18 inch is a popular big bowl decanter centrifuge which is widely used for drilling mud treatment and drilling waste management. But for different applications, clients’ demands for the output liquid and output solids / soil varies greatly.
For example, when the 18 inch decanter centrifuge is used as solids control equipment in drilling fluids processing system for barite recovery, or for mud weight reducing, big treating capacity is demanded.
The jobsites want to get a big drilling fluids input and output, When the jobsites want to reduce mud weight to a qualified PPG, they want to reach a bigger mud input into the decanter centrifuge, and the output liquid can be reduced the qualified mud weight. But they do not have specified demands for the solids outputs from the decanter centrifuge. For this applications, a bigger conveyor speed (differential speed) can push the input drilling fluids go through centrifuge internal screw propeller faster.
If the mud can pass through the centrifuge internal bowl faster, the total mud volume going through the centrifuge in a certain time is bigger, it means bigger capacity. Furthermore, specified liquid dam boards are used in this application, the purpose is to enlarge the solids output volume. During this operation, the operators can get bigger handling capacity.
But if the big bowl decanter centrifuge is used for dewatering, or used for water / liquid purification, a relative lower conveyor speed (differential speed) and high bowl speed should be used. The purpose is to extend the rotation time of the materials inside the centrifuge bowl, and in order to extend the separation time of the material along the bowl screw. After centrifugal force separation, the purified liquid (maybe water with ultra-fine soil) is discharged from the liquid output port. Soil will settle down along the bowl screw and then been throw out from the solids output port.
In order to choose the right decanter centrifuge model and type, the clients should contact GN Solids Control sales engineer to communicate the material situation for the right model recommendation.