Jean Pain questions for heating polytunnel

HI Permies.

I have a question about Jean Pain methods.

I want to experiment with underfloor heating in a small part of my polytunnel. I have gathered a fair amount of wood chips. Jean Pain's method was anaerobic to also produce methane to cook with it. I don't want to produce methane because I can't harvest it. (greenhouse gas) there for I understand that I need to try and make it aerobic.

How would that affect the heat of the compost heap?

Would it get hotter and last less long?

What is the best C/N ratio?

CAn anyone recommend me a good pump for a water pipe 20mm thick and circulating water in a 30m pipe?

Thank you

Ludwig

we have a 15ft diameter pile that is 8 ft high, it has wood chips and very little manure. the pile has 2000ft of polypipe going through the pile. water goes in at 35-50 degrees and comes out around 150-160f. the pile has been hot for about 18 months. and is still going. we dont even try to keep it hot, i think size has a lot to do with this. if it was small it would be done for months ago.


cant help on the pump sorry.

That's exciting that it does work Jordan. Thanks for your reply.

Do you have 2000 feet of waterpipe in it? Wow thats a lot. What diameter? Do you simply use the upwards power of the hot water?

His piles weren't anaerobic. He had a container inside the pile that generated the methane. The pile is just like a normal compost pile with a higher C/N. If all you can get is chips adding nitrogen will make it work much more effectively. He used shredded wood and that has a much higher surface area which causes a much quicker breakdown and a faster heat buildup.