Vertical cuttings dryer & decanter centrifuge (high speed / big bowl) is the 2 most common equipment for drilling waste cuttings treatment. They are normally used together. Their main function is utilizing centrifugal force to separate solids from drill mud. But they have different applications.

Applications of Vertical cuttings dryer for drilling waste management

GN Vertical Cuttings Dryer utilizes centrifugal force to dry drilled solids in oil or synthetic base mud cuttings. It can also be used to treat water base mud cuttings. A stainless steel screen bowl traps “wet” solids and accelerates them up 900RPM with G force up to 420. Liquid is forced through the screen bowl openings, while “dry” particles are discharged by the angled flights attached to the cone, which rotate slightly slower than the bowl. Tungsten carbide protects the flights from abrasive solids and ensures long operational life.

Applications of decanter centrifuge for drilling waste management

GN makes different sizes decanter centrifuge. There are 8 inch baby centrifuge, 14 inch normal size decanter centrifuge, 18’’ and 22 inch big bowl centrifuge. drilling waste management normally utilize high centrifuge force to separate fine solids. Take GN 14 inch decanter centrifuge for example, the max. speed is 3900rpm. Typical speed with load can reach up to 3200rpm, and the G force is 2062 @ 3200rpm. The separation point is 2~5 microns.

Difference of Vertical cuttings dryer & decanter centrifuge in drilling waste management system

Drilling waste management system, also be called drilling cuttings drying system. Vertical cuttings dryer & decanter centrifuge is the main machine of the drying system. With its patent design, GN vertical cuttings dryer can be used for oil base mud and water base mud, as well as SBM. With the same system, customer can treat all kinds of drilling waste cuttings.

In drying system, vertical cuttings dryer is used firstly to separate the coarse solids in cuttings. And the discharged solids is drying enough for truck shipment. Take GNCD930C dryer for example, when treat Oil base mud, after treatment, OOC can be reduced to around 4%).

After vertical cuttings dryer, there are high content fine solids in the liquid phase, decanter centrifuge is used to further separate the fine solids and reduce the mud weight.