Disintegration technology for biogas and sewage treatment plants
Electrokinetic or mechanical disintegration methods for optimized processes

Efficient disintegration technology reduces the costs of sewage treatment and biogas plants while improving results. By using Vogelsang technology to digest sludge or substrate, the gas yields of sewage treatment and biogas plants can be optimized. This is complemented by reduced power consumption of mixers, pumps, decanters and other components. In the waste water sector, the disintegration of sewage sludge also leads to less sludge accumulation and a lesser need for flocculants (polymers) when dewatering the sludge.

Vogelsang offers the following methods:

  • Electrokinetic disintegration using the BioCrack: In this electrokinetic method, the medium flows through a high voltage field which breaks up the medium's structures.
  • Mechanical disintegration using the DisRuptor: In this mechanical method, external forces reduce the size of the medium's particles and increase their surface area. In the case of the DisRuptor, this is achieved through grinding up and defibering the solid matter in the medium.

Disintegration and its benefits

By disintegrating the medium, its particles are attacked and broken into individual fragments, defibered and crushed to create a larger surface area. This increases the scope for bacteria and microorganisms to attack as they can get to the nutrients easier and better. When applied during the production of gas at biogas plants or sewage treatment plants, this method increases gas and electricity yields and organic matter in sludge and organic suspensions is broken down better.

Functional principle of electrokinetic disintegration

Disintegration using the BioCrack makes it easier for bacteria to reach nutrients in sludge or suspensions. It also boosts enzyme activity. A pump conveys the medium through the treatment chamber of the electrokinetic disintegration system. A high voltage field is generated here. As the medium flows through the module, the electrostatic forces shred the flocculent structures and clumps such as aggregates and colloids made up of dead organic matter and bacteria. This makes the nutrients significantly more accessible to the fermenting bacteria. At the same time, enzyme activity is boosted, leading to better cell disruption; organic matter is converted and broken down better.

This effect can be intensified both in waste water treatment and biogas production by adding a shredding unit upstream. When combined with a heavy material separator like the RotaCut and DebrisCatcher, the system is also protected against foreign matter such as stones and metal parts.

Treating solid matter using mechanical disintegration

Mechanical disintegration of substrates increases the surface area of the solid matter used by reducing the size of the particles, and at the same time defibering and crushing the solid matter. This makes it easier for the bacteria to get to the nutrients and speeds up the chemical reaction, which increases gas yields.

The positive side effects of mechanical substrate disintegration using the DisRuptor are countless. Floating layers in the biogas plant are avoided and the viscosity of the organic suspension reduced. This means that less power is required and therefore consumed by the mixers and pumps. By opting for Vogelsang's disintegration technology, customers can optimize their biogas plants to achieve greater yields and lower energy consumption.