Engineered to adjust: How the new Impellizer is revolutionizing separator technology

With the Impellizer, Flottweg presents an innovation that takes separation processes in separators to a new level. In this interview, Product Manager Tobias Tratner explains how the adjustable impeller works, why it maintains consistent separation quality even with significant product fluctuations, and what added value the patented technology offers customers in applications such as cooking oil refining, biodiesel, and used cooking oil. Take a look behind the scenes at a solution that significantly improves flexibility, efficiency, and process reliability.

Who are you and what is your role at Flottweg?

My name is Tobias Tratner, and I am a product manager at Flottweg. In my role, I am responsible for the strategic development of our separator centrifuges and their use in various applications, such as edible oil refining. I work closely with our customers, sales, and development to ensure that our products are optimally tailored to market requirements. My goal is to create innovative solutions that help our customers make their processes more efficient and sustainable.

What exactly is the Impellizer and how does it work?

The Impellizer is an adjustable impeller in our separator centrifuge. It changes the diameter of the impeller of the heavy liquid phase and thus the position of the separation zone within the bowl. This adjustment is made during the running process without stopping the machine. This allows the machine to react flexibly to changes in the density or viscosity of the product – for a consistently high separation quality.

What makes the Impellizer special compared to previous solutions?

What makes it special is our patented technology: we have rethought the proven principle of the adjustable impeller in our decanters and Tricanter® for separators. The Impellizer enables stepless adjustment of the separation zone during operation, combined with high performance and user-friendliness.

What specific advantages does the adjustable impeller offer Flottweg customers?

Our customers gain flexibility and process reliability. Product fluctuations can be compensated for without standstill, the separation performance remains stable, and standstill times and service costs are reduced.

How does the Impellizer respond to product fluctuations and why is this important?

The raw products from which cooking oil is extracted, for example, are natural products and therefore not always the same. Changes in the density or viscosity of the cooking oil cause the separation zone to shift. The Impellizer automatically corrects this by adjusting the impeller diameter. This ensures that the quality of the end product remains constant – which is crucial for many processes.

In which applications is the Impellizer used?

Typical applications include cooking oil refining, biodiesel production, and the processing of used cooking oil. The Impellizer offers a real advantage wherever product properties are subject to significant change.

What different versions of the Impellizer are available?

The Impellizer is available in two versions. One version features manual adjustment. Here, the diameter of the impeller is set directly on the machine. This is ideal for processes where adjustments are rarely necessary or where operation takes place on site.

Another variant is automatic remote adjustment via a servomotor. This allows the separation zone to be conveniently adjusted during the running process at the HMI, from the control room, or even fully automatically. This is particularly interesting for plants with changing product parameters and a high degree of automation.

Why should customers choose Flottweg?

Flottweg stands for reliability, excellent service, and innovative solutions. With the Impellizer, we offer patented technology with the quality and experience of a German manufacturer. Engineered for your success becomes Engineered to adjust.