Animal Fat Processing Decanter Centrifuge
Description
In animal fat processing and rendering plants, a three-phase
decanter centrifuge is used to separate melted animal fat slurry
into oil, water, and solids. It is commonly used for tallow, lard,
poultry fat, fish oil, bone residue slurry, and other rendering
by-product streams.
After crushing, cooking, melting, or rendering, the material
usually contains fat, water, protein solids, bone particles, tissue
residues, and fine suspended impurities. If these phases are not
separated efficiently, the final fat quality, oil recovery rate,
wastewater load, and by-product handling cost may all be affected.
A three-phase decanter centrifuge uses centrifugal force to
continuously separate the material by density difference. The
lighter fat phase is discharged as recovered oil, the heavier
liquid phase is discharged as water, and the solid phase is
conveyed by the screw conveyor and discharged continuously.
For animal fat processors, the key is not only capacity. More
important factors include oil recovery, residual fat in solids,
discharged water quality, stable solids conveying, hygienic design,
corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning.
Typical Corrosive Applications
| Application | Material | Purpose |
|---|
| Tallow processing | Beef fat, cooked rendering slurry | Recover animal fat and separate solids |
| Lard processing | Pork fat slurry | Separate oil, water, and tissue residues |
| Poultry fat recovery | Chicken or poultry by-product slurry | Recover fat from rendering streams |
| Fish oil processing | Fish waste, cooked fish slurry | Separate fish oil, water, and solids |
| Meat and bone meal production | Cooked by-product slurry | Improve oil removal before solids drying |
Process Position in Animal Fat Rendering
A decanter centrifuge is usually installed after cooking, melting,
or rendering.
Typical process route:
Raw animal by-products → Crushing → Cooking / Rendering → Screening
→ Three-phase decanter centrifuge → Fat polishing → Storage
For some plants, a disc separator may be installed after the
decanter to further polish the recovered fat and remove fine water
or impurities.
In meat and bone meal production, the decanter can also help reduce
the fat content in discharged solids before drying or further
processing.
How the Decanter Centrifuge Works in Animal Fat Processing
The cooked animal fat slurry enters the rotating bowl through the
feed pipe. Under centrifugal force, the heavier solids move outward
and settle on the bowl wall. The water phase forms a middle layer,
while the lighter fat phase remains closer to the center.
The screw conveyor rotates at a slightly different speed from the
bowl. This differential speed conveys settled solids toward the
solids outlet. The fat phase and water phase are discharged
separately through liquid outlets.
The final separation result depends on feed temperature, fat
content, water content, particle size, viscosity, bowl speed,
differential speed, liquid level adjustment, and feed stability.
Key Selection Factors
1. Feed Temperature
Animal fat separation usually requires proper temperature control.
If the temperature is too low, fat viscosity increases and
separation becomes difficult. If the temperature is too high,
product quality and energy consumption may be affected.
Typical operating temperature is often around 70–95°C, depending on
fat type and process route.
2. Fat Content and Water Content
The ratio of oil, water, and solids affects three-phase separation.
High fat content requires stable liquid phase adjustment, while
high water content may increase the load on the water outlet and
downstream wastewater treatment.
3. Solid Particle Size
Bone particles, meat fibers, protein solids, and tissue residues
affect conveying stability and wear. Large impurities should be
removed before the decanter to protect the machine.
4. Oil Recovery Target
For well-conditioned rendering streams, a three-phase decanter can
help reduce residual fat in solids. The actual result depends on
raw material, cooking condition, feed stability, and machine
adjustment.
5. Cleaning and Hygiene
Animal fat processing requires easy cleaning and smooth
product-contact surfaces. Food-grade stainless steel and
CIP-friendly design can be considered based on plant requirements.
