A review of the different types of centrifuges used in industrial biotechnology is compiled, together with brief explanations of their function. The fluid and particle dynamics in the centrifuges is reviewed with some emphasis on the behavior of cells and other particles, and susceptibility to the shear forces acting on them. The classical mathematical models for the theoretical size, Σvalue, and KQ value are characterized. The concept of separation efficiency, the deviation from ideal capacity, due to the simplicity of the mathematical model for the Σ value is defined. The considerations when selecting type and size of centrifuge for a given process are described, as well as the evaluation and enhancement of separability of the given process stream. The importance of small‐scale lab and pilot tests for a successful scale‐up is emphasized. Applications in harvesting of bacteria, yeasts, and mammalian cells are reviewed, as well as cell debris and inclusion body separations. Extraction—solvent and two‐phase aqueous—application examples are given. Finally, some plant and operation considerations such as plant design, CIP, SIP, containment, asepsis, and sterilization are briefly reviewed.

The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 2. Fundamentals 2.1. Centrifugal Sedimentation 2.2. Centrifugal Sedimentation with Continuous Flow 3. Centrifugal Separators with Continuous Feed 3.1. General 3.2. Disk‐Bowl Machines 3.3. Chamber and Multichamber Bowls 3.4. Tubular Bowl Centrifuges 3.5. Decanter Centrifuges 3.6. Other Bowl Geometries 4. Batch Centrifuges 4.1. General 4.2. Bottle Centrifuges 4.3. Batch Zonal Centrifuges 5. Fluid Dynamics in Centrifuges 5.1. Chamber and Tubular Bowl Centrifuges 5.2. Disk‐Bowl Centrifuges 5.3. Decanter Centrifuges 6. Centrifuge Technology 6.1. Rotor Dynamics 6.2. Materials Selection 7. Centrifuge Selection 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Main Process Parameters 7.3. Test Tube Centrifugation (Spin Test) 7.4. Important Properties of the Process Streams 7.5. Improvement of Separability 7.6. Pilot Machine Testing 7.7. Scale‐Up 8. Applications

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