Tubular Centrifuge Structure and Operating Principle
1. Structural Components
A typical tubular centrifuge consists of:
Main unit (rotating drum, base, transmission system)
Motor and drive shaft
Inlet and outlet systems
Liquid collection device
Automatic balancing and safety protection system2. Operating Principle
Material enters the high-speed rotating vertical drum through the feed pipe. Under the powerful centrifugal force, materials of different densities are separated radially:
The heavy phase (solids or high-density particles) is thrown toward the drum wall;
The light phase (clear liquid) moves toward the center and is discharged through the outlet.
The centrifugal field enables efficient separation of micron-sized particles.
Main Application Scenarios of Tubular Centrifuges in the Biopharmaceutical Industry
Tubular centrifuges are particularly suitable for processing suspended liquids with low solids content, fine particles, and small density differences. They are ideal equipment for achieving “high purity and high recovery” in biopharmaceutical processes.
1. Blood Product and Plasma Separation
In the blood product industry, the separation of plasma, serum, and various protein preparations is a core process.
Using high-speed separation, tubular centrifuges can achieve:
Precise separation of cells, proteins, lipids, and other substances in plasma;
Improving plasma clarity;
Reducing protein loss;
Preventing protein denaturation caused by high shear.
Application Examples:
Whole blood separation (plasma and red blood cell separation);
Albumin purification;
Immunoglobulin and coagulation factor extraction
Using high-speed blood tubular centrifuges, a separation process with zero cross-contamination, zero foaming, and high recovery is achieved.
2. Clarification of Fermentation Broths and Recovery of Bacteria
Fermentation is a core process in the production of modern pharmaceuticals, enzyme preparations, and vaccines. Fermentation broths contain large quantities of cells, bacteria, and metabolic byproducts.
Tube centrifuges can efficiently separate these suspended solids, enabling initial clarification or concentration of fermentation broths.
Typical applications include:
Separation of antibiotic fermentation broths (such as penicillin and cephalosporins);
Enzyme extraction;
Clarification of recombinant protein fermentation broths;
Pretreatment of vaccine concentrates prior to filtration;
Using a tubular centrifuge can effectively increase filtration speed, extend the life of downstream membrane filters, and improve overall production capacity.
3. Clarification of Plant Extracts and Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations
In the natural product and traditional Chinese medicine extraction industries, extracts often contain tiny suspended particles and impurities, which affect product clarity and stability.
Tube centrifuges can be used for extract clarification and impurity removal, and are widely used in:
Refining plant extracts;
Clarifying traditional Chinese medicine concentrates;
Separating natural substances such as essential oils and resins.
The stable separation results and high effluent clarity ensure the purity and taste consistency of pharmaceutical ingredients.
Main Types and Technical Features of Tubular Centrifuges
Based on the materials used and separation requirements, tubular centrifuges can generally be divided into the following categories:
1. Clarifying Tubular Centrifuges
Mainly used to remove small amounts of solid particles from liquids;
The effluent is clear, and solids settle on the drum wall;
Suitable for high-purity liquids such as fermentation broth and plasma.
2. Separating Tubular Centrifuges
Used for three-phase separation of two liquid phases and solids;
Can achieve simultaneous separation of oil, water, and solids;
Suitable for bio-extraction, edible oil refining, chemical solvent recovery, and other applications.
As a core equipment for biopharmaceutical separation, tubular centrifuges represent the direction of modern high-precision separation technology. With high speed, high purity, automation, and sustainability as its core advantages, they provide reliable support for pharmaceutical R&D and production.
