Cell Lysis¶

Cell lysis / homogenizer unit. Uses the Hetherington correlation R = 1 - exp(-k * N * P^alpha) to compute the release fraction R for each intracellular compound (per-compound k and alpha via default suggestions based on MW). The resulting fraction is routed to the Lysate outlet; the complement is routed to the Debris outlet along with the biomass compound itself.

DWSIM.UnitOperations.UnitOperations.UnitOp_CellLysis
Assembly DWSIM.UnitOperations.dll · Object ← BaseClass ← UnitOpBaseClass ← UnitOp_CellLysis

At a glance¶

Cell Lysis in the example flowsheet

Port	Index	Connected in the example
Inlet, material	`0`	Broth
Outlet, material	`0`	Lysate
Outlet, material	`1`	Debris

Example¶

This code runs on every build of this site, and the output below is what it printed.

Python

# Casein stands in for the intracellular protein.
fs = (Flowsheet.Create("CellLysisExample")
      .WithCompounds("Water", "Biomass_Ecoli", "Casein", "Glucose")
      .WithPropertyPackage(PropertyPackages.NRTL))

broth = (fs.AddMaterialStream("Broth")
         .At(Q.Celsius(10.0), Q.Bar(1.5))
         .SetCompoundMassFlow("Water", 0.880)              # kg/s
         .SetCompoundMassFlow("Biomass_Ecoli", 0.100)
         .SetCompoundMassFlow("Casein", 0.015)
         .SetCompoundMassFlow("Glucose", 0.005))
lysate = fs.AddMaterialStream("Lysate")
debris = fs.AddMaterialStream("Debris")

hph = (fs.AddCellLysis("HPH-1")
       .WithTechnology(LysisTechnology.HighPressureHomogenizer)
       .WithPressureMPa(20.0)
       .WithPasses(2)
       .WithBiomassCompound("Biomass_Ecoli")
       .ConnectFeed(broth, 0)
       .ConnectProduct(lysate, 0)
       .ConnectProduct(debris, 1))
# Hetherington: R = 1 - exp(-k N P^alpha). The correlation applies on its own only to
# macromolecules above 5 kDa, so the protein gets the release from the same correlation.
release = hph.Object.HetheringtonRelease()
hph.WithReleaseFraction("Casein", release)

fs.AutoLayout()
fs.Solve()

protein_out = lysate.Object.Phases[0].Compounds["Casein"].MassFlow
print(f"Hetherington release = {release * 100.0:.1f} %")
print(f"Protein in lysate    = {protein_out * 3600.0:.1f} kg/h")
print(f"Lysate flow          = {hph.Object.Result_LysateMass_kgs:.4f} kg/s")
print(f"Debris flow          = {hph.Object.Result_DebrisMass_kgs:.4f} kg/s")

Output

Hetherington release = 97.3 %
Protein in lysate    = 52.5 kg/h
Lysate flow          = 0.8996 kg/s
Debris flow          = 0.1004 kg/s

DWSIM 10.2.11.0, generated 2026-10-08.

Properties¶

IDs accepted by GetPropertyValue, SetPropertyValue, the sensitivity analysis, the optimizer, the Adjust block and dynamic events. Units are SI; pass another unit system to GetPropertyValue to get them converted.

ID	Unit (SI)	Input
`Technology`	-	yes
`Passes`	-	yes
`Pressure`	MPa	yes
`Hetherington k`	-	yes
`Hetherington alpha`	-	yes
`Biomass Compound`	-	yes
`Default Release Fraction`	-	yes
`Ultrasound Power Density`	W/mL	result
`Ultrasound Time`	s	result
`Ultrasound k`	-	result
`Ultrasound Beta`	-	result
`Feed Mass`	kg/s	result
`Lysate Mass`	kg/s	result
`Debris Mass`	kg/s	result
`Overall Release`	-	result

Learn more¶

User guide
- Cell Lysis / High-Pressure Homogenizer
FluentAPI
- Bioprocess.CellLysisBuilder

API members¶

Public members declared by this class. Inherited members are documented on the base classes.

Constructors¶

UnitOp_CellLysis(): Initializes a new default instance of the UnitOp_CellLysis class.

Initializes a new default instance of the UnitOp_CellLysis class.

C#VB.NET

public UnitOp_CellLysis()

Public Sub New()

UnitOp_CellLysis(string, string): Initializes a new instance of the UnitOp_CellLysis class with a name and description.

Initializes a new instance of the UnitOp_CellLysis class with a name and description.

