In processing environments where liquid slurries contain significant solids concentrations, conventional filtration methods frequently create bottlenecks. Batch filters must be taken offline for cleaning. Bag and cartridge systems require regular media replacement, generating waste and downtime. For operations that demand continuous throughput — whether in food production, pharmaceutical manufacturing or industrial processing — a centrifugal liquid solid separator offers a more efficient alternative.
The Russell Finex Liquid Solid Separator™ is a centrifugal screener designed to separate solids from liquids in a single continuous operation, handling flow rates of up to 100,000 litres per hour at mesh apertures as fine as 20 microns. Advanced Packaging Systems supplies and supports the full Russell Finex range across New Zealand.
Russell Finex Centrifugal Separator
How the Russell Finex Liquid Solid Separator Works
The separator operates on centrifugal force. Feed material — a liquid slurry containing suspended solids — is introduced into a rotating cylindrical screen. The high-speed rotation generates centrifugal force that drives liquid outward through the fine mesh screen, while solids are conveyed along the screen surface and discharged through a separate outlet.
Critically, solids and liquids are discharged simultaneously and continuously, with no requirement to stop the process for cleaning or media replacement. Throughput and the degree of dryness in the solid fraction can both be controlled by adjusting rotor speed (via an optional variable speed gearbox) and the tilt angle of the separator body. These adjustments allow the machine to be tuned to the specific slurry characteristics and separation requirements of each application.
Key Features and Specifications
- Flow rates up to 100,000 litres per hour, suitable for high-volume production environments
- Mesh apertures as fine as 20 microns for precise solid-liquid separation
- Continuous discharge of both solid and liquid fractions — no batch cycling or production stoppages
- Variable speed gearbox (optional) for throughput and separation control
- Adjustable tilt angle to control moisture content of the solid fraction
- Fully enclosed design for operator protection and hygienic processing
- Minimal operator intervention required during normal operation
Russell Eco Self-Cleaning Filter
Industry Applications
The Russell Finex Liquid Solid Separator is used across a broad range of industries where the continuous removal of solids from liquid streams is required.
Food and Beverage
In food processing, the separator handles slurries where product consistency depends on the controlled removal of fibrous or particulate matter. Applications include separating oat pulp from oat milk, removing peel and seed matter from juice processing, processing corn mash in distilling and bioethanol production, and separating whey solids in dairy operations. The machine is suited to products where hygiene credentials and the ability to process viscous or fibrous materials without blinding are priorities.
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Pharmaceutical manufacturers use the separator to harvest broth and cell cultures, where precise, continuous separation of biomass from the liquid medium is required. The enclosed design supports compliance with hygiene standards applicable to pharmaceutical production environments, and the controllable separation parameters enable consistent process validation and reproducibility.
Chemical and Industrial Processing
In chemical processing and industrial applications, the separator is used for solids recovery from process streams, treatment of industrial wash water, separation of abrasive slurries in ceramics and metal powder production, and recovery of useful materials from effluent. The robust centrifugal design handles abrasive or chemically aggressive materials common in these environments.
Why Continuous Separation Matters in High-Volume Production
For operations running continuous production lines, the ability to separate solids from liquids without interrupting flow is directly linked to output efficiency. Conventional bag filters or cartridge systems require the process to stop while media is changed — a recurring maintenance cycle that creates cumulative downtime and ongoing consumable costs.
The centrifugal design of the Russell Finex Liquid Solid Separator eliminates these interruptions. The machine runs continuously, requires minimal operator involvement during normal production, and does not generate spent filter media for disposal. For operations processing high volumes of slurry — particularly in food, dairy and industrial environments — this represents a significant reduction in both operational overhead and waste.
Russell Finex Liquid Solid Separation in New Zealand
Advanced Packaging Systems is the exclusive New Zealand representative for Russell Finex, supplying separation and filtration equipment to food, dairy, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, chemical and industrial processors throughout the country. The Russell Finex range — including the Liquid Solid Separator™, the Vibrasonic® deblinding system, and the full range of vibratory sieves and self-cleaning filters — is available with local application support.
For enquiries about the Liquid Solid Separator™ or other Russell Finex equipment, contact Advanced Packaging Systems to discuss your specific processing requirements.
