IN THE PAST, BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY FOR FARMING CAME,

COMPOSTING PROCESS IS ALREADY A TRADITION TO FARMERS. BUT NOWADAYS, NOT ONLY FARMERS
OR FLORIST GROW PLANTS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN GARDENS IN THE BACKYARD OR IN THE
FRONT YARD. SINCE COMPOSTING IS HELPFUL TO GROW PLANTS, COMPOSTING PROCESS BECAME A
TRADITION TO THE PEOPLE. TRADITIONAL COMPOSTING HAVE 3 STRATEGIES THAT PEOPLE MAY DO,
VERMIN COMPOSTING, AEROBIC COMPOSTING AND ANAEROBIC COMPOSTING.

BASED ON OTHER STUDY THERE ARE FACTORS THAT AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF COMPOST : MATERIAL,
AIR , MOISTURE, TEMPERATURE AND PARTICLE. HAVING A LONG TERM PROCESS.

WHILE IN THE RESEARCH STUDY FACTORS ARE MATERIAL, MOISTURE, TEMPERATURE AND PARTICLE
ONLY. HAVING A SHORT TERM PROCESS.

EXISTING PATENTS ARE: COMPOSTING MACHINE AND COMPOSTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS.

COMPOSTING MACHINE IS DESIGNED AS AUTOMATIC TO ROTATE VESSEL TO HELP MIXING THE

SHREDDED PARTICLES. USING THE METHOD AEROBIC COMPOSTING CAPABLE TO ACCEPT 1000 LBS
FEEDSTOCK. HAS A TEMPERATURE RANGE OF 100 TO 135 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. DESIGNED FOR
COMPOSTING PROCESS FOR RECYCLING FOODS SCRAPS AND ORGANIC WASTE MATERIALS.

COMPOSTING SYSTEMS AND METHOD IS DESIGNED IN FULLY AUTOMATIC WITH ROTATING PART TO
MIX WELL THE COMPOST. ALSO USED AEROBIC METHOD BUT DOESN’T HAVE SPECIFIC CAPACITY . MAY
EMITE LITTLE UNPLEASANT ODOR OR NOT. ONLY FOR COMPOSTIBLE MATERIALS.

Specifications ZERA FOOD CYCLER E

Capacity 3.5 kg 1 kg 2

Food waste volume reduction Reduced by 70% Reduced by 90% R

Recyclable food waste types All types All types except hard bones/shells A

Process time 24 hours 2-6 hours 2

Additive Coir and baking soda No additive N

Consumed power 6KWh per cycle 1KWh per cycle N

Dimensions 28*56*86 cm 38*33*44.5 cm 5

Weight 53.8 kg 10 kg 1

Automation Fully automated Fully automated F

Control Control panel and mobile App Control panel C

2.3 [6]ALTERNATIVE DESIGN GENERATED BASED ON THREE ENGINEERING

PRINCIPLES

ALTERNATIVE 1 (PRINCIPLE OF INCLUSIVITY)

 Uses two-shaft shredders ,ables to break down bones that most food

recyclers can’t cut. This alternative is more universal and convenient for

the users.

ALTERNATIVE 2 (PRINCIPLE OF AUTOMATION)

 eliminates the use of man power for operation it

involves automatic controls, cannot break bones.

 ALTERNATIVE 3 (PRINCIPLE OF SUSTAINABILITY)

 powered by solar energy which generates the electricity that power

all the processes of the machine. Cannot process bones.

[6]
Table 2.3 Comparison of Alternative Design
ALTERNATIVE 1 ALTERNATIVE 2 ALTERNATIVE 3

Feeding Mechanism Vertical Vertical Vertical

Appropriate Indoors Indoors Outdoors

Environment

Power Supply Required Required Not required

Food types it can - All food items - All food items - All food items

process including except for except for

bones. bones. bones.

- All food - All food - All food

containers containers containers

except for except for except for

plastics. plastics. plastics.

Inlet Design Automatic lid that Automatic spiral Manual lid that opens

opens upward. panels that slide upwards.

outwards.

Outer shell material Acrylic Acrylic High-performance

(body) plastic
Movement of material Horizontal (right and Vertical (downwards) Vertical (downwards)

left)

Mixing chamber Horizontal Vertical Vertical

orientation

Cutting mechanism Shredding using a two- Shredding using Grinding using a one-

shaft shredder individual sharp piece continuous spiral

convex blades blade

Mixing mechanism using a rotating rod using a rotating rod using a rotating rod

(Shear Mixing (Diffusion mixing (Convection mixing

mechanism, i.e. mechanism, i.e. slow mechanism, i.e. gross

involves thorough blending mechanism, movement of particles)

incorporation of so after a long time the

material passing along mixture will be

forced slip planes in a homogenous)

mixer)

Heating mechanism Convection using Convection using Convection

heating gun heating coil

Automation level Semi-automatic Fully automatic Semi-automatic

Measuring features Sensors for Sensors for Sensors for

(sensors) temperature and temperature, moisture, temperature and

moisture. (measuring and proximity. moisture. (Contact and

temp. of Air) (Contactless sensor measure food)

and measure food)

Control panel Simple buttons Advanced touch LCD screen and

(on/off) screen technology buttons

Number of chambers Five: Four: Four:

1- Electrical 1- Electrical 1- Electrical

components chamber components chamber components chamber

2- Motor chamber 2- Motor chamber 2- Motor chamber

3- Mixing chamber 3- Mixing and cutting 3- Mixing and cutting

4- Cutting chamber chamber chamber

5- Collecting chamber 4- Collecting chamber 4- Collecting chamber