Extracting Heat From Compost Project

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jlwexler5150
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:25 pm
Occupation: USPS
Project Question: Extracting Heat Energy From Compost: What are the variables and control for this experiment or is this particular project simply a demonstration?
Project Due Date: 11/30/2014
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by jlwexler5150 »

My son and I are looking at this as a 4th grade Science Fair project however, I don't see how a control and/or variables can be incorporated into this particular "experiment". As presented, it seems more like a demonstration than an actual experiment. Am I missing something?

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p035.shtml

Respectfully;
jwexler
boydrew
Former Expert
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:09 pm
Occupation: Student
Project Question: Want to be an expert
Project Due Date: n/a
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by boydrew »

Hi,

Looking at a glance at the experiment, this doesn't seem to be a typical, straight-forward experiment with a controlled variable. It seems to be about finding the waste heat energy produced by compost. So it's more of a experiment on calculating a certain value. However, this information can be useful in determining if the energy produced is enough to heat water or supply energy for a typical family. Hope that helps!
jlwexler5150
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:25 pm
Occupation: USPS
Project Question: Extracting Heat Energy From Compost: What are the variables and control for this experiment or is this particular project simply a demonstration?
Project Due Date: 11/30/2014
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Re: Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by jlwexler5150 »

Thanks for taking the time to reply...your response does help!
jlwexler5150
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:25 pm
Occupation: USPS
Project Question: Extracting Heat Energy From Compost: What are the variables and control for this experiment or is this particular project simply a demonstration?
Project Due Date: 11/30/2014
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Re: Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by jlwexler5150 »

boydrew wrote:Hi,

Looking at a glance at the experiment, this doesn't seem to be a typical, straight-forward experiment with a controlled variable. It seems to be about finding the waste heat energy produced by compost. So it's more of a experiment on calculating a certain value. However, this information can be useful in determining if the energy produced is enough to heat water or supply energy for a typical family. Hope that helps!
We could tweak this and perhaps have a true experiment: Control could be a compost pile with two ingredients, leaves and grass. Variables could be a second pile with leaves, grass and kitchen scraps, a third pile with leaves, grass, scraps and manure.

Shouldn't be a problem to weigh/measure the individual ingredients to ensure each pile is proportionally equal. This would change the scope of the original experiment in that we would try to determine which piles (if any) create heat and if the heat energy is usable.

We have enough material that we could do two or three trials simultaneously.

Think this would fly?
boydrew
Former Expert
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:09 pm
Occupation: Student
Project Question: Want to be an expert
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Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by boydrew »

Hello,

Yes, I think that sounds like a great idea!
jlwexler5150
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:25 pm
Occupation: USPS
Project Question: Extracting Heat Energy From Compost: What are the variables and control for this experiment or is this particular project simply a demonstration?
Project Due Date: 11/30/2014
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Re: Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by jlwexler5150 »

Well, we built 6 compost piles this weekend and surprisingly, even the control pile is heating the water...that's a surprise. It is lagging behind the other piles with added varibles though, by about 5 degrees. Our day 3 temperature measurement recorded the water temp at 95 degress F.....way more than I would have thought. Heck, we might be making our own bath water in the future. :D
jlwexler5150
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:25 pm
Occupation: USPS
Project Question: Extracting Heat Energy From Compost: What are the variables and control for this experiment or is this particular project simply a demonstration?
Project Due Date: 11/30/2014
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Re: Extracting Heat From Compost Project

Post by jlwexler5150 »

Well, we have discovered a "flaw" in our experiment. Our over night temp was 19 degrees F. We had to turn our piles this morning to introduce oxygen so we decided to take a morning measurement of the water temp for the heck of it. Our control piles lacked any obvious heat, the other piles were steaming like crazy and we could feel heat with our hands. The water temp in the control pile was 60 degress F while the other piles registered in at 85 degrees F. So, this has us thinking that the control pile water temp is a result of being under black plastic and receiving full sun most of the previous day. Plus, the glass water container is "insulated" with a large pile of grass and leaves. The result could very well be simply solarization. With that in mind, perhaps our control should be nothing more than a container of water under black plastic? We're gonna try it and see what happens.
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