In the process of organic fertilizer production, composting machines are core equipment, and their energy consumption accounts for a significant proportion of the overall operating costs. According to relevant data statistics, for some large-scale organic fertilizer production enterprises, the energy consumption of composting machines can even reach 30% – 40% of the total operating costs. Reducing energy consumption can not only directly reduce production costs and improve the economic benefits of enterprises, but also conform to the global environmental protection trend of energy conservation and emission reduction, which is of great significance to promoting the sustainable development of the industry.

1. Sources of energy consumption in various operating links of organic fertilizer composting machines

① Energy consumption of stirring system

Stirring is a key operation to ensure that the materials in the composting machine are evenly mixed and the microorganisms are fully exposed to nutrients. However, high-power stirring motors run continuously and consume a lot of electricity. Especially when handling high-viscosity materials, the stirring resistance increases and the energy consumption further increases. For example, the power of traditional stirring motors often reaches tens of kilowatts, the daily operating time is long, and the cumulative power consumption is considerable.

② Energy consumption of temperature control system

Suitable temperature is a necessary condition for organic fertilizer fermentation. Heating or cooling equipment is frequently started and stopped to maintain a stable temperature in the composting machine, which consumes a lot of energy. Continuous heating is required in winter, and cooling is required in summer. The energy consumption of the temperature control system cannot be ignored.

③ Energy consumption of the ventilation system

The fermentation process requires sufficient oxygen supply, and the ventilation equipment is constantly running to send fresh air into the tank and discharge exhaust gas. The fan power and running time determine the energy consumption of the ventilation system. Unreasonable ventilation strategies will lead to energy waste.

2. Application of existing energy-saving technologies and equipment in organic fertilizer composting machines

① Application of energy-saving motors

Replacing traditional stirring motors with high-efficiency energy-saving motors can significantly reduce the energy consumption of the stirring system. Energy-saving motors are more efficient and can output greater torque at the same power, reducing energy loss. For example, after a company replaced energy-saving motors, the energy consumption of the stirring system was reduced by 15% – 20%.

② The role of the intelligent temperature control system

The intelligent temperature control system uses sensors to monitor the temperature in the tank in real time and accurately control the operation of heating or cooling equipment. It avoids temperature fluctuations and over-adjustments of traditional temperature control systems, effectively saving energy.

③Optimize ventilation system design

By rationally designing the layout of ventilation ducts, selecting high-efficiency energy-saving fans, and accurately controlling the ventilation volume according to the fermentation stage, the energy consumption of the ventilation system can be reduced. For example, by using variable frequency fans, the speed can be adjusted according to actual needs to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

3. Discussion on the energy-saving development direction of organic fertilizer composting machines in the future

In the future, with the advancement of science and technology, renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy are expected to be more applied to composting machines. For example, in areas with sufficient sunlight, solar photovoltaic power generation can be used to power composting machines. At the same time, more advanced intelligent control systems will achieve all-round and precise control of the fermentation process, further tap the energy-saving potential, and promote the organic fertilizer composting machine industry to develop in a more efficient and energy-saving direction.