Decanter Manufacturers

That so many companies have entered the decanter business is a sign of the importance of the decanter to the process industries. It has not proved to be an easy manufacturing sector to stay in at the time of writing three of the world s leading decanter manufacturers are for sale. 

The list of significant former manufacturers of decanters is quite long, including  

Comi Condor, Italy, recently stopped making decanters (but still makes other types of centrifuges). 

Dorr Oliver, USA, acquired first by Krauss Maffei, then by a Canadian investment company who sold the centrifuge interests to Alfa Laval, but the decanter range had already been dropped. 

International Combustion, UK, acquired by Rolls Royce and stopped making centrifuges altogether. 

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Despite these changes, the decanter manufacturing sector is still a large one. The following list gives the manufacturers believed to be operating in the year 2000, by country of ownership, with parent companies where these are known. 

The decanter manufacturers are described, together with the key features of their range of decanters, in Chapter 10. 

As new production processes develop, in parallel with the derivation of new products, then the decanter will be adapted to keep pace with such changes. Oil production and refining will continue to be a challenge to the decanter manufacturer, especially as production moves into less hospitable zones. There is a wealth of food, protein, biochemical and pharmaceutical applications awaiting the efficient clean-in-place process for decanters, while the increasing demands on municipal and industrial waste treatment will also add to the application range. If nuclear power returns to favour, then here also the decanter will have a part to play, especially once it is fully automated. The need to be able to process low-grade metal ores will also need help from the decanter. 

The flights will be normally perpendicular to the decanter axis or bowl wall. On the beach the flights will either remain at 90° to the axis or will be at 90° to the beach surface, depending upon the decanter manufacturer s choice. 

Each decanter manufacturer can choose from a range of construction materials, and will have its own preferred materials. Choice may be due to the manufacturer s own particular design, the process materials, the speed at... 

The B" range of decanters manufactured by KHD (now Bird Humboldt) are unique in having one. or possibly two, nozzles in the bowl wall, allowing the discharge of the bulk of the thickened product. The remainder of the product is scrolled up the beach, which is much steeper than normal (as much as 45°). Discharge from the nozzle can be made intermittent by providing a zero pitch to the conveyor for less than one turn at the nozzle location, thus covering the nozzle for a fraction of each conveyor turn. 

The decanter manufacturer will often quote the expected life of the gearbox. This will be based on the fatigue life of the gear teeth, which is proportional to the ninth power of the torque encountered. Thus, one has to be extremely careful not to overload the gearbox above its torque rating. An 8% increase of torque over its rating will halve the expected life of the gearbox. 

The main object of test work is to be able accurately to predict performance and to size equipment necessary for full-scale operation. Naturally, when installed, new equipment will need to be tested to confirm the performance predicted or guaranteed. Decanter manufacturers and specialists also conduct test work not only to demonstrate the advertised performance of the decanter, but also to assess new designs and features, and new process sludges. 

The Sigma value for the decanter normally would be obtained from the decanter manufacturer, but for demonstration purposes a value will be estimated here. From equation (4,8). centrifuge gdevel ... 

Centrate solids concentration measurement is an important parameter for decanter control. Several such instruments are available to measure in this range. However, one problem presented by centrate from a decanter, on many applications, is the copious production of bubbles or foam in the flow. These bubbles are read, by many instruments, as solids, thus preventing the use of such devices. De-aeration of a sample flow of the centrate has met with a modicum of success. Some decanter manufacturers developing their own instrument [2] have obtained more success. 

Some decanter manufacturers already have their own integrated controller, all with varying degrees of sophistication. Some of the duties of an integrated controller are described below. 

Decanter manufacturing sites Modugno Decanter range... 

Associated manufacturer Tanabe, Tokyo. Japan Decanter manufacturing sites Huddersfield, UK Decanter range... 

Specialist decanter manufacturer Other main businesses None... 

Other company connections Only within Andritz group Decanter manufacturing sites Chateauroux, France Decanter range... 

Specialist decanter manufacturer, until 1998 made exclusively for Humboldt... 

Hydraulic motors for decanters Other company connections None outside Dirk group Decanter manufacturing sites Vilsbiburg, Germany Decanter range Five models in two basic types Decanter sales... 

None outside the Waterlink group Decanter manufacturing sites Kungsbacka. Sweden... 

Decanter manufacturing sites Miilheim. Germany Cincinnati, USA... 

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