Distortion of the equilibrium pressure in centrifuge cascades

For a square centrifuge cascade with non-identical stages, a set of difference equations describing the hydraulic status are solved after linearization to obtain the static characteristic roots under the condition of small excursion. One more root Z(4) = 1 is obtained for an ordinary conventional separation cascade, which has two withdrawals at the two ends and one feed in between, compared with a cascade with total refluxes at the two ends. Using the 4th static characteristic root Z4, this paper developed a method of studying the distortions of the equilibrium pressure in centrifuge cascades. The results show that, when a cascade with total refluxes transforms to an ordinary conventional cascade, the pressures of the enriching section rise, while the pressures of the stripping section drop. Specially, for cascades having only one withdrawal at the either end and one feed, the distortions of the equilibrium pressure are found only in the part of the cascade between the withdrawal and the feed.