Chapter 8
Rev. 1 of 14/01/97
SEITAL S.r.l.
Use and maintenance handbook: Centrifugal separator
SE 40CX
Page 8-1
8. MACHINE USE
8.1. Personnel tasks
Unmanned automatic machine, starting phase only.
Operator tasks:
•
Normal operation control.
•
Good operation testing (fluid level, capacity and temperature value, noisy, evident
vibrations).
•
Carry out cleaning cycle, with inlet of detergent fluid.
•
Routine interventions on electric panel.
•
Simple disassemblies.
•
Lubricant oil change or topping up.
Mechanical technician tasks:
•
Corrosion and wears testing.
•
Repairs.
•
Preventive maintenance with eventual cleaning and/or replacement of some parts.
Electrician tasks:
•
Interventions on electric system.
8.2. Set-up and adjustments
Regulate the separator capacity within the nominal value shown on § 3.3. To achieve this, it is
necessary to insert a regulatory valve or a neck washer on the separator feeding line.
To guarantee the machine good operation, control and adjustment operations must be
performed before starting phase (see § 7.7).
To obtain a regular and efficient working of separator it is necessary:
1) to feed the machine with a constant flow of product and following the indications of the
following paragraphs (8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.2.3);
2) to select in PLC the correct operating cycle (8.3);
3) to set a suitable value of the separation and draining times.
It’s important to avoid air mixing with liquid, so it’s necessary to immerse the centripetal
pump into the rotating liquid and to have a counterpressure in outlet pipes. This is obtained by
acting on the regulating valves (A and B in figure 8.1) and on the regulator (RPL in figure
7.2) of the constant pressure valve (if present).
One of the most important parameters in cream concentration is the fat content achievable in
the concentrated cream, directly related to the cream flow rate at the outlet. A small cream
flow rate gives a cream of higher viscosity, with more fat, while a large cream flow rate gives
a more liquid cream with lower fat content.
As general behaviour remembers that, by acting on outlet valves, it’s possible to adjust the
cream flow rate, while the buttermilk flow rate cannot be varied.
Valve (A in figure 8.1) regulates the outlet pressure of buttermilk (the manometer M1, shows
the counter pressure at the outlet of the buttermilk centripetal pump), while valve (B) permit
to adjust the flow rate and pressure of the cream (the manometer M2, shows the counter
pressure at the outlet of the cream centripetal pump).