Parameter	Type	Description
`name`	`String`	The name of this unit operation.
`description`	`String`	A brief description of this unit operation.

C#VB.NET

public UnitOp_CellLysis(string name, string description)

Public Sub New(name As String, description As String)

Properties¶

BiomassCompound: Gets or sets the name of the biomass (cell) compound.

Gets or sets the name of the biomass (cell) compound. It is always routed entirely to the debris outlet.

C#VB.NET

public string BiomassCompound { get; set; }

Public Property BiomassCompound As String

ComponentDescription: Gets or sets the display description for this unit operation.

Gets or sets the display description for this unit operation.

C#VB.NET

public override string ComponentDescription { get; set; }

Public Overrides Property ComponentDescription As String

ComponentName: Gets or sets the display name for this unit operation.

Gets or sets the display name for this unit operation.

C#VB.NET

public override string ComponentName { get; set; }

Public Overrides Property ComponentName As String

DefaultReleaseFraction: Gets or sets the factor (0-1) applied to the model release fraction for macromolecules (molar mass above 5000 g/mol)...

Gets or sets the factor (0-1) applied to the model release fraction for macromolecules (molar mass above 5000 g/mol) without an entry in ReleaseFraction. Default 0.9.

C#VB.NET

public double DefaultReleaseFraction { get; set; }

Public Property DefaultReleaseFraction As Double

HetheringtonAlpha: Gets or sets the pressure exponent alpha of the Hetherington correlation.

Gets or sets the pressure exponent alpha of the Hetherington correlation. Default 2.

C#VB.NET

public double HetheringtonAlpha { get; set; }

Public Property HetheringtonAlpha As Double

HetheringtonK: Gets or sets the rate constant k of the Hetherington correlation, consistent with pressure in MPa.

Gets or sets the rate constant k of the Hetherington correlation, consistent with pressure in MPa. Default 0.0045.

C#VB.NET

public double HetheringtonK { get; set; }

Public Property HetheringtonK As Double

IsBio: Gets a value indicating that this unit operation belongs to the Bio group of the object palette.

Gets a value indicating that this unit operation belongs to the Bio group of the object palette. Always True.

C#VB.NET

public bool IsBio { get; }

Public ReadOnly Property IsBio As Boolean

MobileCompatible: Gets a value indicating whether this unit operation is compatible with mobile interfaces.

Gets a value indicating whether this unit operation is compatible with mobile interfaces. Always False.

C#VB.NET

public override bool MobileCompatible { get; }

Public Overrides ReadOnly Property MobileCompatible As Boolean

ObjectClass: Gets or sets the simulation object class category (Separators).

Gets or sets the simulation object class category (Separators). The getter always returns Separators.

C#VB.NET

public override SimulationObjectClass ObjectClass { get; set; }

Public Overrides Property ObjectClass As SimulationObjectClass

Passes: Gets or sets the number of passes N in the Hetherington correlation R = 1 - exp(-k N P^alpha).

Gets or sets the number of passes N in the Hetherington correlation R = 1 - exp(-k N P^alpha). Default 2.

C#VB.NET

public int Passes { get; set; }

Public Property Passes As Integer

Pressure_MPa: Gets or sets the homogenizer operating pressure P in the Hetherington correlation, in MPa.

Gets or sets the homogenizer operating pressure P in the Hetherington correlation, in MPa. Default 80.

C#VB.NET

public double Pressure_MPa { get; set; }

Public Property Pressure_MPa As Double

ReleaseFraction: Gets or sets the user-specified release fractions (0-1) by compound name.

Gets or sets the user-specified release fractions (0-1) by compound name. A compound listed here goes to the lysate in this fraction, overriding the model.

C#VB.NET

public Dictionary<string, double> ReleaseFraction { get; set; }

Public Property ReleaseFraction As Dictionary(Of String, Double)

Result_DebrisMass_kgs: Gets or sets the debris outlet mass flow, in kg/s.

Gets or sets the debris outlet mass flow, in kg/s. Calculated result.

C#VB.NET

public double Result_DebrisMass_kgs { get; set; }

Public Property Result_DebrisMass_kgs As Double

Result_FeedMass_kgs: Gets or sets the feed mass flow, in kg/s.

Gets or sets the feed mass flow, in kg/s. Calculated result.

C#VB.NET

public double Result_FeedMass_kgs { get; set; }

Public Property Result_FeedMass_kgs As Double

Result_LysateMass_kgs: Gets or sets the lysate outlet mass flow, in kg/s.

