FROM FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY

CONVEYOR
OPERATING

SEDIMENTATION
UNDER

CENTRIFUGES

PRESSURE

V.V.
Vishniyakov,
and I.A. Fainerman

A.B.

UDC 621.928.3(088.8)

Brazhnikova,

The development of organic synthesis p r o c e s s e s has c r e a t e d t h e ' r e q u i r e m e n t for equipment to s e p a rate s l u r r i e s with volatile or toxic liquid phases, as well as suspensions containing flammable and explosive components. Such s l u r r i e s must be separated under positive p r e s s u r e .
Analysis shows that conveyor sedimentation centrifuges with vertical enclosed r o t o r s are best suited
to these operating conditions. In the v e r t i c a l v e r s i o n only one mechanical seal is required c o m p a r e d to
three f o r horizontal conveyer centrifuges. In addition, the r o t o r caxl be supported on one bearing located
outside the housing. The absence of the lower main support p e r m i t s
elastic suspension of the rotor, s i m i l a r to that in suspended c e n t r i fuges. This results in s a t i s f a c t o r y self-alignment of the rotating
m a s s at high angular velocities and considerable improvement of
s y s t e m dynamics with reduction of dynamic component reactions in
the main supports.
It should be noted that horizontal hermetized centrifuges with
three seals can be used for a number of operations at low p r e s s u r e s
(to 500 m m water column). However, separation p r o c e s s e s under
one atm gage and higher p r e s s u r e can be successfully c a r r i e d only
in enclosed centrifuges with one seal.
This article describes the design, as well as individual assemblies, of vertical c o n v e y o r discharge sedimentation centrifuges
produced by Sharpiesi(USA) (Fig. 1) [1].
Technical C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of Vertical Conveyor Cake
Discharge Sedimentation Centrifuges P r o d u c e d by
Sharples (USA):

'Fig. 1, R4000 vertical s e d i m e n t a tion c entrifuge with conveyor cake

d i s c h a r g e : 1) mechanical seal; 2)
flexible suspension; 3) reducer;
4) housing; 5) rotor; 6) conveyor;
7) feed pipe.

Maximum rotor, r p m .
Maximum r o t o r diam.,
mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maximum separation
factor . . . . . . . . . . . .
Relative clarification
capability . . . . . . . . .
Driver power, kW . . . .
Maximum cake capability, kg/h
Dimensions, ram:
length . . . . . . . . . . . .
width . . . . . . . . . . . .
height . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weight (without e l e c tric motor), kg . . . . . .

160

355

355

355

630

630

5450

3180

3180

3180

3190

3190

0.74
22

1.0
35

2.18
35

4.0
35

4.63
200

8.5
200

300

1500

1500

1500

15,000

15,000

750
1500
1500

690
1570
2000

690
1570
2500

690
1920
1574

1590
3000
4300

1590
3000
5600

650

1650

1750

1650

7800

9000

Note. The P4400 centrifuge has a longer r o t o r than the P4000 and
P500. The same feature distinguishes the P6800 f r o m the P6000.

Survey of Patents Issuedlto Sharpies (USA).

stroenie, No. 8, pp. 39-41, August, 1969.

