Feed Capacity of a Tubular-Bowl Centrifuge

A laboratory tubular-bowl centrifuge has the following dimensions and operating

conditions: bowl speed 800rps. R 0= 0.875 inch, R1= 0.65 in., and bowl
length=L=4.5 inches. When used to remove E. coli cells from the following
fermentation broth, a satisfactory volumetric feed capacity of the centrifuge, Q, of
0.11 gpm is achieved.
Broth: f= 1.01 g/cm3 and =1.02x10-3 Kg/m-s.
E. coli: smallest diameter= dpmin= 0.7 m and p= 1.04 g/cm2.
Assuming the applicability of Strokes law, estimate the feed capacity of the
centrifuge.
Solution
Compute the sigma factor for the laboratory centrifuge from (19-33) using the given
dimensions and operating conditions. The rotation rate, , in radians/s=2(3.14)
(800)=5.030s-1. Using AE units,

L( R 2 0R2 1)
=[ R0 ]
g ln( )
R1

2
4. 5 2 0.87 5 0.65 2
5030 ( )
12 12 12
=[ 0.875 ] =7,400 ft2.
3.32 ln( )
0.65

Using CGS units with dp =0.7x10-4 cm and =1.2x10-2 g/cm-s.

1.2 x 10
18(2)
Ut = 981(0.7 x 1042)(1.41.01) =7.85x10-7 cm/s.

Using Si units with =690 m2 and U t =7.85x10-9 m/s, Q=7.85x10-9 (690) =5.42x10-6
m3/s=0.0860 gpm, wich is 78% of the measure rate.