In the field of modern industrial separation, centrifugal extractors occupy an important position with their efficient separation performance. Its working principle is based on the centrifugal force and the relative solubility difference of the substance.

First of all, centrifugal force is the core driving force of the centrifugal extractor. When the mixed liquid enters the high-speed rotating drum, under the action of centrifugal force field, due to the difference in density of different substances, different centrifugal sedimentation rates will be produced. The denser material moves toward the wall of the drum, while the less dense material moves toward the center of the drum.

The effect of this centrifugal force is far greater than that of gravity, allowing the mixture that would otherwise be difficult to separate in the gravitational field to quickly achieve separation.

Secondly, the relative solubility difference of the substance plays a key role in the extraction process. When two mutually insoluble liquids (extractant and liquid) are fully mixed in the centrifugal extractor, the solute will transfer from a phase with low solubility to a phase with high solubility according to its solubility difference in the two liquids.

For example, in hydrometallurgy, a specific extractant is used to extract metal ions from the pulp, and the metal ions transfer from the aqueous phase to the organic phase, thus achieving separation from other impurities.

The structure design of centrifugal extractor also plays an important role in the realization of its working principle. Special structures inside the drum, such as multistage mixing and clarifying chambers or packing layers, facilitate full mixing and rapid separation of two-phase liquids. The stirring device in the mixing chamber can make the two-phase liquid fully contact and accelerate the mass transfer process of solute. The clarifying chamber uses centrifugal force to quickly stratify the mixed liquid and improve the separation efficiency.

In addition, the operating parameters of the centrifugal extractor, such as speed, flow rate and temperature, will also affect its working effect. The right speed can provide enough centrifugal force to ensure the effective separation of the two-phase liquid;

The flow control can ensure the continuity and stability of the extraction process. Temperature changes will affect the solubility and mass transfer coefficient of the solute, so it needs to be optimized according to the specific extraction system.

The working principle of the centrifugal extractor is a complex and efficient process, through the clever use of centrifugal force and the relative solubility difference of substances, combined with reasonable structural design and accurate operation parameters control, the efficient separation of components in the mixture is realized.

In the future industrial development, with the continuous improvement of separation efficiency and product quality requirements, centrifugal extractors will play a more important role.