Scribd
Upload
124 views52 pages

Centrifugationnotes 2

Centrifugation uses centrifugal force to separate solids from liquids or immiscible liquids of different densities. There are several types of centrifuges that use different designs like decanters, disk stacks, and tubular bowls. The basic principles of centrifugation involve applying a centrifugal force on particles in suspension based on factors like particle size and density difference between particle and fluid. Centrifuges are scaled up from pilot tests by matching machine parameters and flow rates between small and large units to achieve the desired separation results.

Uploaded by

S
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
124 views52 pages

Centrifugationnotes 2

Centrifugation uses centrifugal force to separate solids from liquids or immiscible liquids of different densities. There are several types of centrifuges that use different designs like decanters, disk stacks, and tubular bowls. The basic principles of centrifugation involve applying a centrifugal force on particles in suspension based on factors like particle size and density difference between particle and fluid. Centrifuges are scaled up from pilot tests by matching machine parameters and flow rates between small and large units to achieve the desired separation results.

Uploaded by

S
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 52

5.

Centrifugation Processes

Course Instructor : Dr. A. Margaritis, Ph.D., F.C.I.C., P. Eng.


Professor of Biochemical Engineering

Fall 2007

Centrifugation
Separation of solids by centrifugal force
- Solid (particles) in liquids
- Immiscible liquids of different densities
(emulsion droplets) dispersion behave like solid
particles

Principles of centrifugal separation and filtration

(a)Bowl stationary
(b)Sedimentation in rotating imperforate bowl
(c)Filtration in rotating perforate basket
Perrys Chemical EngineersHandbook. 6thed. McGraw Hill, NY 1984

Physics of centrifugation

Physics of centrifugation

Centrifugal force on unconstrained particles


in suspension

Accelerates to speed of rotating fluid at every radial position due to viscous drag by fluid
Impulses on particle tangential to series of orbits
Net effect particle moves radially outward from center of rotation

Centrifugal force on unconstrained particles


in suspension
Relative centrifugal factor (RCF); g factor

centrifugal acceleration
2r
=
RCF =
acceleration due to gravity
g

Centrifugal force on unconstrained particles in suspension

Fc = mP aC = VP ( P )r =
2

DP3 ( P )r 2

dr
FD = 3 DP (Particle velocity)=3 DP
dt
FC= centrifugal force
FD= viscous (Stokes law)drag forcem
P= effective particle mass(bouyancy)
VP= particle volume
P= particle density
= fluid density
DP = particle diameter
= fluid viscosity

Centrifugal force on unconstrained particles


in suspension
At steady state radial particle velocity : FC = FD

mP= effective particle mass


vg= terminal velocity in the gravitational field
vg, g are constant

Centrifugal sedimentation
Sedimenting centrifuges:
Separate phases (solid liquid, liquid liquid) by forcing
migration of denser phase away from axis of rotation.

Examples:
1. Decanter
2. Disk stack
3. Tubular bowl

1. Decanter centrifuge: two liquid


phases + one solid phase

2. Disk stack

3. Tubular bowl Centrifuge

Sharples (Alfa Laval) A26 Tubular Bowl Centrifuge

Cylindrical bowl centrifuge: Basic Sigma () theory


Used to characterize continuous centrifuges
Valid for cylindrical bowl centrifuges (tubular bowl)
and dilute suspension of solids (20 g/L)
Time required for centrifugal sedimentation = time
for fluid element to travel from point of entry to
discharge

Basic Sigma () theory


Assumptions:
- Plug flow of liquid parallel to axis of rotation

- particle / drop reaches radial velocity (dr/dt) immediately


upon entering the centrifuge (pond)

- Stokes law applies to centrifugal settling

- particle capturedif it reaches the centrifuge wall before fluid


exits, otherwise it leaves with the liquid steam (centrate)

Basic Sigma () theory

Basic Sigma () theory


Critical particle trajectory
Trajectory of particle of critical diameter entering at r1,
sufficiently large for particle to be captured

V = centrifuge (bowl) volume

Basic Sigma () theory

QC/vg (unit of area) represents the required plan area of a settling tank,
operating under ideal conditions, needed to perform the same
clarification as the centrifuge
LHS is called the process parameters
RHS is called the machine parameters theoretical value for centrifuge
at 100% particle capture efficiency
Both sides of equation represented by () sigma

