Centrifugal thickening and dewatering of sewage sludge is a high speed process that uses the force from rapid rotation of a cylindrical bowl to separate wastewater solids from liquid to produce a non-liquid material referred to as “cake.” Dewatering wastewater solids reduces the volume of residuals, improves operation, and reduces costs for subsequent storage, processing, transfer, end use, or disposal among other benefits. Centrifuges have been used in wastewater treatment since the 1930s.
The biosolids technology fact sheet for centrifuge thickening and dewatering provides:
- A description of centrifuge thickening and dewatering
- Applicability to wastewater treatment plants
- Advantages and disadvantages of centrifuge thickening and dewatering
- Design criteria
- Performance capabilities and data
- Operation and maintenance information
- Costs
- Fact Sheet: Centrifuge Thickening and Dewatering (PDF)(8 pp, 105 K, September 2000, EPA 832-F-00-053)