Decanter centrifuge separates by the work principle of centrifugal sedimentation. The drilling fields usually apply spiral settling centrifuge which works on the basis of different component densities. It mainly removes 2~10μm solid phase from the mud as the last stage in solids control system. It has shared applications in both weighted and unweighted drilling fluids.
Decanter centrifuges can be specified by the bowls’ lengths and max. diameters as 18×24 inch, 14×22 inch, 14×20 inch (diameter×length); or by the capacities, such as domestic centrifuges with capacities of 40m3/h or 60m3/h and bowl speed ranging from 1500~3500r/min
Effective separation in unweighted low-solids drilling fluids involves centrifugation and the required centrifuge which is usually large-capacity centrifuge dealing with 23~45m3/h of fluids and 3~4t solids. Drilling fluids will go into two flows in centrifuge, one of which is underflow discharging useless solids to waste pool and another overflow returning valuable fluids to mud tank. Now, centrifuge is riding a wave of popularity in purifying unweighted drilling fluids which carries enormous benefits.
In this case, centrifugal is primarily aiming at controlling viscosity since large viscosity decelerates the speed in drilling. It overflows the impacting ultra-fine particles and colloids to waste pool, and sends back underflow with numerous barite content to the tank.
Decanter centrifuges are specially designed for the drilling mud solids control. The effective centrifuging and fine drilled solids separation can remove significant quantities of inseparable solids. This significantly reduces the tranditional dilution requirements and drilling waste volume for disposal.
Besides, shale shaker for solids control are devices that remove drill cuttings from the drilling fluid while circulating and drilling. There are many different designs and research into the best design is constantly ongoing since solids control is vital in keeping down costs associated with the drilling fluid. The basic design consists of large, flat sheets of wire mesh screens or sieves of various mesh sizes that shakes or vibrates the drill cuttings, commonly drilling shale shaker, across and off of the screens as the drilling fluid flows through them and back into the drilling fluids processing system, often called a mud system.