CENTRIFUGAL FILTRATION

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CENTRIFUGAL FILTRATION
• In case of slurries containing coarse
granular or crystalline solids forming
a porous cake, the filtration
operation can be carried by using
centrifugal force rather than the
pressure force.
• Centrifugal filters can be operated
batchwise or in a continuous
fashion. In these filters, the slurry is
fed centrally to a rotating basket.
• The slurry is forced
perforations in against theofbasket
the walls the sides by pressure resulting from
the centrifugal
basket action, by
are covered i.e., abyfilter
centrifugal force. The liquor passes
through the filter medium and the solids are retained by the medium.
medium.
• After building the cake to a predecided thickness, the feed is stopped
and the cake of solids is spun for a short period to remove residual
2 liquid from the cake.
Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
 Principles of centrifugal separation and filtration
(a) Bowl stationary, (b) Sedimentation in rotating
imperforated bowl,
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(c)
Dr. Bharti SainiFiltration in rotating
Department of Chemical perforated
Engineering Pandit basket
Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
In Fig. (a) stationary cylindrical bowl contains a slurry (liquid + particulate
solids of greater density than liquid). Since the bowl is not rotating, solids
will settle at the bottom with a horizontal liquid surface above the solids.
Fig. (b) shows that the bowl is rotating about its vertical axis. In this case,
the liquid and solids are acted upon by two forces – the gravity force acting
downward and the centrifugal force acting horizontally. Normally, the
centrifugal force is very large as compared to the gravity force and hence,
the same may be neglected in comparison with the centrifugal force. Under
the action of the centrifugal force, the solid particles are tightly pressed
against the vertical bowl wall and the liquid layer assume the equilibrium
position with an almost vertical inner surface as shown in
Fig. (b). If the wall of the bowl is perforated and perforations are covered
with a filter medium such as a fine wire screen as shown in
Fig. (c), the liquid is free to flow outward but the solids are not. Almost all
the liquid quickly flows out of the bowl, leaving behind the cake of filtered
solids.
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Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
 Centrifugal Filters
A centrifuge or centrifugal is any rotating machine that utilises a
centrifugal force for the separation of liquid from solids as well as for
the separation of immiscible liquids of different densities.
The essential components of a centrifuge machine are :
1. a rotor or bowl in which centrifugal force is applied to the contents
of bowl,
2. a drive shaft,
3. a drive mechanism e.g. electric motor,
4. a frame for support, and align these
5. a casing.

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Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
Suspended batch centrifugal – Batch
centrifuge

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Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
 Construction :
• A batch centrifuge which is commonly used in industrial processing is
the top suspended centrifuge (See Fig.). It consists of a basket with
perforated sides.
• The diameter of the basket ranges from 750 to 1200 mm and depth
from 450 to 750 mm.
• The basket rotates at speeds between 600 to 1800 rpm.
• The basket is held at the lower end of a free swinging vertical shaft.
• The shaft is driven from above by an electric motor.
• The perforated sides (walls) of the basket are covered with a filter
medium on the inside.
• The basket is surrounded by a casing provided with a filtrate discharge
connection at the bottom.
• The basket and other parts may be constructed of mild steel, monel
and stainless.
• In case of mild steel, they may be lined with lead, rubber, etc.
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Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
Working:
Slurry to be filtered is fed to the rotating basket through an inlet pipe or
channel. It is forced against the basket sides by centrifugal force. The
liquid passes through the filter medium into the casing and out a
discharge pipe, while the solids form a filter cake against the filter
medium. The cake thickness usually varies from 50 to 150 mm. The
cake is washed by spraying wash liquid to remove the soluble material.
It leaves the centrifuge through the discharge pipe. After washing is
complete, the cake is spun as dry as possible, usually at a speed higher
than that during the charging and washing steps. The motor is then
turned off and the basket speed is reduced by the application of a brake.
At the basket speed of 30 - 50 rpm, the cake is discharged by cutting it
out with an unloader knife. The knife peels the cake off the filter
medium and drops it through an opening in the basket floor. The valve
which forms part of the bottom is opened to allow cake discharge into a
receiver placed below. After unloading, the filter medium is rinsed clean
and
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the
cycle is Dr.
repeated.
Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
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Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
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Dr. Bharti Saini Department of Chemical Engineering Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University Gandhin
 Thank You

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