Fuzzy modelling of the composting process

  • Authors:

  • E. Giusti;S. Marsili-Libelli

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Systems and Computers, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy;Department of Systems and Computers, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy

  • Venue:
  • Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Year:
  • 2010

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Composting is a solid waste treatment process consisting of the biochemical degradation of organic materials. A controlled microbial aerobic decomposition produces stabilized organic materials to be used as soil conditioners or organic fertilizers. The efficiency of this process is strongly temperature-dependent and the key to successful composting lies in the tracking of an appropriate temperature batch curve based on experience and related to a complex succession of differing microbial activities. Such a complexity is modelled in this paper with a fuzzy structure composed of clustered antecedents, describing the process regimes, and consequent linear models driven by the aeration cycle and in-cycle temperature evolution. This fuzzy model was adapted to the data by cluster training and minimization of a model/data error criterion. The calibrated model was able to describe the temperature profile during the most significant part of the composting batch.