In potato processing plants, slice washing generates significant volumes of wastewater containing suspended starch solids. Discharging this water without treatment wastes both a recoverable byproduct and a valuable water resource. A recent GN shipment successfully brought a solution to this issue by using decanter centrifuge.
GN supplied a decanter centrifuge sized for the facility’s throughput. The unit operates on the counter-current principle, with the bowl and screw conveyor rotating at differential speeds controlled by a variable frequency drive(VFD). This arrangement allows the separation parameters to be adjusted as the feed characteristics vary with production rates. The bowl length-to-diameter ratio, exceeding 3.0, provides sufficient residence time for fine starch particles to settle out of suspension.
Several design features make this installation practical for food processing duty. The bowl cylindrical and conical sections are manufactured from Duplex Stainless Steel 2304, with other wetted parts in SS304—materials selected for corrosion resistance and cleanability. Tungsten carbide tiles protect the screw conveyor at wear points, extending service intervals. The PLC-controlled VFD cabinet provides consistent operation with minimal operator attention.
This installation illustrates a broader capability: GN supplies decanter centrifuges for starch recovery from potato, wheat, corn, and root crop processing, with models available for different capacity ranges. For this customer, the result is reduced water consumption, recovered product value, and a separation process that runs with minimal supervision.