Centrifugal Extractor
Construction Characteristics:

These extractors are mounted on a cast-iron frame with anti-vibration supports. Therefore they do not require a special foundation.
The rotor is supported by a solid stainless steel hub mounted on a shaft made of high strength stainless steel that is equipped with roller bearings.
The casing forms a vapor-tight enclosure around the rotor, permitting operation with inert gas blanketing. The shaft is equipped with lip seals.
The LX320 and LX520 models may be equipped with gravity outlets or with one or two turbines for pressurized discharge.
For the LX360 and LX570 models the light phase is always discharged by a turbine, while the heavy phase is discharged either by a turbine or by gravity.
All parts in contact with the liquids to be treated are 316L steel 18 Cr, 10 Ni, 2.5 Mo (other materials on request)
All models are delivered with an electric motor connected to the rotor by a V-belt drive with interchangeable pulleys for speed adjustment.
The LX520 and LX570 models may be supplied with a hydraulic coupling to reduce the motor inrush current and permit the use of a standard motor.
If the hydraulic coupling is not supplied, a standard motor can be used in conjunction with:
An electric soft-starter
Or an A. C. Variable frequency drive which provides variable speed operation.


Operating Principle:
The feed solution initially containing one or more solutes (heavy phase in the schematic) and an immiscible solvent having a different density (light phase in the schematic) flow counter currently through the mechanical stages which are stacked in the extractor's rotor. The successive mixing and separation operations performed in each mechanical stage permit the mass transfer of the solutes from the feed to the solvent.
Each mechanical stage is nearly equivalent to a theoretical stage and consists of:

A mixing chamber where the two phases are mixed by means of a stationary agitation disk (item A) mounted on a central drum which is attached to the casing's cover.
The high relative speed between the stationary agitation disk and the rotating walls of the mixing chamber creates an extremely fine emulsion with a high interfacial area which facilitates mass transfer such that equilibrium solute concentrations are rapidly obtained, even if the phase flow ratio is high.
The agitation disk and the mixing chamber's inlet and outlet channels form a pump which draws the two phases from the adjacent stages and transfers the emulsion to:
A setting chamber where the two previously-mixed liquids are thoroughly separated by centrifugal force. A pair of overflow weirs (items B and C) stabilize the interphase position such that it is independent of the liquid's flowrates.
The heavy phase overflow weirs (item B) are interchangeable disks whose internal diameter is selected as a function of the phase density ratios (e. G. From 1.20 to 1.35) to minimize the number of adjustments required.
The two phase are fed into the extractor through two pipes mounted on the casing's cover. Therefore there are no mechanical seals required.
The enriched solvent (extract) and the impoverished phase (raffinate) are removed from the extractor either by gravity discharge, or by centrifugal turbines which impart a discharge pressure, permitting the connection of several extractors in series for applications requiring a large number of stages.
When the bowl comes to a stop, the liquids are drained through a pipe on the bottom of the casing.
Technical Data: