Disc Stack Centrifuges

A solid bowl centrifuge is a style of disc stack centrifuge used to separate solids and liquids in the maritime, power generation, oil and gas, and other industrial industries. In marine installations and power stations, the solid bowl disc stack separation technology can be used for cost-effective solid-liquid separation in applications such as the purification or clarification of mineral oil (marine diesel oil, lube oil, hydraulic oil). Bowl discs provide more separation surface area and increase separation efficiency.

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

Solids-retaining centrifugal separators are perfect for clarifying and purifying marine diesel oils (GO/MDO). Separator Spares & Equipment 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 (bowl 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 is replaced by centrifugal force (g force), which can be thousands of times greater. The bowl disc stack (conical discs) increase the surface settling area (surface area), which provides higher separation efficiency.

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

Sedimentation and separation are continuous and very fast processes. When liquid and solid particles in a liquid mixture are subjected to centrifugal force (g 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 (2) 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-sized gravity disc or dam ring, which is responsible for creating an interface between the oil and water.

The disc stack separator is periodically stopped to remove the solids from the solid bowl separator, which is then opened so that the collected separated solids can be removed manually.

A clarifier is a centrifugal separator designed for solid-liquid separation. The objective of clarification is to separate solids 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 disk stack centrifuge, the rotating bowl forces the solids and particulates (solids separation) 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 the collected solids can be removed manually at periodic intervals.

Centrifugal separation utilizes centrifugal force (high g force) in a rapidly rotating disc stack bowl that can be thousands of times greater than gravity (gravitational force). Sedimentation and separation are continuous and very fast. When liquid and suspended solid particles in a liquid mixture are subject to centrifugal force in the rotating bowl, achieving what takes many hours in a tank under the influence of gravity only takes seconds.

Various industries use disc stack centrifuges to increase the separation efficiency for liquid-liquid-solid separation (purifier = purification) or liquid-solid separation (clarifier = clarification). Because sedimentation and separation are much faster with centrifuges, they are particularly well-suited for applications where other separation methods, such as filtration or sedimentation, are insufficient. 

If you want a centrifugal separator to increase your separation efficiency, contact Separator Spares & Equipment to discuss your specific disc stack separator needs. We stock a wide range of high-capacity centrifugal separators. Our broad range of separation technology selection allows you to you maximum efficiency. We stock new solid-bowl disc stack centrifuges, feed pump, control panels, skid mounting options, and recommended spare parts.  

To achieve optimum centrifugal separation efficiency, 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.

Need your disc stack centrifuge serviced?

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

Our service kits will make it easier for your scheduled maintenance, saving you time and lowering your operating costs.

The Separator Spares & Equipment brand is on every box, so 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 stack 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.