Caterpillar
10 automatically-fed reactors for AD research
The Caterpillar is designed for high throughput, continuous, anaerobic digestion research. All 10 reactors are fully automatically fed, allowing the user to test and compare different feedstocks, OLR/retention time, additives, and more.
- Continuous operation.
- Fully automatic feeding.
- Gas production automatically measured.
1-year warranty included, with technical support beyond it
- 10 parallel reactors
- Software and PLC included
- 2 automatic feeding rates
- ~1x week feedstock top up
Compare the long‑term effects of:
- Feedstocks: suited to low total solids feedstocks (<12%), compare the gas production of different feed.
- OLR/retention time: with two automatic feeders, you can configure the feeding rate, so you can replicate the feeding routine of a full scale plant.
- Additives: test the effect of additives on gas production, between reactors.
across 10 parallel reactors.
Fully automatic feeding.
- Reduce daily handling — each feeder typically requires refilling only once per week.
- Replicate the feeding schedule of real AD plants.
- Program feeding intervals and organic loading rate directly from the control system.
- Two independent feeders let you compare different loading strategies simultaneously.
Key features
Ten 1 L reactors
Compare feedstocks, additives and operating conditions across ten parallel reactors.
Two automatic feeding rates
Set two independent feeding rates to test different organic loading rates and retention times.
Temperature control
Maintain your chosen reactor temperature with programmable heater jackets.
Continuous operation
Feed automatically and collect excess digestate for long-term experiments.
Mixing and Agitation
Dedicated mixer motors mix the reactor contents, while agitators homogenise the incoming feed.
Sampling ports
Access reactor contents for sampling during your experiments.
Automatic gas measurement
Measure and record gas production automatically using the included gas flow meter and data logger.
Software and PLC included
Configure feeding through the PLC control panel and use the included software to work with your data.
Inside the Caterpillar
10x 1L Reactors
The robust stainless steel reactors provide the non-reactive environment for anaerobic digestion. Enquire for different reactor volumes.
250ml Effluent Bottle
The easily removable effluent bottle collects the excess digestate to avoid pressure build ups and spillages.
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.
Technical Specification
| Feeding type | Automatic |
|---|---|
| Reactors, 1st stage | 10 |
| Reactors, 2nd stage | 0 |
| Number of automatic feeders | 2 |
| Reactor volume | 1 L |
| Gas flow meter | 15-cell |
| Effluent bottle | 0.25 L |
| Temperature control | Ambient – 85°C |
| Agitators and mixers | Agitators 900 rpm, mixers 20 rpm |
| Mixer motor | 24V DC |
|---|---|
| Heater jacket | 110V AC, 85W |
| PLC control screen | 110V AC |
| Data logger | Arduino, 9V DC |
Optional extras
- Larger reactor sizes (enquire)
- Pressure valve for higher pressures inside reactor
- pH probe
Frequently asked questions
What warranty and support come with the Caterpillar?
The Caterpillar comes with a one-year warranty, starting from the date of delivery. It applies when the instrument is installed and used as the manual describes. After the warranty ends, we're still happy to help with questions and troubleshooting: we want your instruments running and collecting data.