Abstract: A vertical separator has a bowl which is supported for rotation about a vertical axis and from beneath, providing an unobstructed inlet to the bowl. Conveyor flighting, located concentrically for independent co-rotation within the bowl, directs solids to the bottom of the bowl while the liquids flow along an annular clearance along the bowl wall to an upper end of the bowl. A feedstream, such as drilling mud shaker solids, which may otherwise require augers or the like to feed the feedstream through a conventional horizontal centrifuge, can be received at the inlet by gravity feed and residual liquids stripped therefrom.