EP1797959B1 - Improved centrifuge device for avoiding cross contamination - Google Patents

Abstract

An industrial centrifuge employed in the production of pharmaceutical products has a rotating drive shaft coupled to a drum with a base and conical filter lining. The mantle inner face and filter are separated by an annular void. The drum base is closed by a catchment disk. The centrifuge drum and filter are surrounded by an annular chamber. The centrifuge assembly further has an injection unit for a rising fluid, seals and a vertical position adjustment mechanism. the centrifuge assembly incorporates an ultrasonic cleaning assembly that is inserted into the annular chamber via an aperture in the drum base. The working chamber is separated from the annular void by a baffle plate. Also claimed is a process to operate the centrifuge.

Description

The present invention relates to an improved centrifuge apparatus for preventing cross-contamination and to a method of operating a centrifuge apparatus.

The term "centrifuge devices" in the context of the present invention means any embodiments of centrifuge devices. In the context of the present description, reference will be made in particular to centrifuge devices with integrated dryer function, so-called centrifuge dryers. However, the present invention and the technical features disclosed therein are also applicable to centrifuge devices without integral dryers and to all other types of centrifuges. The term centrifuge device is thus to be understood without limitation to a specific type of centrifuge.

Centrifuge devices are known in a variety of commercial applications. Especially in the pharmaceutical industry, they play a major role in the production of drugs. The known centrifuge devices have in common that in them in a suspension, ie, a fluid with solids, the solid phase should be separated from the liquid phase. In the case of centrifuge devices with a dryer, after the separation, the solid phase is also dried to form a powder.

The separation of solid phase and liquid phase takes place by filling the suspension via a filling element for filling in a drum, which then rotates at high speed. It is also known to first rotate the drum and then to fill the fluid during rotation to avoid imbalance caused by the introduced suspension upon starting the spinning operation. During the rotation, high centrifugal forces act on the suspension, which cause the suspension to be pressed uniformly over the circumference from the inside against the lateral surface of the drum.

On the lateral surface of the drum is a filter. This may be a filter cloth, such as a filter cloth. in a slip-on centrifuge, or it may be a metallic filter element. The result of using a filter element is that the liquid phase of the suspension passes through the filter during centrifuging, while the solid phase remains in the interior of the drum.

The drum conventionally consists of a lateral surface and an integral with the lateral surface drum base, which forms an end face of the drum. The drum base is mounted on a drive shaft, which in turn is driven by a motor. A second end face of the drum is formed by a baffle plate, which seals the drum. The drum, ie drum shell and drum base, and the baffle plate are axially displaceable to each other, so that the end product can be removed from the drum interior. The baffle plate is mounted on a baffle disk shaft. In general, one of the shafts (ie baffle disk shaft or drive shaft) is made hollow so as to obtain a passage through which the suspension can be introduced into the interior of the drum, even if the drum is already rotating.

Often, the filter is conically shaped, and then during centrifugation also an axial force acts on the suspension, causing the centrifuged product to collect on an end face of the drum. This end face is usually that which is formed by the baffle plate, since this end face is opened to remove the product. In addition, the conical shape of the filter aids the movement of production towards the baffle plate during drying and product removal.

After centrifuging, the wet solid phase of the suspension adheres in a certain layer thickness to the inside of the drum shell. This adherent suspension is called cake. For discharging this cake from the drum, various approaches are known. They are generally divided into pneumatic types of discharge and mechanical types of discharge.

On the one hand, the mechanical discharge methods use the method of a filter cloth, which is made of an elastic filter material, and which is used in slip-on centrifuges. This filter cloth has the shape of a cylinder jacket, and is connected with one edge to the drum shell and with the other edge with a second drum base, which is arranged with the drum closed directly on the inside of the first drum base. The second drum base is also connected to the baffle plate, so that it is moved together with this. Now the baffle plate and the second drum base is moved axially relative to the drum, the filter cloth is quasi "carded on the left". The baffle plate and the second drum base must be moved over twice the drum length, until the entire Filter cloth is inverted. As a result of the eversion, the cake separates from the filter cloth and the centrifuged product can be removed. A disadvantage of this design is that the baffle plate must be moved by twice the drum length, and the entire centrifuge device therefore assumes considerable proportions.

In a further known mechanical method for discharging the cake, a second drum base connected to the baffle plate is likewise used. Instead of a filter cloth, however, a metal filter is used, which is arranged on the inside of the drum shell. The second drum bottom has a diameter which is only slightly smaller than the diameter of the metal filter. For discharging the baffle plate and the second drum base is then moved axially relative to the drum with the metal filter, so that the second drum bottom pushes the cake out of the drum. An advantage of this arrangement is that the axial length of the overall centrifuge device is shortened, since the baffle plate and the second drum base must be moved only over the distance of a drum length. A disadvantage is that the gap between the second drum base and the metal filter may become large due to manufacturing inaccuracies or wear, so that a product residue in the drum adheres to the filter and remains in the drum. Even by repeatedly moving the second drum base, there is no possibility to discharge these product residues and the filter remains blocked by these product residues.

In pneumatic discharge processes, in a space between the metal filter and the drum shell, called annulus, a fluid, mainly gaseous fluid, is injected at a high pressure and the cake is blown off the filter so that it is in the lower part of the drum to come to rest. As a result of the fact that the filter in this method has a cone that widens toward the baffle plate, the product located at the bottom of the drum can be transported successively in the direction of the baffle plate by repeated gas fluid bumps and transported out of the drum.

Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned types of centrifuge devices may also be provided with a dryer function that allows to dry the wet solid phase of the suspension after centrifuging. This happens, for example, in centrifugal devices with a pneumatic discharge in that a fluid is sprayed into the drum interior, so that the product in the drum dries gradually. Thus, after opening the drum by moving the baffle plate already a dried product can be removed in powder form, which can be further processed immediately.

In the industrial use of centrifuge devices, it may be the case that in successive production runs different suspensions have to be processed to make different products. To ensure that all products can be produced with the same high quality, the centrifuge device must be thoroughly cleaned before the ingress of a new suspension. Only in this way can any interactions between successively processed products be avoided. These unwanted interactions are called cross-contamination.

Since manual opening of the centrifuge apparatus and manual cleaning are very time-consuming, automatic cleaning processes are generally preferable because they increase the efficiency of a centrifuge apparatus is increased. Furthermore, only automatic cleaning processes enable so-called high-containment capability of the centrifuge device. This refers to the possibility of processing toxic products without special protective clothing for the operating personnel or other additional protective measures. For toxic products, manual cleaning is not possible in most cases as the cleaning staff would be injured.

It may even be necessary to first process a toxic product and then to make a drug in a subsequent processing run. In this case it is essential that the centrifuge device be cleaned of any toxic residues before processing the second product.

