Tailings
The robust design and large capacity of Alfa Laval solid bowl centrifuges have proven the perfect solution for safe and secure dewatering of mining tailings. Their small footprint substantially reduces installation space. The consistency of the solids fraction is perfect for co-disposal or dry stacking. And you recover large volumes of water for reuse.
Ensuring a fast, continuous process for safe, clean and efficient solid-liquid separation
- High capacity and separation efficiency with optimal solids dryness
- Long working life
- Designed for high-density slurry
- Compact design and small installation area
- Easy to scale-up capacities from test results
Bloomfield Group Rix's Creek
The Rix’s Creek Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP), part of Australia's Bloomfield Group, set out to improve its onsite coal tailings management as part of its sustainability strategy. Tailings dewatering with Alfa Laval solid bowl centrifuges allows to reduce water and energy consumption and minimize the surface footprint of waste handling processes.
Get a quote or find out more about our solid bowl centrifuge trial unit
A centrifuge trial allows to you determine parameters such as:
- Moisture in the cake
- Centrate clarity
- Determine scalable capacity
- Detailed assessment how this technology can work in practice for your specific facility
How the technology works
Alfa Laval P2 and P3 decanter centrifuges are specifically designed to separate mineral ore slurries as well as tailings into solid phase and liquid phase. Separation takes place in a horizontal cylindrical bowl equipped with a screw conveyor. The feed slurry enters into the bowl through a stationary inlet tube and is then smoothly accelerated in the feed zone. Centrifugal forces of up to 3,500 G separate the solid particles from the liquid and the solids accumulate on the inner surface of the bowl.
The conveyor rotates in the same direction as the bowl, but at a different speed. This gives an axial thrust to the solid particles and the conveyor conveys those particles towards the conical end of the bowl. The solids leave the bowl through the solids discharge openings into the casing whereas the clarified liquid leaves the bowl by flowing over adjustable plate dams or power tubes into the casing.
Local support for your solid bowl decanter centrifuge
No site is too remote. Our team of experienced service engineers based at our Huntingwood/Sydney Service Centre and around Australia help you ensure that your solid bowl decanter centrifuge is performing at its best, so you can focus on the rest. Alfa Laval Australia is at your service.

Optimize performance with Alfa Laval P3 solid bowl centrifuge
Alfa Laval's P3 decanter centrifuge was specifically developed for rough solid-liquid separation duties in the mining and mineral industry. To maximize durability, P3 decanters are built with carefully selected components such as Duplex stainless steel, heavy duty bearings and a stiff box beam frame. All interior parts of a P3 decanter centrifuge exposed to abrasion are protected by replaceable tungsten carbide tiles.

From the coal face
How to manage tailings storage facilities (TSF) is an ongoing challenge for Australia’s mining and minerals industry, from a risk mitigation and cost point of view. Alfa Laval Australia engineer and mining account manager, Harvey Foroush, explains how solid bowl centrifuge technology has evolved over time to provide an economically and technologically superior solution to dewater tailings and recover process water.
