What
is the importance of drum speed to the process?
All
Aeromaster turners offer variable drum speeds in the 150-300 rpm
range. Some composting paradigms call for 650 rpm or faster drum
speeds. We believe a variable drum speed in the lower range
offers a spectrum of benefits:
- Decomposition
of varying feedstocks may benefit from specific rpm.
- Differing
time frames (number of days along) during the composting cycle
may suggest differing speeds.
- Equipment
does not make compost, microbes do. The optimum drum
speed and tine shape can provide the ideal environment for beneficial
microbes to flourish.
- Drum speed
and tine shape should lift, blend, and aerate
compost feedstocks rather than cut, shred, and pulverize.
- High drum
speeds retard, rather than accelerate, the composting process.
- Aggregation
for crumb structure and humus development are limited when high
drum speeds or a pulverizing approach are used.
- A perfect
turn should move center materials to the perimeter and perimeter
materials to the center of the windrow. Aeromaster turners do
this rather than bouncing them off a hood or curtain.
- A perfect
turn should get oxygen into the row and most carbon dioxide
out. Respiration tests in front of and behind an Aeromaster
turner will demonstrate the quality of this exchange.
- Lower drum
speeds reduce maintenance costs as stress is
reduced throughout the turner.
- Safety
is enhanced as the risk of projectiles flying from the
pile is largely eliminated.
 As
always, if a company or operator wishes to compare the quality of
our equipment or the ACS process, we simply ask them to submit finished
compost samples for the broadest array of tests to examine the quality
of the finished product for its soil and plant benefits. We are
happy to evaluate similar feedstocks under their current system/equipment
paradigm with the ACS/Aeromaster approach to see which best succeeded.
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How
durable is the Aeromaster?
In
February of 2002 our office received a call from a composter who
said he needed to make a repair on his PT-120. He'd had
his turner for seven years and this was its first breakdown.
Aeromaster
turners have been built to last. In fact, they have been described
as "overbuilt." This is important because decomposing
feedstocks do not wait for the operator's convenience. When
they need aeration, they need it today.
Grover
Landscaping in Modesto, California has described their SP-155 as
"virtually indestructible." They are
especially pleased that they never need worry about becoming stuck
in wet ground. They say their Aeromaster has "exceeded
all our expectations."
Per
hour operating and maintenance costs for the SP-155 have been demonstrated
to be less than one-half the industry standard.
A combination of building durability into the equipment along with
a different composting paradigm make this possible.
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What
are the advantages of a retractable drum?
 Firstly,
at any point in the composting process the operator can stop,
raise the drum, and walk into the middle of a row to examine
the windrow profile. Such an examination reveals the extent of mixing
and blending of feedstocks, windrow stratification, the presence
of molds, and the extent of feedstock decomposition.
Also,
if after beginning turning, the operator discovers the row is too
wet, he can cease immediately and drive on rather
than needing to complete the row or use a loader and shovels to
dig himself out.
Finally, the drum can be locked in place for transportation
from one site to another.
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What
are the tractor requirements for an Aeromaster pull-type turner?
Horsepower:
Generally, 80-100 for model PT-120 and 90-120 for model PT-130.
However, lower or higher horsepower may be suitable depending on
your feedstocks, additional demands on the tractor (i.e. loader
attachment) and site conditions. For assistance in determining tractor
horsepower requirements for your Aeromaster turner, contact your
local Midwest Bio-Systems representative.
540
PTO
Two
remote hydraulic outlets
Creeper
gear or hydrostatic drive
The
tractor needs to travel slowly at a range of 20-50 feet
per minute (.2 mph at rated PTO speed), depending on the stage of
the composting cycle.
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