The interaction of a product remaining in residues in the centrifuge apparatus with a newly processed suspension is called cross-contamination. A primary objective is therefore to provide a centrifuge device which completely prevents cross-contamination by flushing all product residues from the centrifuge device.

The problem of cross-contamination is only insufficiently solved by the prior art. By the technical features explained below, devices are provided which allow complete cleaning of a centrifuge device to prevent cross-contamination. Thus, the use of a centrifuge device with variable suspensions or finished products is possible, and increases the economic benefits of the centrifuge device.

Although already explained above, the technical features will be explained in a preferred embodiment of a centrifuge device, but in principle also applicable to any other conceivable centrifuge type, in particular to the known types of centrifuges mentioned above.

According to the invention, a centrifuge device is provided, comprising: a drive shaft with a drive shaft rotation axis, a drum connected to the drive shaft with a drum shell and a drum base, a filter disposed within the drum, which encloses a working space, an annular space formed between the filter and the drum shell, one the drum base opposite the end face of the working space forming baffle plate, wherein the baffle plate and the drum between a closed position in which the baffle plate closes the working space sealing, and at least one open position relative to each other are movable, and a surrounding the drum and the filter centrifuge housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention closes on the side of the baffle plate to the working space an annular channel with an annular channel housing surrounding the annular channel. If the baffle plate is moved into an open position, the finished product can be transported from the working space into the annular channel and exits there through a removal opening from the centrifuge device. The removal opening is preferably arranged in the lower region of the annular channel, so that the force of gravity causes the finished product to fall through the removal opening.

To avoid confusion, it should be pointed out once again that between the annular channel, which adjoins the working space as an area on the side of the baffle plate, and the annulus, which is located between the filter and drum shell, is to be distinguished.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a baffle plate region with a baffle plate housing surrounding the baffle plate region adjoins the annular space with respect to the working space. In the baffle plate area is, for example, the largest portion of the baffle plate shaft and the bearings interacting with the baffle plate shaft.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter widens conically from the drum base to the baffle plate. Preferably, a metal filter made of a rigid material is used as the filter. The filter is preferably fixed to the drum. Preferably, the filter thus remains in a relative movement of the drum and the baffle plate to each other in the drum.

In a preferred embodiment, the centrifuge device comprises a lift adjustment device for pivotally displacing the centrifuge device about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis of rotation. Preferably, the Hebeverstellvorrichtung is a trapezoidal spindle. In a preferred embodiment, the centrifuge device is pivotable out of a horizontal position by at least 3 ° in both directions of rotation.

By using a Hebeverstellvorrichtung invention there are many advantages. The biggest advantage is that, by pivoting the centrifuge device, the flow direction of all the fluids in the centrifuge device can be controlled. In conventional centrifuge devices where either the baffle disc shaft or the drive shaft is hollow and is used as a filling tube for filling the suspension remains, for example, after the filling some suspension on the bottom of the tube. However, the filler tube over its entire length is difficult to access and thus difficult to clean. By the Hebeverstellvorrichtung there is the advantage that the centrifuge device is tilted so that the suspension flows during the filling process in the filling pipe down the slope. At the end of the filling process, any suspension still contained in the filling pipe flows from the filling pipe into the working space. Only when no suspension is present in the filling tube, the centrifuge device is pivoted back into a horizontal position. The same advantages arise when emptying the liquid phase of the suspension after centrifuging.

Another advantage of the lift adjuster is that the benefits of a conical filter can be enhanced. If the widening of the filter cone is, for example, 5 °, this inclination achieved by the conicity can be increased by inclinations of the entire centrifuge device by, for example, 3 ° to a total of 8 °. As a result, for example, a faster transport of the centrifuged solid phase of the suspension in the direction of the baffle plate. Furthermore, a conical filter is not necessarily necessary per se, since the desired inclination of the filter can be achieved solely by inclining the entire device alone. Basically, a cylindrical filter is conceivable. The required inclination would then be effected solely by pivoting the entire centrifuge device by means of the lifting adjustment device. An operation method of a centrifugal device having a lift adjusting device will be described in more detail below.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two axial webs supporting the filter are arranged in the annular space, which divide the annular space into at least two chambers, and a drum bottom opening is provided in the drum bottom for each of the chambers.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an ultrasonic cleaning device is provided within the centrifuge housing, which is arranged so that it can be inserted through one of the drum bottom openings in the annulus to clean the chamber associated with the drum bottom opening. By further rotating the drum and guiding the ultrasonic cleaning device successively into all the chambers, the chambers can be cleaned successively.

One of the biggest problem areas of cross-contamination in centrifuge devices is the filter itself. In order to solve all residues from the filter pores, the use of an ultrasonic cleaning device is proposed according to the invention. Since the efficiency of an ultrasonic cleaner decreases with the removal of the object to be cleaned to the ultrasonic cleaner, the ultrasonic cleaner should be placed as close as possible to the object to be cleaned. Therefore, during a cleaning operation, an ultrasonic cleaning device is preferably introduced into the annular space between the drum and the filter in order to effectively clean the filter.

It may be sufficient to provide an ultrasonic cleaning device, which is pulled out of this again after cleaning a chamber, whereupon the drum is rotated by a certain angle, so that the ultrasonic cleaning device through a further drum base opening can be introduced into another chamber. So the chamber can be cleaned successively. Of course, several ultrasonic cleaning devices can be provided to be able to clean several chambers at the same time.

In one embodiment of the invention, the baffle plate is mounted on a hollow baffle plate shaft, which forms a PAT (process analysis technology) channel, wherein a tube is guided by the PAT channel, which projects into the working space and provided at the working space end of an ultrasonic cleaning device is. In this way, an ultrasonic cleaning device is guided through the hollow baffle disk shaft in the working space. Of course, then the drive shaft or other filling element is used for filling the suspension in the working space. Should the baffle disk shaft be used to introduce a suspension into the working space, the ultrasonic cleaning device can be introduced into the working space through a pipe guided through a hollow drive shaft. The tube to which the ultrasonic cleaning device is attached may also be rotatable so that the ultrasonic cleaning device can be moved in the working space to bring it close to a location to be cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the baffle plate on a circumferential collar, which is arranged so that in an open position of the baffle plate of the collar seals together with a baffle plate housing member the baffle plate area relative to the annular channel. In the open position, a product only has the possibility of being in the working space or in the annular channel. In this way, the area to be cleaned is minimized, since the product is not in the rest Spread areas of the centrifuge device. When opening the baffle plate, it is moved axially at high speed over a first distance, until the edge with the baffle plate housing element seals the annular channel, then the axial movement speed is reduced. In this way, a sealing engagement of baffle plate and baffle plate housing is achieved before the dried solid phase in the working space, ie the product, is released and spreads into the annular channel. An entry of products into the baffle plate area can be at least minimized. As a precaution, devices for cleaning the baffle plate area can also be provided in the baffle plate area.

