Pushers Centrijiiges have been usedfor more than 60yearsfor dewatering relatively large,f reedraining crystals.

Gitesh Dubal, B&P Process Equipment and Systems, USA describes the operation of this type of centrijiuge and its applications and advantages.

entrifugal efficient ration, and filtration. principles:

devices, solid-liquid

often sepa-

enough to allow mother through it. Examples and vibrating tured, process trifuge

liquor to flow

tered on the pusher centrifuge. particles attached hydration. must be distinct,

These

used to achieve quick and work on two basic sedimentation or settling on an involves

are pusher, peeler, are manufachas cerrange of

free draining

screen centrifuges.

and the liquid must not be chemically to the solids, i.e., waters of

Various types of centrifuge

and each type of centrifuge variables. is generally Figure

Sedimentation

tain advantages over a specific range of variables

involves allowing the heavy phase to fall through the light phase and collect imperforate Examples centrifuges. surface and typically are decanters, fine solids with long settling times.

1 shows the

OPERATION
As seen in Figure 2, the slurry is fed through a stationary centerline is accelerated and distributed the rotating anchored feed pipe at the of the pusher basket. The slurry in the rotating feed funnel uniformly at the back of screen. This feed funnel is the slurry to the attrition.

where the pusher cenused. The pusher cenwt.% solids con-

trifuge feed has 25-65 centration (typically crystalline materials 80% retained in nature,

and disk nozzle size being large

of large free draining crystals on 150 microns). these particles but non-crystalline dewaare

On the other hand, filtration

depends on the particle

For most applications,

enough to build a cake on a filter cloth or a screen. The cake must also be porous

to the pusher plate. The feed

have been successfully

funnel gently accelerates cake and minimize

basket speed in order to form an even particle As the pusher plate moves into its back

t 10000

t VIBRATING SCREENS AIR DRY

position, deposited

a clean wedge slot screen surface slurry is on the wedge slot screen, and

is exposed. The accelerated

cake is built as the mother liquor drains through the basket. Then, the pusher plate moves forward and pushes the cake for-

PUSHERS

ward, towards the solids discharge end. During this time, the incoming feed is held in the feed funnel, until the pusher plate moves backward and exposes fresh of the pusher screen for another annular ring of cake to be built. The reciprocation plate causes the cake to progress towards the solids discharge end. The cake, which

OF ALL TYPES FILTER PRESSES,

ETC.

I
25
% w

I
50 SOLIDS

1 DRIER CALCINERS

is under centrifugal as it progresses ly is discharged

force, becomes

drier

in the basket and ultimatefrom the pusher basket in the drive shaft is 25-40

into the solids discharge housing. The 75 hydraulic mechanism reciprocates the pusher plate and the feed and the stroke length

funnel. Typically, the frequency strokes per minute, is 5.15% of the basket length.

24

May 2000

Filtration+Separation

MECHANICAL
The horizontal inherently increases

FEATURES
Basket of the pusher by a stability by minimiz-

Liquor Housing

orientation

ing vibrations. This is complemented long shaft and widely spaced bearings,

which makes the pusher more stable and decreases downtime. each other, preventing The process housing from cross contaminaisolates the solid and liquid materials

tion. The solids housing has a solids discharge ring that confines and directs the solids downward into the solids discharge chute. The liquor housing contains intcrnal baffles that provide scgrcgation mother liquor tion can occur between the screen, resulting of and wash. Back crystallizathe wedges on resison the Discharge Ring in increased

tance of the drainage of liquor. A series of backwash nozzles are installed the screen intermittently back crystallization. The basket is a centrifugally cast design that has milled oblong slots for maximum drainage and improved backwash. The basket is fitted with a wedge slot screen that has a standard screen width of 0.0 10. 0.015 (254-380 vides a reservoir microns). for the hydraulic oil. The The base supports the pusher and prohydraulic oil flows through a suction filter into a vane-type constant delivery pump. The hydraulic oil flows to a pressure relief valve, and then into a stationary housing and a transfer bushing. A cooling coil is submerged in the oil to dissipate heat generated due to friction. The reciprocation the hydraulic mechanism unique internally is triggcrcd controlled operational by of by a liquor housing that rinse the back of to wash out

Particle
effective practically

Size
to be completely maximum throughof and produce

ter present.

A wash liquid is introduced The

on

For a pusher centrifuge put, the particles

the cake in order to displace the mother liquor along with the impurities. discharged

should bc as large as of the crystal size

amount of volatile matter present in the cake is a function of the ccntime trifugal force (Xg) and the residence the separation force and hence favors through a given

possible. The performance

the pusher is a function

as well as shape. As the crystal size increases, the surface area per unit mass decreases, and there is less surface area for the moisture to bind to, providing a drier cake. of In addition, the surface area is a function the shape of the crystal as well.

at that force. Increasing Xg force increases drainage. Figure 4 also points out that as more solids are processed pusher, the residence the basket decreases, Another parameter particle attrition. time of the solids on which increases for cake quality is of the in

volatile matter in discharged cake.

