Method for accelerating composting of organic matter and composting reactor therefor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate the same elements throughout the views, FIGS.
1 and 2 illustrate a plug-flow composting reactor 10 made in accordance with the subject invention.
While the reactors of the present invention are illustrated and described as preferably oriented substantially horizontally, such as not critical and may not be so in all applications.
The term "plug-flow" is used to signify that organic matter substantially fills the chamber of the subject reactor and is moved through such chamber uniformly in "plug" form.
In particular, composting reactor 10 comprises a substantially hollow reactor chamber 15 having a floor 40, a top wall 30, and oppositely disposed front and rear side walls 20 and 21, respectively.
For environmental cleanliness and safety, as well as to confine aeration gases within the reactor, it is preferred that an entrance structure 22 and an exit structure 27 be provided at opposite ends of chamber 15 to thereby substantially close the reactor during processing, as desired.
In this regard, FIG.
1 illustrates an entrance structure 22, which preferably also serves as a feed closure door for the system.
It is preferred that feed closure door 22 be provided with a hydraulic door actuator 24 in order to provide a means for allowing organic matter which has been supplied to the entrance of the tunnel 15 thereinto.
As used herein, the term organic "waste" will be utilized interchangeably with the term organic "matter".
While organic matter which is composed is generally waste material in that it often is an unwanted by-product from some other process, any organic matter can be composted utilizing the subject invention.
Feed closure door 22 is shown as being slidingly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions.
Closure door 22 is shown as being reciprocated by the pivotally mounted arm 23.
A similar door structure can also be provided as the exit door structure 27 at the opposite end of composting reactor 10, such as by hinged mountings or the like