Plant Combined Simulation for Compost Production starting from Sewage Sludge
From Proceeding of Summer Computer Simulation Conference,SCSC95, Ottawa, July 24-26 1994
Pietro Giribone, Agostino G.Bruzzone, P. Cereda, R.F. Dell'Acqua, Domenico Rivarolo

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THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

The logic used to reproduce the production process layout uses a stack-push type of approach. The raw material purchase orders are generated and then produce an input flow in the system that corresponds to the arrival of trucks. The decision system, based on the set production value, decides whether to insert the new loads immediately into the cycle or to store them temporarily in special areas.
The availability of spaces in the yard is predefined, but the decision system can change the assignment of each SO area, assigning it to receive different types of products (cellulose material to be chipped, crushed, ready, compost to be screened, recycled compost, compost ready to be sold, etc.).
Once inserted into the production cycle, the materials are mixed by a machine that combines their characteristics and placed on a conveyor belt to load the accelerated maturation composting aisles.
Once this phase of the process has been completed, bulldozers move the compost in the yards where maturation is completed. During the time the material remains in the yard, the piles are mixed to guarantee homogeneous oxygenation of the compost and uniform maturation.
Once this phase is completed, the product is transferred to the screening are where a part of the cellulose materials is re-used for the recirculation as a binder, while the part that passes the control goes to the final storage area where it is ready to be sold.
Subsequent controls on samples may indicate that the product must remain in the maturing area to complete the maturation process and thus help to obtain a special compost quality or to sell it directly.