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How Composting Works |
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Working like the compost
heap in the backyard, but odorlessly and much faster, Sun-Mar toilets break
down human waste and toilet paper through the natural process of
decomposition. Because most of this waste is evaporated, only a very limited
quantity of finished compost is produced. |
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ODOR FREE
The engineered airflow within Sun-Mar units ensures that a partial vacuum is maintained within the unit at all times. Air is drawn in by a fan, or on non-electric units by the vent chimney, over the evaporating chamber and up the vent stack. Not only does this evaporate excess liquid, but, by continuously pulling air in we ensure no smell escapes from the unit.
In addition, the tumbling action of the composting drum results in such a moist and beautifully oxygenated compost that an aerobic breakdown takes place which is both fast and odourless. Breakdown is odourless because aerobic microbes produce only carbon dioxide and water vapour, quite unlike the unpleasant anaerobic smell often found in a septic tank, outhouse, or backyard compost.
MICROBES AND THE Bio-drumTM
Sun-Mar's unique Bio-drumTM has been developed to provide the optimum conditions for aerobic composting. Using a Bio-drumTM, Sun-Mar has been able to ensure that the compost in the drum is maintained in the moist, warm, well mixed, oxygen rich condition which aerobic bacteria need for optimum performance.
Sun-Mar has also found that the use of a Bio-drumTM avoids the anaerobic activity which occurs wherever there is insufficient oxygen. This is important because anaerobic activity is slow and produces offensive odours.
The use of this revolutionary Bio-drumTM results in composting speeds double those of the old single chamber units with mechanical mixers.
START UP AND USE
Sun-Mar units require
very little maintenance. Peat moss should be added at the rate of one cupful
per 
person per day. Toilet paper is
decomposed easily by Sun-mar units and should be added as usual. The compost
should be mixed and aerated every third day (or at the end of the weekend)
while the toilet is in use, simply by turning the drum handle and rotating the
drum 4-6 complete revolutions. In cottage use, some composted material may only
need to be extracted in the spring. In residential or commercial use extraction
will be more frequent.
WINTER USE
Sun-Mar makes its units out of fibreglass and marine grade stainless-steel, so freezing temperatures will do no damage even if the compost freezes in the drum. Composting action decreases with temperature, so for extended winter use, the unit should be kept at a minimum temperature of about 13-15 os C and all piping should be well insulated. For periodic use in winter, the toilet may be used as a holding tank, until the compost warms up, and the microbes emerge from dormancy. Electric units should be plugged in on arrival so the ventilation system is working and there will be no odor. When the compost is frozen, the drum should not be rotated.
Sun-MAR’s Three Chamber System
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A composting toilet must complete three separate processes.
Each of these tasks
needs a different set of conditions to work optimally. The answer: SUN-MARS unique Three-Chamber System. This concept of building a separate chamber tailored to each specific task proved to be incredibly effective. It is the philosophy behind every SUN-MAR toilet designed since 1979. |
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Legend 1. Fan |
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Operating A Sun-Mar
Operating a SUN-MAR is easy. Begin by adding some peat mix bulking material and some top soil and/or SUN-MAR "Microbe Mix" to the Bio-drum. (Both bulking material and Microbe Mix are included with all units).
Now use your SUN-MAR just as you
would a regular toilet. Toilet paper needs no special treatment. It is easily
decomposed in a SUN-MAR.
For ongoing maintenance add a cupful of peat mixed half and half with untreated wood shavings periodically at the rate of one cupful per person per day of use. When in use, turn the drum handle to rotate the Bio-drum 4-6 revolutions every third day. For weekend use, just turn the drum when you leave at the end of the weekend.
Removing compost is equally easy. Release the drum lock to rotate the drum backwards. The drum door remains open, and compost drops into the finishing drawer. In cottage use, some composted material is usually only taken out in the Spring to make room for next year's operation. In heavy, or residential use, some compost will need to be dropped down into the finishing drawer more often.
Excess moisture is removed automatically from the drum
into the evaporating chamber through a screen in the rear of the drum.
The super aeration in the Bio-drum ensures an aerobic and therefore odourless
breakdown of the compost.
