EP4237157A1

EP4237157A1 - Separator

Info

Publication number: EP4237157A1
Application number: EP21802259.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Hölscher; Andrej MICHEL; Angelika Voltmann; Kathrin Quiter; Thomas Bathelt; Thomas Kleimann
Original assignee: GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
Current assignee: GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
Priority date: 2020-11-02
Filing date: 2021-10-28
Publication date: 2023-09-06
Also published as: US20230390788A1; CN116507421A; WO2022090370A1; DE102020128748A1; AU2021370917A1

Abstract

A self-draining separator for the centrifugal separation of a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, a heavy solid phase SP and a moderately heavy intermediate phase IP, which separator comprises at least the following: a) a centrifuging drum (1) which can be rotated about a rotational axis D and into which the suspension S to be processed can be introduced, b) at least one liquid discharge (9) for the light liquid phase, c) at least one or more discontinuously active solid matter discharge opening/openings (13) for the heavy solid phase SP, to which at least one first actuable discharge device (15) is assigned, by way of which the at least one or more solid matter discharge opening/openings (13) can be discontinuously opened and closed again, and d) at least one or more discontinuously active discharge opening/openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP, to which at least one second actuable discharge device (26) is assigned, by way of which the at least one or more discharge opening/openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP can be discontinuously opened and closed again, characterized e) in that the second discontinuously active discharge device (26) can be actuated independently of the first discontinuously active discharge device (15), with the result that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP can take place temporally independently of the discharge of the solid phase SP.

Description

separator

The invention relates to a self-cleaning separator for the centrifugal separation of a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, a heavy solid phase SP and a medium-heavy intermediate phase IP, which has a centrifugal drum that can be rotated about an axis of rotation D, and a method according to claim 18.

In addition to one or more continuous drains/drains for one or more liquid phases, generic discontinuous self-emptying separators have an emptying system with a piston slide that can be moved fluid-actuated, in particular with liquid as the fluid, alternately into an open and a closed position, whereby the piston slide has a or several solids discharge openings in the drum wall releases (open position) and closes (closed position). In the open position, a solid phase is ejected from the centrifugal drum and thus discharged from the drum. In the closed position, the solids discharge openings are closed so that this is not possible.

In order to ensure precise functioning of such a drum emptying system with a piston valve, the latter can have a fluid supply and drainage system for controlling the movement of the piston valve into the closed position and the open position. This in turn can be provided with one or more valves. The valve or valves are used to fill a control chamber on the spool with fluid - liquid or gas - and to bleed fluid from a chamber on the spool for solids evacuation, causing the spool to move to a different position can. In a separator with a vertical axis of rotation, for example, fluid can escape below a piston valve, so that the product in the bowl presses the piston valve vertically downwards after the fluid has been drained. The valve for filling the control chamber is also called the control water valve, the valve for emptying the control chamber is also called the piston valve due to its preferred design.

DE 26 09 663 discloses a separator with a drum in which the separated heavy phase (concentrate) is discharged directly from the solids space via individual piston valves distributed around the circumference. The piston valves are controlled via a common ring valve, ie closed or opened. When a product is centrifugally processed in three phases, a suspension that flows in in the drum is divided into a lighter or less dense liquid phase, a medium-heavy or medium-dense intermediate phase that is usually still free-flowing, and a heavier (possibly also still free-flowing) or dense solid phase separated.

According to the prior art, the intermediate phase is discharged, for example, via a further continuous liquid discharge such as an impeller or the like. Alternatively, the intermediate phase can be discharged together with the solid when it is emptied.

EP 2 348 894 B2, for example, discloses a separator with a drum in which the light phase is removed via a gripper or an impeller, the heavier solids phase is removed by means of a piston valve and the intermediate phase is removed via a separating plate and another gripper or an additional impeller. However, the intermediate phase is continuously discharged. If necessary, the effluent of the intermediate phase is recirculated to the inlet.

An essential problem of the solutions according to the prior art is that the intermediate phase is only discharged continuously and often cannot be discharged without or with little loss. In this context, loss-free means that the discharged intermediate phase does not contain any portion of the light and/or heavy phase. In this context, low-loss means that the discharged intermediate phase contains only a small proportion of the light and/or heavy phase.

The object of the invention is to solve this problem.

The invention achieves this aim by the subject-matter of claim 1.

