Pharma Peeler Centrifuge (HX/GMP)
Pharma Peeler Centrifuge (HX/GMP)
The Pharma Peeler Centrifuge is designed for the efficient separation of solids and liquids in a single sealed environment, and specifically for pharmaceutical and fine chemical products.
The Pharma Peeler Centrifuge isolates and washes APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) in a safe enclosed environment with automatic, reliable, and efficient equipment. It is the most modern and commonly used type of centrifuge for pharmaceuticals to increase production speed and capacity.
APIs are typically created in a reactor or crystallizer. The API needs to be isolated or separated from the other parts of the slurry through filtration. Filtering centrifuges are used to efficiently collect the solids and discharge the liquids, while also incorporating a washing step to increase purity. Mechanically reducing the liquid content reduces the downstream thermal processing requirements such as drying time, thus protecting the quality of the API.
Production Cycle and Design Advantages
Overview
Loading
The solid-liquid suspension (slurry) is fed through the feed pipe into the centrifuge. The slurry moves towards the filter cloth under the action of centrifugal force, and onto a perforated basket. The solid part of the suspension is retained by the filter cloth, forming a cake, while the liquid filters through the cake, through the filter cloth, and through the holes of the basket. The growth of the cake thickness is controlled by a mechanical or laser cake detector, which can automatically stop the feeding phase when the desired cake thickness is reached.
Cake Washing
Cake washing removes any impurities present in the cake. The washing liquid is distributed onto the product in the basket, through nozzles located along the washing pipe. The liquid passes through the product, then passes from the filter cloth and the holes of the basket, removing impurities present in the cake.
Centrifugation
Once the washing phase is complete, the centrifuge accelerates to the maximum speed and maintains that speed for a given amount of time to achieve the desired level of residual humidity in the product. At the end of the centrifugation, the centrifuge decelerates to the discharge speed.
Discharge
After reaching the discharge speed, the knife increment command is activated. The scraping knife starts cutting the cake, moving the product into the discharge chute and into the product collection systems (drums, bin, dryers, mixers).
Heel cake removal
At the end of the product discharge phase, a heel cake of about 4-5 mm remains on the filtering cloth. This heel cake can be removed, to improve the filterability of the product, through the high-pressure nitrogen blow from the rear part of the basket.
Washing Machine Effect
The centrifuge should be cleaned at every change of product to avoid cross contamination between campaign productions. The fully automated centrifuge cleaning system is composed of 2 main stages: Washing Machine Effect and cleaning with spray balls, which can be alternated to achieve maximum cleaning and to optimize the consumption of the cleaning liquid.
The centrifuge is filled with the washing liquid up to a predetermined height and is put in rotation. During the automatic washing sequence, the basket rotates both clockwise and counterclockwise. The knife goes in and out so that the washing liquid reaches all points of the process area, including the discharge chute.
Cleaning with Spray Balls
The washing liquid is sprayed through spray balls on all the surfaces of the process area to completely remove any residue of product still present.
Machine Overview
1. Knife2. Automatic clamping ring
3. Knife and product discharge chute
Design Advantages
1. Scraper knife with protected chute2. Product discharge chute
3. Laser cake detector (option)
4. Adjustable feed
5. Wash pipe
6. CIP spray balls
7. Sight glass with cleaning
8. Light glass with cleaning nozzle
Typical Applications
- Active Product Ingredients (APIs)
- Antibiotics
- Pharmaceutical Intermediate Products
- High Potent Active Product Ingredients (HPAPI)
- Vitamins
- Amino, fatty acids
- Steroids
Highlights
- Ideal for pharmaceutical, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and potent compound processes
- Maximum purity of discharged products
- Small and compact footprint
- cGmp design for CIP and eliminates product stagnation zones
- Laser cake detector (external to process chamber)
- No contact between the operator and the product during operation makes it ideal for pharmaceutical synthesis products
- Through-the-wall installation for clean rooms
- Full access to inspect all areas including rear of basket and shaft seal
- Horizontal basket assures even loading of cake
- Filter medium is easily changed and secured in the basket
- Installation directly on the floor on anti-vibration dampers
- FDA-approved oil lubrication for bearings on all models
- Sizes range from 400mm (15.75 in.) diameter to 1700mm (66.9 in.) diameter – See chart below
Discharge
- Knife scraper blade fixed without use of bolts (FOD compliant)
- Suitable for the maximum recovery of solids discharged and the protection of the discharge chute
- Steep solids discharge chute (30° from vertical)
- Heel removal assist with optional blow back
- Options for solids discharge with high containment (use of continuous liner, isolator, etc.)
