A spinning solution?

BP is buying 32 centrifugal
separators, a technology owned
by actor Kevin Costner, to help Centrifugal
clean up the Gulf oil spill.
How it works: separator
Motor 4,000 Ibs.
1 Water/oil mix can
flow into one or
(1,814 kg)
both inlets
9.5 ft.
2 Itorisflows
pumped
down
(3 m) high
to the bottom of Heavy liquid
the separator collector Heavy liquid
outlet: water
Lighter liquid
outlet: oil 6

3 Rotor
vanes
5 Light liquid
collector
direct the oil
and water into
the rotor Inlet Inlet

1
4 Spinning 4 Water/oil
rotor generates
centrifugal force up to
600 times the force of
gravity; the lighter oil
flows toward center of 2
rotor as mix rises; Rotor
heavier water forced 3
outward

5 Liquids move
into separate
collectors
Rotor vane Rotor inlet

6 Oil and water leave separator through

different outlets to be collected in a tank
2010 MCT
Source: CINC Industries
Graphic: Tom Reinken, Mark Hafer,
(oil) or returned to the sea (water) Los Angeles Times