Common Malfunctions and Solutions of Decanter Separator

In the decanter separator's daily use, malfunctions are inevitable due to various issues, and many may be troubled by this. After thorough investigation and research, this article provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the current decanter separator operation and common malfunctions, and offers some feasible solutions for your reference.

Common Malfunction 1: Decanter Separator Clogging

The first sign of centrifuge clogging is extended periods of no discharge. Under unchanged feed conditions, the discharged clear liquid gradually becomes turbid and dark, approaching the color and state of the feed, accompanied by an increase in drum current and a significant drop in drum speed, while the discharge torque gradually rises and remains high. These indicate the possibility of internal clogging in the centrifuge.

In such cases, do not press the emergency button. The centrifuge is running at high speed and does not have a brake device, so the emergency button cannot provide any help. We must first immediately cut off the centrifuge feed. In most cases, the centrifuge can rely on the screw conveyor to automatically discharge the clog. If it cannot discharge the clog autonomously, the drum speed should be reduced or the drum drive motor should be turned off, but do not turn off the screw motor. As the drum slows down, the clogged solids may gradually loosen and be discharged by the screw conveyor.

For centrifuges that are indeed clogged, after the drum has completely stopped rotating, we should still inject water into the machine and do everything possible to restore the operation of the screw conveyor. As long as the screw can rotate, the centrifuge is not completely blocked and can still possibly return to normal. Injecting water into the machine and restoring the operation of the screw conveyor is the preferred method for removing centrifuge clogs.

Common Malfunction 2: Decanter Separator Abnormal Vibration

Abnormal vibration in a centrifuge is destructive and can cause serious damage to the machine.

Decanter separator vibration can be chronic or sudden. Chronic vibration mostly indicates wear, such as worn or detached external components or gradually damaged bearing systems. Sudden vibration often indicates internal material clogging or significant damage and detachment of internal components. In most cases, the discharge system should first be checked for faults causing solid residue build-up, and the clear liquid pipeline should be checked for clogging causing liquid to backflow into the centrifuge drum.

Common Malfunction 3: Decanter Separator Bearing Temperature Too High

If the bearing temperature is too high, first check if the amount of grease added to the bearing is excessive, if there is excessive vibration, or if the bearing operation produces abnormal noises.

At the same time, observe the color of the used grease. The normal color of used grease should be light gray. If it is black, rusty yellow, or other abnormal colors, it indicates possible bearing damage and the bearing should be replaced early.

Regarding the noise in the bearing area, not all noise indicates a malfunction. Pay special attention to distinguishing the specific sharp noise of the "oil baffle stacking ring." This is a friction component lubricated by grease inside the bearing housing. During normal centrifuge operation, it produces specific sharp noise intermittently. After performing 1-2 grease injection operations, the noise will temporarily disappear and then reappear. This judgment requires regular observation and accumulation of experience.

Through the above analysis and solutions, we believe it can help everyone reduce malfunctions during the use of the decanter separator, thereby improving work efficiency. We hope these methods can provide some reference and help for your production work.