Also conceivable would be an embodiment in which the collar extends so far away from the baffle plate even in the closed state of the baffle plate, that it is in sealing engagement with the Bauschcheibengeheuseelement. Thus, a sealing completion of the annular channel would be ensured against the baffle plate area on the baffle plate.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one driving pin is embedded in a drum, which protrudes axially into the annular space. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one driving pin is embedded in a pin holder element fixedly connected to the drum and projects axially into the annular space.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one pin is embedded in a housing region separating the annular channel and the baffle plate region, which is arranged such that it is arranged opposite the at least one driver pin.

Preferably, at least one recess is provided in the baffle plate, which engages with the at least one driving pin or the at least one pin.

By the driving pins over the prior art, the following advantage is achieved. In contrast to the conventional two positions of a baffle plate, a closed and an open, now results in a third advantageous positioning possibility of the baffle plate.

In the closed position, the baffle plate engages with its recess with the driving pin into one another, so that the baffle plate rotates with the drum and sealingly seals it. In the open position, the baffle plate engages with the recess with the pin into each other and is decoupled from the rotation of the drum. In a new possible by the technical features of the invention third intermediate position, the baffle plate is in an open position, but engages with its recess with the driving pin into each other. Thus, the baffle plate is in an open intermediate position in which there is a connection between the annular channel and the working space and the baffle plate also rotates with the drum.

In a cleaning process, it is now possible to rotate the baffle plate in an open position with the drum, while a rinsing fluid is sprayed into the annular channel and into the interior of the centrifuge housing. Due to the open baffle plate working space and annular channel are no longer separated from each other. Therefore, on the one hand clean the cleaning devices of the annular channel at least partially the work area, on the other clean the cleaning devices of the working space in part also the ring channel. By turning the baffle plate during the cleaning process and by the fact that the baffle plate is accessible from all sides in its open position, the baffle plate can be cleaned very well by the cleaning devices. The seals and sealing surfaces between the working space and the annular channel can also be cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one injection device is arranged in the centrifuge housing so as to spray a flushing fluid into a gap between the centrifuge housing and the drum. Preferably, three injection devices are provided in the centrifuge device, which are arranged offset by 120 ° over the circumference of the centrifuge housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one injection device is arranged in the annular channel housing so that it flushes a flushing fluid into the annular channel. Preferably, three injection devices are provided, which are arranged offset over the circumference of the annular channel housing by 120 °.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one injection device is arranged in the baffle plate housing so that it sprays a flushing fluid into the interior of the baffle plate housing. Preferably, three injection devices are provided which are arranged offset over the circumference of the baffle plate housing in each case by 120 °.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, three injection devices are provided in the centrifuge housing, which are arranged offset over the circumference of the centrifuge housing in each case by 120 ° and a flushing fluid into the intermediate space spray between centrifuge housing and drum. Furthermore, three injectors are provided in the annular channel housing, which are each offset by 120 ° over the circumference of the annular channel housing and spray a flushing fluid into the annular channel and in the baffle plate housing three injectors are provided which are offset by 120 ° each over the circumference of the baffle plate housing are arranged and spray a flushing fluid into the interior of the baffle plate housing.

By the above-described arrangement of injectors in the baffle plate area, in the annular channel and in the centrifuge housing they can be completely cleaned. The injectors may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, spray heads or nozzles are possible. The use of several staggered nozzles allows a particularly good cleaning over the entire circumference of the corresponding areas. Especially in combination with the other features of the invention e.g. with the possible third position of the baffle plate in which it rotates in an open state, results in a high cleaning efficiency. Thus, the baffle plate can be rotated and is similar to a car wash cleaned by the three located in the annular channel injectors. The injectors spray in the annular channel also in the workspace. The injectors that spray into the workspace also spray into the annular channel and onto the baffle plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in relation to at least one of the drum base openings, a particularly axially movable nozzle is arranged such that it injects a fluid through the respective drum base opening into the corresponding chamber of the annular space. The fluid used may correspond to the flushing fluid.

Preferably, a plate member is attached to a tip of the at least one nozzle with a flange for sealing the at least one nozzle to the drum bottom. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one nozzle and the respective plate element are integrally formed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bellows is arranged between the plate member and the centrifuge housing, which surrounds a located within the centrifuge housing portion of the at least one nozzle.

Preferably, the centrifuge device comprises means for effecting axial movement of the at least one nozzle. Preferably, the device for effecting axial movement of the at least one nozzle is a reciprocating device. In one embodiment of the invention, the device for effecting axial movement of the at least one nozzle is a pneumatic device. Preferably, the nozzle is a Laval nozzle.

In a preferred embodiment, a respective valve is arranged so that a fluid flows through the at least one valve before it enters the at least one nozzle. Preferably, the valve is a cone diaphragm valve. Preferably, separate supply lines for a plurality of fluids are respectively provided for the at least one valve.

By the features described above, it is possible to inject a fluid or a flushing fluid into the chamber of the annular space. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to ablate the suspension cake adhering to the filter after centrifuging, and on the other hand, by means of a Rinsing fluids of the filter and the chamber are cleaned. The ability to move the nozzle axially, the nozzle can be moved with its flange directly to the drum bottom openings at standstill of the drum, which can be injected with very high pressure fluid into the annulus. In addition, only very little flushing fluid is lost, since there is no more space between the nozzle and drum base, through which the flushing fluid can escape. This increases the economy of the centrifuge device.

Cleaning the filter by injecting a flushing fluid into the chamber is particularly effective, as the flushing fluid is forced through the pores of the filter into the working space and rinses out suspension residues in the filter. Since the flow direction of the flushing fluid runs counter to the direction in which the suspension was pressed into the filter, a high cleaning efficiency results. By using Laval nozzles, fluid velocities greater than Mach 1 can be achieved. Due to the resulting high speed results in a high pulse, which is particularly advantageous when blowing off the suspension cake, as it is blasted off over the entire surface of the filter. Problems of conventional centrifuge devices, in which the blowing off of the filter cake was only partially, thus do not occur. A partial bursting of the filter cake brings with it problems, since a blasting of the remaining filter cake usually fails, since the pressurized fluid escapes through the free filter pores, without exerting an effect on the still adhering cake residues. An explosion of the suspension cake should therefore succeed in the first attempt, which by the ability to place the nozzles directly on the drum base, so without losses between the nozzle and drum base opening a Injecting fluid into the annulus tube chamber and making full use of the energy of the fluid is made possible.

