What occurs to the waste stream of a centrifuge when the optimum feed is exceeded?

When the optimum feed rate to a centrifuge is exceeded, the efficiency with which solids are separated from the liquids diminishes. This situation often leads to a greater concentration of solids in the centrate, meaning that more solids remain suspended in the liquid that is discharged. As a result, the concentration of centrate solids increases, which can lead to operational challenges and decreased performance of the centrifuge.

In a properly functioning centrifuge, there is a specific range of feed rates where maximum efficiency is achieved. When this range is exceeded, the centrifuge can become overloaded, which interferes with the separation process. The increased load can disrupt the centrifugal forces that facilitate effective solids removal, leading to a situation where more solids are retained in the liquid phase rather than being effectively separated out and removed.

The other alternative answers don't align with the consequence of exceeding optimum feed levels. For instance, water recovery would typically decrease because the system is unable to process the excess solids effectively, resulting in a less concentrated solid phase and a higher concentration of suspended solids in the liquid phase. Similarly, discharging untreated waste would not be a direct consequence of exceeding the optimum feed; it usually pertains to operational failures outside of feed rates. Therefore, the increase in centrate solids