Decanter centrifuge with energy dissipating inlet

Claim 1

A decanter centrifuge comprising: a rotatably journalled drum having outlet openings at one end thereof through which separated liquid can exit; a conveyor rotatably journalled in said drum, said conveyor having a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis with a plurality of flights along said longitudinal axis, and said conveyor further having an inlet, said inlet having a side wall coaxial with said body, a rotationally symmetrical first end wall and a second end wall located opposite the first end wall so that said side wall, first end wall and second end wall form a cavity within said inlet for feed to be separated, wherein said side wall is provided with inlet apertures located between two adjacent flights of said conveyor for connecting the inlet with a space located between said body and the drum, said second end wall having a central projection extending towards said first end wall, said projection having an axial bore formed therein for receiving an inlet pipe for the feed, said inlet pipe being coaxial with said body and having a mouth facing said inlet; and wherein said inlet apertures are disposed radially further from said longitudinal axis than said outlet openings, wherein at least a portion of said side wall adjacent said inlet apertures and an outer peripheral portion of said first end wall are substantially smooth and free of any projections, and wherein said central projection is frusto-conical in shape with a narrow end opposing said first end wall, so that turbulence in said space is inhibited.