Development and Design of a Centrifuge Separation Chamber for Natural Rubber Latex Concentration

Abstract

This paper focuses on the design and fabrication of a separation
chamber which is part of a centrifuge for natural rubber latex
concentration. The design and fabrication of the separation chamber
is based on the centrifugation principle where the centrifugal
acceleration causes the more dense substances to separate along the
radial direction. The separation chamber allows a continuous flow
process which has two outlets designed to expel the heavier liquid
(water) at the top of the cover and the lighter liquid (rubber particles)
at the top of the plate holder. An electric motor of two horse power
was used to drive the separation chamber with a speed of 4,800 rpm
to achieve separation. The throughput of the chamber is 95 litres per
hour running at 7200rpm with a horse power of 7.5hp electric motor.
With this operation, the separation chamber gives about 60% rubber
latex concentrate of dry rubber content (DRC).