Final Project

Concept

Initial Concepts

First, Second, Third concept

Explanation of the first concept

My final project is making a device that turns food waste into compost. The device will use an EM solution together to ferment food waste and minimize the smell. The EM solution is Micro-oganisms undiluted solution, which is effective in eliminating odors and ultimately serves as a soil by fermenting food waste. We will make a device that injects adequate soil into food waste and sprays EM solution, adding a device that will maintain the appropriate temperature for fermentation. It will then be equipped with sensors that can check the internal capacity and temperature so that it can be checked through an external LED panel. Inside, there will also be a drainage system to moisten food waste, and a mixture of solution and EM solution from food waste will be added to the idea for use elsewhere. The compost made here will be used for small fields or pots in the home.

Explanation of the second concept

I will make this device for home use. In the device,I will make several cylinders for putting food waste so that it can be fermented within. The cover will be made a room for restoring soil and EM(Effective Micro-oganisms) solutions and they will automatically shoot when I put food waste in it. Out-put-sensors check the temperature inside the cylinder and in-put-sensors check the volume of the volume, and their readings will be output via an external LED panel. An internal cylinder container will be inserted to make it easier to remove from the space in which the food is placed and there will be a drain hole on its bottom. And I will make room for the drained moisture to collect on the floor.

Explanation of the third concept

A design concept was added to create a part that can remove the decomposed contents inside. In addition, I designed a concept in which microbial solutions can be sprayed on their own.

A Lot of Brainstorming in the Middle

Types of food waste shredders & decomposers

  1. Food waste shredder installed in the sink (crushed and dumped in sewage)

    Advantage : It is convenient to dispose of food waste in the sink.

    Disadvantage : It can lead to contamination of sewage.

  2. Hot-air dry food dryer (dry food to reduce volume.)

    Advantage : It can greatly reduce the volume of food waste.

    Disadvantage : Food waste should be collected and thrown away separately.

  3. Crushing dry food waste shredder (dry food waste after grinding it with blades.)

    Advantage : This shredder can break down bones or eggshells that are difficult to break down in different kinds of food shredders.

    Disadvantage : Can be dangerous because of the use of blades, and there is a risk of the blade being damaged. This product should also be thrown away separately.

  4. Food decomposer using microorganisms

    Advantages : Food waste can be decomposed using microorganisms and used as nutritional compost. It can reduce environmental pollution.

    Disadvantage : It takes a long time.

There is no way to reuse food waste except for food waste decomposers using microorganisms. The results from other food waste shredders & decomposers will go back to the food waste field and undergo decomposition. So I decided to make a food waste cracker that could be disassembled and made into compost.

Things Needed to Decompose Food Waste Using Microorganisms

As can be seen in the graph above(Reference Site), microbes begin to decompose food waste at a certain temperature, so the decomposer needs a heater to raise the internal temperature to a certain temperature. And it needs a mixing part to mix microorganisms and food waste evenly.
  1. Heater
  2. Mixing part
  3. Temperature sensor

And additional things

  1. Soil humidity sensor
  2. Sensor to check how full the contents are
  3. LED panel that can show these information

What Microorganisms Will be Used?

First, I saw the effect of EM solution after watching this video, and decided to use EM solution that is relatively easy to obtain in Korea.

What is EM solution?

EM solutions are readily available because they are distributed free of charge in local districts or cities.

EM solutions can be purchased cheaply.

But this machine is not just for EM solutions. It is a machine that can be used with other microorganisms. Only my first target is an EM solution.