Odour Free
As well as ensuring an aerobic breakdown in the Bio-drum,
SUN-MAR ensures an door free environment by engineering the air flow within the
unit to maintain a partial vacuum at all times.
Air is being drawn in either by a fan (or on non-electric units by the vent chimney) over the evaporating chamber and up the vent stack. Not only does this evaporate excess liquid, but, by continuously pulling air in we ensure no smell escapes from the unit.
Evaporation is assisted on electric units by a thermostatically controlled heater in a sealed compartment underneath the evaporating chamber.
The
Composting Chamber
The Evaporating Chamber
The Compost Finishing Drawer
The ideal environment for composting is warm, moist and
oxygen rich.
SUN-MAR creates this environment in the patented Bio-drum.
· Waste and peat moss bulking material enters through a port in the top of the drum.
· Waste is held in the corn Post by the mass of material inside the drum. By using indirect heat, the compost does not dry out prematurely.
· The drum is periodically rotated by turning a handle on the side or front of the units. As it rotates, a door in the top of the drum closes automatically.
· This tumbling action supplies oxygen throughout the compost for use by aerobic bacteria. Tumbling also thoroughly mixes the compost and distributes moisture evenly.
· Compost needs to be kept moist (between 40% and 60% moisture content is ideal) but not saturated, as too much liquid can drive out essential oxygen.
SPACESAVER /COMPACT/EXCEL/CENTREX only
· Excess liquid, if any is drained through a screen at the rear of the drum directly into the evaporating chamber.
· Compost is extracted from the Bio-drum by releasing a drum lock and rotating the drum backwards. As it does, some compost drops through the open drum door in the Bio-drum directly into the compost finishing drawer.
· After rotating, the Bio-drum locks in a top dead center position ready to receive new material
CENTREX 3000 Units Only
· Excess liquid, if any, is drained through two screens at the rear of the primary section, directly into the evaporating chamber.
· The waste breaks down and flows gradually to the end of the primary section where it moves through a divider and into the secondary section of the drum.
· Here the composting is substantially completed. When this secondary section becomes half-full, the compost begins to drop into the first finishing drawer at the end of the unit.
· If ever necessary, compost can be removed directly from the Bio-drum. Normally when the drum is being rotated to mix the compost, the drum doors in both primary and secondary chambers are closed. If the drum lock is released, the drum can be rotated backwards. Now the door in the secondary section remains open and compost will drop into the second finishing drawer inside the unit.
· After rotating, the Bio-drum locks in a top dead center position ready to receive new material.
Compost must be kept moist but not saturated. The ideal environment for evaporating any excess liquid is a large surface area combined with heat and moving air. SUN-MAR meets these criteria in the evaporating chamber.
- Any liquid not absorbed by the compost in the drum drains through the screen directly into the evaporating chamber.
- On some models (CENTREX) the liquid falls first onto a evaporating tray before going onto the main evaporating surface. This tray helps oxygenate the liquid, trap any peat moss debris, and maximize the evaporating surface.
- For optimum results evaporation is assisted on 220 Volt electric models by a thermostatically controlled heating element (CENTREX 3000 units have two heaters). Sealed in a compartment underneath the evaporating chamber, the heater (or heaters) warms the floor of the evaporating chamber without drying out the compost. On CENTREX 3000 units, either or both of these heaters can be turned on or off.
- Where there are evaporating trays beneath the drum screen, these can be removed and cleaned if necessary through the drawer opening (CENTREX units).
The compost finishing drawer serves two functions: to receive the compost in an easily-accessible isolated container, and complete the composting and sanitation processes.
· Compost drops directly into the finishing drawer when the drum is rotated backwards (forwards on the Centrex 3000).
· Composting can be completed in the drawer, where it is isolated from fresh waste and possible contamination.
· While in the drawer, the compost is surrounded by a stream of drying air, and gradually dries prior to removal.
· The pull out finishing drawer is removed by hand (no tools or screws are needed), and the sanitized compost may be emptied whenever more compost is to be extracted from the drum.
· For seasonal units, several drawers may be removed in the Spring, reducing the compost level in the drum to 100mm-150mm to make room for next year’s operation.