Liquidliquid separation by centrifugation

Liquidliquid separation by centrifugation

Liquidliquid separation by centrifugation

Liquidliquid separation by centrifugation

Cylindrical bowl centrifuges: concept of 50%


capture

Cylindrical bowl centrifuges: concept of 50%


capture

Cylindrical bowl centrifuges: concept of 50%


capture
For D >DPC particles are eliminated from the liquid stream
For D <DPC particles stay in the effluent or centrate
For D = DPC they are split between the two streams(D = particle diameter)

Cylindrical bowl centrifuges: concept of 50%


capture

Tubular bowl centrifuge


Feed enters bottom of bowl through nozzle under pressure
Incoming liquid is accelerated and moves upwards
Solids travel upward and receive radial velocity based on size and
weight in centrifugal force field
If the particle trajectory intersects bowl wall it is removed
Used for low solids loading in feed

Tubular bowl centrifuge


Capture efficiency ((1/2) )

Working principles of solid settling in settling tank,


settling tank with disks, disk stack centrifuge.

Photo of Disk stack centrifuge

Alfa Laval disc stack centrifuge technology

Design Equation for Disk Stack centrifuge

Feed enters to the center of bowl near floor and rises through a
series of disks or cones spaced 0.4 3 mm apart

Angled disks (35o50o half angle with vertical)

Two types of disks are available-those with holes which provide


channels through which liquid rises-those with solid disks

Design Equation for Disk Stack centrifuge

Stacked cones in Disk stack centrifuge

Design Equation for Disk Stack centrifuge


Purpose of disks is to reduce sedimentation distance, and
also reduce chance of retrainment of particles in liquid.

Centrifugal extraction
Counter-current extraction performed in a centrifugal
force field Recovery of antibiotics (penicillin,
erythromycin, bacitracin)

Advantage
Very short residence time seconds minimizes product
degradation (acid hydrolysis of penicillin)

Centrifugal extraction
Example:
Podbelniak extractor

Bailey and Ollis, Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, 2nded., McGraw Hill, NY 1986

Scale-up of centrifuge, Batch centrifugation


Lab/pilot scale experiments;
Step 1. Spin broth in 50 mL tubes in swing-out rotor centrifuge at various RCF (g
forces)
Step 2. Measure clarity of supernatant, sediment volume and moisture content of
sediment
Step 3. If RCF x t > 2x107 s for desired clarity or solids thickening, then consider
broth conditioning to enhance flocculation of particles.
Step 4. If RCF x t < 2x107 s, for desired clarity or solids thickening, then there is no
need to condition the broth.
For batch scale-up of centrifuge operate at the RCF x t value determined in step 1 .

Remember:

centrifugal acceleration
2 r
RCF =
=
acceleration due to gravity g

Swing-out rotor centrifuge

Hettich ROTINA 35 Tabletop Centrifuge

Scale-up of centrifuge, Continuous centrifugation


The following steps are recommended for scale-up of a Continuous centrifuge:
Step 1. Use small scale continuous centrifuge of same type (disc stack or tubular).
Step 2. Process broth under varying conditions until desired liquid clarification or solid
thickening is obtained.

Step 3. Calculate machine parameters (1) and flow rate (Q1)under these desired
conditions for the small centrifuge.

Step 4. If Q1/1< 10-8 m/s for 80% solids recovery, consider broth conditioning to enhance
flocculation of solids to larger particles.

Step 5. If Q1/1>10-8 m/s for 80% solids recovery, there is no need for broth conditioning.
Step 6. Calculate required machine parameters (2) for production scale centrifuge, and

process flow rate (Q2)using the following scale-up equation:

Where: 1 = small scale centrifuge, 2 = large commercial scale centrifuge

Perrys Chemical EngineersHandbook, 6thed., McGraw Hill. NY 1984

Perrys Chemical EngineersHandbook, 6thed., McGraw Hill. NY 1984

Bailey and Ollis, Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, 2nd ed., McGraw Hill, NY1986

6.3.7. Microbial Biomass Centrifugal Sedimentation Summary

Bailey and Ollis, Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, 2nd ed., McGraw Hill, NY1986

Perrys Chemical EngineersHandbook, 6thed., McGraw Hill. NY 1984

Choice of centrifuges

You might also like