Centrifuges generally

A low critical speed is desired, as less time is then spent accelerating the bowl through the critical range. Suspended fixed-spindle centrifuges generally have a low critical speed. 

Gas turbine driven centrifugal compressors are very efficient under the right operating conditions but require careful selection and demand higher levels of maintenance than reciprocating compressors. Compression facilities are generally the most expensive item in an upstream gas process facility. 

The general analysis, while not difficult, is complicated however, the limiting case of the very elongated, essentially cylindrical drop is not hard to treat. Consider a section of the elongated cylinder of volume V (Fig. II-18h). The centrifugal force on a volume element is u rAp, where w is the speed of revolution and Ap the difference in density. The potential energy at distance r from the axis of revolution is then w r Apfl, and the total potential energy for the... 

General Considerations. With liquids and solutions the most serious losses are due to (a) transference from spherical flasks and difficulties of drainage, (b) retention by filter-papers, (c) absorption by large corks. As containers for small quantities of liquids it is therefore often convenient to use pear-shaped flasks A and conical test-tubes or centrifuge-tubes B (Fig. 29). (In this and subsequent figures, approximate dimensions are given to indicate a convenient size.)... 

As a general rule, when working with semimicro quantities, it is best to employ pear shaped vessels (Fig. XII, 1, 1, a) and centrifuge tubes (Fig. XII, 1, 1, 6) as containers for liquids convenient capacities are 6, 10 and 20 or 26 ml. for flasks, and 1, 3, and 6 ml. for centrifuge tubes. Round-bottomed vessels of similar volumes... 

As a general rule flasks and similar vessels should be heated in an air bath (compare Fig. II, 5, 3). A glycerol bath may be employed for temperatures up to 140° the glycerol is subsequently removed from the outside of the vessel by washing with water. Medicinal liquid paraffin may be used for temperatures up to about 220° hard hydrogenated cotton seed oil, Silicone fluids or fusible metal may be employed when higher temperatures are required. Small test-tubes and centrifuge tubes... 

Antibiotics. Solvent extraction is an important step in the recovery of many antibiotics (qv) such as penicillin [1406-05-9] streptomycin [57-92-17, novobiocin [303-81-1J, bacitracin [1405-87-4] erythromycin, and the cephalosporins. A good example is in the manufacture of penicillin (242) by a batchwise fermentation. Amyl acetate [628-63-7] or -butyl acetate [123-86-4] is used as the extraction solvent for the filtered fermentation broth. The penicillin is first extracted into the solvent from the broth at pH 2.0 to 2.5 and the extract treated with a buffet solution (pH 6) to obtain a penicillin-rich solution. Then the pH is again lowered and the penicillin is re-extracted into the solvent to yield a pure concentrated solution. Because penicillin degrades rapidly at low pH, it is necessary to perform the initial extraction as rapidly as possible for this reason centrifugal extractors are generally used. 

Centrifugal separators are used in many modem processes to rapidly separate the hydrocarbon and used acid phases. Rapid separation greatly reduces the amounts of nitrated materials in the plant at any given time. After an explosion in a TNT plant (16), decanters (or gravity separators) were replaced with centrifugal separators. In addition, rapid separation allows the hydrocarbon phase to be quickly processed for removal of the dissolved nitric acid, NO, etc. These dissolved materials lead to undesired side reactions. The organic phase generally contains some unreacted hydrocarbons in addition to the nitrated product. 

The pump-mounting feet are located close to the centerline. As a result, the pump thermal growth is uniform on both sides of the centerline, leading to minimal distortions. The design is governed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard 610, "Centrifugal Pumps for General Refinery Service" (30). 

Selection of pump for a given appHcation is not a trivial task. Often more than one pump type can accomplish the required job. Thus a final choice on a pump type is often a result of personal experience and usage history. As a rule of thumb, the choice of a kinetic, such as centrifugal, or a positive displacement pump is made on the basis of the specific speed. Whereas specific speed is appHcable primarily for centrifugal but not positive displacement pumps, the US value can be used as a guide. Generally, for calculated values of specific speed, eg, nS > 10 [NS > 500), kinetic-type pumps are usually selected. For nS < 10 [NS < 500), positive displacement pumps are typically appHed. 

The geometry of the bowl parts is important, and for intermittently discharging centrifuges, fatigue strength must be considered. In general the tangential stress in a bowl wall is CJ. ... 

---