Thermal balance model for composting process was developed to determine variations of heat loss components (conduction, convection and latent heat loss) during the process. Substrate decomposition was also modeled in order to measure biological heat production. Latent heat of water evaporation was predicted with absolute moisture content of outlet gases. Estimation of organics degradation was developed with a reaction kinetics structure of previous work. Lab scale experiments were carried out to verify the model. Simulation results were consistent with experimental data. The model could be a useful tool to analysis thermal balance process and to detect the efficiency of insulation layer during the composting. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.