Advanced 3-Phase Decanter Centrifuge for Simultaneous Separation of Two Immiscible Liquids and Solids

3 Phase Decanter Centrifuges Description

The decanter’s hour has come as soon as the solids content in the suspension to be processed is particularly high. These machines provide the benefits of high clarifying efficiency and maximum dewatering as well as the separation of liquids with the simultaneous removal of solids. The main requirements in this respect include a high bowl speed, a powerful drive for the scroll and a scroll speed which automatically adapts to the solids loading in the feed.

3 Phase Decanter Centrifuges Model

3 Phase Decanter Centrifuges Principle

A decanter centrifuge separates solids from one or two liquid phases in one single continuous process. This is done using centrifugal forces that can be well beyond 3000 times greater than gravity. When subject to such forces, the denser solid particles are pressed outwards against the rotating bowl wall, while the less dense liquid phase forms a concentric inner layer. Different dam plates are used to vary the depth of the liquid – the so-called pond – as required.

The sediment formed by the solid particles is continuously removed by the screw conveyor, which rotates at a different speed than the bowl. As a result, the solids are gradually “ploughed” out of the pond and up the conical “beach”. The centrifugal force compacts the solids and expels the surplus liquid. The dried solids then discharge from the bowl. The clarified liquid phase or phases overflow the dam plates situated at the opposite end of the bowl.

3 Phase Decanter Centrifuges Advantages

Higher Processing Capacity
Modern decanter centrifuges process impressive volumes in compact footprints:
Small units handle 1-5 m³/hour
Medium-sized units process 5-50 m³/hour
Large industrial units can exceed 100 m³/hour
This throughput dwarfs what’s possible with traditional settling or filtration systems of comparable size.
Superior Separation Efficiency
With G-forces exceeding 3,000 times gravity, decanter centrifuges capture particles as small as 2-5 microns – performance impossible with conventional separation methods. This efficiency translates to:
Clearer liquid phases
Drier solid phases
Higher recovery rates of valuable materials
Continuous Operation Capability
Unlike batch processing technologies, decanter centrifuges operate continuously with minimal interruptions:
24/7 operation potential
Reduced labor requirements
Consistent product quality
Lower overall operating costs per unit processed
Smaller Footprint
A decanter centrifuge processing 20 m³/hour might occupy just 10-15 square meters of floor space – a fraction of what settling tanks or filter presses would require for equivalent capacity. This space efficiency proves particularly valuable in:
Offshore platforms
Urban treatment facilities
Retrofit installations with limited space
Automation and Process Control
Modern decanter centrifuges feature sophisticated control systems that deliver:
Automated operation adjustments based on feed variations
Remote monitoring and operation
Precise control over separation parameters
Data collection for process optimization

3 Phase Decanter Centrifuges Application

1. Industrial and municipal wastewater treatment
2. Oil & gas drilling mud/fluid control
3. Washing, separation and dewatering of starch
4. Mycelium and zymotic fluid separation for antibiotic
5. Dewatering of soybean and wheat protein
6. Dewatering of fish power and fish meat
7. Dewatering of vinasse
8. Clarification and extraction of fruit juice
9. Separation and purification for animal and vegetable oil
10. Production and purification of olive oil, palm oil, avocado oil
11. Separation and purification for coal tar
12. Grading of kaolin and graphite
13. Grading and dewatering of dyestuff and pigment
14. Froth flotation for cleaned coal and dewatering of coal mud
15. Grading and dewatering of minerals