Various modes for injecting the fluid into the annulus tube chambers will be explained below. In principle, the nozzles can be moved up to a small gap to the drum, and with continuous drum rotation, a fluid can then be injected into the annular tube chambers when the respective drum bottom openings are located in front of the corresponding nozzles. Another way of injecting fluid into the annulus chambers is to place the nozzles on the drum bottom, inject a fluid into the respective annulus chambers, retract the nozzles, further rotate the drum by a certain angle such that the next drum bottom openings in front of the nozzles rest the nozzles on the drum base, re-inject fluid into the next annulus chambers, etc.

The method described above requires a high positioning accuracy of the drum. The position of the drum must be able to be controlled so precisely that the drum bottom openings are opposite the nozzles. In order to compensate for the positional accuracy small inaccuracies, the drum base openings are formed in one embodiment of the invention as slots.

In order to meet the high demands on the accuracy of the drum, therefore, according to one embodiment of the invention for driving the drive shaft, an asynchronous motor is used, which is controlled by a control unit. In addition, a transmitter unit, which is a sine / cosine generator, is integrated in the control circuit. The asynchronous motor is able to rotate in both directions. The asynchronous motor points in this Embodiment a running through a secondary shaft, which is connected via force-transmitting endless elements, for example. A toothed belt, each with an endless element to the drive shaft, and the shaft of the transmitter unit. The feature combination explained above provides an electric drive machine that can be controlled very precisely with a control method, thus providing the required registration accuracy of the drum.

Furthermore, a high positioning accuracy of the nozzles or the nozzle valves is achieved by the aforementioned control options of the drive motor and the overall system. In addition to the positional accuracy of the drum, especially the positioning accuracy is crucial that the injection of a fluid by means of the nozzles in the annulus chambers done with the best possible efficiency to provide a complete bursting of the filter cake and effective cleaning of the centrifuge device to prevent cross-contamination.

In one embodiment of the invention, a fluid used is air. In another embodiment of the invention, a fluid used is nitrogen. In another embodiment of the invention, a fluid used is water vapor. In another embodiment of the invention, a fluid used is a suitable solvent for the suspension. In general, a fluid which does not react with the suspension should be used to break off the suspension cake. As a fluid for cleaning, a solvent is particularly suitable for the corresponding suspension.

The use of a conical diaphragm valve with a plurality of supply lines allows on the one hand the precise injection or supply of the fluid to the nozzles, on the other hand allows It is the use of multiple fluids in one operation. It may also be necessary to use different fluids to blow off the filter cake and to clean the device. Under certain circumstances, fluid must also be injected at other times, which is not the fluid for blowing off the filter cake and the fluid for cleaning the centrifuge device. Thus, any suitable number of leads may be provided to the valves of the nozzles. Preferably, a cone diaphragm valve is used because it has particularly suitable properties, but any other type of valve is conceivable. By the above-mentioned features, furthermore, a high positioning accuracy of the valves is made possible. This is a prerequisite for safely breaking off the filter cake, since only then is complete cleaning of the centrifuge device possible in order to avoid cross-contamination.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention at least on a shaft of the centrifuge device is at least provided with a sealing gas gas lubricated mechanical seal for sealing, which has a arranged between a fixed seal ring and a rotating seal ring sealing surface.

Preferably, the sealing surface of the gas-lubricated mechanical seal extends radially outward from the at least one shaft. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a housing portion is arranged such that it is arranged in front of the radially outer boundary of the sealing surface of the gas-lubricated mechanical seal, so that the housing portion between it and the mechanical seal defines a Spülgasspalt. The housing portion may be a portion of the centrifuge housing, the annular channel housing, the baffle housing and / or another housing element of the centrifuge device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, supply lines are provided in the centrifuge housing, which direct a flushing fluid permanently directed into the interior of the centrifuge through the purge gas gap. Preferably, the pressure applied to the flushing fluid pressure is smaller than the pressure applied to the sealing gas of the mechanical seal pressure. Preferably, the pressure applied to the purge gas in about 3 bar and the pressure applied to the sealing gas pressure in about 6 bar.

By the sealing arrangement described above, a particularly effective rotary seal of the centrifuge device is provided. Due to the additional housing element, which is arranged in front of the sealing surface of the gas-lubricated mechanical seal, an additional Spülgasspalt is defined. In the cross-sectional view of this purge gas gap forms with the sealing surface substantially a T-shape. Through feed lines which lead into a region of the centrifuge device which is sealed off from the suspension or product, a purge gas is continuously conducted through this purge gas gap. Characterized in that the pressure of the purge gas is smaller than that of the barrier gas, the purge gas can not enter the mechanical seal, but is passed into the interior of the centrifuge. This interior space may be a baffle region, the annular channel, the working space or another space encased by a portion of a housing of the centrifuge device.

Due to the fact that the flushing fluid flows permanently into the interior space, the suspension or the product can not penetrate into the flushing gas gap against the flow seal of the flushing gas. Of course, the pressure of the Purge gas always be higher than the pressure in the interior, so that the purge gas flows permanently into the room. This creates a secure sealing surface at the end of the Spülgasspalts, which is easily accessible. In this way, one obtains a particularly easy-to-clean surface geometry. It prevents that suspension or product penetrates into the mechanical seal and pollutes it. Then, since a cleaning of the mechanical seal may be possible only by removing the seal, the centrifuge device could not be operated during this period, causing economic damage.

The above-described secure sealing of the mechanical seals provides a significant advantage in preventing cross-contamination, since even the smallest amounts of toxic material that can be deposited in the mechanical seals in conventional centrifuge devices, can lead to the destruction of a complete production of a subsequently produced other product ,

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical seal according to the invention is provided for sealing the gap between the centrifuge housing and the drum on the drive shaft.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the centrifuge device has an annular channel adjoining the baffle plate to the working space with an annular channel housing surrounding the annular channel, and the mechanical seal for sealing the annular channel is provided on a baffle plate shaft which supports the baffle plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical seal is for sealing the baffle plate area provided a baffle disk shaft. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical seal is provided for sealing an insertion pin projecting into the filling channel on the corresponding shaft. In principle, the described sealing arrangement can be used with the additional housing element, which forms a purge gas gap, and a purge gas continuously conducted through the purge gas gap into the interior of the centrifuge device for sealing any areas or spaces to each other on all waves used in the centrifuge device. An application of a described sealing arrangement outside a centrifuge device is also possible.

A method for operating a centrifuge device, in particular a centrifuge device with the features of the main claim, which additionally comprises on the side of the baffle plate a subsequent to the working space annular channel with a ring channel surrounding the annular channel housing comprises the following steps: filling a suspension in the drum, centrifuging a Suspension, first cleaning the annular channel and the interior of the centrifuge housing, drying the suspension, removing the dried product, second cleaning the annular channel and the interior of the centrifuge housing and the entire centrifuge device.