According to claim 1, a self-cleaning separator is created for the centrifugal separation of a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, a heavy solid phase SP and a medium-heavy intermediate phase IP, which has at least the following: a) a centrifugal drum which can be rotated about an axis of rotation and into which the Suspension S can be introduced, b) at least one liquid discharge for the light liquid phase LP, c) at least one or more solids discharge opening(s) for the heavy solids phase SP, which acts discontinuously, to which at least one first controllable discharge device is assigned, with which the at least one or more Solids discharge opening(s) can be opened and closed discontinuously, and d) at least one or more discharge opening(s) for the intermediate phase IP, which acts discontinuously, to which at least one second controllable discharge device is assigned, with which the at least one or more discharge opening (en) can be opened and closed again discontinuously for the intermediate phase IP, e) the second discharge device being controllable independently of the first discharge device, so that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP can take place independently of the discharge of the solid phase SP.

The second discharge device can thus be controlled independently of the first discharge device, so that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP is decoupled from the discharge of the solid phase SP. With the two discharge devices that can be controlled or “operate” independently of one another, it is advantageously possible to discharge the solid phase and the intermediate phase at exactly the right time and to the exact extent that is required for the centrifugal separation. In the experiment, one or more sensors can be used to determine from the behavior of the drum in advance when which phase is to be discharged and for how long. This measurement is saved. The appropriate point in time and duration for discharge of the respective phase can then be determined during operation by comparing these measurements. All of this can be controlled by a controller. In particular, the intermediate phase can also be defined in this way and discharged by the second discharge device without loss or with little loss.

It should be noted that the light phase is the least dense phase, the intermediate phase is a relatively denser phase, and the heavy phase is an even greater density phase.

According to a first, preferred embodiment variant of the invention, the first discharge device comprises at least one fluidically, in particular hydraulically, or electrically (in particular electromechanically or electromagnetically) controllable, mechanically acting opening and closing means, with which the at least one or more solids discharge opening(s) is/are openable and closable, and the second discharge device has at least one fluidically, in particular hydraulically, or electrically controllable, mechanically acting opening and closing means, with which the at least one or more discharge opening(s) for the intermediate phase IP can be opened and closed. This embodiment is structurally simple to implement in various ways, which is explained below by way of example.

According to a preferred embodiment variant of the invention, it can advantageously be provided that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device is a piston slide arranged in or outside of the centrifugal drum, in particular a hydraulically controllable one, which can be moved into different positions in order to move one or to open several solids discharge openings in an open position or to close them in a closed position.

However, another preferred embodiment variant of the invention can also advantageously provide for the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device to have at least one or more electrically or fluidically controllable valves, in particular piston valves, which are assigned to the respective solids discharge opening or openings in order to to open them or to close them in a closed position.

Provision can furthermore be made for the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device to be a piston slide which is arranged on the outside of the centrifugal drum and can in particular be actuated hydraulically and which can be moved into various positions in order to close the one or more discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP in to be opened in an open position or to be closed in a closed position, or it can be provided that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device has at least one or more electrically or fluidically controllable valves, in particular piston valves, which correspond to the discharge opening(s) for the Intermediate phase IP are assigned to open them or to close them in a closed position.

The following variants are particularly preferred, since they are structurally simple to implement and simple and can be operated with good low-loss:

According to a preferred embodiment, the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device is a hydraulically controllable piston slide arranged in the centrifugal drum, and the mechanical opening and closing means of the second discharge device is a further, particularly hydraulically controllable piston slide arranged on the outside of the centrifugal drum. According to another preferred embodiment, the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device is a piston slide that is arranged in the centrifugal drum, in particular a hydraulically controllable one, and the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device is at least one controllable piston valve, which of the respective discharge openings for the intermediate phase is associated with IP in order to open it or to close it in a closed position.

According to a third preferred embodiment, the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device has controllable piston valves, which are assigned to the respective solids discharge openings in order to open them or to close them in a closed position, and the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device has controllable Piston valves, which are assigned to the respective discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP, in order to open them or to close them in a closed position.

Further advantageous configurations and combinations of a piston slide and piston valves are conceivable.

Structurally, it can also be provided that on or in the discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP, socket-like pipes are placed, the length of which is designed such that they penetrate radially up to a radius R3 into a layer of the intermediate phase IP that forms radially in this when the centrifugal drum rotates are sufficient, so that the intermediate phase IP is discharged from the centrifugal drum on the radius R3.

It is provided that radius R3 is smaller than a radius R2 on which the solids discharge openings are arranged, but larger than a radius R1 on which the liquid phase LP is discharged. This advantageously results in a defined discharge of the respective phase, in which mixing with the respective other phases is largely ruled out.

