How does the CELLRUPTOR Process work?

Sludge, containing up to 10% solids, is compressed to pressures greater than 1 bar (14.7 psig.) A gas is introduced to the sludge stream. The properties of the gas are such that the gas is soluble in the sludge stream. The gas, due to its rapid rate of diffusion across the cell walls, is transported across the cell walls as a result of the high concentration gradient between the cells’ interstitial water and the sludge stream.

Cellruptor flow chart for typical anaerobic STW

The gasified sludge stream is then depressurized. The dissolved gas within the cells increases in volume to over 1837%. This rapid, non-equilibrium decompression (RnD) causes exceedingly high shear rates and irreversible cell rupture, decreasing particle size, and releasing the interstitial water to the sludge stream. The gas is recycled to the front of the reactor and reused. The small particle size and nutrient rich, high BOD, interstitial water, when collected and recycled back to the anaerobic digester, results in a 30 to 40% increase in natural gas production.

The %solids resulting from this process increases from the conventional 18-22% to greater than 28% solids, due to the small particle size. The other major advantage of Cellruptor is that the cost of the Cellruptor equipment can be justified by a rapid pay-back period of well within two years.

The process is simple and effective in enhancing the reduction of volatile solids and increase in overall gas generation, without the energy requirement and operational problems plaguing current sonic technologies.

Cellruptor Projected Commercial Performance

Expectation of Typical Digester Performance with and without Cellruptor
Specific gas yields	-	Typical figures without Cellruptor	Typical figures with Cellruptor
(i)	m3 of digester gas/kg vs fed	0.3-0.6	0.48-0.816
(ii)	m3 of digester gas /kg vs destroyed	0.8-1.2	1.09-1.63
(iii)	m3 of digester gas/m3 of digester capacity per day	1.0-1.2	1.36-1.63
VS destruction	-	-	-
-	typical VS reduction by anaerobic digestion	45%	61%

For further information on CELLRUPTOR and the trials, please contact Clive Rigden.