The production of biogas as a renewable energy source is currently very important, which is why the number of agricultural biogas plants with fermentation of organic substrates (renewable raw materials, slurry, etc.) is steadily increasing. Although fermenters in agricultural biogas plants are dimensioned with longer retention times, the speed-determining hydrolysis step also has to be overcome here. Sonication of the active bacterial biomass from the fermenter or secondary fermenter with ultrasound has proven to be an effective solution. The result is intensified anaerobic degradation with increased biogas production and in general higher methane content.

Thanks to high-power ultrasound technology, it is possible to affect the disintegration of biomass as a result of cavitation, the forces of which are capable of destroying every robust surface. High-intensity ultrasound is used to tear apart water molecules during the rarefaction phase, which results in the formation of microscopically small voids in the liquid. These voids become bubbles filled with water vapour or gas. They grow in extension phases and shrink in compression phases until they implode. This event is called cavitation, a process under extreme (adiabatic) conditions.

Buse ultrasound systems are used in agricultural biogas plants to intensify anaerobic biological degradation of all kinds of added biomass materials, such as, renewable raw materials, maize, green waste, slurry, etc.. Ultrasound usually either enables an increase in biogas production with unchanged substrate supply or saves biomass added without losses in biogas production.

Our complete systems using high- performance ultrasound for increasing efficiency and energy generation in biogas plants. It was developed in 2011 within the scope of a ZIM (Central innovation program for small and medium–sized businesses) project. Over the years, our high- performance ultrasound systems have been installed in many biogas and waste fermentation plants nationally and internationally in order to promote the intensification of the anaerobic biomass fermentation.