In conventional methods of operating a centrifuge apparatus, the entire centrifuge apparatus is cleaned only after removal of the dried product. However, many residues of the suspension or of the product are already firmly dried, which makes removal difficult. Basically, it is easier to rinse out a still moist suspension or product. Therefore, the annular channel and the interior of the centrifuge housing is already cleaned directly after centrifuging. The still wet Residues can be removed very well. After removal of the dried product, the complete centrifuge device is then cleaned.

Preferably, the centrifuge apparatus of the preferred method of operating a centrifuge apparatus comprises three injectors provided in the centrifuge apparatus which are spaced 120 degrees apart around the circumference of the centrifuge housing and spray a flushing fluid into the space between the centrifuge housing and drums, as well as three in the centrifuge housing Ring channel provided injection devices which are arranged offset over the circumference of the annular channel housing in each case by 120 ° and spray a flushing fluid into the annular channel and further three injectors in the baffle plate housing, which are arranged offset over the circumference of the baffle plate housing by 120 ° and a rinsing fluid spray into the interior of the baffle plate housing. Furthermore, the centrifuge device of this preferred method has at least one nozzle, in particular axially movable relative to at least one drum base opening, which is arranged to inject a fluid through the respective drum base opening into the corresponding chamber of the annular space. Furthermore, in the centrifuge apparatus of the preferred method for operating a centrifuge apparatus, sealing assemblies for sealing two portions of the centrifuge apparatus are provided on a respective shaft, the seal assemblies having feed lines for directing a flushing fluid permanently into the interior of the centrifuge through the flushing gas gap. In the preferred method of operating a centrifuge apparatus, the steps of cleaning are performed by injecting a suitable flushing fluid through the nozzles, the injectors, and the supply lines.

By the simultaneous injection through the devices described above, a particularly good cleaning effect is achieved. In particular, the ring channel and working space penetrated by the product are sprayed out by several devices with flushing fluid. Similar to a washer, the centrifuge device is completely cleaned. These cleaning options provide an improvement over the prior art. In a preferred method of operating a centrifuge apparatus, the centrifuge apparatus further comprises catch pins and pins according to the invention in the annular channel, and the baffle plate is moved during the cleaning steps in a third position in which the baffle plate engages via a recess with a driving pin firmly connected to the drum and co-rotated with the drum.

As already described, so cleaning devices in the working space and in the annular channel can be used in addition, the baffle plate is accessible from all sides and is sprayed rotating. By combining with the other features of the invention, this results in an improved cleaning effect. In one embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating a centrifuge device, the centrifuge device according to the invention has axially movable nozzles with plate flanges arranged opposite the drum base openings. During the steps of cleaning, the drum rotates continuously and the flanges of the plates of the nozzles are moved to the drum bottom, but do not touch it. If there is a drum bottom opening opposite the at least one nozzle, a flushing fluid pulse is injected into each drum bottom opening. So a cleaning of the rotating drum is possible.

In another method of operating a centrifuge apparatus having the above-described features, the drum rotates continuously during the cleaning steps, and the flanges of the plates of the nozzles are moved to, but do not contact, the drum base and, if a drum bottom opening opposes the at least one drum base Nozzle is, a rinsing fluid is injected into the drum bottom opening, wherein between the individual Spülfluidimpulsen at least one drum bottom opening the at least one nozzle passes without a rinsing fluid pulse is injected. In this embodiment of the method, the drum can rotate at a higher speed because it is not injected into each drum bottom opening. This may u.U. be necessary if the operating times of the valves are not small enough.

In a further embodiment of the method of operating a centrifuge apparatus having the above-described features, during the cleaning steps, the injection of the flushing fluid into the annular chambers is pulsed and the drum is rotated between the pulses by a predetermined angle, during which time the drum is rotated into one such situation is rotated, that the at least one nozzle is arranged opposite the corresponding drum base opening and the flanges bear against the drum bottom. As already described above, can be injected with very high pressure in the annular chambers and it is no flushing fluid lost. However, the cleaning is done successively without the drum rotating. Of course, a cleaning step may also be carried out by first applying one embodiment of the cleaning method by continuously rotating the drum, and thereafter applying the above-described embodiments in which the drum is successively cleaned. Any other combinations the method or any other sequences are of course possible.

In a further refinement of the method for operating a centrifuge device, the centrifuge device according to the invention has the lifting adjustment device according to the invention with which the centrifuge can be swiveled out in both directions of rotation by at least 3 ° to a horizontal position. In this embodiment of the method, the centrifuge device is inclined by an angle α from the horizontal before the step of filling by means of the Hebeverstellvorrichtung that the center of the drum base is located above the center of the baffle plate. As already described above, the effect achieved with the centrifugal device according to the invention is that at the end of the filling, residual fluid in the filling channel runs into the working space. Should another shaft be used for filling, the centrifuge device would have to be tilted differently. If, for example, the baffle disk shaft were to be used to fill a fluid, the centrifuge device would accordingly have to be inclined so that the center of the baffle plate lies above the center of the drum bottom. Corresponding reversals of the inclination directions depending on the embodiment of the centrifuge device used also apply to the inclination processes described below. The tilting operations are each performed only for the described preferred embodiment of a centrifuge device.

In another method of operating a centrifuge device, the centrifuge device is tilted at an angle β with respect to the horizontal such that the center point is between the step of first cleaning and the step of drying by means of the lifting adjustment device the baffle plate is located above the center of the bottom of the drum and then again inclined by an angle α relative to the horizontal before the step of drying, so that the center of the drum bottom is located above the center of the baffle plate. As already described above, the centrifuge device is tilted so that after centrifugation, the liquid phase of the suspension which has passed through the filter flows better. Thereafter, the centrifuge device is tilted back to assist in the drying of the movement of the product in the direction of the baffle plate. Thus it becomes possible to use a centrifuge device with a cylindrical filter which does not have a cone. In a cone-shaped filter, the centrifuge device is correspondingly tilted to enhance the action of the cone.

In a further embodiment of the method for operating a centrifuge device, the centrifuge device is tilted at an angle β relative to the horizontal after the step of the second cleaning by means of the lever adjustment device such that the center of the baffle plate is above the center of the drum base. This in turn is done to help drain fluid during cleaning.

In a further embodiment of the method for operating a centrifuge device, both the angle α and the angle β are approximately 3 °.

