Animal Fat Processing Decanter Centrifuge

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

It can handle cooked animal fat slurry from tallow, lard, poultry fat, fish oil, and rendering by-product processing.

Yes. A three-phase decanter centrifuge separates animal fat slurry into recovered fat, process water, and solid residue continuously.

Animal fat separation usually works better at controlled warm temperatures, often around 70–95°C, depending on fat type and viscosity.

Wetted parts can be made of SS304 or SS316L stainless steel, depending on hygiene, corrosion, and cleaning requirements.

Please provide fat type, feed capacity, feed temperature, oil-water-solid ratio, particle size, target oil quality, and operating hours.

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.