| Popis: |
Disposal of birds that result from normal production mortality is a daily problem for poultry producers. This study investigated heated anaerobic digesters as a means of dead bird disposal. Three concrete septic tanks were used for digesters. During two test periods, two of the tanks were heated to approximately 35 C and one of the heated tanks was mixed. The third tank served as a control and was neither heated nor mixed. During Period 1, the heated and mixed tank was loaded with shredded carcasses while the other two tanks received whole carcasses. During Period 2 each tank was loaded with shredded carcasses. During Period 1 the heated, nonmixed digester and the heated, mixed digester exhibited solids removal rates that were 102 and 168% higher, respectively, than the control. During Period 2 the solids removal rates were 25 and 192% higher than the control in the heated, nonmixed digester and the heated, mixed digester, respectively. For each test period, energy requirements for the heated systems compared favorably with incineration. |
