As mentioned previously, the 2024 version of the biomeiler will have an aeration system in order to keep the oxygen level of the pile high enough to maintain aerobic decomposition. Today’s task was to build the manifold that will redirect the incoming air to the proper locations in the pile.
The aeration manifold receives air from a hose extending outside the pile. That hose is equipped with a tire inflation valve. People who do aerated composting at a large scale usually use a blower because air volume is more important than air pressure. I’m planning to use an inflator that works with tires or air mattresses because the volume of compost in my biomeiler is not very large. At present, my plan is to run the inflator only during the times I am in the coop for morning and evening chores.
The air is meant to be distributed equally to seven locations. Six of the locations will be reached with the distribution hoses. The seventh location is the center of the pile. The cap on the seventh arm of the manifold has a small hole drilled through it. My scheme was to drill a hole in the cap that is smaller than the diameter of the distribution hoses so the air flow resistance of the hole would be the same as for the air going down the length of one of the hoses.
Most of the material for the aeration system came from a soda bottle launcher I made for my offspring when they were little. I only had to buy the hose barbs and a few PVC fittings. The connection to the inflator was already made and the distribution hoses came from some 3/8” tubing left over from another project.
