In modern fine chemicals, biopharmaceuticals, plant extraction, food processing, new energy materials and other high-tech industries, separation technology is increasingly valued as a key link in product quality control and resource recycling. Compared with traditional inefficient processes such as gravity sedimentation and filter cloth filtration, the new generation of high-speed centrifugal equipment is becoming a powerful tool for companies to improve production efficiency and product purity.
Among them, **Tubular Centrifuge** stands out with its significant characteristics of “small size, high speed, and large separation capacity”, becoming a star equipment in high-precision liquid-solid/liquid-liquid separation scenarios in many industries.
Working principle: The science of high-speed separation behind a simple structure
1. Core structure composition
The basic structure of a tubular centrifuge includes: a high-speed rotating centrifugal drum (tubular structure), a drive system (usually a motor + belt drive), a separation chamber, a feeding device, and a liquid discharge system.
Among them, the drum is usually a vertically mounted slender metal cylinder, which can achieve ultra-high-speed rotation (speed can reach 15,00025,000 rpm) and form a centrifugal force field of up to 15,00021,000 g inside it.
2. Brief description of the separation principle‘
When the mixed liquid enters the high-speed rotating drum cavity through the feed pipe, under the action of strong centrifugal force, the particles with higher density quickly settle to the outer wall to form a solid sediment layer; the lighter liquid phase moves toward the center and is finally discharged through the top or bottom, thereby achieving liquid-solid or liquid-liquid separation.
Compared with traditional equipment, tubular centrifuges can separate fine particles or tiny droplets more quickly and thoroughly, and are particularly suitable for the treatment of mixed liquids with low concentration and moderate viscosity.
In-depth analysis of performance advantages
1. High speed brings super strong separation ability
One of the biggest advantages of tubular centrifuge is its ultra-high speed operation ability. Compared with ordinary horizontal screw centrifuges (3000-5000 rpm), its speed is increased several times, and the centrifugal field strength is as high as 20,000 g, which is an ideal choice for high-precision separation processes.
This means:
Shorter separation time: liquid-solid or liquid-liquid separation can be completed in 1~3 minutes;
More thorough separation effect: fine particles with a particle size as small as 0.1μm can be separated;
Lower residual solid content: clear liquid, low impurity content.
2. Small volume design, strong adaptability
The tubular centrifuge is small in size and occupies a small area. It is especially suitable for use in laboratories, pilot lines, pharmaceutical extraction workshops and other places with limited space. Its modular structure is easy to install and carry, and is conducive to rapid deployment and parallel expansion of multiple units.
In addition, the small size also means:
Low heat loss;
Easier to achieve clean and sterile design;
Easy to perform CIP/SIP online cleaning and sterilization.
3. Wide range of separation objects and strong applicability
The tubular centrifuge can handle almost all liquid systems, including but not limited to:
Liquid-solid separation: yeast, cell fragments, Chinese medicine extracts, fermentation broth, suspensions;
Liquid-liquid separation: water and oil, ethanol and oil, fermentation broth and organic solvents;
Liquid-liquid-solid separation: bio-oil, mixed liquid after plant essential oil extraction, vaccine separation system.
4. Precision separation to ensure product purity and quality
With its excellent separation accuracy, the tubular centrifuge can achieve product purity improvement and impurity removal rate of more than 99%, effectively ensuring the quality stability and market competitiveness of high value-added products (such as pharmaceutical intermediates, plant essential oils, protein liquids, and nanomaterials).
5. Both automated operation and convenient maintenance
Although traditional models are mostly manual slag discharge, with the advancement of control technology, more and more models support:
Automatic feeding and time control;
Real-time monitoring of speed and temperature;
Safety interlock and abnormal shutdown;
Modular design facilitates daily maintenance and quick cleaning.
Comprehensive value for enterprises
1. Cost savings
Reduce expenses on consumables such as filter cloth and filter materials;
Reduce manual operation and downtime;
Efficient operation, shorten production cycle, and increase batch output.
2. Improve product added value
Ensure product purity, activity and stability;
Reduce customer complaints and return risks caused by quality fluctuations;
Enhance product competitiveness in the high-end market.
3. Support intelligent manufacturing and automation transformation
Can be connected to the automatic control system to achieve unmanned operation;
Data collection and traceability functions meet regulatory requirements such as GMP/FDA;
Modular design facilitates future process adjustments or capacity expansion.
