Importance

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Abstract

A clean-in-place decanter centrifuge for processing a combined liquid and solid material to separate the solid material from the liquid. The centrifuge is designed for use in the food processing industry, particularly for dairy products, and therefore has fluid injectors for cleaning all surfaces within the centrifuge including the opposed mating surfaces which function as non-contacting seal mechanisms. The centrifuge has no metal-to-metal contact areas within the interior of the bowl and scroll assembly. In one embodiment, the outer wall of the bowl and scroll assembly comprises a plurality of drain lines located in the rear wall section of the bowl to allow essentially all liquid to drain from the bowl and scroll assembly. In another embodiment, the bowl hub comprises at least one drain line to allow lubrication oil to drain into said cavity and prevent ingress of lubrication oil into said bowl and scroll assembly. In another embodiment, the discharge housing further comprises an enclosure bound by the interior surface of the exterior wall of the discharge housing, partitions within the discharge housing, and the outer wall of the rotating bowl, said partitions being separated from the outer wall of the rotating bowl by non-contacting seals whereby fine solid material that migrates into said enclosure is removable from the discharge housing by liquid sprayed from one or more fluid injectors inserted into said enclosure.

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First Claim