In a further embodiment variant of the invention, a paring disk can be assigned to the liquid discharge. However, the liquid conducting application can also be realized in other ways.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the discharged solids phase SP is ejected through the at least one solids discharge opening into a first annular space as a solids catcher, which is in a hood-like housing is arranged and has a nozzle arranged radially on the first annular space for connecting a hose or a line for the further discharge of the solid phase SP. As a result, the solid phase SP can be derived in a structurally simple manner and thus advantageously independently of the intermediate phase IP.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the discharged intermediate phase IP passes through the at least one discharge opening into a further annular space which is arranged in the hood-like housing and has a connecting piece arranged radially on the further annular space for connecting a hose or a line for further discharge of the intermediate phase IP . As a result, the intermediate phase IP can be derived in a structurally simple manner and thus advantageously independently of the solid phase SP.

The object is also achieved by the method according to claim 18.

Further advantageous configurations of the invention can be found in the remaining dependent claims.

The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. The invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but can also be implemented in another way, literally, or in another way that is equivalent. It shows:

1-3 each show sectional views of different variants of separators, each with a centrifugal drum and with components of an emptying mechanism of the centrifugal drum for a solid phase and for an intermediate phase.

Three exemplary embodiments are described in the following description of the figures. The individual features of these exemplary embodiments can also be combined with exemplary embodiments that are not shown and are also suitable in each case as advantageous refinements of the objects described in one or more of the main and subclaims.

Terms such as "top", "bottom", "right", "left", "outside" or "inside" refer to the respective position shown in the figures.

The individual features of the following exemplary embodiments can be combined as shown or else in a different manner that is not shown, such as with other exemplary embodiments that are not shown. 1 shows a first separator with a rotating centrifugal drum 1 . The centrifugal drum 1 can have a vertical axis of rotation D. The centrifugal drum 1 can be enclosed by a hood-like housing 2 which is not moved during operation of the centrifuge, ie is arranged in a stationary manner. Other components such as a rotary drive or a control device are not shown.

The centrifugal drum 1 can preferably have a single and/or, as here, a double conical design (bottom and/or top and in particular inside). This shape favors the collection of the separated solid phase in a defined area of the bowl. The centrifugal drum 1 is preferably designed for continuous operation, in which a continuously inflowing suspension S is continuously processed centrifugally and separated into a light liquid phase LP, a medium-heavy intermediate phase IP and a heavy solid phase SP.

The centrifugal drum 1 can have a lower drum part 3 and an upper drum part 4 . These drum parts 3, 4 can each be conical on the outside and/or inside and can be connected to one another in various ways, for example with a locking ring 5.

A feed pipe 8 is used to feed a suspension S to be processed into the centrifugal drum 1.

The inlet pipe 8 can, as here, be designed as a stationary element that does not rotate during operation. But it can also be designed to rotate. It extends here concentrically to the axis of rotation D into the centrifugal drum 1 . In addition, it reaches through the housing 2 above the centrifugal drum 1 here.

In the centrifugal drum 1, a distributor 6 for feeding the product into the drum and a plate pack 7 of separating plates can be arranged. The separating disks 7 can be arranged on a distributor shaft of the distributor 6 .

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, the inlet pipe 8 protrudes into the centrifugal drum 1 from above in a preferred—but not mandatory—configuration. However, it can also extend into the centrifugal drum 1 from below (not shown).

The centrifugal drum 1 has a liquid outlet 9 through which the light liquid phase LP can be guided out of the drum 1 . The liquid discharge 9 is implemented here by an impeller 11 . But it can be designed in other ways. The liquid outlet 9 opens out into an annular space 9', which in turn can open out into a radial connector 9'', which is provided for connecting a hose or a line for draining off the liquid phase LP.

The light liquid phase LP running radially inwards from the inside of the disk pack 7 flows into a peeling disk chamber 10 which rotates with the centrifugal drum 1 . A peeling disc 11 is arranged in the peeling disc chamber 10 . This peeling disk 11 is not rotatable in the peeling disk chamber 10, ie it is arranged in a stationary manner. The paring disk 11 - also referred to as a gripper - which works as a centripetal pump, drains the liquid phase LP from the centrifugal field that forms in the operating centrifugal drum 1 on a radius R1 and via the liquid discharge 9, the annular space 9' and the nozzle 9 “ Out of the centrifugal drum 1 or conducted. The discharge of the liquid phase LP thus takes place continuously.

For discharging a heavy solid phase SP, a fluidic and/or electrical—in this case fluidic—controllable and mechanically acting opening and closing means is provided, which is designed here as an—internal—piston slide 12 arranged in the centrifugal drum 1 .

