TS Decanter Centrifuge
Decanter Centrifuge
A decanter centrifuge, or solid bowl centrifuge, uses high rotational speed, generating centrifugal force to separate materials of different densities.
This equipment is used in solid/liquid and liquid/liquid (liquid phase) separation applications in minerals processing, chemical, oil, and food processing, and wastewater treatment industries.
Multotec has supplied industrial decanter centrifuges and centrifuge equipment (including a range of heavy-duty, high-performance SIEBTECHNIK industrial decanter centrifuges) to the international mineral, chemical and industrial processing market for over 50 years. These centrifuges are known worldwide for their exceptional versatility and ability to effectively separate very fine solids from liquids of lighter density, across a wide range of industrial applications.
With a robust design, this range of industrial decanter centrifuges ensures the maximum possible separation efficiency while reducing the waste content. This makes it the most efficient and economical choice for your industrial solid/liquid separation applications.
Our industrial centrifuges are serviced and supported internationally. The entire range has been tested in real-field conditions at optimal centrifugal force in order to ensure optimised separation efficiency.
Multotec offers a comprehensive range of industrial centrifuges.Contact Multotec for this niche product offering.
Beneftis of Multotec decanter centrifuge
Low-density solids or viscous liquids can make it difficult to separate slurries. Multotec overcame this with an industrial centrifuge that offers an exceptional ability to separate very fine solids from liquids of lighter density.
Additional benefits of our range include:
- Compact designs that help to reduce plant footprint
- Heavy-duty, to withstand harsh operating conditions
- Increased separation efficiency that results in effective processing
- Ideal for all particle sizes, including very fine solids
All industrial decanter centrifuges from Multotec are designed to ensure maximum separation efficiency and reduce overall waste content in your water treatment systems and mineral processing applications. This ensures excellent by-product recovery.
Our range of decanter centrifuges is specifically manufactured for slurries that are traditionally difficult to separate, due to low-density solids, fine particle size distribution or viscous liquids.
Multotec Centrifuges are used in both municipal and industrial sectors.
Features of Multotec industrial decanter centrifuges:
- Single or double shaft drive options
- Ideal for particle sizes up to 1 mm
- Suitable for very fine solids
- Incorporated washing system
- Equipped with replaceable screen segments (replaced outside the machine)
Ideal for gas-tight processes, the closed housing and precise seals allow for very fine solids’ dewatering.
DZ Decanter Centrifuge
Ideal for open process systems, this is a heavy-duty decanter machine requiring minimal maintenance.
DZS Screen Decanter Centrifuge
Ideal for crystalline & granular products, this centrifuge combines solid bowl and screen scroll centrifuge technology.
Operating principle
Clarification of the liquid inside the centrifuge takes place primarily in the cylindrical section of the centrifuge. The dewatering of the solids takes place by filtering the solids cake (or compressing the solids cake) in the conical part of the bowl.
High speed centrifuge
The centrifuge is bowl-shaped with a tube that can rotate at extremely high pre-determined speeds. This high centrifuge speed facilitates the separation of solids, liquids and gases. ;
The principle of a decanter centrifuge (or centrifugal solids separator) is based on the gravitational separation theory. However, inside the centrifuge, gravitational acceleration is replaced by much higher centrifugal acceleration – anywhere from 1 000 to 4 000 times the normal gravitational force. This means the required separation time is reduced from hours to seconds.
Multotec has supplied centrifugal decanters to international mineral processing industries for over 50 years.
How the decanter process works
SIEBTECHNIK decanting centrifuges (manufactured under licence by Multotec) work on the counter-flow principle:
- The suspension to separate is introduced in the approximate centre of the bowl.
- The sedimented solid material is transported toward the small diameter by the worm, which rotates at a different speed to the bowl.
- The clarified liquid flows out of the bowl through the large diameter.
The height of the liquid level in the bowl and the resulting ratio of clear liquid and dry solids can be adjusted. This allows for optimum control of the required separation.
The differential speed between the worm and bowl is controlled with a gear unit. The standard drive arrangement is via V-belts. Depending on the required rotating speed combination, the centrifuge is equipped with either a single drive or a double drive design.
Applications and uses of decanter centrifuges
These types of industrial centrifuges are used primarily in the solid/liquid separation processes in mineral processing applications.
Decanter centrifuges are used in the processing of:
- Aluminium hydroxide
- Barite
- Calcium carbonate
- Copper
- Gold
- Kaolin
- Lead
- Nickel
- Platinum
- Silver
- Titanium dioxide
- Zinc
- Zinc sulphate
- Tailings
In addition to mineral processing, the decanter separator is used in the chemical, oil and food processing industries as well as for wastewater treatment. It is effective in a range of industrial applications – from straightforward mechanical processing through to use in chemical processes.
Get in touch with your local Multotec branch about your mineral processing requirements.
How our decanter centrifuges work
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TS decanter
TS series decanters are typically used in gas-tight process systems. The closed process housing in combination with proven sealing designs at the small shaft diameters and the design, coordinated with the precise operating conditions, gives this centrifuge series a very high degree of reliability.
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DZ decanter (pedestal bearing design)
The DZ series can also be supplied in a vapour-tight and gas-tight design. For these applications, the product housings are manufactured in two pieces and sealed with chamber rings. The geometry of the rotating parts is designed for the specific separation requirement.
The rotating assembly is carried by pedestal bearings located outside the product housing. Machines with bowl diameters greater than 1 000 mm are standard in the DZ series.
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DZS screen decanter
The DZS screen decanter is a combination of a solid bowl decanting centrifuge and a screen worm centrifuge (screen scroll) with exceptional dewatering results for crystalline and granular products.
