The centrifugal extractor is a new, fast, and efficient liquid-liquid mixing and separation equipment. The centrifugal extractor uses a motor to drive the drum to rotate at a high speed. The two liquids with different densities and immiscible The mixed mass transfer is completed under the action of shearing force, and it is separated quickly under the action of centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the drum. It is widely used in fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrometallurgy, petrochemicals, environmental protection, plant extraction, and other industries. 

The centrifugal extractor can achieve mixing and clarification at each stage. Multi-stage operation connects each stage in series, and the two-phase material flows continuously in countercurrent step by step.

The centrifugal extractor can convert waste oil into usable oil.

What is the Working Principle of the Centrifugal Extractor?

The centrifugal extractor mainly includes two processes of work, namely mixing mass transfer and centrifugal separation. The centrifugal extractor can automatically and continuously complete the two processes of mixing and separation.

1 Mixed mass transfer

After entering the centrifugal extractor, the water phase and the organic phase are sheared and dispersed into tiny droplets by a high-speed rotating drum or paddle, so that the two phases are in full contact, to achieve the purpose of mass transfer. 

2 Factors affecting the mass transfer effect:

Mixing intensity: within a certain range, the greater the mixing intensity, the smaller the particles dispersed in the two phases, and the larger the contact area, the more conducive to mass transfer, but too-small droplets are not conducive to separation. By the way, if you increase the speed or replace a blade with a stronger shearing force, you can increase the mixing intensity.

3 Contact time:

The increase of the two-phase contact time is conducive to mass transfer. When the mass transfer process reaches equilibrium, the increase of the contact time will not improve the mass transfer effect. Generally, reducing the flow rate can obtain a longer contact time.

4 Temperature:

The temperature will affect the mass transfer effect. The mass transfer effect of some systems increases with the increase of temperature, and the mass transfer effect of some systems decreases with the increase of temperature. 

The difference in substance concentration, the greater the difference in substance concentration, the more conducive to mass transfer.

5 Centrifugal separation

The mixed liquid formed by mixing the water phase and the organic phase enters the rotating drum. Driven by the rotating drum and its web, the mixed liquid rotates synchronously with the rotating drum at high speed to generate centrifugal force. Under the action of centrifugal force, the denser liquid gradually moves away from the center of the drum and leans toward the drum wall during the upward flow; the less dense liquid gradually moves away from the drum wall and toward the center. Finally, the two-phase liquid is thrown into the collection chamber through the respective channels, and the two phases flow out from the respective collection chambers, thereby completing the two-phase separation process. 

6 Factors affecting separation:

Speed: The faster the speed, the faster the separation of the two phases in the drum, and the less the two-phase entrainment; at the same time, increasing the speed can also increase the processing capacity of the equipment.

7 Drum height:

The mixed liquid slowly separates from bottom to top in the drum. If the drum height is higher, the separation effect is better.

8 Weir plate:

The centrifugal extractor controls the outflow of the two-phase liquid through the adjustment of the top weir plate. A suitable weir plate is an important guarantee for the thorough separation of the two phases.

9 Material characteristics:

The physical characteristics of the material itself, such as emulsification, foaming, and the size of the density difference, have a great influence on the separation of the two phases.

The centrifugal extractor is a new, fast and efficient liquid-liquid mixing and separation equipment.

What are the Characteristics of the Centrifugal Extractor

  • The equipment is small in size, short in balance time, and small in stock of extractant tanks.
  • The equipment has a large processing capacity and low power consumption.
  • The high degree of automation and simple operation.
  • It can realize the closed operation of the extraction system, and the operating environment is good.
  • The equipment has a compact structure and a small footprint.
  • Can adapt to intermittent or continuous operation.
  • The speed and mixing methods are easy to adjust and can adapt to the requirements of different extraction systems.
  • It adopts a top suspension structure, no bottom bearing and mechanical seal, no risk of leakage, no wearing parts, and simple and convenient maintenance.
  • There is no need to disassemble the motor and bearing when replacing the heavy phase weir plate.