 16:00, 25 October 2018

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The compost heater (also Biomeiler) it a setup for utilization of the heat dissipation of a composting process. The thermal effect is well known from a compost heap, where the biomass is decayed by the digestion and metabolism of many different microbes and invertebrates. The heat is used, for instance, for a dwelling house. In contrast to the production of biogas, the composting process requires enough oxygen, resulting in an aerobic decay.

The french agronomist Jean Pain is held responsible for the invention of the Biomeiler. His system was a combination of a sealed biogas reactor in the center of a big compost heap, producing both biogas and heat. He also worked on agricultural principles in harmony with nature.

Three basic types

Using the heat of an external compost heap for warming up the inside of a house

Compost Heap in the Garden with Water Circulation System

The traditional compost heater exploits the heat of a big compost heap in the garden to warm up a house. This type requires a big compost heap in the Garden, interveined with a spirally water hose. The water circulation conducts the heat to the building, where it can be fed to a heating circuit.

The compost heap must contain at least 8000 liters biomass to be able of holding a temperature during the freezing winter, allowing the thermophilic microbes to continue their work.

Combination of Hot Water and Biogas

The heat of a compost heap is used, and biogas is produced at the same time.

The 'Biomeiler' has been invented by Jean Pain. While the idea of using the aerobic process for heating purpose is used in several locations, mostly on demonstration facilities, the combination with biogas, like the original setup of Jean Pain, has not spread much.

Compost Heater Silo inside a Building

Using the heat of a compost heater silo for warming up the inside of a house

The composting process is running in an airtight container inside a house. The produced heat can be distributed by a heating circuit, whereas a simple model of such a compost heater silo does not require a water circulation, radiating the heat directly to the interiors of the house.

Calculations

In a 1000 square meter garden a considerable amount of biomasse (chipped wood, foliage, chopped bush) can be harvested. This amount holds an annual energy of about 4000 kWh. The following data are from energy forestry.

Data Type Values
Harvest per hectare 8 to 12 tons
Energy contents of biomass 3,86 kWh per kg wood (at 20% residual moisture)

While the heating of older dwelling houses require more than 20,000 kWh per year, the recently developed well insulated houses require less than 10000 kWh. For example, the House-in-a-House can be easily served by a compost heater silo of the size 2000 l, making the interior of the house comfortably warm throughout the year.

Further Information on the Internet

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