Viscosity In addition to porosity, drainage rate is a

function of the viscosity of the mother there is of the the to the separation liquor. As the viscosity increases, an added resistance throughput according liquor.

The movement

pusher plate along with the acceleration to break. In addition, if the particles and compaction, are

the feed funnel causes some of the particles too fragile, Xg force will cause breakage and volatile matter in dishas charged cake will increase. Attrition

liquid from the slurry. Consequently, of the pusher is de-rated to the viscosity

valve. This valve is actuated internally

the pilot piston. l his design works on low oil pressure and a higher flow rate, so that pump requirements arc reduced for a similar size machine. In addition, lower oil prcssurc translates to lower wear 011 the hydraulic parts. Both the hydraulic pump and the pusher hollow shaft are driven via sheaves andVbelts from a single motor. The hollow shaft drives the basket as well as the pusher shaft through a sliding key connection. low shaft is supported transfer bushing. The holby bearings at the

of the rnother

been found to bc a function of the Xg force. The gentle conveying of cake in the low Xg, single stage, long basket design of

in most cases, the solids dischal gc capacity or the hydraulic capacity is not the limiting factor. The usual limitation centrifuge the feed slurry concentration more solids can be processed how more throughput for the pusher is increased, for a given is the drainage rate. Hence, as

pusher centrifuges attrition.

results in low particle

SCALE-UP
In general,

scale-up is based upon provide amount of screen area, ten time to proand easy to are

ing the correct

amount of feed slurry. Figure 4 depicts can be achieved through the pusher as feed concentration increases. This holds true for drainage lim ited processes, which constitute a majority

trifugal force, and residence

duce the desired cake throughput scale-up from pilot equipment the factors influencing
effective

front of the base and just ahead of the

quality. In most cases, it is relatively performance

but some of

orapplications,
is a function of many parameters. the important performance arc explained below: Some of Cake quality is measured mainly in two aspects: purity and amount of vofatilc mat-variables and their effect on

difficult to define precisely, friction the screen. becomes

such as the

factor of the cake against the perfor

Hence, previous experience

critical in predicting

mance of pushers.

The two most important explored

parameters are maxicake.

Push Hesitation
Most of the solids loss to filtrate occurs in the swept area. These particles bridged. Push hesitation pass through the wedge slots before the gap is is a modification that holds the pusher plate in the back stroke, allowing the cake to build up on itself. The cake acts as the filtering and has an increased efficiency media of capturing

a centrifugal contacting

liquid-ring

seal and a non-

for a new application

inert gas purged labyrinth seal

mum drainage rate and the amount of volatile matter in the discharged depending on particle Drainage rate varies from slurry to slurry shape and size, and liquor. The relaand fines and cake the viscosity of the mother

that allows zero seal leakage. A variety of pusher shaft seals exist to prevent cross contamination between the hydraulic and to prevent oil process ends. Bearing isolators are located on the hydraulic reservoir leakage to the atmosphere.

tionship between Xg force and volatile matter, drainage rate, throughput loss are investigated. and concentration thickness, tions are recorded. are investigated Variables like feed rate

the finer solids. Although this modification reduces capacity, it has helped improve the solids capture efficiency pusher applicable and make the to smaller particles.

Pre-Drain

Funnel

The pre-drain funnel removes a portion of the mother liquor through a perforated surface. This feature helps pre-concentrate the feed, which is especially important in drainage-limited applications. Crystals that

bulk density and other observaUsing these data along the manufacrequired in

with previous applications, for the commercial

turer is able to size the equipment application. Pusher centrifuges

Horizontally Housing
The split process

Split Process
housing is designed to the basket and push-

tend to back-crystallize washed.

are not suitable for

are manufactured

this feature, as the funnel cannot be back-

a wide range of sizes, with diameters length varying from 25cm.

rang-

allow the removal of the rotating assembly without disassembling er from the shafting assembly.

ing from 20 cm. to 120 cm., and basket to 75 cm.. The largest machines can produce up to 100 STPH of discharged solids. Normal operating Xg force is around 250-400 centrifuges Xg. Pusher have been made in a variety of Hastelloy and

APPLICATIONS
The pusher centrifuge has been applied to a wide variety of industries. Although typ-

Integral
contained.

Hydraulic
It requires controls.

System
and selftimers

Thhd e y rau 1 ic control or mechanical

is automatic no external

tally pushers are used in the inorganics industry, it has also been used extensively in chemical industries mediates, like organic interplastics, food processing and

series 300 stainless steels, Alloy 20 stainless steel, Monel, Inconel, Titanium.

Bearings NEW
The rotating assembly is supported by two sets of widely spaced bearings, load. The calculated of 50,000 with the

rocket fuels. Notable pusher applications include inorganics like ammonium sulfate, soda ash, potash, sodium bicarbonate, and chromates. Many organic intermediates successfully including including paraxylene, have been separated in the pusher, adipic acid, oxalic and carIn food processing, nitrocellulose, sulfates and sulfides, borax, borates, chlorates

FEATURES AND DEVELOPMENTS

basket and screen assembly as a cantilever bearing life is in excess capabilihours LlO.

