Introduction to Centrifugation

• Centrifugation is a mechanical process which involves the use of the

centrifugal force to separate particles from a solution according to
their size, shape, density, medium viscosity and rotor speed.

• In HDPE plant, Solid bowl centrifuge is used to continuously separate

slurry into polymer particles and solvent by centrifugal force.
Solid Bowl centrifuge

• A solid bowl centrifuge is a type of centrifuge that uses the principle

of sedimentation.
• Used to separate a mixture that consists of two substances with
different densities by using the centrifugal force resulting from
continuous rotation.
• Widely used in various industrial applications, such as wastewater
treatment, coal manufacturing, and polymer manufacturing.
Solid Bowl Centrifuge Parts
The bowl centrifuge consist of mainly three
elements
(I) the bowl or settling vessel
(ii) the screw conveyor
(iii) gear unit

  Typical cross section view of solid bowl centrifuge

The Bowl
• The bowl is part of part of rotating assembly
• Heavier solids are being separated from liquid in the bowl by the
centrifugal forces.
• Selection of proper bowl contour
for a given application is based on
characteristics of the products to
be handled.

  Typical bowl
 Conveyor
• The conveyor receives the slurry through the feed pipe and accelerate
the slurry to the approximate speed of bowl.
• Conveyor assembly consists –
(i) conveyor hub with feed compartment and feed ports
(ii) conveyor helix
(iii) two trunnions on which it rotates
Gear unit
Gear unit drive the conveyor at a fixed differential speed relative to
bowl.
The reduction ratio of the gear unit and the speed of the bowl determine
the difference in speed between the bowl and conveyor.
The gear unit is fixed and planetary gear drive.

Typical planetary gear motion

Working of Bowl centrifuge
 Operation of Bowl Centrifuge at HDPE plant
• In HDPE plant Bird solid centrifuge is installed which is a solid/liquid separator, uses the
centrifugal force to reduce settling time.

Various steps of operations are following

1.The slurry flows from the feed equipment through the feed pipe into the feed compartment.
2. In the feed compartment, the slurry is accelerated to approximate speed of the bowl.
3.The slurry is distributed through the feed ports to the inner diameter of the cylindrical bowl.
4. centrifugal force created by rotation of bowl forces the slurry to the inside cylinder bowl
wall.

5. The higher specific gravity solids are push outwards from the centre line of rotation
until they collect along the bawl wall.

6. Screw conveyor conveys the settled solid particles towards the conical section (beach) of
the bawl.

7.The solids are then discharged through opening of in the solid head to solid discharge
compartment in the case bottom while the clarified liquid flows in the counter current
direction of solids and overflow the adjustable weirs located in liquid head.
Thanks !!!