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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
Integrating Composting Toilets withinthe Concept of an Eco-Beach
Richard Forbes - PhysicsGemma Gotch - ChemistryPanagiotis Grigorakis – Electrical EngineeringJudith Martyns-Yellowe – Environmental Engineering
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTOverview
• Background• Eco-Beach Concept• Project Objectives• Beach Classification• Feasibility of Wind & Solar• Composting Theory• ESP-r Model & Results• Composting Toilet Design• Environmental & Economic Impact• Conclusion
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
• Waste on Beach - Mainly landfilled by local
authorities
- Estimated £585,000 spent
on beach cleaning in 2006
• Facilities- Few toilets and kiosks
(centralized)
- Restricted locations
Background
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTEco-Beach Concept
A framework that delivers a comprehensive approach to sustainable beach management
Key:
= Education
= Kiosk
= Composting Toilet
= Recycling Point
= Transport
= Access Route
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTProject Objectives
• Define Eco-Beach Concept
• Develop a beach classification guide
• Feasibility Study of Wind & Solar Energy
• Design a composting toilet
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTBeach Classification
Guideline for determining requirements of an
Eco-Beach.
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTBeach Classification 2
Category 1: Remote Beach, South Harris
Best Environmental option to leave beaches as they are.
Category 2: Ayr Beach
Composting Toilet, Recycling facilities, Access for disabled use, Educational notices.
Category 3: St Andrew’s (West Sands)
Composting Toilets, Recycling facilities, public transport service, Educational activities on the beach, sustainable kiosk possibility.
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTWind and Solar Power
• Wind
• PV– Good match with demand– Low intensity (and structures are small)
• Solar Water Heating– Good match with demand
Velocity Exceedence Curve for Irvine
0
2
4
6
8
10
0 50 100 150 200
time / days
velo
city
/ m
s-1
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTWind and Solar
• Structures requiring power: Kiosk, Ice Cream Van, Toilet
ApplicationElectrical Appliance
Rating
Renewable Supply Option
Area required
(m2)
Cost (£’000s)
Cooking 3 kW Biofuel N/A
Hot Water 1 kWSolar
Collector0.5
Ice Cream Maker
800 W PV 8.4 6
Cold Storage
100 W PV 1.4 1
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTSupplying Cold Storage
Fridge & Freezer Profile
0
50
100
150
200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Time (Hr)
Po
wer
Co
nsu
mp
tio
n (
W)
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTComposting Toilet
• Composting Process:
• Heat produced can result in T ~ 70oC• Composting toilets don’t achieve this
Composting Pile
Micro Organisms
Finished Product
O2
Heat
CO2H2O
Human Waste
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTComposting Toilets
• Can high temperatures be achieved?– Insulation– Optimal conditions (moisture, C:N ratio, air flow)
• Insulation requirements determined by dynamic modelling and experiments
• Conditions controlled by features of overall design
• Calorific Value ~ 25 MJ / kg
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
01020
3040
07:1
2
09:3
6
12:0
0
14:2
4
16:4
8
19:1
2
21:3
6
Time
Tem
p /
oC
Composting
• Peak heating power ~ 84 W / kg
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTESP-r Model
• Objective
• Construction
• 250W Gain – 3kg of faeces
• Airflow – 36 m3/hr
• Control – 55-70 °C
• Insulation
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTESP-r Results
• Mean temperature is 62 °C• Insulation → 10cm polystyrene
Compost temperature
Mean temperature
Ambient Temperature
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTComposting Toilet Design
Key considerations in our design• Maintaining optimum conditions for a thermophillic process• Low energy toilet• Ease of maintenance• Multifunctional• A finished product that is safe to handle
Achieving optimum conditions• Moisture control – Diverting and composting urine• Aeration – Ventilation and Exhaust powered by 10W PV panel• C:N ratio – Saw dust provides the carbon required to maintain
a C:N ratio of 30:1• Temperature – Insulating chamber with 10cm polystyrene
boards• Design of a saw dust dispenser
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
0.40
0.30 Sawdust flusher
All dimensions in meters
2.80
0.10
2.00
0.50
1.80
1.00
0.05 1.7
0
2.00
1.3
0 1.0
0
Dry urinals
Urine composter
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTBenefits of the Eco-beach Concept
Environment• Reduced energy consumption
• Pollution and nutrification reduction
• Re-use of waste, less use of landfills
• Improved environmental & sustainability awareness
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTBenefits (II)
Socio-Economic• Enhanced tourism
• More revenue for councils• Improved accessibility• Alternative uses for beach litter – waste becomes a
resource• Cost of land filling waste is reduced considerably
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTLimitations & Recommendations
• Lack of accurate data from local councils• Experimental conditions
• Design of an Eco centre for educational activities, café, shops which would be powered entirely by renewable supply
• Comprehensive cost study of waste management on the beach
• Consider other applications for the toilet
such as festivals, construction sites• Sophisticated control system
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECTConclusions
• Defined the concept of the Eco beach• Beach classification model• Solar resource most suited for the beach -
there are limitations• High temperature composting is possible
without heaters• Toilet design
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
Thank you for listening…………
Any Questions?
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
Food
Human Waste
Toilet
Compost
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT
Drinking WaterFresh Water
Energy, Chemicals
Foul Water
Human Waste
Food
Energy
Contaminated Water
Water for discharge to sea
Sludge
Anaerobic Digestion
Aerobic Digestion
Compost
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26th April 2007
ECO-BEACH PROJECTECO-BEACH PROJECT