M
centrifuge
any chemical process running
operations require the
separation of multiple
phases. This can be done
in a number of ways, including sim-
ple gravity separation, traditional or
crossflow membrane filtration and
Tube with
centrifugation. This article focuses centrifuge
on centrifugation, which is a phase- stopped
Axis of rotation
separation brought about by exer-
tion of a centrifugal force greater than
the force of gravity. While centrifugal FIGURE 1. Feed slurry can be characterized using
a simple laboratory centrifuge, such as the one
separation of a solid from one liquid shown here
phase is most common, centrifuges
are also employed to separate two particle size ranges.
liquid phases, and to separate two Each of these objectives must be FIGURE 2. Shown here is a vertical basket centri-
liquids and a solid phase. Unless defined in sufficient detail to ensure fuge (Credit: Western States)
otherwise mentioned, separation of that the centrifuged product will
a solid from one liquid phase is as- meet the specifications. If the ob- tained when a laser beam is passed
sumed in the discussion that follows. jective is solids concentration, how through the sample a technique
concentrated do the solids need to known as laser diffraction.
Separating solids from liquids be? Is there a moisture specification In addition to the process objec-
The objective of a centrifugation that must be met? If the goal is clari- tive, selection of the best type of
process is either clarification, solids fication, what level of clarity is suffi- centrifuge for a particular application
concentration or classification. Each cient? Some applications require a depends on a number of other fac-
is discussed below. quantitative measure of clarity, which tors, including the required capacity
Clarification. The goal of clarification may be expressed as percent trans- and the physical properties of the
is to obtain a liquid phase (known as mittance of visible or ultraviolet (UV) feed. Properties that directly impact
supernatant) that is clear. This may light at a specified wavelength. In the type, as well as the size, of the
require discharging more liquid with other cases, a qualitative visual char- centrifuge needed include the den-
the solids than would otherwise be acterization may suffice. sity difference between the solids
necessary, to ensure that the result- If the supernatant needs to be and the liquid phase, the particle size
ing supernatant is in fact solids-free. sparkling clear as required for and shape, and the liquid viscosity.
The separated solids are discharged some fruit juices and other bever- The ease of separation increases
as a wet paste, sludge or concen- ages centrifugation alone may not with an increase in the density dif-
trated slurry. be the best approach. A more eco- ference between the solids and the
Solids concentration. With nomical solution may be to deliver liquid, meaning less force is needed
this objective, the exiting solids a turbid supernatant, then carry out and a smaller centrifuge (or a
stream needs to contain as little liq- further clarification using a down- centrifuge operated at a lower rota-
uid as possible. This often requires stream polishing filter. tional speed) can be used to obtain
removal of fine solids with the su- For classification, relevant ques- a given throughput.
pernatant, which can render the tions to ask include: How many frac- Smaller particles are more difficult
supernatant cloudy. tions are needed, and what is the to remove than larger ones, because
Classification. With classification required particle size range of each? in general, the sedimentation rate in-
the least common of the three The particle-size distribution can be creases with the square of the par-
objectives the goal is to separate determined from the pattern and in- ticle diameter. The centrifuge design
the solids into fractions with different tensity of scattered light that is ob- needs to be based on the smallest
52 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM JULY 2016
TABLE 1. G-FORCES DEVELOPED BY VARIOUS TYPES OF CENTRIFUGES
[FROM REF (1)]
Single-chamber bowl centrifuge 600 1,200
Decanter centrifuge 2,0005,000
Multichamber bowl centrifuge 5,0009,000
Disk stack centrifuge
Laboratory bottle centrifuge
Tubular centrifuge
Ultracentrifuge
5,00015,000
2,00020,000
12,00062,000
20,0001,000,000
PROCESS
particle to be removed. However,
not only is the particle size impor-
tant, but also its shape. For example,
Small-scale testing
Much can be learned by using a
simple laboratory centrifuge, such
PLANTS
flat, elongated particles tend to settle as the one shown in Figure 1. This "
"" "HYDROGENATION
more slowly than spherical ones. In device consists of an even number
addition, solids tend to settle more (typically four to eight) of tubes that "SPECIAL CHEMISTRY
slowly with increasing liquid viscos- rotate around the central axis. In "POLYMERS
ity, requiring a larger centrifuge or most designs, glass or plastic tubes
higher rotational speed to achieve are placed inside of stainless steel
the desired capacity. holders that are hinged to the rotor.
The undissolved solids content of When at rest, the tubes are vertical;
the feed must also be considered. upon rotation, centrifugal force ori-
Values can be expressed using either ents them horizontally.
a weight or volume basis. Percent The tubes are filled with the starting
by volume is usually used, but not material, and the rotational speed is set
always, so the basis must be made so that the applied force is 1,000 times
clear. In addition to solids content, that of gravity, or 1,000G (see the ex-
the nature of the settled solids must planation below). The time required to
be understood to allow the best type obtain clear liquid or fully settled solids
of centrifuge to be selected. For ex- is then determined; the typical time is
ample, solids may pack into a hard, between 30 s and 20 min.
firm cake, or the packed solids may Often the tubes are graduated,
be soft and loose. so that the volume percent solids
can be read directly. One can as-
Additional considerations sess the nature of the settled solids
Solids discharge may be manual (for instance, firm and hard-packed,
or automatic, with the latter either or soft and loose) simply by poking
intermittent or continuous, and the them with a glass rod. Information
desired method must be specified. obtained from this simple test can
In addition, do the solids need to provide important insight into the
be washed, and if so, how much? size and type of centrifuge that may
If the solids are the product, then be suitable for the application.
