Decanter Centrifuge
Decanter centrifuge, horizontal solid bowl decanter centrifuge, separates continuously solid materials from liquids in the suspension, or to separate two liquid phases from each other simultaneous removal of solids. Decanter centrifuges have been widely used for continuous separation of suspended solids from liquids, clarification of solids, classification of fine particles, etc.
According to the purpose of use, decanter centrifuges can be divided into the following three categories, Clarifying Decanter Centrifuge, Separating Decanter Centrifuge, Classifying Decanter Centrifuge.
SEPARATECH designs and manufactures heavy-duty decanter centrifuges for continuous, high-efficiency solid-liquid separation. Engineered to handle high-solids slurries, our horizontal solid bowl centrifuges deliver optimal clarification, dewatering, and thickening across chemical, waste management, and industrial processing plants. Whether you need a 2-phase decanter for maximum cake dryness or a 3-phase decanter centrifuge for simultaneous liquid-liquid-solid separation.
Main Structure of Decanter Centrifuge
The industrial decanter centrifuge is a highly sophisticated piece of rotating machinery. Its operational efficiency, mechanical stability, and wear resistance depend entirely on the precise engineering of its core structural components:
- Solid Bowl Assembly (Cylindrical & Conical Sections):The rotating bowl is the pressure vessel where centrifugal separation takes place. It consists of a cylindrical section (for premium liquid clarification and pond depth control) and a conical section (the “dry beach” where solid dewatering occurs). Our bowls are dynamically balanced and manufactured from high-grade duplex stainless steel via centrifugal casting to withstand extreme G-forces.
- Internal Scroll Conveyor (Screw Scroll):Fitting coaxially inside the bowl, the internal screw conveyor rotates at a slightly different differential speed ($\Delta n$). Its primary function is to continuously scrape the accumulated solid cake off the bowl wall and push it axially toward the solids discharge ports. The flights of the scroll are heavily armored with tungsten carbide tiles or hard-facing alloys to combat abrasive wear.
- Main Bearings & Pillow Blocks:The entire high-speed rotating assembly (bowl and scroll) is supported at both ends by heavy-duty main bearings housed in robust pillow blocks. These premium bearings are engineered to handle high radial and axial loads while minimizing friction, vibration, and heat generation during continuous 24/7 operations.
- Planetary Gearbox (Drive System):The gearbox is the mechanical heart that generates the critical differential speed between the bowl and the scroll conveyor. Connected to a dual-motor VFD variable frequency drive system, it automatically manages and adjusts torque transfer based on real-time sludge density variations inside the machine.
- Protective Casing & Base Frame:The high-speed rotating components are completely enclosed within a heavy-duty, vibration-isolated protective casing (hood) to ensure operational safety and contain noise or aerosol emissions. The entire system is anchored to a rigid, heavy-weight steel base frame equipped with advanced vibration isolators to guarantee smooth running.
- Feed Inlet & Discharge Zones:The feed suspension is introduced through a stationary axial inlet pipe extending into the center of the scroll hub. Once separated, the clarified liquid (centrate) exits smoothly via adjustable weir plates at the large cylindrical end, while the dewatered solids are flung out through the tungsten-carbide-lined discharge ports at the narrow conical end.
Advanced Classification of Decanter Centrifuges
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Clarifying Decanter Centrifuge
Designed for premium liquid clarification and dewatering, maximizing the recovery of clean centrate while achieving extreme cake dryness across diverse heavy industrial and chemical processing sectors.
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Separating Decanter Centrifuge
Engineered for highly efficient 3-phase separation, maximizing the simultaneously independent recovery of light liquid, heavy liquid, and dry cake dryness across demanding chemical, oil sludge, and heavy industrial processing operations worldwide.
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Classifying Decanter Centrifuge
Engineered for high-precision wet particle classification, maximizing the continuous, automated separation of fine suspension solids by size and density across demanding mining, minerals, kaolin clay operations worldwide.
Key Technical Features & Separation Principle
Our horizontal decanter centrifuges operate on the principle of centrifugal sedimentation. The feed suspension enters the solid bowl via a stationary inlet tube and is accelerated smoothly by an internal feed distributor. Under high G-force, the heavy solid particles are flung against the inner bowl wall.
- High-Torque Scroll Conveyor: An internal screw conveyor rotates at a slightly different differential speed (Δn) to continuously push the settled sludge toward the conical end (dry beach) for automated discharge.
- Adjustable Pond Depth: The clarified liquid flows back toward the cylindrical end and exits via adjustable weir plates, ensuring optimal clarity of the final clarified liquid or centrate.
Process Optimization & Operational Variables
To achieve peak separation performance and maximum cost-efficiency, a decanter centrifuge requires precise balance between machine design and operational variables. Key parameters including the bowl speed (which dictates the total G-force) and the liquid pond depth (controlled by adjustable weir plates) directly influence centrate clarity and fluid residence time. Concurrently, managing the differential speed between the bowl and the scroll conveyor is critical; this controls the torque load and dictates the cake transport rate through the dry beach. By dynamically adjusting these variables via variable frequency drives (VFD), industrial operators can easily adapt to fluctuating feed concentrations, minimizing polymer consumption while maintaining high solids recovery rates.
Global Industrial Applications
- Wastewater & Sludge Dewatering: Maximizing total solids recovery in municipal and industrial effluents.
- Chemical & Mining Processing: Crucial for potash crystallization, salt dewatering, and catalyst recovery.
- Food & Beverage Clarification: Used in juice processing, starch dewatering, and vegetable oil separation.
- Animal protein
Fish and meat by-product processing - Surimi processing
Edible protein recovery - Brewery
Recovery of extract, wort and yeast - Chinese medicinal materials, coffee and tea
Extraction of valuable components from Chinese medicinal materials, coffee and tea - Dairy
Recovery of casein, lactose, whey fines and cheese fines - Edible oil
Clarification of palm oil, olive oil and pressed seed oil - Juice
Extraction from fruit, berries and vegetables - Pectin
Recovery of extracted pectin - Vegetable protein
Extraction from soybeans, oil seeds and leguminous crops - Wine
Must and wine clarification
- Mineral industry
Kaolin clay and calcium carbonate processing, bentonite and titanium dioxide manufacturers - Oil exploration and petrochemical industry
Oil exploration, oil refineries and related industries, lubricating oil additives and waste oil stream recycling - Organic chemical industry
Organic intermediate and end products - Polymer industry
Thermoplastics including PVC, polypropylene, polystyrene, synthetic rubber and fibres - Inorganic chemical industry
Bleaching agents, acids, silica products and fertilizers - Ethanol production
Processing of grain alcohol spent wash and molasses fermenter residues - Starch processing
Based on wheat, maize, tapioca, cassava and potatoes - Waste recycling
Recovery and recycling of waste streams from the sectors listed above
Why Choose Separatech Decanter Centrifuges?
Extreme G-Force Operations: Capable of generating thousands of Gs for fine particle separation down to a few microns.
Premium Wear Protection: High-wear areas of the scroll conveyor are armored with tungsten carbide tiles or hard-facing welding, maximizing service life when handling abrasive minerals, potash, or oil sludge.
Duplex Stainless Steel Construction: Bowls and hubs are cast from premium Duplex stainless steel (such as 1.4462 or SS316L) via centrifugal casting, guaranteeing superior mechanical stability and corrosion resistance.
Smart VFD Control Systems: Dual-motor VFD drive systems automatically adjust the differential speed based on real-time torque load variations, matching the performance standards of industry-leading brands.