The ability to tilt the entire centrifuge device, along with the other technical features of the centrifuge device, provides improved cleaning efficiency over the prior art. The method described above ensures an effective combination of the individual technical features and ensures an improved cleaning effect. By completely cleaning the centrifuge device cross-contamination is avoided and the centrifuge device can be operated directly with a different from a first suspension second suspension. Even when using toxic suspensions, a high degree of flexibility is guaranteed and the economic benefit is significantly increased.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Figur 1

zeigt eine seitliche Querschnittsansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Zentrifugenvorrichtung, insbesondere des Arbeitsraums mit den sich anschließenden Bauteilen, insbesondere den Vorrichtungen zur Vermeidung von Cross-Kontamination nach einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Figur 2

zeigt eine seitliche Querschnittsansicht der Anordnung eines Asynchronmotors in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Figur 3

zeigt eine vergrößerte seitliche Querschnittsansicht des Bereichs der Stauscheibe mit in einem PAT-Kanal geführten Rohren sowie in die Fensterkanäle eingeführten Vorrichtungen zur Prozessanalyse.

Figur 4

zeigt eine vergrößerte seitliche Querschnittsansicht des arbeitsraumseitigen Endes des PAT-Kanals in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Figur 5

zeigt eine seitliche Querschnittsansicht des Arbeitsraums mit den sich anschließenden Komponenten in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Figur 6

zeigt eine vergrößerte seitliche Querschnittansicht der Umgebung des Trommelbodens, insbesondere der Vorrichtung zur Vermeidung von Cross-Kontamination nach einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Figur 7

zeigt eine seitlich geschnittene Detailansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungsanordnung zum Abdichten an einer Welle der Zentrifugenvorrichtung.

Figur 8

zeigt eine erfindungsgemäße Dichtungsanordnung, die zum Abdichten zwischen einem Einfüllzapfen 210 und dem Füllrohr 19 verwendet wird.

The invention is illustrated schematically with reference to an embodiment in the drawing and will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1

shows a side cross-sectional view of the centrifuge device according to the invention, in particular the working space with the adjoining components, in particular the devices for preventing cross-contamination according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2

shows a side cross-sectional view of the arrangement of an asynchronous motor in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3

shows an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the area of the baffle plate with in one PAT channel guided tubes and introduced into the window channels devices for process analysis.

FIG. 4

shows an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the working-space-side end of the PAT channel in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5

shows a side cross-sectional view of the working space with the subsequent components in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6

shows an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the environment of the drum base, in particular the device for preventing cross-contamination according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7

shows a side sectional detail view of a seal assembly according to the invention for sealing on a shaft of the centrifuge device.

FIG. 8

shows a seal assembly according to the invention, which is used for sealing between a filling plug 210 and the filling tube 19.

In FIG. 1 is shown in a side cross-sectional view of the centrifuge device, the working space 40 with the surrounding components. The working space 40 is enclosed by a filter 14, which consists of a metallic solid material. The filter 14 is connected to a drum 10 having drum bottom openings in its drum bottom 12 has. The drum 10 is mounted on a drive shaft 16 which is hollow and through which a drive shaft filling tube 19 is guided. Opposite the bottom of the drum 10, a baffle plate 22 closes the working space 40 sealingly. The baffle plate 22 is mounted on a baffle plate shaft 24, which is hollow and through which a jacket tube 28 is guided. Through the jacket tube 28, which is also hollow and has a PAT channel 26 therein, devices for monitoring and measuring states in the working space 40 can be guided in tubes 30, 31, 32. Such devices include temperature measuring devices, Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy devices, cameras, light sources, and devices for taking a suspension sample out of the working space 40. In the baffle plate 22, windows 102 are further formed of a transparent material. Window channels 100 lead to the windows, through which monitoring devices or measuring devices 104 can be brought to the windows. Such devices include, for example, cameras, light sources or devices 104 for near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy.

The drum 10 is surrounded by a centrifuge housing 130, so that between the drum 10 and the centrifuge housing 130, a gap 132 is formed. The working space 40 is followed on the baffle plate side by an annular channel 70, which is surrounded by an annular channel housing 72. Opposite the working chamber 40, a baffle plate region 76 connects to the annular channel 70, which is surrounded by a baffle plate housing 78. In the lower part of the annular channel 70 is a removal opening 136 through which a finished product is removed. An outflow 134 adjoins the intermediate space, through which the liquid phase of the suspension can flow out of the intermediate space 132. Furthermore, the gap 132 is followed by a fluid outlet 140, through which fluid, in particular gaseous fluid, can escape.

Before the drum bottom openings 12 nozzles 50, 52 are arranged, which are axially movable. Preferably, the axial movement is provided by a reciprocating device (not shown). At a tip of the nozzles 50, 52 plates 54 are formed with flanges 56. The flanges 56 can be axially moved directly to the drum 10, so that the nozzles 50, 52 directly in front of the drum base openings 12 in the in FIG. 1 position shown. By means of the nozzles 50, 52, fluid can thus be injected into an annular space 13 located between the drum 10 and the filter 14. The annular space 13 is divided by means of axially extending webs (not shown) into a plurality of annular space chambers. Each annular chamber is associated with a drum base opening 12. The number of annular chambers is arbitrary and is selected depending on the drum size suitable. Likewise, the number of nozzles may vary and is not limited to the number described in a preferred embodiment. It can be provided for each drum bottom opening a separate nozzle, but only a total of one nozzle, in which case each drum bottom opening is rotated individually in front of this nozzle. The embodiment may be suitably selected depending on the size of the centrifuge.

The nozzles 50, 52 are used, on the one hand, to inject fluid into the annular space 13 with a large pulse in order to blast off a suspension cake adhering to the filter 14, and on the other hand, they are used to inject a fluid into the annular space 13 after the blasting off, to dry the suspension.

In the annular channel 70 projects a driver pin 60 which is fixedly connected to the drum 10, and a pin 62 which is fixedly connected to the baffle plate housing 78. In the baffle plate 22, a recess is arranged, with which the baffle plate engages in the illustrated closed arrangement with the driving pin 60. Alternatively, the baffle plate can be moved to a half-open position, in which it still engages with the driving pin 60, so that when the working space is open, the baffle plate 22 moves with the drum 10. In a third position, the baffle plate is fully open and engages with its recess with the pin 62 into each other. In this position, the baffle plate does not rotate. The half-open position is preferably selected during cleaning of the centrifuge device. The fully open position is preferably selected during product removal. The first closed position occupies the baffle plate during product filling, centrifuging and drying.

In the centrifuge housing, in the annular channel housing and in the baffle plate housing injection devices 200 are arranged, which inject a flushing fluid into the intermediate space 132, the annular channel 70 and the baffle plate area 76 respectively. The injection devices can be designed, for example, as spray heads or as nozzles. In principle, however, any other suitable embodiment of the injection devices is conceivable. In the preferred embodiment, in the centrifuge housing, in the annular channel housing and in the baffle plate housing in each case three injection devices are arranged offset by 120 ° over the circumference of the corresponding housing.