In the decanter component, the feed suspension is first pre-thickened, i.e. it is extensively dewatered in the conical part of the solid bowl. The liquid is clarified in the cylindrical part and finally discharged. The pre-thickened solids are transported into the cylindrical screen section by the worm, where additional dewatering is achieved.
A special SIEBTECHNIK washing system allows particularly efficient washing in the screen area of this machine. The original liquor and washing fluid can be separately discharged.
Due to the low residual liquid entering the screening section, fine solids losses are low and can be further reduced by returning the filtrate to the inlet of the centrifuge.
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Centrifuge baskets
Manufactured from abrasion-resistant 430 stainless steel, or 304 stainless steel for corrosive applications, Multotec Optima centrifuge baskets are used across the world in coal, chemicals, food and beverage, and other industries.
They incorporate accelerator bars to assist in calibrating the speed of the material to the speed of the rotating basket.
Optional extras include a
- feed end wear cone: a solid steel plate which absorbs the impact of the feed
- a discharge end wear cone: overcomes high wear rate due to high peripheral speed.
The feed end flange is fully machined, ensuring a perfectly symmetrical mounting flange and the correct length for the basket. Centrifuge baskets are dynamically balanced to provide peak performance and minimise the wear and tear on your industrial centrifuge.
Choose a process partner who will constantly work to lower your cost per ton.
Designed for optimised separation efficiency
Our decanter centrifuges are designed according to the ‘counter-flow’ principle. This means that the suspension to be separated is introduced in the centre of the bowl. The sedimented solids material is transported toward the small diameter by the scroll, which rotates at a different speed to the bowl. The clarified liquid flows out of the bowl at the large diameter.
A specialised double-bearing design on each side of the rotating parts facilitates high rotational speeds with high gravitational force required for sedimentation separation. This rotational speed is achieved with an optimised gear unit. The standard drive arrangement is via V-belts and, depending on the required rotating speed combination, the decanter centrifuge is also equipped with a single drive (fixed eccenter shaft) or double drive design (driven eccenter shaft).
The height of the liquid level in the bowl and the resulting ratio of clear liquid and dry solids can be adjusted in the decanter centrifuge. This permits optimum control of the required separation.
We have a range of heavy-duty, universal decanter centrifuges, designed to increase separation efficiency for all particle sizes.
Factors that determine performance of decanter centrifuges
There are 5 vital factors that determine the performance of these centrifuges:
- Centrifugal force: This is required for separation of particles according to size and density.
- Clarification area: This designated area captures the solids.
- Differential speed: This is the required speed to discharge solids from the decanter.
- The hydrodynamic design: This design determines the exact parameters required for the turbulence.
- The design of the beach and conveyor sections: These are necessary to transport solids efficiently.
Services & Support
Test work and technical capabilities
- Assistance of appropriate equipment selection
- Equipment delivery and commissioning
- Comprehensive plant, process and equipment audits & implementing tailored solutions
- Equipment retrofitting into existing mining operations and equipment
- Specialised design capabilities available to clients
Find out more about our test work capabilities.
Field service maintenance
- Regular field service and maintenance site visits
- Preventative maintenance
- Equipment lifecycle management
- Onsite application-specific plant and process audits
- Assessment-based technical drawings
Find out more about our field service maintenance.
Training
- Customer training workshops to bridge the gap between theory and real-plant applications
- merSETA-approved Artisan apprenticeships
- Product and product application training suited to client requirements
- Multotec Graduate Development Programme where each graduate is provided with a mentor and specific development plan for the duration of the programme
Find out more about our training.
Find out how we can manufacture a performance enhancing mineral processing solution for you. Contact us today.
State-of-the-art design & manufacture
All equipment and products from Multotec are designed and manufactured to the most stringent quality standards in our ISO 9001 manufacturing facilities.
Founded in 1973, the Multotec Group is active in 100 countries and partner to some of the world’s largest mining houses. Some of these are BHP Billiton, Glencore, RIO Tinto, First Quantum Minerals Ltd, Anglo American, and many others.
Ongoing equipment development
We use Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations, pilot plant and online test work to improve the metallurgical performance of the process equipment. Detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA), 3D design, as well as the correct specifications of wear resistant materials are all used to develop all product and equipment designs.
Developed in response to the challenges our customers face in improving their mineral processing efficiency, Multotec products are proven n the toughest commodity processing applications across the world.
Find out more about our manufacturing capabilities.
Site visits, extensive design capabilities, condition monitoring software and plant audits are part of our technical capabilities services.
Frequently asked questions:
What is a decanter centrifuge used for? This equipment is used in solid/liquid and liquid/liquid (liquid phase) separation applications primarily in minerals processing, as well as chemical, oil, and food processing, and wastewater treatment industries.
What are the limitations of decanter centrifuge? Decanter centrifuges are less effective on ultrafine or clay-rich slurries without heavy flocculation. They are sensitive to viscosity, density differences and rapid feed swings, requiring careful tuning and pre-screening.
What is the difference between decanter centrifuge and disc centrifuge? A decanter centrifuge (or centrifuge separator machine) comprises a horizontal bowl and a screw conveyor to continuously separate materials of different densities. A disc-stack (disc) centrifuge, on the other hand, comprises a vertical bowl, stacked with conical discs, to separate materials.
What is the performance of decanting centrifuge? This centrifuge works on the counter-flow principle. A suspension is introduced in the centre of a rotating bowl, which creates centrifugal force. The sedimented solid material is transported towards the smaller diameter of the bowl via a worm conveyor (which rotates at a different speed to the bowl). The liquid flows out of the large diameter of the bowl.
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We’ve supplied centrifugal decanters to international mineral processing industries for over 40 years.