The Disc Stack of a Flottweg Separator

The actual "decomposition" of the liquid mixture to be separated into its individual components takes place inside the separator bowl, using a disc stack. The disc stack consists of a large number of vertically arranged, conical individual disks. Bars mounted on these plates keep them spaced apart to produce gaps between the disks.

The disc stack is used to separate the product stream into many partial streams. This greatly reduces the sedimentation path of the solid particles. That means that, due to the high centrifugal force, even finer particles can settle out in a very short time. Alternatively, the liquid throughput can be increased due to the large clarification surface.

How the Disc Stack Works in the Clarifying Separator (2-phase separation)

The material to be separated comes through the intake pipe into the distributor of the bowl. In the distributor, which simultaneously supports the separation disks, the material for separation is rotated and guided into the space between the disks. This is where separation into the solid and liquid phases take place. Due to the centrifugal force, the solid particles separate out in the disc stack and slide on the underside of the discs into the solids chamber of the bowl. The clarified liquid flows through the spaces between disks towards the axis of the bowl, then through channels on the distributor and upwards into the impeller chamber. A stationary impreller then conveys the clarified liquid under pressure out of the separator.

How the Disc Stack Works in the Purifier (3-phase separation)

The material to be separated comes through the intake pipe into the distributor of the bowl. In the distributor, which simultaneously supports the separation discs, the material for separation is rotated and guided through rising channels into the space between the disks. The liquid is introduced into the main separation zone through rising channels. From there, the light liquid phase flows to the axis of rotation, while the heavy liquid phase moves towards the wall of the bowl. An additional impeller disk above the disc stack prevents the liquid phases from mixing after separation. Two centripetal pumps convey the heavy and the light liquid phases out of the separator under pressure.

The disc stack not only handles the separation of the light and heavy liquid phases, but also the separation of solid particles. Due to the centrifugal force, the solid particles separate out in the disc stack and slide on the underside of the discs into the solids chamber of the bowl.

Advantages of the Flottweg Disc Stack

Perfect clarification/separation results
Very sharp separation
Avoids emulsions and prevents destruction of particles by the distributor
Efficient separation of solids (since the geometry and smooth surface of the disks make perfect removal of the solids possible, making the disks themselves largely self-cleaning)