For sealing the baffle plate region 76 relative to the annular channel 70 on the baffle plate shaft 24 is an inventive Seal assembly 160 provided in FIG. 7 is shown enlarged. The seal arrangement will be described in more detail below.

In order to position the drum 10 with its drum bottom openings 12 during the injection of fluid by means of the nozzles 50, 52 so that a drum base opening 12 is located in front of each nozzle 50, 52, a highly accurate positional positioning of the drum 10 is required. Although the drum bottom openings are preferably formed as elongated holes to allow for certain tolerances in the position positioning of the drum 10, nevertheless, the positional position of the drum 10 must be very accurate. To ensure this, in a preferred embodiment, an in FIG. 2 shown drive arrangement provided. For driving the drive shaft, an electric asynchronous machine 80 is provided, which can rotate a self-contained auxiliary shaft 90 in both directions of rotation. The electrical asynchronous machine is controlled by a control unit (not shown). In order to perform highly accurate attitude control, the control unit (not shown) obtains information about the location of the waves from a transmitter unit 82 which is a sine / cosine generator. Both the drive shaft 16 and the sine / cosine encoder are each connected to the auxiliary shaft 90 via a force-transmitting endless element 86, 88, preferably a toothed belt. In order to ensure a uniform zero position when switching on the centrifuge device, on the basis of which the control unit controls the position control of the drum and the drive of the drive shaft, a zero position encoder 84 is provided, which cooperates with a counter element (not shown) in the gear 94. In a certain position, the counter element lies opposite the zero position emitter 84, which is the zero position emitter 84 is detected, so that the control unit recognizes that a zero position is taken.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the baffle plate 22 and surrounding the baffle plate 22 components, wherein the baffle plate 22 is in a fully open position. In the fully open position, the baffle plate 22 engages with the recess provided in it with the second pin 62 into one another. In this position, the baffle plate 22 is decoupled from the rotation of the drum 10. In FIG. 3 Furthermore, the guided in the PAT channel 26 tubes 30, 31 are shown. Preferably, there are three tubes 30, 31, 32 in a jacket tube 28, which is guided in the PAT channel 26. The PAT channel 26 is sealed by a seal 90 with respect to the working space 40 or the annular channel 70, preferably the sealing element 90 is an antiseptic double seal. Furthermore, in FIG. 3 optical monitoring elements 104, which are arranged in the window channel 100 behind the windows 102 which are provided in the baffle plate 22.

It is also shown how in the open position the collar 23 of the baffle plate 22 together with the baffle plate housing 78 seals the baffle plate area 76 relative to the annular channel 70 on the housing.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the projecting into the working chamber 14 tubes 30, 31, 32. Also shown is the arrangement of the tubes 30, 31, 32 in the cross section of the jacket tube.

FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of the working space 40 with the surrounding components in a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this preferred Embodiment, a funnel-shaped element 20 is further arranged on the filling tube 19, which allows filling of the suspension in the working space 40, without suspension downperdam the drum base 11. On the drum base 11 located suspension, which may also be solid-dried, experience has shown that it is difficult to rinse off the drum base 11. The use of the funnel-shaped element 20 thus ensures a simpler cleaning of the working space 40. Furthermore, in FIG. 5 also shown the tubes 30, 31 and the surrounding jacket tube 28, wherein the tubes protrude in a preferred embodiment in the working space 40. Preferably, a camera and a light source are attached to one of the tubes, a device for measuring the temperature in the working space end of the tube at a second tube and a device for taking a suspension sample from the working space at a third tube. By means of the light source, the working space can be illuminated and monitored by the camera located in the tube or by the optical monitoring devices 104. In this way it can be determined whether there are still impurities in the working space without having to dismantle the centrifuge device. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic cleaning device may be attached to the working space end of one of the tubes to clean the working space. Preferably, however, an ultrasonic cleaning device is disposed in a position similar to that of the nozzles 50, 52 (not shown) that can be moved axially into an annulus chamber 13 through a drum bottom opening 12 to effectively clean the annulus chamber and filter 14.

FIG. 5 shows the environment of the drive shaft side end face of the working space 40 with the components arranged there. In particular, the nozzles 50, 52 with the arranged at their tips plates 54, the flanges 56 of the plate 54 and bellows 58 shown. Furthermore, it is shown how the valves 150 and the supply lines 151 are arranged to the valves. For sealing the intermediate space 132 against a region 133 of the centrifuge device on the drive shaft, a sealing arrangement 160 according to the invention is likewise used.

In FIG. 7 the seal assembly 160 of the invention is shown enlarged. Between a rotating seal ring 162 and a stationary seal ring 164, a sealing surface 168 is formed. In a sealing gas chamber 170 is a sealing gas, which is preferably acted upon by a pressure of 6 bar. Furthermore, a housing member 166 is arranged so that it lies transversely in front of the sealing surface 168 and thus forms a Spülgasspalt 169. The purge gas gap 169 and the sealing surface 168 form a T-shape in the cross-sectional view. In a purge gas space 172 are feed lines 174 through which a purge gas is permanently conducted into the purge gas gap 169. Preferably, the purge gas is subjected to a pressure of 3 bar.

The purge gas thus moves permanently from the purge gas chamber 172 through the purge gas gap 169 in, in this case, the baffle plate region 70. Instead of the baffle plate region 70, the purge gas can also open into any other area. Since the pressure of the jam gas is greater than the pressure of the purge gas, the purge gas can not escape into the sealing surface 168. A product or a suspension, which is located in the baffle plate area 70, can not enter the flushing gas gap 169 against the flow direction of the flushing gas. Of course, the pressure with which the purge gas is applied, always higher than the pressure in the baffle plate area 70 to choose.

Thus, at the end of the flushing gas gap 169, where it ends in the baffle plate area 70, a sealing surface is formed. Product or suspension can not get into the purge gas gap, whereby the gas-lubricated mechanical seal 160 is protected from contamination. In particular, no product or suspension can enter the sealing surface 168 or the sealing gas space 170. The described sealing arrangement can of course also be used with a fluid-lubricated mechanical seal. Of course, it is also conceivable to pass a rinsing liquid through the rinsing gas gap 169 instead of a rinsing gas. As flushing fluid is in principle to choose such a fluid that does not react with the suspension to be processed.

