6.2
A.) LOW TEMPERATURE (BELOW 50ºC) AND LOW MOISTURE
If the material in the front or mid cylinder has a low moisture content (less than 35% - the biological
process has stopped) combined with a low temperature (less than 50
o
C) you can easily see this by
picking up some material through the inspection door and test it by blowing on it – if it is dusty it is
too dry. This problem has two different explanations:
6.2.1
TOO MUCH SAWDUST IN COMBINATION WITH NO BIOLOGICAL PROCESS
There is too much sawdust and no balance between C/N which results in very low biological
activity. Or there is no biological process in the material, it is too dry. You can see that the material
has not decomposed, there are pieces of food waste visible. In order to boost the biological process
moisture is needed and the material needs to be rotated less since the rotation in this case cools
down the biological activity and dries the material even more.
Carefully add lukewarm water through the inspection door on the cylinder.
Replace the inspection door on the cylinder. Rotate the cylinder and mix the water with the
food waste by turning on the electricity using the main switch. If necessary add more
lukewarm water until the proper moisture content is reached.
When the moisture content is better choose an increased wait time and lower number of
rotations for a couple of days.
6.2.2
COMPOST MATERIAL IS FULLY DECOMPOSED
The problem with low moisture in combination with low temperature can also be caused by the
material inside the cylinder being fully decomposed or burnt out, there is no energy in the material.
Lower Fan-speed and increase Wait Time in order to avoid cooling the biological process.
Add new/more food waste material. If no food waste will be available for the next month set
the wait time for 2 hours for two weeks and then turn the machine off until food waste is
available again.
6.3
(B.) NORMAL TEMPERATURE 50-65ºC AND LOW MOISTURE
Having temperatures of 50-65ºC but observing that the material is very dry in the front/mid part of
the cylinder is not a very common problem. Normally moisture is required to reach these
temperatures.
In this situation the biological process needs to be assessed looking back one week how the
temperature in the hot zone has changed.
6.3.1
THE TEMPERATURES HAVE INCREASED LOOKING BACK ONE WEEK.
Reduce the amount of sawdust by 3-5%.
Increase fan-speed.
6.3.2
THE TEMPERATURES HAVE DROPPED LOOKING BACK ONE WEEK.
Increase wait time.
Lower number of rotations.