GENERAL DESCRIPTION :-
Centrifuge is equipment for separating solids & liquids. This is a faster method of filtration and eminently suitable for elimination of liquid of filtration and eminently suitable for elimination of liquid or moisture from slurry & wet agglomerates.
In simple filtration operation, the liquid seeps down through the filter cloth because of gravity. The filter cloth permits the liquids to pass through but prevent powders to pass. After sometime the fine particles settle on the filter cloth & effectively "Blind" the filter clothe & there by stopping the progress of filtration.
The above hindrance is eliminated in case of centrifuging; because of centrifugal action the gravity force on the liquid is very high, more than "400 TIMES" the normal 'G' VALUE. This causes very high pressure on the filter cloth and hence the fine particle powder is settled. The liquid is ejected through the space between the particles and reaches the filter cloth where it is evacuated.
OUTER CASING :-
The outer casing has cylindrical shell, bottom conical plate & top cover and it houses rotating basket. the outlet pipe is fixed in a tangential position in the direction of rotation for easy elimination of discharge liquid from rotating basket & flowing on the surface of shell & the conical plate.
BASKET :-
The basket has a thick rigid plate at the bottom, fixed to a perforated cylinder. The bottom plate does not have any perforation. The perforated cylinder acts as a support to the filter cloth, which is subjected to centrifugal force and holds the wet powder. The basket is dynamically balanced for elimination of vibration during rotation.
The bearing housing holding the shell is fixed rigidly to the outer casing (under the conical bottom plate). the basket is fixed by taper lock on the main shaft during rotation of the basket.
During starting of rotation, a certain level of vibration is noticed. this vibration of the rotating body is transmitted to the outer shell because of rigid fixing of the bearing housing. Hence, outer casing is suspended on spring to isolate to isolate the vibration to the foundation. The outer casing is suspended on three springs. There are three legs holding the three springs by suspension bolts, which have a spherical heads. This helps in swinging of the bolts & avoids vibration affecting the leg, base frame and foundation.
The main shaft and bearings are critical parts of the equipment and are manufactured with extensive care for ease of assembly, maintenance and providing the shaft and the bearings housing is filled with grease and act as reservoir for grease ensuring proper lubrication of the bearings all times.
DRIVE :-
Main drive of the centrifuge is through electric motor, clutch pulley & V-Belt. Maximum power is required for starting of the rotation of the basket. During running very little power is required. The small amount of power is required only to overcome the turbulence caused by rotation inside the outer casing.
