A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A spherical centrifuge has a sinusoidal track engaged on its surface, the track circling the surface following a great circle of said centrifuge. A mechanical drive engages the track enabling rotation of the centrifuge. The track may have a constant sinusoidal amplitude and a constant sinusoidal period. The centrifuge may have an interior space and a portal into the interior space. The interior space may have any shape. The centrifuge rotates about its diameter while also reciprocating in rolling motion lateral to its forward rotational direction by following the sinusoidal track.

A separator for separating a flowable suspension in a centrifugal field into at least two flowable phases of different density. The separator includes a housing, which is stationary during operation and is designed as a tank having at least three openings. The three openings include an inlet for an inflowing suspension and two outlets vertically spaced apart from each other for flowable phases of different density. Annular spaces of the housing are associated with the two outlets. A rotatable drum is arranged within the housing and has a vertical axis of rotation. The drum has three openings, corresponding to the openings of the housing. A multi-part support and drive device, which keeps the drum suspended within the housing, is supported and is set into rotation. An air gap is formed vertically between the two outlets and annular spaces of the housing during operation. The air gap is not filled with one of the outflowing phases during operation when the drum is rotating.

A separator for separating a flowable suspension in a centrifugal field into at least two flowable phases of different density. The separator includes a housing, which is stationary during operation and is designed as a tank having at least three openings. The three openings include an inlet for an inflowing suspension and two outlets vertically spaced apart from each other for flowable phases of different density. Annular spaces of the housing are associated with the two outlets. A rotatable drum is arranged within the housing and has a vertical axis of rotation. The drum has three openings, corresponding to the openings of the housing. A multi-part support and drive device, which keeps the drum suspended within the housing, is supported and is set into rotation. An air gap is formed vertically between the two outlets and annular spaces of the housing during operation. The air gap is not filled with one of the outflowing phases during operation when the drum is rotating.

A method and system for separating a suspension into solid and fluid components. The suspension is centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a first lower flow stream and fluid components in a first upper flow stream. The first upper flow stream may be centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a second lower flow stream and fluid components in a second upper flow stream. The first lower flow stream, the second lower flow stream, or both, may be centrifuged about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation to separate water from stackable dry tailings. The method and system may be applied to separation of tailings or other suspensions.

A method and system for separating a suspension into solid and fluid components. The suspension is centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a first lower flow stream and fluid components in a first upper flow stream. The first upper flow stream may be centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a second lower flow stream and fluid components in a second upper flow stream. The first lower flow stream, the second lower flow stream, or both, may be centrifuged about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation to separate water from stackable dry tailings. The method and system may be applied to separation of tailings or other suspensions.

A centrifugal separator includes disposable cartridge having a cylindrical bowl, a core tube assembly, and an annular piston disposed around the core tube assembly and inside the inner surface of the bowl. The disposable cartridge may be automatically loaded and withdrawn from the separator. Feed liquid is injected down the core tube assembly into the lower portion of the bowl, raising the annular piston, while the bowl rotates at high speed, separating solids from the feed liquid to accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl, while collecting clarified centrate as it exits the top of the bowl and through the core tube assembly. In a solids discharge mode, the annular piston is urged downward along a vertical axis to force accumulated solids from the bowl.

A centrifugal separator includes disposable cartridge having a cylindrical bowl, a core tube assembly, and an annular piston disposed around the core tube assembly and inside the inner surface of the bowl. The disposable cartridge may be automatically loaded and withdrawn from the separator. Feed liquid is injected down the core tube assembly into the lower portion of the bowl, raising the annular piston, while the bowl rotates at high speed, separating solids from the feed liquid to accumulate along the inner surface of the bowl, while collecting clarified centrate as it exits the top of the bowl and through the core tube assembly. In a solids discharge mode, the annular piston is urged downward along a vertical axis to force accumulated solids from the bowl.