Three-Phase Separation in a Palm Oil Mill
Typical mill duties are CPO clarification after the screw press and vibrating screen, and sludge de-oiling on CST underflow. For the clarification-station flow, see the palm oil mill process.
CPO clarification
After the screw press and vibrating screen, the three-phase bowl discharges oil, water and decanter cake continuously. On this duty the decanter can replace or reduce CST load.
CST underflow / sludge de-oiling
A second three-phase decanter is sometimes used on CST underflow to recover residual oil. That stream is sludge, not whole pressed liquor. Many mills already run a vertical or nozzle-type sludge centrifuge on underflow; the three-phase decanter is specified when the mill wants a continuous oil / water / cake split on that stream.
ZK Palm Oil Decanter Series
ZK SEPARATION builds LWY three-phase decanters for palm oil mill duty. Scroll wear protection, wetted-part materials, CIP and drive arrangement are specified for fibrous, hot pressed liquor and continuous mill operation. Models cover a hydraulic range of 1–30 m3/h pressed liquor to the bowl; mill teams usually discuss capacity in t FFB/h. The same three-phase architecture is documented on the 3-phase decanter centrifuge page.
- Overview
- Features
- Parameters
Parameters
- Models LWY250 ~ LWY650
- Capacity 1 ~ 30 m3/h
- G Force 3500 ~ 2854 g
- Weight 1400 ~ 11000 kg
Related pages
- CIP system for mill cleaning cycles.
- High-torque involute planetary gear differential.
- Scroll and bowl geometry for fibrous solids and decanter cake.
- Three-phase outlets for oil, water and cake.
- Oil–water interface (pond depth) adjustment without dismantling the bowl.
| Model | Speed (rpm) | G Force | Capacity (m3/h) | Dimension (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LWY250 | 5000 | 3500 | > 1 | 2600 × 800 × 1200 |
| LWY350 | 4000 | 3136 | 3 ~ 5 | 3750 × 1040 × 1350 |
| LWY450 | 3500 | 3087 | 5 ~ 10 | 4200 × 1140 × 1450 |
| LWY520 | 3200 | 2982 | 10 ~ 15 | 5050 × 1285 × 1550 |
| LWY580 | 3000 | 2948 | 15 ~ 20 | 5600 × 1400 × 1655 |
| LWY650 | 2800 | 2854 | 20 ~ 30 | 6000 × 1550 × 1800 |
Hydraulic capacity is pressed liquor to the bowl, not mill FFB rate.
Mill supply record
LWS520 three-phase decanter for a Southeast Asia palm oil mill
A palm oil mill in Southeast Asia specified a centrifuge for 28–30 m3/h. ZK supplied an LWS520 three-phase decanter for oil, water and cake. Wet parts and wear protection were built for mill fibre load. Send your mill FFB rate and process position for a sized quotation.
Request a mill quotation
Process position
In a typical palm oil mill, FFB are sterilized, threshed, digested and pressed. Pressed liquor is screened. The three-phase decanter takes this crude-oil stream and discharges oil, water and cake. The oil phase goes to the vacuum dryer. Palm kernel oil is produced in the kernel plant; it is not sized on this machine.
Press and screen
Digested fruit is pressed. Press cake (fibre and nuts) goes to the depericarper and kernel line. Pressed liquor is screened to remove coarse fibre before the decanter or CST.
Three-phase decanter
The horizontal bowl separates oil, water and solids. Pond depth and differential speed are set from feed temperature, solids load and the oil–water interface.
Oil phase
Clarified CPO leaves as the oil phase and goes to the vacuum dryer. The dryer finishes moisture; it does not replace the decanter.
Cake and water phase
Solids discharge as decanter cake. The water phase goes to the mill effluent system. CST underflow de-oiling, if used, is a separate machine and duty.
Palm oil mill process flow
Project support for palm oil decanters
Mill-duty three-phase bowls
Stainless wetted parts for hot crude oil. Scroll and discharge wear protection for mesocarp fibre. CIP is available. Layout is reviewed against the existing clarification station.
ISO 9001 and CE manufacture
Machines are built under ISO 9001, with CE marking where applicable for the shipment.
Sized from mill data
Model selection uses mill FFB rate, process position (CPO clarification or CST underflow), pressed-liquor flow to the bowl and feed temperature. Hydraulic figures in the table are not mill FFB rate.
Commissioning and spare parts
Installation supervision, operator training and spare-parts supply are scoped per project.
