Uses of Centrifuge Machines

A centrifuge is an apparatus that is driven by an electric motor and works on the principle of sedimentation, where the centripetal acceleration produced by the rotational force of the machine, cause more dense substances to conclude in the bottom and the lighter ones on the top. The centrifugal machine does helps in separating the components of the liquid.

History of the machine

Nuclear Weapons

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the invention of a whirling arm apparatus that was used to conclude the drag. In 1864, Antonin Prantdl invented the first dairy centrifuge to cut off cream from milk. In 1879, Gustaf Laval demonstrated the first centrifugal separator that became commercially viable.

Types

There are 6 types of this device. Preparative, analytical, angle fixed, swing head, haematocrit, and continuous tubular centrifuge.

Preparative centrifugation is used to cut off organelles and molecules. They can cope large volumes of liquid. It uses the principle of differential centrifugation, which is based on the size of the particles. The sample should be homogenized. Sedimentation process depends on mass, shape, and partial specific volume of a macromolecule, as well as solvent density, rotor size and rate of rotation.

Density gradation centrifugation is a recipe to purify sub cellular organelles and macromolecules. Density gradient generated by placing layer after layer of gradient medium.

The desktop clinical centrifuges have a speed of nearby 3000 rpm, while higher speed models have rotation speed upto 25000 rpm. The ultra versions of the gismo have the top speed of 75000 rpm.

Uses of the device

• Centrifuges are most ordinarily used in chemistry, biology and biochemistry laboratories for isolating and separating suspensions of proteins, chemicals, etc. They vary in speed and capacities.
• Cenrtifuges are also used to cut off the isotopes, which are used in nuclear power, and nuclear weapon programs. Centrifuges used in these cases are known as Zippe type of centrifuges.
• In Geophysics, the centrifuges are used for stimulating blasts and earthquake phenomena.
• They are also used in sugar manufactures to cut off sugar from the mum liquor.
• industrial centrifuges are used in water and waste water treatments.
• They are used to cut off oil from the drilling fluid.
• In the dairy industry, they are used to cut off fats from the milk, that is used for production fat free products.
• In some cases, standalone centrifuges are used for drying clothes. The application is widely used in automated washing machines which are used for washing and drying clothes.

Uses of Centrifuge Machines