In order to select the most optimum parameters for running heat recuperation process from aerobic composting process, three testing stages were run involving the registration of the value of recuperated heat volume and the observation of cooling impact on composting process parameters. The values of thermal conductivity coefficient were measured as a function of compost temperature, density and age. The values ranged from 0.171 to 0.300 W/mK. The optimum parameters for process running were selected. Basing on them it was estimated how much heat will be possible to recuperate during the composting process on industrial scale using a battery of heat exchangers. For artificially aerated pile with the following dimensions: lower base 8 m, upper base 5 m, height 3.5 m, length 3 m; it will be possible to recuperate approximately 7.4 kW (from 1 m2 of heat exchanger surface - 774 W).

The objective of the project was to find out whether the composting process of municipal waste may be used as a low temperature heat source. It was determined that during high temperature phase of the process on average 930.5 kJ of heat is produced per kg of compost. The designed and made laboratory model was used for carrying out three stages of testing, boiling down to running the composting process with parallel heat recuperation from the process. Basing on the tests, the parameters having affecting the heat recuperation process effectiveness were determined, viz.: optimum initial temperature of cooling water should be approximately 30°C, the reduction of flow rate of the cooling water has advantageous impact on the increase of process efficiency, whereas the safe temperature lower limit for compost cooling should be higher than 52°C (which safeguards compost sanitary purity). It was also observed that in parallel to compost age heat recuperation process efficiency is declining.