By protecting the mechanical seal 160 from contamination, the baffle plate region 70 or the sealed region is easier to clean because it provides a geometry that is easier to clean. In addition, flushing fluid can be injected into the baffle plate region 70 or the region to be sealed through the feed line 172 during the cleaning steps, as a result of which an additional cleaning effect is achieved. In addition, due to an intended geometry 167 in the vicinity of the flushing gas gap 169, a spray effect can be forced so that the flushing fluid is better distributed in the baffle plate area 70.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the seal assembly according to the invention, which is used for sealing between the filling tube and a fluid filler neck 210. Between a rotating seal ring 162 and a stationary seal ring 164, a sealing surface 168 is also formed here. By a housing member 166, which also here is transversely in front of the sealing surface 168, a Spülgasspalt 169 educated. From a purge gas space 172, a purge gas is routed through supply lines 174 permanently through the purge gas gap 169 and flows into the filling tube 19. By the described sealing arrangement, a suspension which is filled into the filling tube 19, not contrary to the flow direction of the purge gas in the purge gas gap 169 arrive or contaminate the seal assembly. In this way, this hard to reach sealing area is securely protected from contamination, which greatly simplifies a complete cleaning of the centrifuge device. As can be seen, the basic principle of this seal arrangement is the same as that of the seal in FIG FIG. 7 , Here, too, of course, a liquid-lubricated mechanical seal can be used instead of a gas-lubricated mechanical seal, as well as a rinsing liquid can be injected instead of a purge gas. After a cleaning process, a flushing fluid can be injected through the supply line 174 here, which cleans the connection points of the filler neck 210 to the filling tube 19. This ensures complete cleaning of this area and prevents cross-contamination.

By the above-described technical features of the invention, a complete and safe cleaning of the entire centrifuge device is possible without having to open or manually clean. Cameras and other monitoring options can also be used to monitor the cleaning process. This ensures that cross-contamination is completely avoided. A second suspension may be processed immediately after a first suspension, even if the first suspension were toxic or would cause undesirable reactions with the second suspension. The fact that the cleaning process also takes place automatically without manual intervention, the economy of the centrifuge device according to the invention is increased due to the time savings.

Claims (10)

1. Method of operating a centrifuge device, particularly a centrifuge device having a drive shaft with a rotational shaft axis, a drum attached to the drive shaft having a drum jacket and a drum base, a filter arranged inside the drum and surrounding a working space, an annular space formed between the filter and the drum jacket, a catchment disk forming an end face of the working space opposite the drum base, the catchment disk and the drum being axially movable relative to one another between a closed position in which the catchment disk seals off the working space and at least one open position, a centrifuge housing which surrounds the drum and the filter, and an annular channel having an annular channel housing that surrounds the annular channel, adjoining the working space on the catchment disk side, comprising the following steps:

   - introducing a suspension into the drum,

   - centrifuging the suspension,

   - carrying out a first cleaning of the annular channel and the interior of the centrifuge housing,

   - drying the suspension,

   - removing the dried product,

   - carrying out a second cleaning of the annular channel and the interior of the centrifuge housing and the centrifuge device as a whole.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein three injection devices are provided in the centrifuge housing which are arranged at 120° intervals around the circumference of the centrifuge housing and spray a flushing fluid into the intermediate space between the centrifuge housing and the drum and wherein, furthermore, three injection devices are provided in the annular channel housing, arranged at 120° intervals around the circumference of the annular channel housing and spraying a flushing fluid into the annular channel, and wherein in the catchment disk housing there are three injection devices which are arranged at 120° intervals around the circumference of the catchment disk housing and spray a flushing fluid into the interior of the catchment disk housing, wherein an in particular axially movable nozzle is arranged opposite at least one of the openings in the drum base so that it injects a fluid through the respective opening in the drum base into the corresponding chamber of the annular space, and wherein inlets are provided in the centrifuge housing which carry a flushing fluid permanently into an interior of the centrifuge device through the flushing gas slot, characterized in that the cleaning steps are carried out by injecting a suitable flushing fluid through the nozzles, the injection devices and the inlets.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in a housing region that separates the annular channel and the catchment disk region, at least one pin is embedded which is arranged so that it is opposite at least one follower pin, characterized in that before the second cleaning step the catchment disk is moved into a half-open central position in which it engages in the at least one follower pin.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an in particular axially movable nozzle is arranged opposite at least one of the openings in the drum base so that it injects a fluid through the respective opening in the drum base into the corresponding chamber of the annular space, and wherein at a tip of the at least one nozzle, there is mounted a plate element with a flange for sealing off the at least one nozzle at the drum base, and wherein the at least one nozzle and the respective plate element are integrally formed, wherein a bellows is arranged between the plate element and the centrifuge housing, this bellows surrounding a section of the at least one nozzle located inside the centrifuge housing, and wherein a device for causing axial movement of the at least one nozzle is provided, characterized in that the drum rotates continuously during the cleaning steps and the flanges of the plates of the nozzles are moved up to the drum base but do not make contact with it, and wherein, when an opening in the drum base is located opposite the at least one nozzle, a pulse of flushing fluid is sprayed into each opening in the drum base.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that between the individual pulses of flushing fluid, at least one opening in the drum base passes the at least one nozzle without a pulse of flushing fluid being injected.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an in particular axially movable nozzle is arranged opposite at least one of the openings in the drum base so that it injects a fluid through the respective opening in the drum base into the corresponding chamber of the annular space, and wherein at a tip of the at least one nozzle, there is mounted a plate element with a flange for sealing off the at least one nozzle at the drum base, and wherein the at least one nozzle and the respective plate element are integrally formed, wherein a bellows is arranged between the plate element and the centrifuge housing, this bellows surrounding a section of the at least one nozzle located inside the centrifuge housing, and wherein a device for causing axial movement of the at least one nozzle is provided, characterized in that during the cleaning steps the injection of flushing fluid is carried out in pulses and the drum is rotated through a certain angle between the pulses, while during the pulses the drum is rotated into a position such that the at least one nozzle is arranged opposite the corresponding opening in the drum base and the flanges abut on the drum base.
7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the centrifuge device has a lift adjusting device for pivotably adjusting the centrifuge device about a horizontal axis which forms a substantially right angle with the rotation axis of the drive shaft, characterized in that before the filling step the centrifuge device is tilted by an angle α from the horizontal by means of the lift adjusting device so that the centre point of the drum base is located above the centre point of the catchment disk.
8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the centrifuge device is tilted by an angle β to the horizontal, between the first cleaning step and the drying step, by means of the lift adjusting device, such that the centre of the catchment disk is located above the centre of the drum base and then, before the drying step, it is tilted by an angle α to the horizontal once more so that the centre of the drum base is located above the centre of the catchment disk.
9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the centrifuge device has a lift adjusting device for pivotably adjusting the centrifuge device about a horizontal axis which forms a substantially right angle with the rotation axis of the drive shaft, characterized in that the centrifuge device is tilted by an angle β to the horizontal by means of the lift adjusting device, after the second cleaning step, such that the centre of the catchment disk is located above the centre of the drum base.
10. Method of operating a centrifuge device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein both the angle α and the angle β are about 3°.

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