JP7670329B2 - Composting apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a composting device for composting materials and a composting method using the same.

Conventionally, when fermenting materials to be treated and turning them into compost, it was common to pile up the materials and use heavy machinery such as wheel loaders (tire shovels) or backhoes to stir and ferment them.

In recent years, devices that use agitation devices such as those described in Patent Document 1 below to agitate materials such as livestock manure have become increasingly common.

JP 2002-191954 A

However, when using an agitator, a large amount of electrical energy is required, and in order to send air into the material being treated, a blower must be used to push the air into the material. If these devices are operated 24 hours a day, or operated by eye, it takes a long time for the food to ripen completely, and there is a large loss of energy.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a composting device and a composting method equipped with the same that can compost the material to be treated efficiently in a short period of time with little energy loss.

The composting apparatus described in claim 1 is a composting apparatus for composting material to be treated, and comprises an agitation means for agitating the material to be treated, an air supply means for supplying air to the material to be treated, an information acquisition means for acquiring surface information of the material to be treated, and a control means for predicting the internal temperature of the material to be treated solely from the surface information of the material to be treated acquired by the information acquisition means based on learning data generated by initial learning in which learning and correction of the relationship between the measured surface information of the material to be treated and the internal temperature of the material to be treated are repeated under the properties of the material to be treated understood based on predetermined parameters of the material to be treated that have been measured in advance and environmental parameters that have been measured in advance, and for controlling the agitation means and the air supply means in accordance with this predicted internal temperature.

The composting apparatus of claim 2 is the composting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specified parameters of the material to be treated include at least any one of the type of bedding contained in the material, the moisture content of the material, the temperature of the material to be treated, the color of the material to be treated, the amount of air contained in the material to be treated, and the specific gravity of the material to be treated .

The composting method described in claim 3 predicts the internal temperature of the workpiece from only the acquired surface information of the workpiece based on learning data generated by initial learning in which , under conditions of the workpiece understood based on predetermined parameters of the workpiece measured in advance and environmental parameters measured in advance, learning and correcting the relationship between measured surface information of the workpiece and its internal temperature , and composts the workpiece by stirring the workpiece and supplying air to it in accordance with the predicted internal temperature.

The composting method according to claim 4 is the composting method according to claim 3, wherein the specified parameters of the material to be treated include at least any one of the type of bedding contained in the material, the moisture content of the material, the temperature of the material to be treated, the color of the material to be treated, the amount of air contained in the material to be treated, and the specific gravity of the material to be treated .

According to the present invention, the material to be treated can be composted efficiently in a short period of time with little energy loss.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composting apparatus according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the stirring means of the composting apparatus. FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the composting apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In Figures 1 to 3, 1 denotes a composting apparatus, which is a device (facility) for composting the material W to be treated by aerobic fermentation using aerobic microorganisms, i.e., a compost house. In other words, this composting apparatus 1 is an organic waste fermentation treatment device for composting the material W to be treated, which is organic waste containing organic matter, to obtain compost (treated material). The material W to be treated is discharged from, for example, a cowshed or other livestock shed, and as one example, it is cow dung mixed with bedding.

The composting device 1 comprises a long, narrow rectangular plate-shaped floor 2 and walls 3 erected on both longitudinal ends and one long side of the floor 2. The floor 2 and walls 3 form a fermentation tank 6 in which the material to be treated W is composted. For example, the fermentation tank 6 is made of concrete with an opening on the other long side. The upper part of the fermentation tank 6 is covered by a roof 7. The floor 2 has a groove (not shown) that guides water coming out of the material to be treated W to a drainage basin.

On the other long side of the floor 2, a number of pillars 8 supporting the roof 7 are erected at intervals in the longitudinal direction. An opening 9 is formed between each pair of adjacent pillars 8. Through this opening 9, the material to be treated W is introduced into the fermentation tank 6 and the treated compost is removed from the fermentation tank 6. The floor 2 of the fermentation tank 6 is divided into a number of zones aligned in the longitudinal direction, i.e., zones of the same size, for example.

The composting apparatus 1 also includes a number of air supply means 10 that supply air to the materials W to be treated that have been introduced into the fermentation tank 6 and piled up on the bed 2. In other words, in this composting apparatus 1, one air supply means 10 is provided for each zone. Each air supply means 10 includes, for example, a perforated pipe disposed in the groove of the bed 2, a blower for supplying air to the perforated pipes, and a connecting pipe that connects the perforated pipes to the blower.

