Development of a system for real-time measurement, monitoring and control of composting processes

• Grant number: 22/04401-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: August 01, 2022 - July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Aguiar Cacuro
• Grantee: Thiago Aguiar Cacuro
• Host Company: Faz Verde Soluções Ambientais Ltda
• CNAE: Tratamento e disposição de resíduos não-perigosos
• City: Sorocaba
• Pesquisadores principais: Felipe José de Moraes Pedrazzi
• Associated research grant: 21/04173-3 - Construction and validation of a device for monitoring, control, and automation of composting processes, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/09425-3 - Development of a system for real-time measurement, monitoring, and control of composting processes, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Composting is the process of recycling organic waste, with organic waste being on average 50% of all waste produced in the world. With the growing recognition by governments, the general population, and the private sector of the need to implement recycling methods to ensure sustainability in all processes, composting initiatives are booming with initiatives being developed in Brazil and worldwide. Despite the growth in demand and the expansion of composting initiatives, the technology aimed at these markets has not followed, and in the Brazilian and world market there is a great shortage of technologies aimed at this area and still, in the case of devices for monitoring composting processes, are non-existent. The lack of devices, equipment, and commercially available systems that facilitate the handling and control of the process, for several reasons, makes it inaccessible or unfeasible. In this PIPE phase II project, we propose the technological, market development, and commercialization of an unprecedented system for the control and monitoring of the composting process, using the monitoring device whose functional prototype was been developed in PIPE phase I. The system includes a set of monitoring devices and software with forecasting algorithms, enabling remote monitoring of composting systems, making real-time monitoring of composting process variables accessible, facilitating process control and decision-making, reducing costs of labor and the costs arising from process errors, in addition to facilitating legal compliance, enabling a reduction in the incidence of fines in the area. The monitoring device allows the measurement and monitoring of the emitted levels of CO2 and NH3, also measuring the temperature and humidity of the compost windrow, transmitting the data in the cloud, allowing the monitoring and tracking of these characteristics in real-time. In addition to improving the monitoring and tracking device for compost windrows designed and tested in PIPE phase I, we are also developing a methodology for predicting failures in the composting process using the data provided by the sensor together with algorithms and software for emission of user alerts, both in development. It should be noted that both the device and system proposed are unprecedented, withing the device patent having been deposited by us during the PIPE phase I, currently, devices and systems such as those proposed here are not available or commercialized in the Brazilian market. At the end of the project, a system will be delivered that, with the readings carried out by the monitoring device developed in conjunction with the user access page, provides a tool to control and manage the composting process, controlling the process and administrative logistics of the composting plant. (AU)