CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR

GEA separators are designed for liquid-based applications. Using centrifugal force, they are used for separating suspensions consisting of two or more phases of different densities, i.e. they can be used for liquid-liquid separation, for liquid-liquid-solid separation or for liquid-solid separation. They are equally as effective at separating liquid mixtures at the same time as removing solids.

The fields of application range from separating processes in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries through oil and fat recovery to the production of dairy products, beer, wine, fruit and vegetable juices, as well as the processing of mineral oil and mineral oil products.

Separators have disk or annular chamber bowls. They operate continuously in respect of the discharge of the liquid phases. In respect of solids discharge they work either discontinuously (e.g. discontinuous disk-type centrifuges which must be stopped so that the collected solids can be removed by hand), semi-continuously (self-desludging disk type centrifuges = self-cleaning separators) or fully continuously (nozzle-type separators).

GEA separators are available with different types of drives: gear drive, belt drive, direct drive and integrated direct drive. The later is the next genuine stage in evolution in the separator construction process and works without motor shaft, gear, belts, coupling and motor bearing. The smaller number of installed components not only reduce the energy losses – they also reduce the maintenance costs, thus enhancing the availability of the machine. The space requirement of the integrated direct drive is approximately one third lower than is the case with equivalent gear or flat belt machines.

GEA separators with integrated direct drive can also be used in a very flexible manner. The bowl speed is infinitely variable within a specific range without change in transmission ratio. In addition, the maintenance process itself has been very much simplified. For instance, it is possible for the spindle to be taken out of the bearing housing only by loosening the bolts. The innovative design of the integrated direct drive also enables the motor to be replaced complete with the drive within only a few hours when maintenance work has to be carried out – this is time which is very valuable and which can be used productively elsewhere.