Operation
A stainless steel disc stack centrifuge is an industrial centrifuge with stainless steel wetted parts. With a flow-through design, it offers continuous processing. High centrifugal force (up to 10,000 g) separates liquids from fine impurities (1.0µ).
Dolphin Centrifuge does not represent any centrifuge it supplies as food grade, sanitary, or suitable for food, beverage, pharmaceutical or other human-consumption use.
The machines Dolphin supplies are remanufactured Alfa Laval stainless steel disc stack centrifuges: the stainless steel configuration of the Alfa Laval MAB 206 specified below, the Clara 20 (LAPX-404), and the BRPX-207, BTPX-205, and PX 207 shown on this page. Dolphin Centrifuge is the independent specialist in Alfa Laval centrifuges, with remanufactured machines, turnkey systems, parts, and service built on 40+ years of Alfa Laval experience and led by Sanjay Prabhu, M.S.M.E. The skid, panel, and piping are Dolphin engineering; the centrifuge inside is Alfa Laval. Dolphin is an independent remanufacturer and is not affiliated with Alfa Laval.
Applications
Alfa Laval originally designed several of these stainless steel disc stack models for food and beverage industry duty. Process applications for stainless steel disc stack centrifuges include:
- Fruit Juice Clarification (Alfa Laval design history)
- Wine Clarification (Alfa Laval design history)
- Beer Clarification (Alfa Laval design history)
- Solvent Extraction Separation
- Plant Extract Solvent Separation
- Horseradish Process Liquid Separation
- Potato Process Stream Centrifuge
- Fish Oil Separation
Benefits
A stainless steel disc-stack centrifuge offers several benefits over conventional filtration or other gravity-based separation technologies. The following is a list of the main advantages.
- Centrifuge Efficiency: Disc-stack centrifuges are highly efficient and can separate particles as small as 0.5 microns. A comparable filter to separate such small particles is not feasible for large fluid volumes.
- All Stainless Steel Fluid Contact: These centrifuges commonly use stainless steel wetted parts, which offer corrosion and chemical resistance.
- Processing Capacity: With a continuous, flow-through design, stainless steel disc-stack centrifuges process large volumes without requiring filtration-related stoppage.
- Automatic Operation: Fully automated controls and the ability to discharge the separated solids automatically, disc-stack centrifuges offer labor-related cost efficiency as an additional benefit.
- Consistent Flow: Unlike filters which gradually reduce the flow as the particles block the filter media, disc centrifuges operate with a constant flow rate.
- Large Capacity to Size Ratio: A stainless steel disc centrifuge has a much smaller footprint for similar processing capacity than a filter or settling tank. This feature is an advantage for facilities with limited space.
Specifications
Stainless steel centrifuges are available in different configurations. These specifications are for the centrifuge described in the following case study.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Centrifuge Model | Alfa Laval MAB 206, stainless steel configuration |
| Type | 3-Phase, Manual Clean, Disc-Stack |
| Capacity | 25 GPM on Mint Oil & Water Separation |
| Sludge Space | 1 Gallon |
| Bowl Speed | 8,500 RPM |
| G-Force | 8,000 Gs |
| Motor Power | 7.5 HP |
| Weight | 1,500 Lbs (Bare Centrifuge) |
| Size (Dimensions) | 3' x 4' x 4' (H) (Bare Centrifuge) |
⚠ Important Disclaimer
Most centrifuges offered by Dolphin Centrifuge are used, rebuilt, or remanufactured machines. Because these centrifuges may have had prior industrial use, Dolphin Centrifuge cannot guarantee or certify the previous use or prior process exposure of any specific centrifuge.
Information on this page is provided to the best of our knowledge for general application guidance only. This page describes Alfa Laval model history and general process information, not the suitability of any specific machine.
Material of Construction (MOC)
Most of these centrifuges have stainless steel as the primary material of construction. Some special applications with highly corrosive fluids may require exotic materials such as Hastelloy as the MOC.
The following table lists the construction material for the most common Alfa Laval stainless steel disc stack centrifuges.
| Centrifuge Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Bowl Body | 316 L Stainless Steel |
| Bowl Hood | 316 L Stainless Steel |
| Inlet / Outlet Assemblies | 316 L Stainless Steel |
| Centrifuge Hood (Top Cover) | Silumin or 316 L Stainless Steel |
| Centrifuge Frame | Cast Iron |
| Sludge Discharge Chute | Cast Iron or Stainless Steel (rare) |
| Separated Water Discharge | 316L Stainless Steel or Cast Iron |
Application Case Study
The following is a case study illustrating the use of a stainless steel disc stack centrifuge for spearmint oil dehydration.
Mint Oil Background
Mint oil is a widely used essential oil. Crude mint oil is dehydrated before distillation.
Moisture in Crude Mint Oil
Crude mint oil contains moisture. This moisture removal is necessary before distillation to make the oil dry.
Large amounts of water in the oil can cause an unacceptable load on the distillation system. Trace amounts of moisture left in the oil lead to quality & shelf-life issues. An industrial-scale stainless steel centrifuge is the solution!
Pilot Scale Feasibility Testing
One of the largest peppermint oil producers contacted Dolphin Centrifuge to perform a feasibility study on their oil. The producer wanted to explore centrifuges as a remedy for their moisture problem.
Dolphin Centrifuge proposed a pilot-scale test of their mint oil as a proof of concept. Our bench-top, pilot-scale disc centrifuge is ideal for such testing.
Disc stack centrifuges show high liquid/liquid separation efficiency. We processed a 20-gallon customer sample through our test centrifuge.
Testing Results
The customer technician used a 'freeze test' to verify the dryness of the separated oil (pure mint oil). He would freeze a small volume of the oil in a refrigerator.
Clear oil indicated the absence of moisture in the processed oil. All samples taken from our testing centrifuge were clear post-freezing. The customer acknowledged the test to be a success!
Production Validation
Based on the pilot-scale test, the customer purchased a stainless steel centrifuge from Dolphin Centrifuge. Crude mint oil has no particle contamination. So Dolphin supplied a solid bowl-type disc-stack centrifuge for their production. It was a stainless steel disc-stack centrifuge made by Alfa Laval.
After the oil centrifuge installation and initial production, the customer returned to Dolphin. The realized production volume from the first unit was as expected. The quality of oil produced was beyond expectations.
Based on these facts, the customer ordered multiple centrifuge units for their entire production volume.
Contact Dolphin Centrifuge for pricing information or to discuss your specific application. Apart from Alfa Laval itself, Dolphin is the reliable source for quality Alfa Laval machines in the United States, and we hold a large inventory of stainless steel centrifuges, rebuilt and test-run in Warren, Michigan.
by Sanjay Prabhu MSME
Engineering Manager, Dolphin Centrifuge
Related resources: Disc Stack Centrifuge Overview | Stainless Steel Centrifuge | Sample Testing Program | Picking the Right Industrial Centrifuge | Beer & Wine Centrifuge (Alfa Laval design history) | Oil Centrifuge
⚠ Important Disclaimer
Most centrifuges offered by Dolphin Centrifuge are used, rebuilt, or remanufactured machines. Because these centrifuges may have had prior industrial use, Dolphin Centrifuge cannot guarantee or certify the previous use or prior process exposure of any specific centrifuge.
Information on this page is provided to the best of our knowledge for general application guidance only. This page describes Alfa Laval model history and general process information, not the suitability of any specific machine.