[Digestion] Solar Heated Batch Bladder Digester for Poultry

[Steven Bolgiano]

Hello All,
I am a brand new subscriber to this terrific list.
We are a non-profit community based group on the Eastern Shore Maryland 
"Delmarva" peninsula of the U.S.
Our main focus is the poultry farm water pollution of our abundant 
waterways in the region, with the affects of year long outdoor storage, 
and over application, runoff of raw chicken manure to the farmlands.

As mentioned already in this list, just one of the challenges with 
poultry is that it is harvested from the chicken barns only five times a 
year, which complicates a plug flow digester schedule and management 
logistics.

Our plan is as follows:
1) Run digestion process as a batch process, loading one time and then 
after completed, empty with a separation to utilize liquid phosphate, 
and semi-solids nitrogen materials as a more suitable agricultural or 
consumer fertilizer.

2) Use "bladder bag" containments ... 12 feet wide, 23.5 feet long, 3 
feet high (6,250 gallons). When manure is harvested (called "crusting 
out"), it is transported from barn to adjacent "nest" (groups) of 
bladder bags, .... instead of  piled in open field or under a shed roof 
until spring. Before each crusting out of barns it is assumed that the 
Batch will have completed and can be emptied and ready for the next 
batch field.

3) Each Bladder Bag is set into a shallow excavation with only 6 inches 
of bag above ground surface. Each bag system is covered with low profile 
"greenhouse" providing passive heat. And we have internal water lines 
that are connected to solar water heat collectors and solar powered 
pumps to provide internal heat to the bladder bag.
We have already built a mini prototype of this, and have tested it with 
only water in the tanks, no slurry yet. Starting with well water at 15 
C, the time it takes to raise the tank temperature to a 40C is quite 
remarkable. The passive solar heat from the "greenhouse tent" maintains 
a daytime heat on the exterior of 44C - 54C.
Our expectation after some refinements and more  insulation, to maintain 
tanks at thermophilic levels with solar alone, for most of the year in 
our region.


We are very new to AD. We do have the ability to consult with our local 
University agricultural science departments. But as it seems in many 
places, both information on batch designs and poultry manure use is scarce.
So my questions to the group:
1) Batch digester info in general
2) Innoculums, what to use, how to get them started ... and suggested 
minimum percentage of a batch load .
3) Ammonia toxicity as it pertains to poultry and batch digesters.
4) Any comments on our design.

Some of the limiting factors of our region:
1) We have a very low water table, so in ground constructions with 
concrete are problematic.
2) Federal limitations for lands determined to fall under "wetlands" 
regulations cover most of our peninsula
3) Small to medium sized poultry farm's financial resources and method 
of operation are not compatible with existing commercial systems.

Thank you so much in advance for any feedback. We have photos and three 
dimensional renderings o our progress. And will be willing to share that 
information with anyone who would like to help our project out.

Cheers,
Steven

-- 
Steven Bolgiano
Executive Director
Planet Foundation Ltd.
443.235.1344