Decanter centrifuges and associated acceleration pipes and methods

An acceleration pipe for use with a decanter centrifuge including a feed pipe and a screw conveyor having an acceleration chamber, the acceleration pipe comprising:

• an acceleration pipe body adapted to be coupled to and rotate with the screw conveyor, the acceleration pipe body comprising:
• an acceleration pipe inlet;
• and
• an acceleration pipe outlet;
• and
• the acceleration pipe body defining an acceleration pipe flow path extending between the acceleration pipe inlet and the acceleration pipe outlet,
• wherein the acceleration pipe body is adapted to receive a suspension at the acceleration pipe inlet from the feed pipe and to rotate the suspension, based on a corresponding rotation of the screw conveyor, prior to the suspension exiting the acceleration pipe outlet and being received by the acceleration chamber of the screw conveyor.

A method of retrofitting a decanter centrifuge, the method comprising:

• uncoupling a first feed pipe from a solids hub, the first feed pipe having a first feed pipe outlet, the solids hub coupled at a first drum end of a drum, the drum including the first drum end and a second drum end opposite the first drum end;
• uncoupling the solids hub from the first drum end;
• coupling an acceleration pipe to a screw conveyor to rotate with the screw conveyor, the acceleration pipe including an acceleration pipe inlet, an acceleration pipe outlet, and defining an acceleration pipe flow path extending between the acceleration pipe inlet and the acceleration pipe outlet;
• recoupling the solids hub to the first drum end, the acceleration pipe being positioned between the solids hub and an acceleration chamber;
• and
• coupling a second feed pipe having a second feed pipe outlet to the solids hub to allow the second feed pipe outlet to flow the suspension into the acceleration pipe prior to being received by the acceleration chamber of the screw conveyor.