Editing Centrifuge (section)

== Types ==
A centrifuge machine can be described as a machine with a rapidly rotating container that applies centrifugal force to its contents. There are multiple types of centrifuge, which can be classified by intended use or by rotor design:

Types by rotor design:<ref>{{cite web|title=Basics of Centrifugation |publisher=Cole-Parmer |url=http://www.coleparmer.com/TechLibraryArticle/30 |access-date=11 March 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224093736/http://www.coleparmer.com/TechLibraryArticle/30 |archive-date=24 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thermo.com/eThermo/CMA/PDFs/Various/File_6810.pdf |title=Plasmid DNA Separation: Fixed-Angle and Vertical Rotors in the Thermo Scientific Sorvall Discovery™ M120 & M150 Microultracentrifuges |publisher=Thermo Fisher |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-date=2012-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224020710/http://www.thermo.com/eThermo/CMA/PDFs/Various/File_6810.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://uqu.edu.sa/files2/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/files/4250119/lectures/1._instr.pdf |access-date=2012-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513185937/http://uqu.edu.sa/files2/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/files/4250119/lectures/1._instr.pdf |title=Centrifuges}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Heidcamp |first=William H. |title=Appendix F |url=http://homepages.gac.edu/~cellab/appds/appd-f.html |work=Cell Biology Laboratory Manual|publisher=Gustavus Adolphus College|access-date=11 March 2012|url-status=dead |archive-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302021430/http://homepages.gac.edu/~cellab/appds/appd-f.html}}</ref>
* Fixed-angle centrifuges are designed to hold the sample containers at a constant angle relative to the central axis.
* Swinging head (or swinging bucket) centrifuges, in contrast to fixed-angle centrifuges, have a hinge where the sample containers are attached to the central rotor. This allows all of the samples to swing outwards as the centrifuge is spun.
* Continuous tubular centrifuges do not have individual sample vessels and are used for high volume applications.

Types by intended use:{{cn|date=March 2025}}
* [[Laboratory centrifuge]]s, are general-purpose instruments of several types with distinct, but overlapping, capabilities. These include clinical centrifuges, superspeed centrifuges and [[ultracentrifuges#Preparative ultracentrifuge|preparative ultracentrifuges]].
* [[ultracentrifuges#Analytical ultracentrifuge|Analytical ultracentrifuges]] are designed to perform sedimentation analysis of macromolecules using the principles devised by [[Theodor Svedberg]].
* [[Haematocrit]] centrifuges are used to measure the volume percentage of red blood cells in whole blood.
* [[Gas centrifuge]]s, including [[Zippe-type centrifuge]]s, for isotopic separations in the gas phase.

Industrial centrifuges may otherwise be classified according to the type of separation of the high density fraction from the low density one.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Generally, there are two types of centrifuges: the filtration and sedimentation centrifuges. For the filtration or the so-called screen centrifuge, the drum is perforated and is inserted with a filter, for example a filter cloth, wire mesh or lot screen. The suspension flows through the filter and the drum with the perforated wall from the inside to the outside. In this way, the solid material is restrained and can be removed. The kind of removing depends on the type of centrifuge, for example manually or periodically. Common types are:
* Centrifugal oil filters
* [[Screen scroll centrifuge|Screen/scroll centrifuges]] (Screen centrifuges, where the centrifugal acceleration allows the liquid to pass through a [[Sieve|screen]] of some sort, through which the solids cannot go (due to [[grain size|granulometry]] larger than the screen gap or due to agglomeration))
* [[Pusher centrifuge]]s
* [[Peeler centrifuge]]s
* Inverting filter centrifuges
* Sliding discharge centrifuges
* Pendulum centrifuges
* Sedimentation centrifuges
In the centrifuges, the drum is a solid wall (not perforated). This type of centrifuge is used for the purification of a suspension. For the acceleration of the natural deposition, process of suspension the centrifuges use centrifugal force. With so-called overflow centrifuges, the suspension is drained off and the liquid is added constantly. Common types are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Centrifuges |website=Centrimax |url=http://www.centrimax.com/centrifuges.html|access-date=2016-11-09|archive-date=2016-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109224117/http://www.centrimax.com/centrifuges.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Separator centrifuges (Continuous liquid); common types are:{{cn|date=March 2025}}
** Self-cleaning Centrifuges
** [[Solid bowl centrifuge]]s
** [[Conical plate centrifuge]]s
* Tubular centrifuges
* [[Decanter centrifuge]]s, in which there is no physical separation between the solid and liquid phase, rather an accelerated [[settling]] due to centrifugal acceleration.
* [[Basket Centrifuges]]: Common in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, especially for solid-liquid separation. Key types include:
* [[Top Discharge Basket Centrifuges]]: The cake is manually removed from the top after the cycle.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manual Top Discharge Basket Centrifuge |website=Shiv Shakti Process Equipment |url=https://shivshaktiequipments.com/product-details/manual-top-discharge-basket-centrifuge |access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref>
* [[Bottom Discharge Basket Centrifuges]]: Offer automatic discharge of solids through the bottom, improving efficiency and reducing manual handling.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bottom Discharge Type Basket Centrifuge |website=Shiv Shakti Process Equipment |url=https://shivshaktiequipments.com/product-details/bottom-discharge-type-basket-centrifuge |access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref>
* [[Bag Lifting Type Vertical Basket Centrifuge]]: Feature a removable filter bag, allowing for easy and safe discharge of solids with minimal human contact, enhancing hygiene and operator safety. <ref>{{cite web |title=Bag Lifting Type Basket Centrifuge |website=Shiv Shakti Process Equipment |url=https://shivshaktiequipments.com/product-details/bag-lifting-type-basket-centrifuge |access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref>

