Compost Steaming

... for steaming compost and substrate soils!

Compost Steaming

For steaming compost and all other substrates, we offer several steaming systems that have been successfully applied.

The systems can be divided into two categories.

All horticultural enterprises that have a special composting area and compost all organic waste material and wish to sterilise this valuable natural product biologically by the application of steam. For this application, we recommend the following steaming systems, depending on the size of the enterprise and available steaming capacity:
1. small steaming carts with 0.5 m²volume.
  The carts have a removable spring-loaded lid and a removable steam distribution grid. The cart can therefore be used all year round for other transport purposes. Track width is 80 cm.
2. medium-sized and larger tipping trailers that are readily available in most larger companies.
  These steaming carts have a steam distribution fork that is attached to a pipe construction at the bottom of the cart. The bottom of the cart and the side walls must be permeable so that air and condensation can escape.
  The tipping trailers are covered with heat-resistant sheet which is weighted down with sandbags.
Industrial producers of various substrates or steaming-service contractors.
These companies will profit most from the larger tipping trailers for transporting the steamed soils, as described under 1b, or by using vacuum systems in steaming bunkers or transportable containers with a height of about 1m and 4 - 5m length x 2 - 2.40m width.

The following photographs show a variety of possible applications.


	Compost steaming with our smallest, model MS-100 with steaming cart, volume = 0.5m² volume, steaming time 20 min.


	Gärtnerei SCHÄER, Achern/Baden

	Compost steaming on a car trailer; volume = 2m², steaming time with MS-100 approximately 90 min.


	Gärtnerei KEHL, L/TD>

	Compost steaming with tipping trailer, volume = 4 - 5m². The walls and floor should be made of wood, not metal, to prevent heat loss. The gaps between the wooden boards help to reduce steaming time as the air can escape faster.


	Gartenbau Genossenschaft, Brno-Komin/CZ

	A steam distributor is fitted to the bottom of a trailer. The pipes that are attached must be connected in the tipping direction, lengthways or crossways.



Stationary compost steaming


	G䲴nerei KAISER, Altdorf/Calw

	Steaming bunkers of 10 - 20m², and 1m maximum height of material to be steamed. Perforated floor with draining channels for suction extraction of water and draining condensation. Effective operating methods, as the site is accessible for vehicles. Heat resistant, high-performance turbine for air and steam extraction guarantees even temperature distribution and short steaming time.



	Artificial stones are laid on sand for easy draining of condensation. Perforated pipes or tubes are run through the channels that are spaced at intervals of one metre and discharged into a collection pipe at the front. A metal tube connects the collection pipe to the suction turbine (high-performance, heat-resistant 380-Volt turbine).


	Gärtnerei KAISER, Altdorf/Calw

	Unlike the steaming carts, no steam distributor is required, only a water and air permeable floor and a high performance suction turbine.


	Garten- und Landschaftsbau ZANGER, Hechingen/W?berg

	This sheet steel container has a sealed lid which is operated hydraulically and is particularly suitable for mobile applications. The 10 - 12m² volume requires a crane or forklift for transport. Alternating use of two containers allows for high capacity. The suction turbine is connected at the back, to facilitate easy and unimpeded mechanical loading/unloading at the front access doors, to guarantee large capacity.

Hourly capacity for standard compost soils:

	MS 100	MS 200	S 250	S 350	S 500
m3/hr approx:	1,0-1,5	2,5-3,0	3,0-3,5	4,0-5,0	5,5-7,0
	S 750	S 950	S 1350	S 2000
m3/hr approx:	8,5-10,0	10,0-13,0	14,0-18,0	20,0-25,0

Capacities are considerably greater for light substrates, such as peat.