Types of Industrial Centrifuges

There are many types of industrial centrifuges, which can be divided into many types according to different classification standards (such as working principle, purpose, structure, etc.). The following are common industrial centrifuge classifications and typical applications:

1. Classification by separation principle

(1) Filter centrifuge

- Principle: The liquid passes through the filter medium (such as filter cloth, screen) through centrifugal force, and the solid particles are intercepted.

- Features: Suitable for materials with large particles and high solid content.

- Type examples:

- Three-legged centrifuge

- Plate centrifuge

- Top suspension centrifuge

(2) Sedimentation centrifuge

- Principle: Using the density difference between solid and liquid, the solid settles to the drum wall under the action of centrifugal force, and the liquid is discharged from the overflow port.

- Features: Suitable for fine particles, viscous suspensions or emulsions.

- Type examples:

- Decanter Centrifuge

- Disc Stack Centrifuge

- Tubular Centrifuge

(3) Separation Centrifuge

- Principle: Density difference separation of liquid-liquid or liquid-liquid-solid mixtures (such as oil-water separation).

- Features: high speed, high separation factor.

- Type examples:

- Disc Stack Centrifuge (for milk degreasing, yeast extraction)

- Tubular Centrifuge (for biopharmaceuticals, blood cell separation)

2. Classification by operation method

(1) Intermittent Centrifuge

- Features: Batch operation, requiring shutdown for loading and unloading (such as a tripod centrifuge).

- Application: small batch, high value-added materials (such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals).

(2) Continuous Centrifuge

- Features: feeding, separation, and slag discharge are carried out continuously (such as a decanter centrifuge).

- Application: Large-scale industrial processing (such as sewage treatment, food processing).

(3) Fully automatic centrifuge

- Features: Integrated PLC control, automatic completion of cleaning, unloading and other operations.

- Application: Fields with high requirements for hygiene or precision (such as bioengineering).

3. Classification by industry

- Food industry: disc separator (milk degreasing), spiral sedimentation centrifuge (juice clarification).

- Chemical industry: explosion-proof centrifuge (flammable solvents), corrosion-resistant centrifuge (strong acid and strong alkali).

- Environmental protection field: sludge dewatering centrifuge (sewage treatment), oil-water separator (oil-containing wastewater).

- Pharmaceutical industry: GMP-certified centrifuge (sterile requirements), cell culture centrifuge.

- Mining and energy: drill cuttings separation centrifuge (oil drilling), coal slime centrifuge (ore dressing).

4. Special type centrifuge

- Ultra-high speed centrifuge: speed > 20,000 RPM, used for laboratory or nanomaterial separation.

- Magnetic suspension centrifuge: no mechanical contact, low noise, high precision (such as the semiconductor industry).

- Refrigerated centrifuge: separation of heat-sensitive substances (such as proteins) under low low-temperature environment.

Key factors in selection

1. Material characteristics: solid-liquid ratio, particle size, viscosity, corrosiveness.

2. Separation requirements: moisture content, clarity, processing capacity.

3. Industry standards: such as pharmaceuticals must comply with GMP, and food must be made of stainless steel.

4. Automation requirements: continuous operation, automatic cleaning, and remote monitoring.

The selection of industrial centrifuges needs to comprehensively consider process requirements, cost and maintenance convenience. Different industries may have slightly different names for the same type of centrifuge (such as "decanter centrifuge" is often called "sludge dewatering machine" in the field of environmental protection).