Disposable centrifuge with molded gear drive and impulse turbine

A centrifuge for separating particulate matter from a fluid includes a rotor assembly positioned within a centrifuge housing including a rotor housing. A driven gear is secured to a base portion of the rotor housing. A driving gear is integrally arranged with an impulse turbine. Rotary motion is imparted to the impulse turbine by a fluid stream from a jet nozzle. An alignment carrier provides a first post and spaced therefrom a second post, the first post including the jet nozzle. The driven gear is supported by the first post and the driving gear is assembled onto the second post. As fluid exits the nozzle under high pressure, it is directed at an annular ring of impulse turbine buckets, striking each bucket tangentially as the impulse turbine rotates.