FREMONT, CA — Power Knot LLC, the market leader in on-site organic waste management solutions, today announced the availability of Rice Mode, a new software feature for its line of LFC® biodigesters. Rice Mode ensures smooth digestion of high-absorbency foods such as rice, pasta, bread, and beans without causing unnecessary stoppages in the machine.

The LFC biodigester digests food waste using microorganisms, oxygen, and water, converting waste into environmentally safe water that flows to the sewer system. Under normal operation, the machine halts if the weight of waste inside the drum exceeds a set maximum. This limitation exists to protect the chassis and transmission of the machine and prevent the possibility of damage or injury to personnel.

However, when high-absorbency foods are added, they rapidly soak up water and can temporarily appear to overload the machine. Rice Mode allows the LFC biodigester to continue operating under a higher temporary weight limit for a configurable period of time, after which normal safeguards resume.

“Rice Mode addresses a real-world challenge faced in commercial kitchens,” said Iain Milnes, President of Power Knot. “This feature ensures kitchens can dispose of large amounts of rice or pasta without the biodigester shutting down unnecessarily, while maintaining the safety of the transmission and motor.”

Key features of Rice Mode include:

  • Configurable higher weight limit and time duration
  • Automatic reversion to standard operating limits after expiration
  • Option to automatically re-engage after new waste is added
  • Local configuration from the touchscreen by an authorized administrator
  • Alerts when thresholds are exceeded, ensuring safe operation

Rice Mode is available immediately on all LFC-VI and later biodigester. Customers with existing installations can enable the feature through a software update and configure parameters via the built-in color touchscreen.

The LFC biodigester processes between 10 kg (25 lb) and 6000 kg (13,200 lb) of waste food per day, making them ideal for commercial kitchens, cruise ships, hotels, universities, and food service providers worldwide. Power Knot is currently supplying the LFC-IX, its ninth generation machines.

About Power Knot LLC

Power Knot LLC designs, develops, and manufactures innovative on-site waste management solutions that help organizations reduce their environmental impact. With a focus on sustainability, Power Knot’s products are used globally across various industries, including hospitality, food service, and industrial sectors. All products are designed and manufactured in Silicon Valley, California.