Gets or sets the lysate outlet mass flow, in kg/s. Calculated result.

C#VB.NET

public double Result_LysateMass_kgs { get; set; }

Public Property Result_LysateMass_kgs As Double

Result_OverallRelease: Gets or sets the overall release fraction (0-1) of the macromolecules (molar mass above 5000 g/mol, excluding the...

Gets or sets the overall release fraction (0-1) of the macromolecules (molar mass above 5000 g/mol, excluding the biomass compound) into the lysate. Calculated result.

C#VB.NET

public double Result_OverallRelease { get; set; }

Public Property Result_OverallRelease As Double

SupportsDynamicMode: Gets a value indicating whether this unit operation supports dynamic simulation mode.

Gets a value indicating whether this unit operation supports dynamic simulation mode. Always False; it is calculated as a steady-state model.

C#VB.NET

public override bool SupportsDynamicMode { get; }

Public Overrides ReadOnly Property SupportsDynamicMode As Boolean

Technology: Gets or sets the lysis technology: HighPressureHomogenizer (0), BeadMill (1), Chemical (2), Enzymatic (3), Osmotic...

Gets or sets the lysis technology: HighPressureHomogenizer (0), BeadMill (1), Chemical (2), Enzymatic (3), Osmotic (4) or Ultrasound (5). Ultrasound uses the sonication model; every other value uses the Hetherington correlation. Default HighPressureHomogenizer.

C#VB.NET

public LysisTechnology Technology { get; set; }

Public Property Technology As LysisTechnology

Ultrasound_Beta: Gets or sets the power density exponent beta of the ultrasound model.

Gets or sets the power density exponent beta of the ultrasound model. Default 1.2.

C#VB.NET

public double Ultrasound_Beta { get; set; }

Public Property Ultrasound_Beta As Double

Ultrasound_k: Gets or sets the rate constant k_u of the ultrasound model, consistent with power density in W/mL and time in s.

Gets or sets the rate constant k_u of the ultrasound model, consistent with power density in W/mL and time in s. Default 0.008.

C#VB.NET

public double Ultrasound_k { get; set; }

Public Property Ultrasound_k As Double

Ultrasound_PowerDensity_WmL: Gets or sets the acoustic power density P_a of the sonication model R_u = 1 - exp(-k_u P_a^beta t), in W/mL.

Gets or sets the acoustic power density P_a of the sonication model R_u = 1 - exp(-k_u P_a^beta t), in W/mL. Default 0.5.

C#VB.NET

public double Ultrasound_PowerDensity_WmL { get; set; }

Public Property Ultrasound_PowerDensity_WmL As Double

Ultrasound_Time_s: Gets or sets the total sonication time t of the ultrasound model, in s.

Gets or sets the total sonication time t of the ultrasound model, in s. Default 300.

C#VB.NET

public double Ultrasound_Time_s { get; set; }

Public Property Ultrasound_Time_s As Double

Methods¶

Calculate(object): Calculates the object.

Calculates the object.

Parameter	Type	Description
`args`	`Object`

C#VB.NET

public override void Calculate(object args = null)

Public Overrides Sub Calculate(args As Object = Nothing)

CloneXML(): Creates a deep copy of this object by round-tripping through XML serialization.

Creates a deep copy of this object by round-tripping through XML serialization.

C#VB.NET

public override object CloneXML()

Public Overrides Function CloneXML() As Object

CloseEditForm(): Closes the editor of this object, if it is open.

Closes the editor of this object, if it is open.

C#VB.NET

public override void CloseEditForm()

Public Overrides Sub CloseEditForm()

DeCalculate(): Decalculates the object.

Decalculates the object.

C#VB.NET

public override void DeCalculate()

Public Overrides Sub DeCalculate()

DisplayEditForm(): Opens the editor of this object.

Opens the editor of this object. A host that has no editor for it does nothing.

C#VB.NET

public override void DisplayEditForm()

Public Overrides Sub DisplayEditForm()

GetDisplayDescription(): Returns the localized description string for this unit operation type.

Returns the localized description string for this unit operation type.

C#VB.NET

public override string GetDisplayDescription()

Public Overrides Function GetDisplayDescription() As String

GetDisplayName(): Returns the localized display name for this unit operation type.

Returns the localized display name for this unit operation type.

C#VB.NET

public override string GetDisplayName()

Public Overrides Function GetDisplayName() As String

GetIconBitmapBytes(): Returns the raw bytes of the icon image for this unit operation.

Returns the raw bytes of the icon image for this unit operation.

C#VB.NET

public override byte[] GetIconBitmapBytes()

Public Overrides Function GetIconBitmapBytes() As Byte()

GetProperties(PropertyType): Get a list of all properties of the object.

Get a list of all properties of the object.

Parameter	Type	Description
`proptype`	`PropertyType`	Type of the property.

C#VB.NET

public override string[] GetProperties(PropertyType proptype)

Public Overrides Function GetProperties(proptype As PropertyType) As String()

GetPropertyUnit(string, IUnitsOfMeasure): Gets the units of a property.

Gets the units of a property.

Parameter	Type	Description
`prop`	`String`	Property identifier.
`su`	`IUnitsOfMeasure`	Units system to use. Null to use the default (SI) system.

C#VB.NET

public override string GetPropertyUnit(string prop, IUnitsOfMeasure su = null)

Public Overrides Function GetPropertyUnit(prop As String, su As IUnitsOfMeasure = Nothing) As String

GetPropertyValue(string, IUnitsOfMeasure): Returns the value of a named property, converting from SI to the current unit system.

Returns the value of a named property, converting from SI to the current unit system. Falls back to extra properties if the property is not found in the base implementation.

Parameter	Type	Description
`prop`	`String`	The property identifier string.
`su`	`IUnitsOfMeasure`	Optional units-of-measure system used for conversion; uses the shared SI system when `Nothing`.

C#VB.NET

public override object GetPropertyValue(string prop, IUnitsOfMeasure su = null)

Public Overrides Function GetPropertyValue(prop As String, su As IUnitsOfMeasure = Nothing) As Object

GetReport(IUnitsOfMeasure, CultureInfo, string): Generates a plain-text results report for this unit operation.

Generates a plain-text results report for this unit operation.

Parameter	Type	Description
`su`	`IUnitsOfMeasure`	The unit system used for formatting output values.
`ci`	`CultureInfo`	The culture info used for number formatting.
`numberformat`	`String`	A .NET numeric format string (e.g. "G6") applied to output values.

C#VB.NET

public override string GetReport(IUnitsOfMeasure su, CultureInfo ci, string numberformat)

Public Overrides Function GetReport(su As IUnitsOfMeasure, ci As CultureInfo, numberformat As String) As String

HetheringtonRelease(): Hetherington release factor for a given compound: R = 1 - exp(-kNP^alpha).

Hetherington release factor for a given compound: R = 1 - exp(-kNP^alpha).

C#VB.NET

public double HetheringtonRelease()

Public Function HetheringtonRelease() As Double

IntrinsicRelease(): Model-agnostic intrinsic release factor for intracellular macromolecules.

Model-agnostic intrinsic release factor for intracellular macromolecules.

C#VB.NET

public double IntrinsicRelease()

Public Function IntrinsicRelease() As Double

ReleaseFor(string, double): Returns the user-set release fraction for a compound, or a MW-based default capped by the active model's R.

Returns the user-set release fraction for a compound, or a MW-based default capped by the active model's R.

Parameter	Type	Description
`compName`	`String`
`mw`	`Double`

C#VB.NET

public double ReleaseFor(string compName, double mw)

Public Function ReleaseFor(compName As String, mw As Double) As Double

SetPropertyValue(string, object, IUnitsOfMeasure): Sets the value of a property.

Sets the value of a property.

Parameter	Type	Description
`prop`	`String`	Property identifier.
`propval`	`Object`	Property value to set at the specified units.
`su`	`IUnitsOfMeasure`	Units system to use. Null to use the default (SI) system.

C#VB.NET

public override bool SetPropertyValue(string prop, object propval, IUnitsOfMeasure su = null)

Public Overrides Function SetPropertyValue(prop As String, propval As Object, su As IUnitsOfMeasure = Nothing) As Boolean

UltrasoundRelease(): Ultrasound release factor: R_u = 1 - exp(-k_u * P_a^beta * t).

Ultrasound release factor: R_u = 1 - exp(-k_u * P_a^beta * t).

C#VB.NET

public double UltrasoundRelease()

Public Function UltrasoundRelease() As Double

UpdateEditForm(): Redraws the editor of this object with the current values, if it is open.

Redraws the editor of this object with the current values, if it is open.

C#VB.NET

public override void UpdateEditForm()

Public Overrides Sub UpdateEditForm()

Fields¶

f: The classic (WinForms) editor window open for this unit operation, if any.

The classic (WinForms) editor window open for this unit operation, if any. Not saved with the flowsheet.

C#VB.NET

public object f

Public f As Object