High-Performance Centrifuge Solutions for Starch Extraction
Designed specifically for starch industry requirements, our decanter centrifuges combine high g-force, robust scroll torque, and efficient solids handling. With up to 98% starch recovery and reliable 24/7 operation, they help manufacturers reduce energy use, improve product quality, and simplify downstream processing—especially in potato, corn, cassava, pea, and wheat starch lines.
Technical Parameters
Performance Advantages
Efficient solid-liquid separation — optimized bowl and conveyor design ensures high yield and low moisture in discharged cake.
Handles high feed solids (up to 35%) — ideal for native starch lines without excessive dilution.
Continuous and fully automated — supports PLC/SCADA integration with minimal operator intervention.
Corrosion- and wear-resistant — key components made from SS316L and duplex steel to withstand fibrous, acidic starch media.
Flexible application — proven in potato, corn, cassava, wheat, mung bean, and pea starch plants.
Low maintenance — modular scroll assembly and hardened wear parts reduce unplanned downtime.
How the Starch Decanter Centrifuge Works
Feed Introduction & Slurry Conditioning
Starch slurry (typically 8–20% dry solids) is continuously fed into the rotating cylindrical bowl through a feed pipe and acceleration chamber. Depending on the raw material, pre-conditioning such as dilution, pH adjustment, or enzymatic treatment may be applied upstream to improve separation efficiency.
Solid-Liquid Separation by Centrifugal Force
The bowl rotates at high speed, generating centrifugal forces up to 3200 × g. Heavier starch granules migrate to the periphery and form a cake layer, while lighter liquid (with residual proteins, fibers, and fines) remains toward the center. The clarified liquid exits via weirs or overflow ports.
Scroll Transport & Controlled Dewatering
A scroll (screw conveyor) rotating at a differential speed conveys the separated starch solids toward the conical end. As solids travel along the beach angle, excess moisture is expelled by centrifugal force. Cake dryness of up to 35–40% can be achieved depending on feed characteristics and operating parameters.
Continuous Dual-Phase Discharge
Dewatered starch is discharged through a solids outlet, while clarified liquid exits separately. The continuous operation mode minimizes manual intervention and integrates seamlessly into fully automated starch processing lines.
Engineered to Meet Starch Production Challenges
High Starch Recovery with Low Impurity Load
Purpose-built for starch extraction, the decanter achieves ≥98% starch recovery and minimizes fiber/protein carryover through optimized beach angle and deep pond design. Consistently meets food-grade and technical starch quality thresholds.
Energy-Efficient Performance
Thanks to precision-balanced rotating parts and a VFD-controlled scroll drive, power consumption is reduced by 15–25% compared to conventional systems. Lower energy use, reduced water dilution, and minimal backwashing lower overall OPEX.
Fully Automated, Minimal Supervision
Integrated with PLC/SCADA systems, the centrifuge supports real-time parameter monitoring, fault alarms, and remote diagnostics. Continuous 24/7 uptime reduces manual intervention and suits modern starch line automation strategies.
Sanitary, Durable Construction
All product-contact surfaces are SS316L or duplex steel, with electropolished interiors and CIP readiness. Designed for acidic or abrasive slurries, ensuring long service life and hygiene compliance in food-grade operations.
Starch Processing Applications
Potato Starch Processing
Efficiently separates starch from high-fiber potato pulp with up to 98% recovery and reduced protein residue. Optimized for viscous feed and high-solids slurries common in potato starch lines.
Pea & Legume Starch Extraction
Designed for soft legumes like pea, mung bean, lentil—gentle solids handling avoids starch damage. Low-shear scrolls maintain granule integrity and deliver <1% impurity output.
Cassava & Tapioca Starch
Equipped with wear-resistant scrolls and reinforced bowl for abrasive cassava root fibers. High throughput, low downtime, and stable separation under tropical processing conditions.
Proven Results from Industrial Starch Producers
Our decanter centrifuges have helped potato, pea, and cassava starch factories across Europe and Asia improve yield, reduce operating costs, and stabilize quality—backed by long-term performance in demanding conditions.
Potato Starch Plant: From High Energy Cost to 98% Recovery
Background: A European potato starch facility processing ~20 m³/h slurry was facing high energy bills and excessive operator workload with legacy 3-phase separators.
Solution: We supplied a high-torque LW520 decanter centrifuge with duplex scroll, VFD drive, and full PLC automation.
Result: Starch recovery improved to 98%, energy consumption dropped by 22%, and manual labor was cut by over 60%. Payback time was under 9 months.
Pea Starch Facility: Reducing Impurities, Increasing Uptime
Background: A pea starch processor in Southeast Asia struggled with excessive fines in the product (>1.8%) and frequent downtime due to scroll wear.
Solution: The plant installed our LW450 centrifuge with low-shear scroll design, wear-protected inlet, and automated CIP function.
Result: Final starch purity reached <0.8% residual fines, maintenance intervals doubled, and overall capacity increased by 18%.
Technical Specifications
| Performance Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Max Bowl Speed | 4000 rpm |
| G Force Range | 2000 – 3567 × g |
| Starch Purity (Final Product) | ≥ 99.2% |
| Feed Dry Solids Range | 5 – 35% TS |
| Noise Level | ≤ 78 dB(A) |
| Operation Mode | 24/7 Continuous |
| Mechanical & Control | |
| Control System | PLC / SCADA Ready |
| Cleaning | CIP Compatible |
| Product Contact Material | SS316L / Duplex Stainless Steel |
| Scroll Protection | Tungsten Carbide Tiles (optional) |
| Bearing System | SKF / FAG – Forced Lubrication |
Decanter Centrifuge Model Parameters
| Model | Bowl Diameter (mm) | L/D Ratio | Max Bowl Speed (rpm) | Max G Force (×g) | Differential Speed (rpm) | Main Motor Power (kW) | Aux Motor Power (kW) | Capacity (m³/h) | Weight (kg) | Dimensions (L×W×H, mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LW250×1025C | 250 | 4.1 | 5000 | 3500 | 1 – 50 | 7.5 – 11 | 3 – 4 | 1 – 5 | 1250 | 2500 × 800 × 1150 |
| LW350×1435C | 350 | 4.1 | 4000 | 3136 | 1 – 35 | 12 – 15 | 4 – 5.5 | 5 – 8 | 2500 | 3700 × 1050 × 1200 |
| LW450×1845C | 450 | 4.1 | 3500 | 3087 | 1 – 34 | 30 – 37 | 7.5 – 11 | 10 – 15 | 4200 | 4300 × 1150 × 1450 |
| LW520×2150C | 520 | 4.1 | 3500 | 3567 | 1 – 34 | 45 – 55 | 11 – 15 | 15 – 20 | 5200 | 5100 × 1250 × 1600 |
Need help selecting the right model? Contact our technical team for application-specific sizing based on your starch type, feed solids, and throughput targets.
Request Engineering Support →Why Choose ZK SEPARATION for Starch Processing?
With over 20 years of expertise in designing and manufacturing decanter centrifuges for starch extraction, ZK SEPARATION delivers customized, high-efficiency separation systems tailored to potato, corn, pea, cassava, and wheat starch applications. From pre-sales engineering to global after-sales support, we ensure your starch production line runs reliably and efficiently.
Systems Installed
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Looking to Increase Starch Yield While Reducing Energy Use?
Talk to our process engineers for a customized decanter centrifuge solution—optimized for your raw material, throughput, and product quality requirements.
