Compost Windrow Turner

In composting, windrows are piled and turned to improve air porosity and oxygen content, redistribute cooler and hotter parts of the pile, and mix in or remove moisture.

Compost turners are the equipment that turns the raw material pile in a controlled way to achieve these goals. They are used to produce high quality compost from different types of animal manure, crop straw, green waste, and other organic materials.

Drum Turners

Compost windrow turners use a rotating flail drum or auger to turn the compost to mix hot and cold materials, remove moisture and add oxygen. They are typically used at waste management sites where composting is a priority.

The most common type of compost windrow turner is the drum style turner. The drum rotates at a variable rate of speed and usually has nozzles attached to apply water to the compost material while it is being turned.

This allows the machine to remove the excess moisture and prevents it from forming a crusty layer of mud in the windrow. This also helps control the compost cycle and ensures that the microbes have the best possible chance to thrive.

Some drum turners also include a fleece cover to protect the compost from rain and sunlight in wet climates. These covers can be dropped over the top of the compost by a roller or dropped manually by hand.

These machines are a good choice for composting operations with limited space. They are available in a range of sizes to suit most facilities.

They are also very versatile and can be adapted to handle many different drum types and sizes; steel, plastic, small, low, high, square or round drums. They feature flexible, specially designed grippers which can be adjusted to the size and type of drum.

In addition, they are fitted with front and rear rubber guards to stop the front of the machine from hitting the ground and valuable material being thrown back into the compost windrow. This reduces the risk of material being damaged during operation and allows the machine to form perfectly shaped windrows every time it is used.

The X5000 is a modern machine that delivers optimal windrow pile sizing for most any sized composting operation. Its large 3’11” diameter, hydraulically driven drum and a maximum windrow width of 16’5″ ensure that the best possible compost results are achieved at all times. It features a rugged, telescopic frame with buckle-resistant design, high-performance hydraulics and a diesel CAT(r) C9 Tier 4 engine.

Archimedean Screw Turners

An Archimedean screw is a simple machine that moves water from one place to another by turning it inside a pipe. This type of machine is still in use today, and it has many applications.

The screw is named after Greek mathematician and inventor Archimedes of Syracuse, who invented it around 250 BC. Originally, it was used to pump water from a low-lying body of water into an irrigation ditch.

It can also be used to transport material like powders or grains. It can even produce power when compost windrow turner driven by flowing fluid, such as water.

Archimedean screws are also used in sewage treatment systems to move waste from containers and into a tank. They can also be used to drain stormwater and help to clean industrial areas.

To build an Archimedean screw, you’ll need a pair of containers, PVC tubing or duct tape, and a small PVC pipe. Start by bending the tubing into a spiral shape.

Next, raise the upper container so it’s higher than the lower one. Once the tubing is high enough, place the end of the screw over the top. As you turn the screw, it traps alternating pockets of air and water that get trapped between the two sides of the tubing. The water can then travel up the tube, until it reaches the top of the second container.

Repeat this process until the water is too high to lift. Then, tilt the screw upward at a steeper angle to see if it can get higher.

This experiment is a great way to learn how to build an Archimedean screw. You can also try experimenting with the spacing of the tubing spiral, making the individual turns closer together or farther apart.

In addition to being a pump, an Archimedean screw can be used as a hydro turbine for power generation. They are available in a range of diameters, and they can work on heads from a few metres to over 8 meters. They are particularly popular in sewage treatment systems, where they can handle a lot of debris without requiring fine screens at the intake.

Pull-Type Turners

Windrow turners are a vital component of a successful composting operation. They refresh the oxygen concentration and make the compost mixture consistent all through the pile. They also help control temperature and add moisture, if necessary.

They are designed for use on a wide range of sites, including large municipal yards and commercial composting establishments. They are suitable for animal and farm wastes, including hay, straw, grass clippings, yard trimmings and other feedstocks that require temperature and oxygen control.

Pull-type turners are self-propelled, straddle-type machines, characterized by a horizontal rotor that sits slightly above ground level (like a drum), and a windrow-shaped housing above the rotor that encloses and agitates the material as it is turned. Some straddle turners also include paddles that are mounted on the edge of the rotor to aid in turning.

In addition to providing oxygen, turning also agitates the materials, which is an important part of the physical decomposition process. This breaks up clumps and particles of material, which can increase screening efficiencies downstream and help reduce the amount of excess heat released into the air. It also distributes pathogen-killing heat throughout the mass, which can reduce the total time required for compost to reach an acceptable odor and moisture level.

Some pull-type turners are equipped with a water spray system, which is useful to keep a compost pile fresh and healthy during the turning process. Others have hose reels that can be used for transporting water to the pile during processing, if needed.

They also include a tongue swing/pivot feature that can be operated from the operator’s cab via a tethered remote. This allows the operator to position the turner behind a tow vehicle and transport it around the yard, between windrows or along roadways during composting operations.

These units are designed to handle windrows up to 3.3 yd high, and their installed power reaches 150 kW for productivity of about 2,400 cu yd/hour. They are mainly used in the agricultural-animal raising field for composting animal wastes, but they can also be used for track operations.

The main advantages of these machines are their standardized design, low maintenance and a high degree of operator comfort. The machines can be used for a wide range of windrow sizes, and their ability to eliminate aisle space helps maximize site capacity without increasing the footprint. They can also perform additional functions, such as watering, materials handling and covering piles with fabric.

Self-Propelled Turners

A compost windrow turner is a piece of equipment that is specifically designed to turn large piles of organic wastes into ideal biological organic fertilizers. These machines are often used in industrial composting applications and can also be found in agricultural waste processing plants, animal barns and yard trimmings processing establishments.

Self-propelled turners are available in a number of different models. Some of these are designed for use in windrow composting applications, while others are meant to mix soil blends and dewater sludges. The majority of these are designed to be pulled by a loader, but straddle-type turners can also be attached to a tractor, and some have their own loader.

Most of the self-propelled turners are designed to process windrows that are tall and narrow, allowing them to facilitate gas exchange through compost windrow turner convection. They can be designed for various sizes of windrows, and some have optional features such as hose reels mounted on the side of the unit, water spray bars, cab heating and air conditioning.

Double-T Equipment (DTE) makes three straddle-type turners, ranging in horsepower from 140 HP to 400 HP. These units are diesel hydraulic drives, and feature a straddle plate that encloses the windrow as it’s being turned. DTE claims the machine’s short turning radius and high windrow height facilitate gas exchange.

Backhus manufactures a number of self-propelled turners for composting applications. These units feature four-wheel drive and can be towed by a loader, or driven by a tractor. They can process windrows up to 11.5 feet tall and can be equipped with a discharge drum or a windrow fleece wind-up system.

Some of these turners also have an elevated cab that provides operators with a protected, enclosed environment to minimize exposure to toxic contaminants. Other options include a side transposing conveyor, hose reels, particulate reduction systems and landfill undercarriage.

The most popular of these turners is the Frontier, which can be transported without the need for a separate trailer. The unit’s wheels pivot 90 degrees, allowing it to be towed sideways by a truck.

Another popular type of turner is the MENART, which can tilt forward or backward for ease and safety in slopes. These turners are often used in the production of biosolids, as they can process large windrows and can even float on a slope. MENART also has a number of specialty attachments for their turners, including a negative air cabin that protects the operator from toxic fumes during composting or soil remediation projects.