658

P 8 5 0 P4000 P4400 P4500 P6000 P6800

8000 4000
4000
4000
3000
3000

Translated from Khimicheskoe i Neft'yanoe Mashino-

The centrifuges consist of the following p r i n c i p a l

a s s e m b l i e s : r o t o r , conveyor, housing f o r p r e s s u r i z e d
operation, housing seal, elastic suspension, feed pipe,
and e l e c t r i c m o t o r . The r o t o r is c y l i n d r i c a l - c o n i c a l in
shape and consists of two p a r t s , cylindrical and conical,
which a r e bolted together. An opening in the c o v e r of the
cylindrical p a r t of the r o t o r s e r v e s for c o n c e n t r a t e overflow,
while cake is d i s c h a r g e d through an opening at the end of
the conical p a r t of the r o t o r . The r o t o r and c o n v e y o r are
driven by an electric m o t o r through a V - b e l t and twostage p l a n e t a r y speed r e d u c e r , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The r e d u c e r
is located between the r o t o r and the support, which allows
the use of s m a l l d i a m e t e r support b e a r i n g s and s e a l s . The
p r o x i m i t y of the r e d u c e r to the r o t o r also allows the output shaft of the r e d u c e r to be s h o r t and of a l a r g e d i a m e t e r .
The top c o v e r of the r e d u c e r t e r m i n a t e s in a trunnion on
which the r e d u c e r and r o t o r a r e supported by a duplex p a i r
of r a d i a l - t h r u s t b e a r i n g s a~d a p a i r of radial r o l l e r b e a r ings.

Fig. 2. Flexible suspension of the r o t o r of

a v e r t i c a l sedimentation centrifuge with
conveyor cake discharge: 1) b e a r i n g c a s e ;
2 and 4) flexible bushings; 3 and 10) s p a c e r s ; 5 and 6) sealing rings; 7) housing; 8)
s p r i n g s ; 9) sleeve.

The housing consists of three cylindrical casings

bolted together. A stand for attaching the e l e c t r i c m o t o r
and t h r e e lugs for attaching the centrifuge to the foundation
or floor a r e located on the middle casing. The flexible s u s pension is mounted on the top casing of the housing, while
the bottom casing holds the feed pipe.
The r o t o r , conveyer, and r e d u c e r a r e s u p p o r t e d by
a b e a r i n g c a s e on the flexible suspension, which s e r v e s
for s e l f - a l i g n m e n t of the r o t o r and r e d u c e s the amplitude
of vibrations during s t a r t - s t o p r e s o n a n c e s . The b e a r i n g
e a s e is attached to the flexible support, which is a plate
mounted on six flexible shock a b s o r b e r s .

The housing is s e a l e d by double m e c h a n i c a l s e a l s , which are attached to the b e a r i n g c a s e .

tion of the s e a l p r e c l u d e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of contamination by the m a t e r i a l being p r o c e s s e d .

This loca.-

The feed pipe s e r v e s to introduce the p r o c e s s s l u r r y and wash liquid into the r o t o r . The feed pipe
c o n s i s t s of two concentric pipes. Slurry is introduced through the inner pipe, while wash liquid flows
through the intertubular space. The wash liquid is used prh~narily to wash p o s s i b l e contaminants f r o m the
c o n v e y e r c h a m b e r , which is located below the s l u r r y inlet c h a m b e r . The fee d pipe is attached to a b r a c k e t
located on the lower cylindrical casing of the housing. A r o t o r vibration l i m i t e r is mounted on the flange
of the feed pipe.
The operating p r i n c i p l e of v e r t i c a l sedimentation conveyor centrifuges is identical to that of h o r i z o n tal centrifuges; the s l u r r y , through the feed pipe, e n t e r s the c o n v e y e r drum, where it is p a r t i a l l y a c c e l e r a ted, and e n t e r s :the r o t o r through cylindrical openings in the c o n v e y e r drum. The h e a v i e r solid p a r t i c l e s
settle, under centrifugal f o r c e , on the r o t o r walls and a r e m o v e d by the t r a n s p o r t i n g c o n v e y e r into the
conical p a r t of the r o t o r , where they are unloaded into the housing and thence into a r e c e i v i n g hopper or
other a p p a r a t u s . The clarified liquid p h a s e overflows through the opening in the top c o v e r of the r o t o r and
is d i s c h a r g e d through a special s p i r a l channel in the housing.
Let us examine s o m e of the devices which have been patented by Sharpies to e n s u r e m o r e r e l i a b l e
and continuous operation of v e r t i c a l c o n v e y e r centrifuges.
in the centrifuge design d e s c r i b e d above, the r e d u c e r and r o t o r are located below the s u p p o r t inside
the housing of the centrifuge, i.e., they are exposed to the v a p o r s and t e m p e r a t u r e of the m e d i u m being
p r o c e s s e d . T h e r e f o r e a c i r c u l a t i n g lubrication s y s t e m is used for the r e d u c e r . The r e d u c e r is r e l a t i v e l y
i n a c c e s s i b l e . To r e c t i f y this Sharpies has located the r e d u c e r above the m a i n supports f o r centrifuges
with 160 m m diam. r o t o r s . The dynamic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of these eentrffuges are not significantly affected

