How does a cream separator use centrifugal force to separate cream from milk?

A cream separator utilizes a high-speed centrifuge to exploit the difference in density between cream and skim milk. Because skim milk is denser than cream, the two components respond differently to the centrifugal force generated by the machine.21

The process works as follows:

• Rotation: Whole milk enters a rapidly revolving bowl, typically spinning at 6,000 to 8,000 revolutions per minute, which creates forces thousands of times greater than gravity.21
• Separation: As the milk is forced between a series of internal disks, the heavier skim milk is thrown outward toward the outer wall of the bowl.21
• Collection: The lighter cream, being less dense, is displaced toward the center of the bowl, where it is collected and piped off through a dedicated outlet.21

In addition to separating cream, the device acts as a clarifier, forcing even heavier particles—such as sediment, somatic cells, and bacteria—to the outer edges to be collected as "separator sludge".21