Horizontal centrifuge with screw conveyor (decanter): Optimization of oil/water levels and differential speed during olive oil extraction

Olive oil extraction using a horizontal centrifuge with a screw conveyor is an essential operation to reduce production costs. However, proper control of the plant is required to maintain a high level of extraction yield and olive oil quality. Rheological characteristics of the olive paste, which change in relation to water content, fruit variety, maturity level and seasonal temperature variations, greatly affect the efficiency of centrifugal extraction. If olive paste is fed to a decanter without automatic control, then non-optimal extraction is performed.