The composting apparatus 1 further includes an agitation means 12 that can move in the front-rear and left-right directions to agitate (turn) the material W that has been put into the fermentation tank 6 and piled up on the bed 2. The agitation means 12 is of a screw type having an agitation rotor 13 that agitates the material W while rotating in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the agitation means 12 is supported by a support 14 so that the agitation rotor 13 can move in the short direction of the composting apparatus 1, and the agitation rotor 13 can move together with the support 14 in the long direction of the composting apparatus 1. The agitation means 12 is not limited to the screw type and may be, for example, a conveyor type, and the configuration is arbitrary.

The operation of the air supply means 10 and the stirring means 12 is controlled by the control means 15. The control means 15 is, for example, a computer such as a general-purpose PC. The control means 15 predicts the internal temperature of the workpiece W based on the surface information of the workpiece W acquired by the information acquisition means 16, and controls the operation of the air supply means 10 and the stirring means 12 according to the predicted internal temperature.

The information acquisition means 16 acquires information related to the internal temperature of the workpiece W. The information acquisition means 16 can measure at least one of information such as the surface temperature, color, and humidity of the workpiece W. One or more information acquisition means 16 may be arranged for each zone, or the information acquisition means 16 may be arranged in the agitation means 12 and measure the temperature of the workpiece W in each zone as the agitation means 12 moves. The temperature of the workpiece W measured by the information acquisition means 16 may be the average value or a representative value (e.g., maximum value, minimum value, median value, etc.) of multiple temperatures measured at the same location. For example, the information acquisition means 16 is arranged in a non-contact manner with the workpiece W.

The control means 15, the air supply means 10, the stirring means 12, and the information acquisition means 16 may be connected by wires or wirelessly via a network such as the Internet.

Next, we will explain how the control means 15 predicts the internal temperature of the workpiece W.

The control means 15 is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI). The control means 15 predicts the internal temperature of the workpiece W from the information on the surface of the workpiece W acquired by the information acquisition means 16, such as the surface temperature, based on learning data (teacher data), which is model data generated from predetermined parameters of the workpiece W measured in advance, environmental parameters measured in advance, and measured (actually measured) information on the surface of the workpiece W.

The predetermined parameters of the workpiece W are, for example, at least one of the following: the type of bedding contained in the workpiece W, the moisture content of the workpiece W, the temperature of the workpiece W, the color of the workpiece W, the amount of air contained in the workpiece W, and the specific gravity of the workpiece W.

Types of bedding include, for example, bark, straw, sawdust, paper, and chips.

The moisture content of the workpiece W is measured, for example, at a predetermined depth from the surface of the workpiece W. The moisture content may be measured at multiple depths of the workpiece W. For example, the moisture content is measured at depths of 300 mm, 1500 mm, 2500 mm, etc. from the surface.

The temperature of the workpiece W is measured, for example, at a predetermined depth from the surface of the workpiece W. In this embodiment, the internal temperature of the workpiece W is measured, for example, by temperature measurement means 17. The temperature measurement means 17 is, for example, a single or multiple rod-shaped thermometers or the like arranged in the stirring means 12. The temperature measurement means 17 is arranged, for example, so as to be movable up and down. The temperature may be measured at multiple depths of the workpiece W. For example, the temperature is measured at depths of 300 mm, 1500 mm, 2500 mm, etc. from the surface.

The color of the workpiece W includes the surface color of the workpiece W. The color of the workpiece W varies depending on the moisture state (moisture content) of the workpiece W. Therefore, the color of the workpiece W is an indirect indicator of the moisture state of the workpiece W.

The environmental parameters are, for example, at least one of the following: outdoor air temperature, the indoor air temperature of the composting device 1 in which the material to be treated W is placed (i.e., the compost house), the radiant heat (radiation heat) of the compost house, outdoor wind speed, indoor wind speed, outdoor humidity, indoor humidity, and illuminance.

The parameter acquisition means for measuring and acquiring the specified parameters of the workpiece W and the environmental parameters may be dedicated sensors or existing devices such as the information acquisition means 16. The control means 15 may use the average or representative value of multiple data acquired at the same location as a parameter. The control means 15 may acquire the parameters via a wired connection or wirelessly via a network such as the Internet.

The control means 15 first acquires predetermined parameters and environmental parameters of the workpiece W that have been actually measured in advance, and grasps the properties of the workpiece W based on these parameters. Next, under those properties, the control means 15 repeatedly learns about the relationship between the surface information of the workpiece W and the internal temperature, making corrections each time, thereby improving the accuracy of predicting the internal temperature from the surface information of the workpiece W. In other words, the control means 15 associates the internal temperature of the workpiece W measured by the temperature measurement means 17 with the surface information of the workpiece W acquired by the information acquisition means 16, and acquires the data multiple times, thereby learning the relationship between the surface information of the workpiece W and the internal temperature of the workpiece W.

