Vacuum degassing process

A process for degassing a continuously flowing liquid stream is executed using an apparatus that comprises an air-tight housing, in which is mounted for rotation a centrifuge bowl of circular cross-section and having an inner surface for spreading centrifugally impelled liquid to be degassed and an annular peripheral trough for retaining centrifugally impelled degassed liquid. The liquid stream is fed into the bowl and the degassed liquid is withdrawn through a tube extending from an exit line outside the housing to an open end of elongate cross-section which is positioned within the trough of the bowl and is immersible in the degassed liquid. The pressure of the exiting degassed liquid is measured, the pressure measurement being used to regulate the flow of liquid into the bowl so as to maintain a substantially constant level of the liquid therein. Gas is withdrawn to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure within the apparatus housing, and the flow of the degassed liquid stream is regulated so that the liquid level in the bowl remains substantially constant.