Centrifuge

Abstract

A centrifuge having a housing having a body and an arm extending from the body, the arm attached to the body at a first end; a chamber defined in the arm; a first tube positioned within the chamber and comprising a porous sidewall; a second tube positioned within the chamber; a first flow path defined by the first tube and second tube; a second flow path defined by the second tube; a first exit in communication with the first flow path for evacuating a first material from the arm; and a second exit in communication with the second flow path for evacuating a second material from the arm. An input mixture enters the arm through an inlet. As the sludge flows along an outer flow region defined by the first tube and interior sidewall of the arm, at least a portion of a liquid passes through the porous sidewall of the first tube and into a middle flow region, analogous to the first flow path. The liquid may drain from the middle flow region through the first exit. Solids exit through the second exit.

1 . A method for capturing a first material and a second material, comprising: 
 introducing a mixture containing the first and second materials into a centrifuge arm;    rotating the centrifuge arm;    impacting the mixture against a flow diffuser to spread the mixture about a circumference of the centrifuge arm;    separating the first material from the second material;    forcing the first material out a first exit; and    forcing the second material out a second exit.