Disc Stack Centrifuges

A solid bowl centrifuge is a style of centrifuge is used in Maritime, Power Generation, Oil & Gas, and Industrial Industries for the separation of solids and liquids. In marine installations and power stations, the solid bowl disc stack separator technology can be used for cost-effective solid-liquid separation in applications such as purification or clarification of mineral oil.

The accumulated sludge and solid particles are removed from the disc bowl regularly by hand.

The solids-retaining centrifugal separators are perfect for clarifying and purifying marine diesel oils (GO/MDO). We can provide the correct centrifuge system for your application. Contact us today with your disc stack centrifuge requirements!

A disc stack centrifuge separates solids and one or two liquids simultaneously. A set of conical plates (disc stack) is added to the bowl of a centrifugal separator. A disc centrifuge uses centrifugal force to separate liquids with a lower concentration of solids and relatively small particle sizes. In a rapidly rotating high-speed centrifugal separator, the gravitational force (g force) is replaced by centrifugal force, which can be thousands of times greater. The conical discs (disc stack) increase the surface settling area (surface area) which seeds up the separation process.

With a disc stack centrifuge, mechanical separation of different liquid phases and solids can be carried out on a rapid, continuous basis.

Sedimentation and separation are a continuous process and very fast. When liquid and solid particles in a liquid mixture are subjected to the centrifugal force in a centrifuge bowl, it takes only a few seconds to achieve what takes many hours in a tank under the influence of gravity. Depending on your separation process and your required separation efficiency, a disc stack centrifuge bowl can be set up as a clarifier bowl or purifier bowl.

A Purifier is a centrifugal separator designed for liquid-liquid-solid separation. The objective of purification is to separate two liquid phases (which may contain solids) with the main purpose of cleaning the light phase.

The main component of the purifier centrifuge is the correct size gravity disc or dam ring which is responsible for creating an interface between the oil and water.

To remove the solids from the solid bowl separator, the disc stack centrifuge is periodically stopped. The bowl is opened so that the collected separated solids can be removed manually by hand.

A Clarifier is a centrifugal separator designed for solid-liquid separation. The objective of clarification is solids separation from a liquid phase.

In a clarifier centrifuge, the gravity disc is replaced by a sealing ring (clarifier disc), closing the passage of water to the water chamber in the centrifuge bowl top. This closure of the heavy phase pathway essentially blocks one fluid passage from the centrifuge bowl.

In a solid bowl centrifuge, the solids and particulates (solids separation) are forced towards the periphery of the bowl wall, where the solids settle on the centrifuge bowl wall. To remove the solids from a solid bowl separator, the centrifuge is periodically stopped. The centrifuge bowl is opened so that the collected solids can be removed manually by hand.

The centrifugal force in a rapidly rotating vessel can be thousands of times greater than gravity. Sedimentation and separation are continuous and very fast. When liquid and solid particles in a liquid mixture are subject to centrifugal force, it only takes seconds to achieve what takes many hours in a tank under the influence of gravity.

Disc stack centrifuges are used for centrifugal separation of liquid and solid particles in a variety of different industries. Centrifugal force in a rapidly rotating vessel can be thousands of times greater than the force of gravity, making sedimentation and separation much faster than traditional methods relying on gravity alone. They are particularly well suited for applications where other methods of separation, such as filtration or sedimentation, are not sufficient. 

If you are looking for a centrifugal separator for your application, contact us to discuss your specific needs.

In order to achieve optimum centrifugal separation results, it is important to:

• Choose the correct gravity disc corresponding to the current density, viscosity, and flow rate. The largest gravity disc that does not cause a broken water seal is the correct one.
• Operate at a constant flow rate.
• Operate at a constant separation temperature.

Small changes in temperature, density, viscosity, or flow rate will cause the oil/water interface to move, resulting in a disc stack blocked by water or in a broken liquid seal.

Separator Spares & Equipment provides a range of services for disc stack centrifuges. From preventive maintenance and troubleshooting to upgrades, we have you covered! Regular maintenance of your disc stack centrifuge will improve performance and reliability. To learn more, visit our Centrifugal Separators Service webpage.

Service kits from Separator Spares & Equipment will make it easier for your scheduled maintenance, saving you time and lower operating costs.

Separator Spares & Equipment is the largest, independent stocking supplier of aftermarket and original (OEM) spare parts of Alfa Laval Centrifugal Separators and GEA Westfalia Centrifugal Separators in the Americas.  We have over 20,000 parts physically in-stock, in our climate-controlled facility, in Houma, Louisiana. All spares are of genuine quality. Our spare parts are fully compatible with OEM parts and come complete with a 12-month warranty on all non-wear items.

The Separator Spares & Equipment brand comes on each and every box; therefore, you can rest assured that our whole team is behind you every step of the way. To learn more, visit our Centrifugal Separators Spare Parts webpage.

The different factors that can affect the separation process in disc centrifuge are:

• Viscosity: Low viscosity facilitates separation. The viscosity can be reduced by heating.
• Density Difference (Specific Gravity Ratio): The greater the density difference between the phase of the process liquids, the easier the separation process. The difference can be increased by raising the separating temperature.
• Separating Temperature: The temperature should be uniform throughout the separation process.
• Position of Interface: The interface between the liquid seal and the oil should be positioned as close as possible to the bowl periphery. The interface must not be located so far from the bowl center that the oil will pass the outer edge of the top disc, breaking the liquid seal and discharging with water—factors influencing the position of the interface: Oil Density, Size of Throughput, and Gravity Disc.
• Throughput: Bad separating results may be due to excessive throughput. Ensuring the separator is not processing more product than the maximum throughput capacity is crucial.