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Caterpillar/Hungry Caterpillar
10 automatically-fed reactors for AD research
Single stage Caterpillar
What's included:
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10x1L Caterpillar Set
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PLC Control Panel
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15-Cell Gas Flow Meter
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Arduino Data Logger
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1-Year Warranty
Optional modifications:
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Larger reactor sizes (enquire)
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Pressure valve for higher pressures inside reactor
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PH probe
All for £30500
Compare the biogas production of various non-fibrous substances, or the effects of additives, with the 10 automatically-fed 1L reactors. 1L reactors are optimised for high through-put testing of homogenous substances such as liquid food waste or industrial effluents.
With 10 reactors there are countless configurations of variables you can test, such as different OLRs, types of feedstocks, additives... Our automatic feeding technology ensures that these tests are as close to the operation of a full-scale plant as you can achieve in your lab, giving you applicable and significant data.
After the initial setup, simply top up your feeding syringe when it runs out (~ weekly), and empty your effluent bottles to prevent pressure building in your reactor (~2x/week).
Replicate industrial anaerobic digestion as closely as possible by using real feedstocks, as oppose to dilutions or synthetic mixes. The robust stainless steel reactors withstand all feedstocks.
10x 1L Reactors
you have the freedom to test different feedstocks, conditions, or additives. 1L reactors are well suited to low total solid feedstocks (<12%)
2 Automatic Feeders
experiment with different feeding rates, to model your response to changes in gas production
The robust stainless steel reactors provide the non-reactive environment for anaerobic digestion. Enquire for different reactor volumes.
The easily removable effluent bottle collects the excess digestate to avoid pressure build ups and spillages.
10x 1L Reactors
250ml Effluent Bottle
Automatic Feeder Syringe
The patented feeder syringe feeds the reactor at your programmed rate. It prevents backflow from the reactor and a full syringe feeds for about a week.
Mixer motor
Each reactor comes with a 20 rpm motor which constantly mixes the inside of the reactors.
Heater Jacket
The custom fit heater jackets maintain a consistent, programmable temperature inside the reactor.
Agitator Motor
To ensure homogenous feed, the agitator mixes the feedstock coming up from the feeding syringe.
Custom 15-cell gas flow meter measures gas production in ~10ml increments (subject to calibration)
Our open source Arduino data logger records and stores the gas production data measured by the gas flow meter. When an event happens in the gas flow meter, a reed switch circuit is closed which is logged by the data logger. The BMP280 pressure sensor and thermocouple inform the data logger to automatically convert any gas volumes to STP. Data is easily extracted at any time through USB connection with any computer.