Theory of Operation

The CINC Liquid-Liquid Centrifugal Contactor/Separator utilizes the force generated by rotating an object about a central axis. By spinning two fluids of different densities within a rotating container or rotor the heavier fluid is forced to the wall at the inside of the rotor while the lighter fluid is forced toward the center of the rotor. In the figure the mixed fluid is shown in green, the lighter phase fluid in yellow and the heavier phase fluid in blue. As can be seen the input fluids enter already mixed (separation process) or independently (extraction process) through one or both inlets. The fluids mix in the annulus between the rotor and the inside of the housing in the mixing zone. The fluids are then fed through an inlet or hole at the bottom of the rotor. A diverter plate or disk is used to direct the fluid to the inside of the rotor sleeve (shown in gray). As additional fluid is introduced to the rotor the fluid within the rotor is forced upward to the rotor underflows and weirs. The light phase fluid having a lower density flows toward the center of the rotor (shown in yellow) where it exits the rotor over the lighter phase weir through the lighter phase outlets. The heavy phase fluid continues up the rotor (shown in blue) through the underflows, then exits over the heavy phase weir. Each fluid is collected in its own collector ring and then leaves the separator through the heavy and light phase outlets.