By fitting a large number of conical disks separated by spacers of between 0.3 to 2 mm, a substantially larger equivalent clarification area is achieved with the same bowl volume compared to chamber bowl separators. The equivalent clarification area is the product of the sum of the geometric surfaces of the disks multiplied with the multiple of the acceleration due to gravity.

Solid-wall separators are available in two versions:

• Separators of two liquids dissolved in one another
• Clarifiers for the separation of solids from liquids

Solid-wall separators are used almost exclusively for the separation of liquid mixtures with no or a very small solids content since the separated solids can only be removed manually.