displacement of residual liquid using
a wash solvent (usually water) may G-force and sigma factor
be needed to remove contaminants. The centrifugal force developed by a "PHARMA, FOOD
On the other hand, if the liquid is the centrifuge is expressed as a multiple
valuable phase, washing may be of the force of gravity. This force, COSMETICS
needed to maximize liquid recovery known as the G-force, is propor-
from the solid. tional to the distance from the axis
Other considerations include the of rotation and the square of the ro-
following: Is the feed flammable, tational speed: Your fast lane to production:
toxic or corrosive? Are there any
unusual operating conditions, such Contact USA
as elevated temperature or pres- (1) (201) 825 4684, usa@ekato.com
sure? Is aseptic operation needed, Contact international
as in some biotechnology applica- Where: +49 7622 290, info@ekato.com
tions? Are the feed solids abrasive G is the G-force
or fibrous? Is there a tendency for n is the rotational speed, revolutions
solids to crystallize? Does significant per second (rev/s)
foaming occur? Suitable centrifuge r is the distance from the axis of rota-
designs are available to handle all of tion, cm www.ekato.com
these situations. g is the acceleration due to gravity,
which has a conventional standard
Circle 03 on p. 62 or go to adlinks.chemengonline.com/61497-03
Notes:
a. cr: clarification; cl: classification; sc: solids concentration; ls: liquid-solid; ll: liquid-liquid; lls: liquid-liquid-solid
b. At 1,000G
c. Average over cycle
moval from the solids-ejecting disk designed with clean-in-place (CIP) flow through the nozzles. In addition,
centrifuge is automatic. The bowl of capability, meaning they can be the nozzle unit requires about
this type of centrifuge also called cleaned without disassembly. This twice the power input of the solids-
an opening-bowl disk centrifuge feature makes this type of centrifuge ejecting version.
is divided horizontally into two parts, popular in food and pharmaceuti- Nozzle-valve disk centrifuge.
sealed with a gasket. The bottom cal applications, including clarifica- These centrifuges should not be con-
piece acts as a sliding piston that tion of beverages (for instance, fruit fused with the nozzle-disk centrifuge
periodically drops, opening the bowl and vegetable juices, beer, wine) discussed above). These units are
to expose slots through which solids and biomass removal from fermen- similar to the solids-ejecting unit, ex-
are ejected. Water (called operating tation broths. cept that solids exit through elasto-
water) pressure is used to open and Nozzle-disk centrifuge. With this meric valves rather than slots. Each
close the bowl, which remains open type of disk centrifuge, solids (in valve consists of an elastomeric disk
for only 0.130.3 s per cycle. The the form of a concentrated slurry or attached to the slide ring that seals
time between openings is usually sludge) flow continuously through the bowl. A typical machine contains
one to several minutes, but may be nozzles that are situated around the 12 valves. Operating water pres-
as long as several hours. periphery of the bowl. Small nozzle sure forces the slide ring downward,
The opening frequency can be centrifuges contain as few as two opening the valves and discharging
controlled by a timer, set based on nozzles, while larger units have as the solids. With opening times of
experience, or by a turbidity sensor many as 24, with openings of 0.5 to >3 only 0.070.10 s, these centrifuges
placed in the supernatant pipe. For mm. To minimize erosion, the nozzles are faster than the solids-ejecting
the latter method, when the solids are made from hard materials, such units. The advantage is that less liq-
holding space is full, fine solids begin as tungsten carbide or various ce- uid is lost with the discharged solids.
to find their way into the superna- ramics. Prefiltration of centrifuge G-forces are as high as 15,000
tant, increasing its turbidity. When a feed may be necessary to avoid double those achievable by the sol-
preset value is reached, the operat- nozzle pluggage. ids-ejecting centrifuge, allowing the
ing water valve automatically opens, Like solids-ejecting centrifuges, nozzle-valve version to compete with
causing the bowl to open and solids nozzle units can be cleaned in place, filters for applications that require high
to eject. Ear protection is required, again rendering them useful in food clarity or fine-particle separations.
because the opening and closing of and pharmaceutical plants. Nozzle The main limitation is the inability to
the bowl is quite loud. centrifuges are able to handle higher handle solids that compact, a result
Solids-ejecting machines handle solids levels (up to 20 vol.%) than of the high G-forces at the periphery
slurry solids as high as 10 vol.%, the solids-ejecting units. Moreover, of the bowl. Like the solids-ejecting
although solids that tend to com- the nozzle units can process the and nozzle-disk centrifuges, the
pact may cause difficulty. The solids, sticky, compacting solids that solids- nozzle-valve units can be cleaned
which cannot be washed, leave the ejecting machines find troublesome, in place. Feed solids are limited to
centrifuge as a paste, less dry than and some designs allow introduction 10 vol.%.
the solids obtained with the solid- of wash liquids. On the other hand, A disk centrifuge process with
bowl units. the solids stream is more dilute two-stage countercurrent washing
And, unlike the solid bowl ver- than that obtained with the solids- of solids is shown in Figure 7. Solids
sion, solids-ejecting centrifuges are ejecting centrifuge as it must be to from a bank of solids-ejecting cen-
58 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM JULY 2016
narrow the choices, so that in-depth
evaluation can focus on the types
of centrifuges that are more likely to
be feasible.