Though most modern centrifuges are electrically powered, a hand-powered variant inspired by the [[whirligig]] has been developed for medical applications in developing countries.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=1 |pages=0009 |author1=M. Saad Bhamla |author2=Brandon Benson |author3=Chew Chai |author4=Georgios Katsikis |author5=Aanchal Johri |author6=Manu Prakash |title=Hand-powered ultralow-cost paper centrifuge |date=10 January 2017 |doi=10.1038/s41551-016-0009 |s2cid=16459214}}</ref>

Many designs have been shared for free and open-source centrifuges that can be [[Digital manufacturing|digitally manufactured]]. The [[open-source hardware]] designs for hand-powered centrifuge for larger volumes of fluids with a radial velocity of over 1750 rpm and over 50 N of relative centrifugal force can be completely [[3D printing|3-D printed]] for about $25.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sule |first1=Salil S. |last2=Petsiuk |first2=Aliaksei L. |last3=Pearce |first3=Joshua M. |date=2019 |title=Open Source Completely 3-D Printable Centrifuge |journal=Instruments |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=30 |doi=10.3390/instruments3020030 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Other open hardware designs use custom 3-D printed fixtures with inexpensive electric motors to make low-cost centrifuges (e.g. the Dremelfuge that uses a [[Dremel]] power tool) or [[Numerical control|CNC]] cut out OpenFuge.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instructables.com/id/OpenFuge/ |title=OpenFuge |website=www.instructables.com |access-date=2019-10-27 |archive-date=2019-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027095149/https://www.instructables.com/id/OpenFuge/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pearce |first=Joshua M. |date=2012-09-14 |title=Building Research Equipment with Free, Open-Source Hardware |journal=Science |volume=337 |issue=6100 |pages=1303–1304 |doi=10.1126/science.1228183 |pmid=22984059 |bibcode=2012Sci...337.1303P |s2cid=44722829 |issn=0036-8075}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sleator |first=Roy D. |date=September 1, 2016 |title=DIY Biology – Hacking Goes Viral! |journal=Science Progress |volume=99 |issue=3 |pages=278–281 |pmid=28742489 |s2cid=3979794 |doi=10.3184/003685016X14684989326984 |pmc=10365417 |doi-access=free |issn=0036-8504}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meyer |first=Morgan |date=2012-06-25 |title=Build your own lab: Do-it-yourself biology and the rise of citizen biotech-economies |journal=Journal of Peer Production |volume=2 |issue=online |pages=4 |url-status=live |url=https://hal-mines-paristech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00710829 |access-date=2019-10-27 |archive-date=2019-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027095911/https://hal-mines-paristech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00710829}}</ref>