GEA has launched Varipond C, a new control system designed to improve the flexibility, efficiency, and energy performance of its decanter centrifuges. The system enables fast and precise adjustment of pond depth and separation zones during operation, helping operators maintain product quality and optimise yields without production interruptions.

Suitable for GEA decanters from the CF 3000 to CF 8000 series, and applicable to both two-phase and three-phase separation processes, Varipond C is aimed at industries where the consistency of raw materials can vary significantly — such as food, beverage, edible oils, and industrial refineries.

One of the key benefits of Varipond C is its potential for energy savings. GEA reports that the system can reduce energy consumption by up to 30% compared to traditional centripetal pump-based designs. This is achieved through a lower-friction, mechanically simpler configuration, which is also compatible with clean-in-place (CIP) procedures and certified for hygiene-sensitive environments.

Additional features include compatibility with hydrohermetic sealing to minimise oxygen ingress during separation, helping to protect product quality in applications such as beverage production.

Varipond C can also be integrated with GEA’s digital services via an IoT-enabled gateway. This connectivity allows operators to monitor and optimise performance using real-time and historical data, as well as manage process recipes and track operational metrics remotely.

According to GEA, Varipond C has already been deployed successfully in a range of industrial applications, including wheat starch production, animal fat processing, and refinery sludge treatment. In one case at a refinery in Colombia, decanters equipped with Varipond C achieved dry solids content levels of up to 60% in processed sludge.

GEA 1
The system is available for all GEA decanters ranging from CF 3000 to CF 8000 and is suitable for both two-phase and three-phase processes, regardless of decanter size

With Varipond C, the pond depth and separation zone can be precisely adjusted either manually with a handwheel or automatically with a servomotor (image) to optimally adapt the separation process to different operating conditions