An improved blade design and method for enhancing the efficiency of operation
of a centrifuge is disclosed based on measuring a varying value of the load on
the centrifuge as the flow of contaminated fluid is injected into the centrifuge.
The centrifuge has a plurality of blades with radially overlapping edges to keep
the fluid being centrifuged compartmentalized and thus quiet for maximum efficiency.
Additionally, the scraping blade assembly has blades which are angled in the scraping
direction to force the solids towards the exit of the centrifuge, whether that
be at the bottom or the top. A programmable logic controller monitors the load
on the drive motor and compares a baseline value of load after accelerating the
rotor to speed to the value of load while the contaminated fluid is injected into
the rotor. The varying second value of load, measured during injection of fluid
into the assembly, is compared to the baseline value of load to determine flow
rate of the fluid being injected into the rotor assembly or to ascertain whether
any dysfunction is occurring and to take appropriate steps to correct malfunction.