Technical Parameter
| Model | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Length-to-diameter rate | G force | Max solid discharge (m³/h) | Weight (kg) | Dimension (L*W*H) (mm) |
|---|
| PDC-10 | 250 | 1000 | 4 | 4080 | 0.4 | 1000 | 2410*800*1080 |
| PDC-12 | 4200 | 1350 | 4 | 3500 | 0.6 | 1200 | 2610*800*1080 |
| PDC-12 | 4200 | 1350 | 4.5 | 3180 | 1.2 | 1800 | 3495*840*1180 |
| PDC-18 | 4000 | 1600 | 4.5 | 3180 | 1.2 | 3200 | 3497*1020*1385 |
| PDC-18 | 450 | 2150 | 4 | 2500 | 2 | 3800 | 4447*1080*1385 |
| PDC-20 | 400 | 2250 | 4.5 | 2500 | 3.5 | 4000 | 4580*1140*1470 |
| PDC-21 | 530 | 2280 | 4.3 | 2500 | 5 | 5000 | 4924*1170*1540 |
| PDC-26 | 655 | 2800 | 4.3 | 2270 | 8 | 7000 | 4300*1900*1350 |
Recommended Equipment Configuration
| Configuration | Function |
|---|
| Three-phase bowl design | Separates fat, water, and solids continuously |
| Adjustable liquid outlets | Helps optimize oil-water separation |
| Food-grade stainless steel wetted parts | Suitable for edible or feed-grade fat processing |
| Wear-resistant scroll protection | Handles bone particles and abrasive solids |
| Heating or insulation options | Helps maintain fat fluidity |
| Automatic control system | Supports stable continuous operation |
| Easy-clean structure | Reduces cleaning and maintenance time |
Main Advantages in Animal Fat Processing
Continuous oil-water-solid separation
Separates animal fat slurry into recovered fat, process water, and
solid residue in one continuous process.
Higher fat recovery from rendering streams
Helps recover tallow, lard, poultry fat, or fish oil from cooked
by-product slurry. Residual fat in solids can often be reduced
depending on feed condition and process adjustment.
Stable solids discharge
The screw conveyor continuously removes protein solids, tissue
residues, bone particles, and other heavy solids.
Typical capacity range
Available for small and large rendering lines, with typical
processing capacity from about 1–30 t/h, depending on model size and feed characteristics.
Food-grade material options
Wetted parts can be configured with SS304 or SS316L stainless steel for food-grade or feed-grade fat processing.
Lower wastewater load
By separating fat and suspended solids before wastewater treatment,
the decanter can help reduce downstream oil and solids load.
Suitable for high-load rendering operation
Designed for continuous operation in animal by-product processing
plants, slaughterhouse by-product lines, and rendering facilities.
What Data Is Needed for Selection?
Please provide:
Animal fat type
Raw material source
Feed capacity
Feed temperature
Oil / water / solids ratio
Particle size condition
Target fat recovery
Required oil clarity
Cleaning requirement
Operating hours per day
FAQ
What materials can this decanter centrifuge handle?
It can handle cooked animal fat slurry from tallow, lard, poultry
fat, fish oil, and rendering by-product processing.
Can it separate oil, water, and solids at the same time?
Yes. A three-phase decanter centrifuge separates animal fat slurry
into recovered fat, process water, and solid residue continuously.
What temperature is suitable for animal fat separation?
Animal fat separation usually works better at controlled warm
temperatures, often around 70–95°C, depending on fat type and viscosity.
What materials are used for food-grade animal fat processing?
Wetted parts can be made of SS304 or SS316L stainless steel, depending on hygiene, corrosion, and cleaning requirements.
What information is needed for model selection?
Please provide fat type, feed capacity, feed temperature,
oil-water-solid ratio, particle size, target oil quality, and
operating hours.
Contact Peony for Partnership
If you have local customer channels or project resources involving
tallow processing, lard production, poultry fat recovery, fish oil
processing, rendering plants, slaughterhouse by-product treatment,
or other animal fat separation projects, Peony welcomes
cooperation.
Peony can support local agents, distributors, and project partners
with technical model selection, three-phase separation process
evaluation, food-grade material recommendation, equipment
configuration, process proposal, manufacturing, installation
guidance, commissioning support, spare parts, and after-sales
service.
Please send us your target market, customer type, animal fat
source, processing capacity, project background, and cooperation
proposal. Our team will evaluate the opportunity and provide
technical and commercial support for suitable animal fat processing
and three-phase separation projects.
