Solar energy utilization in composting toilets. Final report

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6334734

Kroschel, M L

The goal of the study was to utilize solar energy in lieu of electricity to help alleviate the basic problems with compost toilets. Solar devices were first used to improve the performance of existing facilities and additional systems were designed from inception with solar heating and venting systems. Four independent studies were initiated and executed over the two years of the grant period: the design and construction of a solar pasteurization unit for treatment of 55-gal drum waste collection units; retrofit of an existing Clivus Multrum toilet for direct passive solar heat gain; design and construction of an owner-built flow-through compost toilet with a solar hot air heating system for hill side installation; and design and construction of an integrated bathroom facility that included a solar heated flow-through compost toilet with a solar chimney venting system. In general, the use of high temperature solar devices to enhance the biological process of composting within a privy vault was not successful. The compost toilets in the study demonstrated their vulnerability to shock over loading characteristic of public facilities and therefore demonstrated their unsuitability for such applications. However, their performance under more controlled use rates (at or below design maximum) merits further study.

• Research Organization: Farallones Inst., Occidental, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-78SF01978
• OSTI ID: 6334734
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/01978-T1; ON: DE81027811
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
TOILETS
COMPOSTING
SOLAR HEATING
VENTILATION
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AEROBIC DIGESTION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIODEGRADATION
PASTEURIZATION
PERFORMANCE
RETROFITTING
SOLAR WATER HEATING
BIOCONVERSION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
HEATING
MANAGEMENT
PROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER HEATING
140909* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Miscellaneous Solar Applications- (1980-)
320100 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Buildings