Automatic Feeding
Black Swan
Innovate with multi-stage AD — in the lab
The Black Swan
Our flagship modular platform, Black Swan, enables replication of multi-stage continuous AD processes at the lab scale. With interchangeable 1L, 2L, 5L, and 10L reactors available, each with individual heating, mixing, and recirculation capability, users can precisely simulate complex digestion systems including two-stage, thermophilic-mesophilic, and post-digestion configurations.
Black Swan supports full customisation of HRT, temperature regimes, and flow pathways, making it ideal for advanced research into microbial dynamics, volatile fatty acid control, nutrient recovery and new pathways such as hydrogen production. It offers industrial-grade insight at a fraction of the cost of full-scale or pilot-scale systems, serving as a cost-effective yet sophisticated alternative for pilot studies and technology validation.
Open source data logging
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.
Multiple stages
Multi-stage AD gives you the ability to conduct complex studies into thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digestion conditions.
Modular design
Reactors can be set up in whichever order you like. Different experiments require different designs, so you can rearrange the order of your reactors.
Configurable
With multiple different access ports, we offer pH and redox probes. Enquire if you have custom requests.
Individual control
Each reactor (1st and 2nd stage) has its own mixer and heater jacket, so you have complete control over the conditions inside each reactor.
Four 1st Stage Reactors
you have the freedom to test different feedstocks, conditions, or additives
Four 2nd Stage Reactors
perform advanced research into microbial dynamics, volatile fatty acid control and nutrient recovery
Four Automatic Feeders
experiment with up to 4 different feeding rates at once and adjust to find the optimal OLR
Inside the Black Swan
4x 1st Stage Reactors
The robust stainless steel reactors provide the non-reactive environment for anaerobic digestion. Enquire for different reactor volumes.
4x 2nd Stage Reactors
TODO — the live Wix site repeats the agitator motor text here by mistake. Correct copy needed from the client.
1L 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 |
|---|---|
| Number of reactors | 8 (4 per stage) |
| Number of automatic feeders | 4 |
| Stages of AD | 2 (extra stages possible) |
| Reactor volume | 1 / 2 / 5 / 10 L |
| Effluent bottle | 1 L |
| Temperature control | Ambient – 85°C |
| Agitators and mixers | Agitators 900 rpm, mixers 20 rpm |
| Mixer motor | 24V DC |
|---|---|
| Heater jacket | 110V AC, 150W |
| PLC control screen | 110V AC |
| Data logger | Arduino, 9V DC |
Optional extras
- Further stages (up to 4)
- Reactor sizes (1, 2, 5, 10L)