In modern industrial production, tubular centrifuges have become key equipment in the field of liquid-liquid separation due to their high separation factor, excellent separation accuracy and ability to adapt to trace suspended matter. Especially in the pharmaceutical, fine chemical, biological fermentation, plant extraction and food industries, tubular centrifuges play an irreplaceable role in the efficient separation of emulsions, liquids and trace solid inclusions.
However, compared with traditional liquid-solid separation, liquid-liquid separation has a higher process complexity and more stringent requirements for operational stability, safety and precise control. Therefore, in the actual use of tubular centrifuges, improper operation, inadequate maintenance or insufficient understanding of the separation process may lead to equipment damage, reduced separation effect, and even personnel safety risks.
Principle of liquid-liquid separation and working characteristics of tubular centrifuge
Basic concept of liquid-liquid separation
Liquid-liquid separation refers to the separation of two liquids with different densities but immiscible with each other, such as water and oil, extract and yeast in biological fermentation broth, etc. The key to liquid-liquid separation lies in density difference, emulsification state, dispersed particle size and its stability.
Structural advantages of tubular centrifuge
The tubular centrifuge consists of a high-speed drum, a main shaft, a bearing seat, a motor, and a feeding and discharging system. The drum has a small inner diameter and a high speed (usually above 15,000 rpm). The separation factor is as high as 15,000 g or more, which can effectively complete the continuous separation of emulsions, especially for liquid-liquid systems with extremely small density differences and unclear interfaces.
1.3 The particularity of liquid-liquid separation working conditions
The emulsification degree is high and the interface is fuzzy, so the operating time and discharging cycle need to be accurately set;
It is easy to mix again after separation, and the pipeline design and reflux system must be optimized;
High speed brings mechanical stress concentration, and the equipment material and assembly accuracy requirements are extremely high.
Key considerations in the use of liquid-liquid separation tubular centrifuge
The state of the feed liquid should be strictly controlled
Liquid-liquid separation has extremely high requirements for the uniformity and stability of the feed liquid. To ensure the separation effect, the feed liquid should have the following characteristics:
No excessive bubbles in the liquid: bubbles will disrupt the separation interface and cause separation failure;
Constant liquid temperature: temperature changes will affect density difference and viscosity, thereby affecting separation efficiency;
Solid impurity filtration: solid particles may scratch the drum or cause imbalance under high-speed rotation.
Recommendation: Stabilize the state of the feed liquid by pre-filtration, buffer stirring and temperature control before use.
Strictly control the feed flow rate and separation time
If the flow rate is too fast, it is easy to cause the liquid to stay in the drum for insufficient time and fail to complete effective separation; if the flow rate is too slow, it will affect the processing efficiency. Recommendation:
Use a frequency conversion control device to adjust the feed flow rate;
Set a suitable residence time according to the density ratio and emulsification degree of the liquid.
Experience value reference: For light oil-water mixture, it is recommended that the residence time is not less than 3 minutes, and the flow rate is adjusted according to the drum volume.
Common problems and solutions in liquid-liquid separation
Liquid-liquid separation is an operation process that requires extremely high equipment stability and process control capabilities. As a high-precision separation equipment, tubular centrifuges have a natural advantage in this field. But the premise is that they must be scientifically selected, used reasonably, and strictly enforce safety and technical specifications during operation.
As a professional tubular centrifuge manufacturer in China, we not only provide high-quality products, but also are committed to providing customers with overall solution support. From equipment selection, installation and commissioning to operation training and after-sales service, we insist on using professionalism to protect every output efficiency and production safety of users. If you have any questions during use or purchase, please feel free to contact us. We will escort your separation needs with the most professional technology and the fastest response.