659

:
Fig. 3

l
Fig. 4

Fig. 3. Centrifuge housing seal: 1) b e a r i n g case; 2: and 4) rings; 5) r u b b e r rings;

6) s t e e l rings.
Fig. 4. A c c e l e r a t i n g device for feeding a v e r t i c a l centrifuge without loss of liquid:
1) disc; 2) vanes; 3) funnel; 4) opening in the conveyor drum; 5) feed pipe.

b y the relocation of the r e d u c e r . Sharples p r o p o s e s an i m p r o v e d a l t e r n a t e flexible suspension f o r this r e ducer location (Fig. 2) [2]. In c o n t r a s t to the flexible suspension construction d e s c r i b e d above, the p r o p o s e d
design supports the b e a r i n g c a s e on the centrifuge hous ing by a s e r i e s of s p a c e r s with ends fixed in flexible
bushings.
In these alternate r o t o r suspensions the b e a r i n g c a s e can m o v e v e r t i c a l l y and angularly with r e s p e c t
to the housing. Sharples has s e v e r a l alternate designs for sealing the upper p a r t of the centrifuge housing.
One of these a l t e r n a t e s (Fig. 3) [3] consists of a ring, on the flexible suspended b e a r i n g case, to which a
flexible bushing is attached. The lower end of the bushing is attached to a ring which seals the opening in
the housing. The flexible bushing c o n s i s t s of alternate steel and r u b b e r rings, which are held together by
epoxy r e s i n . This bushing is strong and flexible and can c o m p e n s a t e f o r v e r t i c a l and angular d i s p l a c e m e n t
of the r o t o r , keeping the housing h e r m e t i z e d .
A second design (Fig. 2) [2] is b a s e d on a combination of a. m e c h a n i c a l s e a l and a sleeve, c o m p r e s s e d
by a spring. Contact between the sealing s u r f a c e s of the s e a l rings is mainfained by s p r i n g s attached to the
housing. The sleeve s e a l s the cylindrical s u r f a c e of the housing. This device also c o m p e n s a t e s for angular
and axial m o v e m e n t of the r o t o r and s e a l s the housing.
The s l u r r y is introduced by the feed pipe through the bottom of v e r t i c a l sedimentation c o n v e y e r c e n trifuges. T h e r e is n o r m a l l y no s e a l between the feed pipe and the rotor, since it would impede the f r e e
vibrations of the self-aligning r o t o r . Low s l u r r y p r e s s u r e or v a r i a b l e feed r a t e c r e a t e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of
liquid not entering the r o t o r but flowing down the outer s u r f a c e of the feed pipe into the cake discharge zone
in the housing. Sharples p r o p o s e an a c c e l e r a t i n g device (Fig. 4) [4], built into the c o n v e y e r drum, to p r e vent this.
This device untwists the s l u r r y as it enters the c o n v e y e r drum. It consists of a disc with thin sharp
vanes welded to it. The disc is installed in the conveyor d r u m so that the v a n e s enter the funnel of the
feed pipe. The s l u r r y is s p r a y e d by the vanes, at any feed velocity, and hits the c o n v e y e r d r u m walls f r o m
which it enters the centrifuge r o t o r through the openings,
The lower b e a r i n g of the conveyer of v e r t i c a l sedimentation conveyor centrifuges is located in the
m o s t unfavorable zone f o r operation, i.e., the cake discharge zone where ha~d ( s o m e t i m e s abrasive) cake
p a r t i c l e s can enter the bearing. In addition, p r o d u c t v a p o r s can p e n e t r a t e the b e a r i n g c h a m b e r and ruin
the lubricant. Complete dismantling of the centrifuge is r e q u i r e d to change the lubricant in the lower b e a r ing. To eliminate these s h o r t c o m i n g s Sharpies p r o p o s e s the use of s l i d i n g b e a r i n g s of special design instead
of ball b e a r i n g s for the bottom support of the conveyer. T h e s e b e a r i n g s use a special p l a s t i c as an antifriction m a t e r i a l which p e r m i t s nonlubricated operation.

