A centrifugal separator apparatus for separating components of a fluid stream; the apparatus comprising a support structure and a centrifugal separator unit rotatably mounted on the support structure so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis extending through the centrifugal separator unit; a drive element for driving rotation of the centrifugal separator unit; wherein the centrifugal separator unit comprises a centrifugal separation chamber having an inlet which is connected or connectable to a source of fluid requiring separation, a first outlet for collecting a higher density component of the fluid stream, and a second outlet for collecting a lower density component of the fluid stream; the first outlet being connected or connectable to a first collector for collecting the higher density component and the second outlet being connected or connectable to a second collector for collecting the lower density component; the centrifugal separation chamber comprising a curved or inclined guide surface for guiding flow of the fluid from the inlet in a radially outward direction; wherein the centrifugal separator unit is provided with a wall member which is axially movable to provide a selected degree of occlusion of the first outlet and thereby control flow of the higher density component through the first outlet.

An entirely water-based, energy self-sufficient, integrated in-line waste management system is provided for comprehensive conversion of all organic fractions of municipal and wider community waste to fuels suitable for use in transportation, with all solid residues converted to high nutrition compost. The system is based on a combination of pre-treatment, involving alkaline hydrolysis and saponification; three-way separation of the pre-treated waste into different streams that are each directed to suitable further processing including fuel production; which includes biodiesel generation in a continuous-flow catalytic esterification unit, and anaerobic digestion to produce methane or other small molecule biofuel. Remaining solids are converted to compost in a quasi-continuous process.

An entirely water-based, energy self-sufficient, integrated in-line waste management system is provided for comprehensive conversion of all organic fractions of municipal and wider community waste to fuels suitable for use in transportation, with all solid residues converted to high nutrition compost. The system is based on a combination of pre-treatment, involving alkaline hydrolysis and saponification; three-way separation of the pre-treated waste into different streams that are each directed to suitable further processing including fuel production; which includes biodiesel generation in a continuous-flow catalytic esterification unit, and anaerobic digestion to produce methane or other small molecule biofuel. Remaining solids are converted to compost in a quasi-continuous process.

A centrifuge separator device for use in mining gold ore receives bulk quantities of gold bearing materials through a port in a central vertical pipe, diverting the materials through a series of rotating baffles into a multi-tiered bowl, with a variable speed bowl drive system turning the bowl and the baffles at a selected speed while framework, including a channeled bin, gussets and a plurality of blades extending a plurality of upper and lower cutters, remains stationary, forcing the materials to separate by density, forcing the lighter materials up and over the rotating bowl into a channeled bin for further disposal through an exit port in the channeled bin, leaving the heavier gold bearing ores in the lower part of the bowl for collection and further classification.

A centrifuge separator device for use in mining gold ore receives bulk quantities of gold bearing materials through a port in a central vertical pipe, diverting the materials through a series of rotating baffles into a multi-tiered bowl, with a variable speed bowl drive system turning the bowl and the baffles at a selected speed while framework, including a channeled bin, gussets and a plurality of blades extending a plurality of upper and lower cutters, remains stationary, forcing the materials to separate by density, forcing the lighter materials up and over the rotating bowl into a channeled bin for further disposal through an exit port in the channeled bin, leaving the heavier gold bearing ores in the lower part of the bowl for collection and further classification.

Provided are a processing method and a processing apparatus in which a concentration of a solid content of a development fatigue liquid is low and a moisture content of a discharged solid substance is small. The processing method is a method for removing a first solid substance having a smaller specific gravity than the washout liquid and a second solid substance having a larger specific gravity than the washout liquid from a development fatigue liquid including a solid substance generated by removal of a non-exposed portion of a photosensitive resin plate that has been exposed in an image shape by development using the washout liquid. The method includes a first step of centrifugally separating the first solid substance and the second solid substance included in the development fatigue liquid in a rotating container, accumulating the second solid substance on an inner wall of the container, and accumulating the first solid substance on a holding member provided in the container, a second step of discharging the development fatigue liquid from the container in a state in which the first solid substance accumulated on the holding member is held on the holding member, and a third step of rotating the container, thereby removing the first solid substance held on the holding member from the holding member.

Provided are a processing method and a processing apparatus in which a concentration of a solid content of a development fatigue liquid is low and a moisture content of a discharged solid substance is small. The processing method is a method for removing a first solid substance having a smaller specific gravity than the washout liquid and a second solid substance having a larger specific gravity than the washout liquid from a development fatigue liquid including a solid substance generated by removal of a non-exposed portion of a photosensitive resin plate that has been exposed in an image shape by development using the washout liquid. The method includes a first step of centrifugally separating the first solid substance and the second solid substance included in the development fatigue liquid in a rotating container, accumulating the second solid substance on an inner wall of the container, and accumulating the first solid substance on a holding member provided in the container, a second step of discharging the development fatigue liquid from the container in a state in which the first solid substance accumulated on the holding member is held on the holding member, and a third step of rotating the container, thereby removing the first solid substance held on the holding member from the holding member.

A blood washing system including a rotor defining an internal chamber and a skimmer assembly configured to move a withdrawal needle within the internal chamber. A multi-component fluid, such as a whole blood sample, can be fed into the internal chamber via a feed tube, where the rotor can be rotated to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to cease rotation or rotated at a slower speed to allow the fractions of the multi-component to settle on a bottom wall of the rotor. The withdrawal needle is moveable within the internal chamber to align an orifice of the withdrawal needle for withdrawing the liquid fractions and isolate the solid fractions. Wash fluids can be added to the internal chamber to repeat the wash cycle without removing the solid fractions. The washed solid fractions can be withdrawn via the feed tube and collected.

A system operating as a centrifugal, liquid-liquid separator may be controlled, and even optimized, by automatic control of back pressure to establish an optimum position of the dispersion band therein. Optimizing to minimize impurities (from each other) in each of two separated phases is possible, even simultaneously, by reliance on a processor setting the settling lengths of both heavy and light phases at the same value. Settling length, defined in accordance with the invention, reflects a settling velocity multiplied by a residence time. Equating these lengths, for droplets of each in the other liquid, provides superior results over conventional settling theory maximizing settling area. Equalization of residence times did not provide an improvement over conventional settling theory.

A system operating as a centrifugal, liquid-liquid separator may be controlled, and even optimized, by automatic control of back pressure to establish an optimum position of the dispersion band therein. Optimizing to minimize impurities (from each other) in each of two separated phases is possible, even simultaneously, by reliance on a processor setting the settling lengths of both heavy and light phases at the same value. Settling length, defined in accordance with the invention, reflects a settling velocity multiplied by a residence time. Equating these lengths, for droplets of each in the other liquid, provides superior results over conventional settling theory maximizing settling area. Equalization of residence times did not provide an improvement over conventional settling theory.