Model‐based Scale Up of Solid Bowl Centrifuges Using Experimentally Determined Material Functions

• Published in: Chemie ingenieur technik 2023-01, Vol.95 (1-2), p.189-198
• Main Authors: Zhai, Ouwen, Baust, Helene, Gleiß, Marco, Nirschl, Hermann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Decanter centrifuge; Material characterization; Modelling; Separation technology
• ISSN: 0009-286X; 1522-2640
• DOI: 10.1002/cite.202200117

The scale up of solid bowl centrifuges is a major challenge as the process and material behavior are complex and difficult to describe. A common approach to forecast the process behavior is to use analytical models and transfer the experience gained from the lab to the industrial scale. In this context, time‐consuming and cost‐intensive pilot scale experiments are necessary. This paper presents a methodology to improve the scale up process and make it more sustainable by using a numerical model that allows the real‐time tracking of the process and a more reliable scale up process. For this approach, the material behavior is derived from laboratory experiments whereby the scalability is given. Here, the determination of material functions allows an accurate representation of the material behavior for solid bowl centrifuges of different scales. The focus of this paper is the detailed explanation of material related functions for the scale up of decanter centrifuges. The scale up of solid bowl centrifuges is a major challenge due to the complex process and material behavior. Common approaches for the scale up are time‐consuming and costly. An alternative approach is to derive the material behavior by laboratory experiments and use a numerical model to achieve an improved scale up of solid bowl centrifuges.