The centrifuge works using the sedimentation principle which causes denser substances to separate from less dense ones. Large industrial centrifuges are often used in waste water treatments in the process of creating sludge. Sludge is a part solid type of slurry and can be found in industry and in agriculture. The term is used to describe solids separated from suspension in a liquid.
Industrial centrifuges can be classified into two main types: sedimentation and filtration centrifuges. Sedimentation centrifuges utilize high forces to separate solids from liquids. Sedimentation centrifuges include decanter, solid bowl basket and tubular bowl centrifuges. Filtration centrifuges use centrifugal force to pass a liquid through a filtration medium, such as a screen or cloth while solids are captured by the respective filters. Filtration centrifuges mainly deal with perforate basket, peeler and pusher centrifuges.
Centrifuges are very useful inventions for a multitude of reasons. Scientists, medical researchers and industrial processes all benefit from the technology which uses centrifuges.
