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Liquid-solid separation is a process where suspended solids are separated from a liquid media.
Centrifugation is a highly accelerated form of sedimentation. US Centrifuge Systems machines generate 4,000 times gravity of centrifugal power for greater liquid-solid separation. This method is fast and eliminates the need for filter media. US Centrifuge Systems has acomplete range of liquid-solid separation centrifuges designed to separate suspended solids heavier than liquid media without the use of consumable filters.
Sedimentation allows solid particles heavier than the liquid media to separate and sink to the bottom of a container under the force of gravity. Sedimentation is a relatively slow process.
Filtration incorporates the use of a filter media to regulate what may pass through. As the filter media collects suspended solids, a progressive build-up of the solids will eventually impair performance and require removal, cleaning and perhaps replacement.
Centrifuges work by spinning a vessel at high speeds to create separation between materials inside the centrifuge operation. Centrifuges spin at high speeds to push material, usually of solid state, away from the center of the vessel and out of the liquid state.
For example, the same science applies to rides at the fairgrounds that rotate with passengers buckled in. Passengers must lean toward the center to overcome the gravitational force caused by the rotation. Some rides are designed to press the passenger against a back support. In the samefashion, centrifuges push the material away from the center of the bowl hub to the outer walls of the bowl.
When a sample of a liquid-solid mixture is collected in a flask, it will eventually result in a two-phase separation caused by gravitational force. This is sedimentation. Centrifuges accelerate the process by increasing the force to as high as 4,000 times gravity; therefore, a process thattakes 1-12 hours in a flask is achieved within seconds of a centrifuge.
Solutions engineers will help you. The type of centrifuge depends on (A) type and volume of solids produced by the separation and (B) g-force required to make separation. At US Centrifuge Systems, customers are guided through this individualized process with expert help from the SolutionsEngineers to make any centrifuge you want.
Solutions engineers focus on finding the best solutions for customers and determine the centrifuge system that best suits the industrial application. Large variety of both standard and unique applications makes choosing the correct centrifuge an artful science.
Determining the correct machine design and model size requires thorough understanding of the application, better understood with application sample testing run by US Centrifuge Systems.
To design a centrifuge system, Solutions Engineers considers the following information:
Liquid and solid phase description
Total liquid volume of the system
Process time amount, availability and any required process flow rates
Quality of required liquid phases
Targeted concentration of impurities
Targeted dryness of solids
Amount of solid removal from given liquid volume
Goals to achieve
Simple calculations can quickly determine what style of liquid-liquid and liquid-solid centrifuge separation technology, solids dewatering, and centrifuge liquid filtration and fluid clarification is best for the application. Additional centrifuge tests determine the most appropriate type ofcentrifuge systems, whether it fits the goals to achieve, budget, time and scope of supply.
What Are The Applications For A Centrifuge?
Common industrial applications include:
Solid separations that are heavier than the liquid and settle with time
Solid classifications of different size in a slurry
Immiscible liquid separation with different densities
Common concepts applied to specific process requirements:
Dewatering a solid
Clarification of liquid
Recovery of product
Thickening of slurry
Classification of slurry
Purification
Concentration
Industries and processes that often utilize centrifuges include:
Algae
Agriculture
Biofuels
Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Carwash wastewater
Drilling Fluid
Energy
Environmental
Food and Beverage
Gas
Glass Grinding
Grinding
Industrial Laundry Wastewater
Institutional
Leather
Machine Coolants
Manufacturing
Metal Finishing
Plastic Finishing
Mineral Oil
Oil Remediation
Paint Sludge
Petroleum
Plastic Recycling Wash Water
Polishing
Potato Waste
Screen Print Solvents
Sludge Dewatering
Steel
Stone Fabrication
Tunneling
Vibration / Mass Finishing
Waste Oils
Wire Drawing Lubricants
Centrifuges often offer numerous advantages over traditional methods of liquid-liquid and liquid-solid centrifuge separation technology, solids dewatering, and centrifuge liquid filtration and fluid clarification. While specific advantages depend on the nature of the application, commonbenefits include:
No consumable filter media or pre-coat is required
Chemical addition is not always a requirement
Will not blind-off or clog-up
Maintains full system flow rates
Automatic continuous and semi batch self-cleaning centrifuges available
No human contact with the waste material, which can be discharged directly into a waste drum, hopper, bin, or roll-off container
2-micron-sized suspended solids after separation
Relatively moisture-free cake created for disposal or reclaiming
Effective on low solid volume applications
Common centrifuge alternatives:
Filter Press
Belt Filter Press
Bag Filter
Membrane Filter
Centrifuges are considered an effective alternative to the filter press. Centrifuge design features an automated self-cleaning cycle that does not require constant labor and maintenance to maintain operation.
Centrifuges are also considered a more economical and effective alternative to the belt filter press. Centrifuges are often less expensive to purchase. Centrifuges require less labor and maintenance, and unlike a belt filter press, can provide suitable results without polymer addition inspecific applications.
Bag filter systems are cheaper, but the centrifuge still does not require consumable filter bags or the manual handling of sloppy wet filter bags. Centrifuges will not clog and blind off when filtering gelatinous materials from the liquid media. Automated self-cleaning centrifuges separatesludge cake and discharge the cake directly into a waste drum or hopper for disposal with no direct human-sludge contact.
When combined with a membrane filtration system, a centrifuge is a helpful addition as a pre-filter. Centrifuges can be applied to the membrane concentrate. Fouling of the membrane flux rate can be maintained over a longer period of time with the centrifugation of the liquid media andseparation of a large percentage of the small particles.