Design and Application of Portable Centrifuge Inspired by a Hand-Powered Spinning Top

Abstract

Traditional centrifuges, extensively employed in biology, chemistry, medicine, and other domains for tasks such as blood separation and pathogen extraction, have certain limitations. Their high cost, substantial size, and reliance on electricity restrict their range of application. Contemporary centrifuges, inspired by everyday items like paper trays and egg beaters, boast characteristics such as ease of operation, independence from electricity, and portability. These features offer unique advantages in specific situations, such as electricity shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and challenging medical conditions. Consequently, we designed a hand-powered portable centrifuge driven by pulling a rope. Our experiments revealed significant performance factors, including load capacity, rope length, and frequency of rope pulling. The results demonstrated that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of a hand-powered portable centrifuge were directly proportional to the length of the rope and the frequency of pulling, up to a certain limit, while inversely proportional to the load. When used for separating and washing polystyrene microspheres, the portable centrifuge’s performance equaled that of traditional centrifuges. According to relevant calculations, this centrifuge could be capable of meeting the application of blood separation. Therefore, we believe this portable centrifuge will find meaningful applications in similar areas, particularly in resource-poor settings.