Normally, Decanter centrifuge supplier will give a max. hydraulic capacity to show the centrifuge capacity, like 30 m3/h or 40 m3/h. For professional centrifuge user, they what that this parameter really means. But for some new users of centrifuge, it may cause some confusion.

To understand well this question, we should know what is max. with hydraulic test means.

Definition of centrifuge max. capacity:

It is the test figure from hydraulic test. It means the max. hydraulic input volume of the centrifuge can allow. All the input water can be pushed out by centrifuge and there will not be water came out from solids end.

Test method of centrifuge max. hydraulic capacity:

Close the bypass if there is. For fixed speed centrifuge, start centrifuge directly. For VFD centrifuge, Let it runs at the max. bowl speed and conveyer speed. And increase the water input step by step and make sure there is no liquid discharged from the solids end. If there is water out from solids end, it means it is overload. So small reduce it. The max. figure that water will not discharged from solids end is the max. capacity or max. hydraulic capacity of decanter centrifuge.

Many new centrifuge users are wondering: why our solids control centrifuge can treat mud 20m3/h, while the drilling waste management decanter centrifuge can only treat 10m3/h? And the drilling waste management centrifuge is high standard than solids control centrifuge? To understanding this question, we should know the definition of max. solids discharge rate first.

Besides max. hydraulic capacity, there is another figure beeb used together to definite centrifuge performance, it is called the max. solids discharge rate.

Definition of max. solids discharge rate

It means the max. solids a centrifuge can discharged per hour. It is from mud test.

Let’s say, if a centrifuge can treat max. 30m3/h mud with 10% solids content. It means the max. solids discharge rate is 3m3/h.

It means in any cases, the centrifuge can discharge solids no more than 3m3 mud per hour.

So the higher of the solids content, the smaller of the mud input (mud capacity).

If the solids content is 15%, the max. mud input should be less than 20cbm per hour. And for VFD centrifuge, in order to get better separation result, the bowl speed and conveyor speed should be adjust accordingly. For the same mud input with the same decanter centrifuge, the better of the separation, the smaller of mud capacity.

GN Solids Control is China leading manufacturer on drilling mud solids control and drilling waste management system / equipment. With its advanced design and internal high standard quality, GN developed fast and got a worldwide reputation on solids control and drilling waste management supplier field.

As the normal comer of Houston OTC oil show, GN Solids Control came together with GN Solids America this year 2015.

What equipment GN take for the show in Houston OTC 2015

1) Vertical cuttings dryer for OBM, WBM and SBM, model GNCD730A

Normally speaking, for other brand vertical cuttings dryer, they can only treat oil base mud and synthetic base mud. While GN patent design vertical cuttings dryer can be used to treat water base mud as well.

For many oil and gas drilling activities, like in Russia, Africa, U.S.A., European and Middle east, they use water base mud as the first stage or drilling. And then, they shift to oil base mud for deep drilling. In the traditional way for drilling waste management, they should use a high G shaker system to treat the oil base drilling cuttings, and then change to use vertical cuttings dryer system for oil base mud drilling cuttings treatment.

Now with GN advanced design vertical cuttings dryer system, the drilling jobsite can use the same one system for the whole drilling activities. They do not need to shift system during drilling. It can save drilling cost and time.

The model GN takes for the show is a small size high speed suitable for offshore drilling. As many customer told GN their jobsite is very limited on space and they need very compact design dryer for their site. Based on their conditions, GN designed the small size dryer with high speed an reach up to 1500rpm

2) Another equipment GN takes for the show is high speed decanter centrifuge GNLW363C.

It is the most popular size centrifuge. With GN advanced design, it can be used for mud solids control, drilling waste management, waste water treatment, oily sludge separation and other fine solids separation applications.

If you have interest on GN drilling waste management equipment and want for more information, welcome you contact Gn group freely.

As China leading manufacturer on drilling waste management system, GN brand drilling cuttings treatment system helps GN developing fast in China and international market. GN system can be used for the treatment of oil base mud (OBM), water base mud (WBM), and synthetic base mud (SBM).