660

/0

The construction of such a bearing is shown in Fig. 5

[5]. A journal is attached to the c o n v e y e r drum. A bushing
is attached to the r o t o r . A plastic insert (usually of r e i n f o r c e d or porous Teflon) is placed into the gap between the
bushing and the journal.
#

2
/

Fig. 5. Detail of the bottom bearing for v e r tical sedimentation conveyer centrifuges: 1)
conveyer; 2) journal; 3) bushing; 4) insert;
5,6, 7, and 8) rings; 7) springs.

Rings are tocaied in the upper and lower sections of

the conveyer journal. Contact is maintained between these
rings by springs. These p a i r s of rings together with the
c i r c u l a r c r o s s section r u b b e r rings seal the r o l l e r b e a r i n g s
housing. In addition, one p a i r of rings absorbs the axial
load of the conveyer weight, i.e., it s e r v e s as a thrust b e a r ing. The rings are fabricated of the s a m e m a t e r i a l as the
bushing.
In addition to the design described above, Sharples
has another design of bottom bearing for the conveyer,
Fig. 6 [5]. This variation of the beau'trig has a conical b u s h ing attached to the r o t o r while a cone is p l a c e d on the j o u r nal. A plastic i n s e r t is placed in the gap between the b u s h ing and the cone. A spring p r e s s e s the cone to the i n s e r t
and bushing. This design is somewhat s i m p l e r to fabricate
and assemble, but does not exclude the possibility of a b r a sive cake p a r t i c l e s entering the bearing.

Shaxples p r o p o s e s the use of the device shown in Fig. 7 [61 to prevent sticking of cake to the walls
of the centrifuge housing. This device, which is simple and effective, replaces various v i b r a t o r y devices
which, according to Shaxples, axe not reliable. It consists of a smooth elastic shield which surrounds the
r o t o r at the point of cake discharge. The shield vibrates under the impact of solid p a r t i c l e s d i s c h a r g e d
f r o m the r o t o r , while the air s t r e a m generated by the rotation of the r o t o r p r e v e n t s the adherence and accumulation of cake on the s c r e e n . The s c r e e n is fabricated of Teflon produced by Dupont and i s approxim a t e l y 0.8 m m thick. Other m a t e r i a l s which have a suitable elasticity and smooth s u r f a c e can be used.

.....

,wc/~

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 6. Detail of the bottom bearing f o r v e r t i c a l sedimentation conv e y o r centrifuges: 1) insert; 2) bushing; 3) cone; 4) journal; 5) spring.
Fig. 7. Device for prevention of cake sticking to the housing of v e r t i c a l
sedimentation centrifuges.

661

LITERATURE
9 1.

2.
3.
4.
5,
6.

662

U.S.

~U~S.
UkS~
U.S.
U.S.
U.S.

Patent
Patent
Patent
Patent
Patent
Patent

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

3061181
3228596
3269647
3228592
3285506
3105045

CI. 233-2 (1962).

CI. 233-24 (1966).
CI. 233-1 (1966).
CI. 233-7 (1966).
CI. 233-1 {1966).
Cl. 233-22 (1963).

CITED