Hydrostatic equilibrium in a centrifugal field

Ref: McCabe, Smith, Harriott

In a rotating centrifuge a layer of liquid is thrown outward from the axis of rotation and is
held against the wall of the bowl by centrifugal force. The free surface of the liquid takes
the shape of a paraboloid of revolution, but in industrial centrifuges the rotational speed
is so high and the centrifugal force so much greater than the force of gravity that the
liquid surface is virtually cylindrical and coaxial ith the axis of rotation. This situation is
illustrated in Fig. 1, in which r is the radial distance from the axis of rotation to the free
liquid surface and r is the radius if the centrifuge bowl. The entire mass of liquid
indicated in Fig. 2.2 is rotating as .t rigid body, with no sliding of one layer of liquid over
another. Under these conditions the pressure distribution in the liquid may be found from
the principles of fluid statics.

FIG 1. Single liquid in centrifuge bowl

The pressure drop over any ring of rotating liquid is calculated as follows. Consider the
ring of liquid shown in Fig. 2.2 and the volume element of thickness dr at a radius r:
dF = ω2 r dm
where dF = centrifugal force
dm = mass of liquid in element; ω = angular velocity, rad/s
If ρ is the density of the liquid and b the breadth of the ring,
dm = 2πr ρ r b dr
Eliminating dm gives
dF = 2πr ρ ω2 r2 dr
The change in pressure over the element is the force exerted by the element of liq uid,
divided by the area of the ring:
dp = dF/(2πr r b) = ω2 ρ r dr
The pressure drop over the entire ring is
p2 — p1 = ∫r ω2 ρ r dr
Assuming the density is constant and integrating gives
p2 – p1 = ω2 ρ (r22 –r12)/2
Equation (2.8) strictly applies only when r1 and r2 are not greatly different, but for
practical systems the error is small.
Centrifugal decanter
When the difference between the densities of the two liquids is small, the force of gravity
may be too weak to separate the liquids in a reasonable time. The sepa ration may then be
accomplished in a liquid-liquid centrifuge, shown diagrammat ically in Fig. 2. It consists
of a cylindrical metal bowl, usually mounted vertically, that rotates about its axis at high
speed. In Fig. 2a the bowl is at rest and contains a quantity of two immiscible liquids of
differing densities. The heavy liquid forms a layer on the floor of the bowl beneath a
layer of light liquid. If the bowl is now rotated, as in Fig. 2b, the heavy liquid forms a
layer, denoted as zone A in the fig ure, next to the inside wall of the bowl. A layer of
light liquid, denoted as zone B, forms inside the layer of heavy liquid. A cylindrical
interface of radius r, separates the two layers. Since the force of gravity can be neglected

FIG. 2 Centrifugal separation of inmiiscible liquids: (a) bowl at rest; (b) bowl rotating.
Zone A, separation of light liquid from heavy; zone B, separation of heavy liquid from
light. (1) Heavy-liquid drawoff. (2) Light-liquid drawoff.

in comparison with the much greater centrifugal force, this interface is vertical. It is
called the neutral zone.
In operation of the machine, the feed is admitted continuously near the bottom of the
bowl. Light liquid discharges at point 2 through ports near the axis of the bowl; heavy
liquid passes under a ring, inward toward the axis of rotation, and dis charges over a dam
at point 1. If there is negligible frictional resistance to the flow of the liquids as they leave
the bowl, the position of the liquid-liquid interface is established by a hydrostatic balance
and the relative “heights” (radial distances from the axis) of the overflow ports at 1 and 2.
Assume that the heavy liquid, of density ρA, overflows the dam at radius rA, and the light
liquid, of density ρB, leaves through ports at radius rB. Then if both liquids rotate with the
bowl and friction is negligible, the pressure difference in the light liquid between rB and ri
must equal that in the heavy liquid between rA and ri The principle is exactly the same as
in a continuous gravity decanter.
Thus
pi — pB = pi — pA
where pi = pressure at liquid-liquid interface, pB = pressure at free surface of light liquid
at rB, pA = pressure at free surface of heavy liquid at rA
From above
pi – pB = ω2 ρΒ (ri2 –rB2)/2 and pi – pA = ω2 ρΑ (ri2 –rA2)/2
Equating these pressure drops and simplifying lead to
pB (ri2 –rB2) = pA (ri2 –rA2)
Solving for ri gives
ri = { [ rA2 – (ρΒ /ρΑ)rB2] / ( 1 - ρΒ /ρΑ)}1/2

This equation is analogous to a similar equation for a gravity settling tank. It shows that r,
the radius of the neutral zone, is sensitive to the density ratio, especially when the ratio is
nearly unity. If the densities of the fluids are too nearly alike, the neutral zone may be
unstable even if the speed of rotation is sufficient to separate the liquids quickly. The
difference between ρΑ and ρΒ should not be less than approximately 3 percent for stable
operation.
The equation also shows that if rB is held constant and rA, the radius of the discharge lip
for the heavier liquid, is increased, then the neutral zone is shifted toward the wall of the
bowl. If TA is decreased, the zone is shifted toward the axis; An increase in rB, at
constant rA, also shifts the neutral zone toward the axis; and a decrease in r causes a shift
toward the wall. The position of the neutral zone is important practically. In zone A, the
lighter liquid is being removed from a mass of heavier liquid; and in zone B, heavy liquid
is being stripped from a mass of light liquid. If one of the processes is more difficult than
the other, more time should be pro vided for the more difficult step. For example, if the
separation in zone B is more difficult than that in zone A, zone B should be large and
zone A small. This is accomplished by moving the neutral zone toward the wall by
increasing rA or decreasing rB. To obtain a larger time factor in zone A, the opposite
adjustments would be made. Many centrifugal separators are so constructed that either rA
or rB can be varied to control the position of the neutral zone.
Flow through continuous decanters
Equations for the interfacial position in continuous decanters are based entirely on
hydrostatic balances. As long as there is negligible resistance to flow in the outlet pipes,
the position of the interface is the same regardless of the rates of flow of the liquids and
of the relative quantities of the two liquids in the feed. The rate of separation is the most
important variable, for as mentioned be fore, it fixes the size of a gravity decanter and
determines whether a high centrifugal force is needed. The rates of motion of a dispersed
phase through a continuous phase are discussed in Chap. 7 of McCabe, Smith and
Harriott.