GN Solids Control makes a complete Drill cuttings treatment system for CNPC China project. The system is made and designed to treat water base mud drilling cuttings. Below is the equipment included in the system.

1) High G dryer shale shaker

Applications of High G dryer shale shaker: It is mainly used to treat water base mud drilling cuttings (WBM). Drill cuttings from solids control shale shaker, desander, desilter or mud cleaner will be transferred to high G dryer shale shaker. Screw conveyer, cuttings transfer pump or vacuum pump can be used for the transfer of drill cuttings and feeding for the high G dryer shale shaker.

2) Drilling waste decanter centrifuge

It is a 14 inch high speed decanter centrifuge specially designed for drilling waste management system. And the centrifuge is controlled by a VFD control panel with PLC system for smart control. There are many companies in China declared for centrifuge making, but very fewer of them is designed and made per drilling waste management application. And many of GN customers in China, they said they have centrifuges for their solids control system, but once they use it for drilling waste management, it is completely unworkable, too many problems. When they tried GN drilling waste management centrifuge, they are satisfied and decide to follow with GN although GN price is higher than normal China brand.

Many customer wondering why drilling waste centrifuge different with solids control centrifuge and price higher. The reason is that, they are used to treat different materials. Drill cuttings have a high density and viscosity than the drill mud, and the solids content is high than the drill mud.

3) Feeding pump for decanter centrifuge and transfer screw pump to transfer mud from centrifuge tank to outside tanks.

4) Lighting system and electrical control system for the whole system

GN is approved for explosion proof control system manufacturing. GN offer complete turn-key solution to customers.

Furthermore, GN can offer customized color and logo on the system per customers’ request.

Many customers wonder: we choose a centrifuge with max. 30cbm capacity, why the real capacity is far more less? Is it the centrifuge un-certified? Similar to a car, the car manufacturer will give a max. speed of the car can reach, but actually, it can never reach it. It widely depends on the drivers skill, the road condition, the speed limitation, the requirement of people in the car, and so on. And centriguge is the same.

To answer this question, we should know the exact meaning of Centrifuge Capacity. On decanter centrifuge data sheet, there are different description for treating capacity: Max. capacity, typical capacity or a performance chart. Typical capacity is more widely used to specify the centrifuge performance. The Typical Capacity on centrifuge data sheet is gaven under a certain condition, it is not for general condition.The mafanucturer will give description of it.

Mostly, centrifuge manufacturer give typical max. capacity as hydraulic test. As different jobsite have different mud condition. For different mud density and viscosity, the centrifuge handling capacity is much different. It is difficult to compare parameters for customer if the max. capacity is under different condition.

Below are somes reasons may affect centrifuge performance:

1) Centrifuge size : the bowl diameter and bowl length

It is the main parameters to affect centrifuge capacity. Normally speaking, the bigger of the bowl size, the bigger of centrifuge max. capacity (hydraulic test). But it is not meant big bowl centrifuge is the best choice for bigger capacity. Customer should consider the material condition, the result they want to get after separation to choose the suitable model. For different mud condition, specially for drilling waste management, different centrifuge model suits.

2) The mud condition before centrifuge treatment

The mud condition have big effect on the centrifuge real capacity. For centrifuge with hydraulic test 30cbm, with mud, capacity may half reduced or even more. And the heavier of the mud, the smaller the capacity.

3) The parameter settings of the mud

The bowl speed, conveyer speed and the fluids outlet height setting will also affect the centrifuge capacity and the centrifuge performance. So when the centrifuge arrived jobsite, per customers detailed request, GN Solids control company recommend customer to test with their real mud to find out the best separation result, the max. capacity of the centrifuge under this condition. Or they find an equal of capacity and separation result.

4) The performance result customer choose will also affect the capacity. Just like a car, if you want very smooth driving, the speed should not be as high as normal.

For professional users, they can have an idear about the real capacity of centrifuge from data sheet manufactuere give with their rich experience. But for most customers, it is better to have more communciatios with the centrifuge manufacturer, let them know more of your project, to make sure a suitable centrifuge model.