After a predetermined number of learnings (initial learning) have been completed, the control means 15 automatically predicts the internal temperature of the workpiece W from only the surface information of the workpiece W acquired by the information acquisition means 16, and generates a control signal for controlling the agitation means 12 and the air supply means 10 according to the predicted internal temperature. That is, the control means 15 determines whether to operate the agitation means 12 or the air supply means 10 according to the predicted internal temperature, and the operation time and power, and operates the air supply means 10 and the agitation means 12 to achieve optimal conditions for composting, thereby promoting composting of the workpiece W. The optimal conditions for composting refer to the temperature, moisture, and other conditions that most promote composting of the workpiece W.

In this way, by predicting the internal temperature of the workpiece W from the surface information of the workpiece W acquired by the information acquisition means 16, and controlling the stirring means 12 and the air supply means 10 according to this predicted internal temperature, the stirring means 12 and the air supply means 10 can be operated efficiently according to the predicted fermentation state of the workpiece W by acquiring surface information of the workpiece W, for example, by a simple configuration such as measuring the temperature. Therefore, the workpiece W can be efficiently composted in a short period of time, and the operation of the stirring means 12 and the air supply means 10 can be kept to a minimum, resulting in less energy loss.

The learning data is preferably modified at a predetermined timing. This modification is based on at least the predetermined parameters of the workpiece W, the environmental parameters, and the surface information of the workpiece W. That is, the control means 15 acquires the predetermined parameters and environmental parameters of the workpiece W at a predetermined timing, and learns the relationship between the surface information of the workpiece W and the internal temperature at that time point according to the acquired surface information of the workpiece W, based on the predetermined parameters of the workpiece W and the environmental parameters.

At this time, the specified parameters and environmental parameters of the workpiece W to be acquired may be the same as those obtained during initial learning, or may be a part of the parameters obtained during initial learning.

The predetermined timing may be, for example, regular timing such as every predetermined time or every predetermined number of days (e.g., once a week), or when the type of bedding changes, or when the external environment changes, such as at the change of seasons. Furthermore, the predetermined timing may be preprogrammed, or may be set by the user via external input.

In this way, by appropriately correcting the learning data, the control means 15 can predict the internal temperature of the workpiece W with greater accuracy, allowing the stirring means 12 and air supply means 10 to operate more efficiently.

In the above embodiment, the material W to be composted is not limited to cow manure, but may be, for example, pig manure, chicken manure, or household food waste.

Reference Signs List 1 Composting device 10 Air supply means 12 Mixing means 15 Control means 16 Information acquisition means W Material to be treated

Claims (4)

A composting apparatus for composting a material to be treated, comprising:
A stirring means for stirring the object to be treated;
An air supply means for supplying air to the object to be treated;
An information acquisition means for acquiring information on the surface of the workpiece;
a control means for predicting an internal temperature of the object to be treated only from the surface information of the object to be treated acquired by the information acquisition means based on learning data generated by an initial learning process that repeats learning and correction of the relationship between the measured surface information of the object to be treated and the internal temperature of the object under the properties of the object to be treated grasped based on predetermined parameters of the object to be treated that have been actually measured in advance and environmental parameters that have been actually measured in advance, and for controlling the stirring means and the air supply means in accordance with the predicted internal temperature;
A composting apparatus comprising: 2. The composting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified parameters of the material to be treated include at least one of the type of bedding contained in the material to be treated, the moisture content of the material to be treated, the temperature of the material to be treated, the color of the material to be treated, the amount of air contained in the material to be treated, and the specific gravity of the material to be treated. predicting the internal temperature of the object to be treated only from the acquired information on the surface of the object to be treated based on learning data generated by initial learning in which learning and correction of the relationship between the measured information on the surface of the object to be treated and the internal temperature of the object to be treated are repeated under the properties of the object to be treated grasped based on predetermined parameters of the object to be treated actually measured in advance and environmental parameters actually measured in advance;
The composting method comprises composting the material by stirring the material and supplying air to the material in accordance with the predicted internal temperature. 4. A composting method as described in claim 3, wherein the specified parameters of the material to be treated include at least one of the type of bedding contained in the material to be treated, the moisture content of the material to be treated, the temperature of the material to be treated, the color of the material to be treated, the amount of air contained in the material to be treated, and the specific gravity of the material to be treated.

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