Maximizing Centrifuge Dewatering Performance While Minimizing Power Consumption and CO_2 Emissions

摘要

Decanter centrifuges provide excellent biosolids dewatering performance. The trade-off is thatrnthey typically consume more power than other dewatering technologies. Alfa Laval has focusedrnon the continuous improvement of centrifuge design to maximize dewatering performance whilernminimizing power consumption and the associated CO_2 emissions.rnAlfa Laval’s Second Generation (G2) design launched in 2004 reduced power consumption by 1)rndecoupling the main drive motor and backdrive motor, which eliminated the need to brake thernconveyor, 2) incorporating a variable conveyor pitch which reduced cake friction and 3) utilizingrngrease lubricated main bearings which reduced bowl friction. The G2 design also incorporated arnsteep cone that improved dewatering performance without sacrificing power consumption.rnThe Third Generation (G3) design launched in 2011 further reduced power consumption byrnrecovering wasted energy from the centrate discharge and by reducing the internal centraterndischarge radius. This paper focuses on the dewatering performance improvements and powerrnreduction features of the G3 design.