The pusher centrifuge has many design features that offer unique processing ties. The pusher has also been modified over th e years in order to enhance performance and to broaden its range of applications. These features and modifications include:

Seals
Several options are available to isolate process fluids from the atmosphere,

acid, caprolactam, boxymethylcellulose.

Bearing Stationary Transfer Bushing / Slide Block Hollow Shaft /

Backplate

Liquid Seal

Hydra1 pump
Saginaw, MI

Cooling Coil

Bearing Bbket

26

May 2000

FiItration+Separation

Cotton
Cotton sulfuric metered

Seed De/in ting

planting seeds are treated with

acid to remove the lint to enable planting. The slurry is thick and and is conveyed to the pusher so that the in a subsequent cake has

non-flowing

using a screw conveyor. The acid treatment makes the lint brittle, seed can be easilv delinted tumbling operation. about 10% moisture. used for non-crystalline breakage, extended IQ Q 2QOO 40013 PPH 6Oc90 8000 10000 12000 14000 application.

Discharged

This application products. A low

shows that the pusher can be successfully speed design results in lower seed and the rugged design allows and reliable service in a seasonal

SOLIDS

DISCHARGED

CONCLUSION
Any centrifugal device offers the distinct scparaoffer high fashion. Low an advantage of a quick and efficient tion. Pushers, in particular, throughput in a continuous

the pusher has been employed duction of monosodium lysine and saccharin. polypropylene,

for the prosalt,

make it applicable for dewatering crystal.

this fine

moisture excellent

and high purity in discharged choice for solid-liquid separation. for a wide Over

glutamate, and

cake has made the pusher centrifuge Thousands crystals are 100-400

Plastics applications

include PVC, polyethylene

Paraxylene
Typical paraxylene of as microns and are fed to the pusher as a frozen slurry. The single stage long basket design results in as high as 99.9% pusher centrifuge pure applicake. Many features have been added to the for this specialized cation. Special measures arc taken to prevent cross-contamination of product and cross-

of pushers have been sold in due to its high has proved to

and a number

of resins

mineral and chemical processes variety of applications throughput

classified under various trade names. In order to understand the pusher centrifuge case-studies: the performance are discussed in various applica-

capacity and reliability.

time, the pusher centrifuge be an excellent centrated centrifuge

tions, some applications

choice to dewater a conhave made the pusher

slurry of free draining particles. applicable to an even wider

Design modifications range of applications.

sher centrifuges

have been used for a

oil. A series of lip seals and rod scrapers are used on the shaft seal to eliminate contamination. concentrates The pre-drain funnel pre

wide variety of soda ash applications including sodium carbonate monohydrate, sodium carbonate sequicarbonate (trona), light soda ash and dense soda ash. Typical soda ash is 95% larger than 150 micron and 99% larger than 75 micron. Feed slurry usually has 50% solids by weight, and discharged cake has about 4% moisture. High throughput complements free operation continuous operation the high volume manufactur

Contact: B&f Process Equpnent 1000

and Systems,

the feed to the pusher ten.-

Hess Avenue, Saginaw, Michigan, MI 48601,

517 757 13OO;Fox:+l 517 757

trifuge allowing higher capacities. The process housing has integral vents that assure proper gas movement stream product contamination. within the process housing, which prevents down-

lJSA.Tel:+l

1301; E-mail: sales@process.com; www. bpprocess. corn

tration and Separation Technologies for 2000, Adipic acrd is ~nanujhc~~~etl in tnuitiplr steps of crystallization, requirements. centrifugation and remelt in order to reach the purity The adipic acid crystals are and the from Baumann, D. K.,Todd, Engineering 1973 Lueng, W. W. F., Industriai CentrifugationTechnology, Hill, 1998 Perry, K. H., Green, D. W., Perry s Chemical edition, Engineer s McGraw-Hill, Handbook, 1984 sixth McGrawProgress, D. B., When to Chemical September, Use a Pusher Centrifuge, is decreased 900/olarger than 150 microns, ! 3thAnnual AFS Technical Conference, Myrtle 2000. Beach, SC, USA on March 16, tbc:

ing needs in this mining Industry. Troubie and reduced clown times are key features as most of these plants arc located in remote places.

ica
Sodium bicarbonate

t@
is made by carbonating and

nitric acid concentration PPM in the discharged

30% in the initial feed slurry down to 15 cake. Nitric acid has removal from adipic acid is critical for further processing. The pusher centrifuge excellent significant wash characteristics, advantage. In addition, which is a a single

soda ash. The soda bicarb is crystallized has to be separated from the mother liquor. Feed to the centrifuge tals are 35.50% and 8595% Discharged Modifications contains

about 40% solids by weight, and the cryslarger than 150 microns moisture. larger than 45 microns. cake contains 4.6% to the pusher centrifuge

stage design provides a more efficient backwash. This highly corrosive demands a robust design. application