LWS Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge: Efficient Oil-Water-Solid Separation

LWS Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge: Efficient Oil-Water-Solid Separation

What Is a Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge?
Key Features of the LWS Model
Technical Specifications
Main Applications
How It Works
Benefits & Pain Points Solved
Is It Right for Your Industry?

Industrial separation gets complicated when your stream contains solid particles plus two immiscible liquids—think oil, water, and sand from tank-bottom sludge, or fat, water, and solids in food processing. Multi-step settling tanks, chemical demulsifiers, and batch filters can get the job done, but they're slow, chemical-hungry, and hard to scale.

The LWS Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge is built for exactly this scenario: one machine, continuous operation, solid–liquid–liquid separation in a single pass. Below we break down what it is, where it fits, and how to tell if it belongs in your line.

Q1: What Is a Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge?

A Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge is an industrial centrifuge designed for continuous separation of three distinct phases that coexist in a single feed stream:

Solid particles (highest density)
Two immiscible liquids with different densities (typically oil = light phase, water = heavy phase)

The machine spins a horizontal bowl at high speed, generating centrifugal force thousands of times gravity (typically 2,000–3,000 G depending on bowl diameter). Under that force, solids migrate to the bowl wall, heavy liquid forms an inner layer, and light liquid floats above it—three layers, three discharge paths, one continuous cycle.

vs. Two-Phase: A 2-phase decanter separates onlysolids from liquid. If your stream has oil + water + grit, you need 3-phase—otherwise you'll be adding a secondary separator downstream.

Q2: What Are the Key Features of the LWS Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge?

The LWS series is engineered for continuous, high-solids, variable-feed conditions common in oil sludge, rendering, and wastewater plants.

Feature	What It Means for You
High separation efficiency	Handles wide density spreads (e.g. oil ≈0.92 / water ≈1.0 / solids >1.1 g/cm³)
Continuous high-capacity run	No batching—feed in, three streams out, 24/7
Duplex/sus stainless bowl	SS2205 or SS316L options for corrosion & wear resistance
Adjustable process parameters	Bowl speed, differential, weir plates tunable per feed
Adjustable centripetal pump	Heavy-phase discharge under pressure, no separate chamber pump needed
Self-cleaning / CIP-ready	Reduces downtime on high-solid feeds

Source: LWS series technical documentation, Jiangbei & Sha-cazin spec sheets

Technical Specifications (LWS Series)

Model	Max Capacity (m³/h)	Main Motor (kW)	Recovered Oil Purity	Solids Moisture
LWS450	10–18	45–55	≥90%	≤50%
LWS530	15–25	52–67	≥90%	≤50%
LWS650	20–35	75–120	≥90%	≤50%

Actual throughput varies with solid content, oil/water ratio, and viscosity. Pilot testing is recommended for model selection.

Data aligned with published LWS spec ranges

Q3: What Are the Main Applications?

The LWS three-phase decanter sits at the intersection of any process where oil–water–solid co-exist:

Oil & Gas / Oil Sludge – tank-bottom sludge, refinery waste, drilling cuttings: recovers reusable oil, reduces disposal volume
Food & Beverage – olive oil, palm oil, fish oil, animal fat rendering: simultaneous de-sludging + de-watering
Bio-diesel & Chemical – high-value chemical phase separation, esterification by-product recovery
Wastewater Treatment – petrochemical effluent, FOG (fat-oil-grease) interceptors, slaughterhouse runoff
Mining & Mineral – coal tar separation, mineral oil recovery from tailings
Pharmaceutical / Nutraceutical – fish oil, algae oil purification (where GMP-grade stainless + CIP matter)

Q4: How Does the LWS Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge Work?

Step-by-step inside the bowl:

Feed entry – mixed slurry enters via a stationary inlet tube into the rotating scroll conveyor
Acceleration – material hits the bowl wall, centrifugal field activates (2,000–3,200 G)
Three-layer formation by density:
- Solids → outer wall, scrolled toward cone & discharged
- Heavy liquid (water) → inner layer, discharged via centripetal pump
- Light liquid (oil) → top layer, overflows weir plate
Continuous cycle – feed, separate, discharge all happening at full speed, no stopping to unload

The differential gearbox creates a controlled speed difference between bowl and scroll (~2–50 rpm, VFD-adjustable), so solids are conveyed out without re-entrainment.

Q5: Benefits & Pain Points Solved

Industry pain points → LWS answer

Pain Point	How LWS Addresses It
Multi-step settling = slow	One-pass 3-phase, no secondary separator
Chemical demulsifier costs	Mechanical separation—minimal or zero chemicals
Batch filters = downtime	Continuous operation, VFD-controlled
Abrasive sludge = wear	Duplex stainless + tungsten carbide wear tiles
Hard to tune for feed swings	Adjustable weir + centripetal impeller, live tuning

Bottom-line benefits:

OPEX down – fewer chemicals, less energy than thermal methods
Throughput up – continuous, scales from 10 to 35 m³/h
Sustainability – recovered oil = revenue, cleaner water = lower discharge fees
Maintenance low – self-cleaning design, CIP-compatible

Q6: How Do I Know if the LWS Is Right for My Industry?

You're a fit if:

Your feed is a solid + two immiscible liquids (oil/water/sand, fat/water/protein, etc.)
You want to replace multi-tank settling with one continuous unit
Solid content is moderate-to-high (the decanter beats disc separators here)
You need adjustability—feed composition swings day to day
Current separation is costing you in chemicals, labor, or disposal fees

Not sure which LWS model? Send us your feed specs (capacity m³/h, solid %, oil/water ratio, temperature) and we'll size it.

Why Choose LWS

The LWS Three Phase Decanter Centrifuge isn't a generic separator—it's purpose-built for oil–water–solid streams that defeat 2-phase units. With adjustable centripetal pump discharge, duplex-stainless bowl options, and proven deployments from oil-sludge yards to edible-oil refineries, it hits the trio of priorities most plants care about: recovery rate, uptime, and OPEX.

Whether you're de-sludging crude tank bottoms, clarifying rendering fat, or treating FOG-heavy wastewater, the LWS gives you one machine where you used to need two.