- Maintenance of shaft and bearings from the rear side of the machine (service area) without contaminating the clean room
Control Options
- Complete PLC controls with touch-screen interface
- Switch between automatic, semi-automatic, and manual operation
- Variable frequency drive (VRD) speed control
- ATEX (Europe) electrical enclosures or NEC (North America)
- Optional instrumentation integrated into the control system including oxygen monitoring, temperature, pressure, liquid feed flow, and N2 purge
Cleaning
- High-level surface finishing for the cleaning of the process zone
- The highly effective C.I.P. system (Clean-in- Place) uses a Washing Machine Effect cycle and spray balls
- The C.I.P. system avoids cross-contamination between products from one campaign production to another, which makes the machine suitable for multi-purpose applications
- Options for sterilizing include steam or Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP system)
Machine Characteristics
- Pressure tight to 400mm H20 (0.6 psig)
- Inert gas purging
- Easily replaceable endless filter cloth, thermo-welded, in polypropylene or PTFE of various weaves and sizes
- Construction materials
- Parts in contact with the product: all stainless steels and special alloys are available, such as AISI 316L, AISI 904L, hastelloy, monel, alloy 59, 254 SMO, nickel, titanium, SAF 2205
- Surface coating option: Halar (ECTFE)
- Elastomers: antistatic and FDA certified, Teflon ETFE, and hard rubber
Technical Services
- Certifications, validation, FDA qualification, and construction documentation
- Field service and technical support available
- Mechanical and electrical parts
- Process control and maintenance manuals
- Mechanical and electrical upgrades
Standard Sizes and Technical Data
| Centrifuge model: HX/GMP Unit |
Basket Diameter mm |
Basket Length mm |
Filtering Surface m2 |
Cake Volume liter |
Max Load kg |
Max Speed RPM |
G Factor xg |
Centrifuge Weight kg |
Solid Chute Slope °vs vertical |
| 400/170 | 400 | 170 | 0.21 | 11 | 14 | 3000 | 2011 | 1100 | 30 |
| 500/220 | 500 | 220 | 0.35 | 22 | 28 | 2700 | 2037 | 2500 | 30 |
| 650/280 | 650 | 280 | 0.57 | 42 | 53 | 2300 | 1922 | 3700 | 30 |
| 850/380 | 850 | 380 | 1.01 | 90 | 112 | 1850 | 1626 | 5600 | 30 |
| 1030/610 | 1030 | 500 | 1.62 | 165 | 207 | 1500 | 1295 | 7600 | 30 |
| 1150/500 | 1150 | 500 | 1.81 | 222 | 278 | 1400 | 1260 | 9600 | 30 |
| 1300/610 | 1300 | 610 | 2.49 | 340 | 425 | 1200 | 1046 | 13000 | 30 |
| 1450/730 | 1450 | 730 | 3.32 | 485 | 607 | 1150 | 1072 | 16500 | 34 |
| 1600/800 | 1600 | 800 | 4.02 | 733 | 916 | 950 | 807 | 22000 | 36 |
| 1750/920 | 1750 | 920 | 5.05 | 991 | 1239 | 900 | 792 | 3400 | 36 |
| 400/170* | 400 | 170 | 0.21 | 11 | 14 | 3000 | 2011 | 1100 | 30 |
| 500/220* | 500 | 220 | 0.35 | 22 | 28 | 2700 | 2037 | 2500 | 30 |
*Pilot centrifuges – HX / GMP MODEL
The smaller machines are considered pilot centrifuges and are used for both research and development laboratories, as well as small productions of high-added value products. These machines, while smaller, have the same features as the industrial scale module plus can be skid mounted for easier mobility.
