If the machine is separating a solid-liquid mixture, the mean density of the slurry in the

bowl should be used in equation 13.131.

The shell of an empty centrifuge bowl will be under stress due to the rotation of the
bowl’s own mass; this “self-pressure” Pm is given by:
Pm D 12
ω2_m[_R1 C t_2 _ R2
1] _13.133_

where _m D density of the bowl material, kg/m3,

t D bowl wall thickness, m.
The minimum wall thickness required can be estimated using the equations for
membrane stress derived in Section 13.3.4. For a solid bowl
ec D
PtR1
fm d 103 _13.134_
where Pt D the total (maximum) pressure (fluid C self-pressure), N/m2,
fm D maximum allowable design stress for the bowl material, N/mm2,
ec D wall thickness, mm.
With a perforated basket the presence of the holes will weaken the wall. This
can be allowed for by introducing a “ligament efficiency” into equation 13.134 (see
Section 13.11)
ec D
PtR1
fm d 103_
_13.135_
where _ D ligament efficiency D _ph _ dh_/_ph_,
ph D hole pitch,
dh D hole diameter.
Equations 13.134 and 13.135 can also be used to estimate the maximum safe load (or
speed) for an existing centrifuge, if the service is to be changed.
In deriving these equations no account was taken of the strengthening effect of the
bottom and top rings of the bowl or basket; so the equations will give estimates that are
on the safe side. Strengthening hoops or bands are used on some basket designs.
13.17.2. Bowl and spindle motion: critical speed
Centrifuges are classified according to the form of mounting used: fixed or free spindle.
With fixed-spindle machines, the bearings are rigidly mounted; whereas, in a free spindle,
or self-balancing, machine a degree of “free-play” is allowed in the spindle mounting. The
amount of movement of the spindle is restrained by some device, such as a rubber buffer.
This arrangement allows the centrifuge to operate with a certain amount of out-of-balance
loading without imposing an undue load on the bearings. Self-balancing centrifuges can
be under or over-driven; that is, with the drive mounted below or above the bowl.
Severe vibration can occur in the operation of fixed-spindle centrifuges and these are
often suspended on rods, supported from columns mounted on an independent base, to
prevent the vibration being transmitted to the building structure.
882 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Critical speed
If the centre of gravity of the rotating load does not coincide with the axis of rotation
of the bowl an uneven force will be exerted on the machine spindle. In a self-balancing
machine (or a suspended fixed-spindle machine) this will cause the spindle to deflect from
the vertical position and the bowl will develop a whirling vibration. The phenomenon is
analogous with the whirling of the shafts in other rotating machinery; such as compressors,
pumps, and agitators; which is considered under the general heading of the “whirling of
shafts” in standard texts on the “Theory of Machines”.
The simple analysis given below is based on that used to determine the whirling
speed of a shaft with a single concentrated mass. Figure 13.49 shows the position of
the centre of gravity of a rotating mass mc with an initial displacement hc. Let xc
be the additional displacement caused by the action of centrifugal force, and s the
restoring force, assumed to be proportional to the displacement. The radial outward
centrifugal force due to the displacement of the centre of the gravity from the axis of
rotation will be D mcω2_x C hc_. This is balanced by the inward action of the restoring
force D sxc.
Figure 13.49. Displacement of centre of gravity of a centrifuge bowl
Equating the two forces:
mcω2_xc C hc_ D sxc
from which
xc
hc
D
_1
s
mcω2
_
_1
_13.136_
It can be seen by inspection of equation 13.136 that the deflection (the ratio xc/hc)
will become indefinitely large when the term s/mcω2 D 1; the corresponding value of ω
is known as the critical, or whirling, speed. Above the critical speed the term s/mcω2
becomes negative, and xc/hc tends to a limiting value of _1 at high speeds. This shows
that if the centrifuge is run at speeds in excess of the critical speed the tendency is for the
spindle to deflect so that the axis of rotation passes through the centre of gravity of the
system. The sequence of events as a self-balancing centrifuge run up to speed is shown
MECHANICAL DESIGN OF PROCESS EQUIPMENT 883
in Figure 13.50. In practice, a centrifuge is accelerated rapidly to get through the critical
speed range quickly, and the observed deflections are not great.
It can be seen from equation 13.136 that the critical speed of a centrifuge will depend
on the mass of the bowl and the magnitude of the restoring force; it will also depend
on the dimensions of the machine and the length of the spindle. The critical speed of a
simple system can be calculated, but for a complex system, such as loaded centrifuges, the
critical speed must be determined by experiment. It can be shown that the critical speed
of a rotating system corresponds with the natural frequency of vibration of the system.
A low critical speed is desired, as less time is then spent accelerating the bowl through
the critical range. Suspended fixed-spindle centrifuges generally