The inner piston valve 12 is provided for opening and closing at least one solids discharge opening 13 . Preferably, several of the solids discharge openings 13 can be distributed around the circumference in the area of the largest diameter—on a radius R2—of the centrifugal drum 1 . The discharged solid phase SP passes through the solids discharge openings 13 into a first solids catcher-like annular space 14, which is arranged in the housing 2 and has a connecting piece 14′ arranged radially on the first annular space 14 for connecting a hose or a line for further discharge of the solids phase SP can.

A first discharge device 15 is provided for discharging the solid phase SP, which comprises a mechanically acting opening and closing means which can be actuated fluidically by actuators to carry out opening and closing movements.

For this purpose, the first discharge device 15 can comprise an injection chamber 16 for opening fluid and an injection chamber 17 for closing fluid, which via an opening fluid feed 18 and a closing fluid feed 19, in which a first opening fluid valve V1 and a first closing fluid valve V2 are arranged Fluid, in particular water, can be fed to activate the opening and closing movements of the inner piston valve 12 .

The closing process of the solids discharge openings 13, i.e. here a raising of the inner piston valve 12, can be carried out by means of closing fluid which is injected into a chamber below the inner piston valve 12. The closing fluid is dosed via the closing fluid valve V2. The chamber communicates with piston valves 20 which are arranged in the wall of the centrifugal bowl 1 in such a way that they can be closed by the centrifugal force exerted by the centrifugal bowl 1 when it is in operation.

The opening action of the solids discharge ports 13, i.e. the lowering of the inner piston valve 12, is effected by opening fluid, which opens the piston valves 20, which in turn allows the closing fluid under the inner piston valve 12 to escape from the chamber. For this purpose, a small amount of opening fluid is briefly passed through a supply line via an opening fluid injection chamber 16 into connecting lines in the lower part 3 of the drum. The opening fluid ensures that liquid pressure builds up on all sides, which moves a closing piston against the centrifugal force in the radial direction to the axis of rotation D and thus opens the piston valve 20 of the centrifugal drum 1 .

The opening fluid is metered via the opening fluid valve V1.

The closing fluid escapes through the open piston valves 20 into a second annular space 21, which is arranged in the housing 2 and can have a connecting piece 2T arranged radially on the second annular space 21 for connecting a hose or a line for further discharge of the fluid.

A further electrically or fluidically controllable and mechanically acting opening and closing means is provided for deriving an intermediate phase IP. According to FIG. 1, this is designed as an outer piston slide 22 which is arranged on the outside of the centrifugal drum 1 and is therefore a second one here.

This can advantageously be designed as shown below. However, it can also be realized in a different design.

The outer, second piston slide 22 is arranged below the centrifugal drum 1 on its outside. The piston valve 22 is provided to close or open the discharge openings 25 so that the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the discharge openings 25 . For this purpose, the piston slide 22 is movable in the axial direction. The piston valve 22 is in one Support ring 22' movably guided. In order to be able to move the piston valve 22 in the axial direction, the support ring 22' has lines 27, 28 and possibly an overflow bore 32, which can be supplied with opening or closing fluid as required, which will be described in more detail below .

The intermediate phase IP can be discharged through socket-like tubes 23, which are mounted distributed around the circumference in bores in the inner piston slide 12 and whose length is adapted so that it extends into the layer of the intermediate phase IP that forms during rotation of the centrifugal drum 1, which here is carried out by a Radius R3 is marked. The intermediate phase IP reaches at least one, preferably several, discharge openings 25 distributed around the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1 via corresponding bores 24 running in the axial direction in a wall of the lower drum part 3, which can be closed or opened by the outer piston slide 22.

The radius R3 is smaller than a larger radius R2 on which the entrances of the heavy solids discharge openings 13 are arranged, but larger than the radius R1 on which the light liquid phase LP is discharged by the impeller 11.

A discontinuously operating, second discharge device 26 is provided for discharging the intermediate phase IP, which comprises the mechanical opening and closing means, which can be actuated fluidically here by actuators to carry out opening and closing movements.

For this purpose, the second discharge device 26 comprises an injection line 27 for opening fluid and an injection line 28 for closing fluid, to which fluid, via an opening fluid feed 29 and a closing fluid feed 30 in which a second opening fluid valve V3 and a second closing fluid valve V4 are arranged, in particular water, can be supplied to activate the opening and closing movements.

A plurality of piston valves 31 are provided, each of which serves or is used for a controlled discharge of the fluid used to carry out the opening and closing movements of the outer piston valve 22 .

The closing process, ie the raising of the outer piston slide 22, is carried out here by a closing fluid which is injected into a chamber in the support ring 22' below the outer piston slide 22. The closing fluid is dosed via a second closing fluid valve V4. The chamber in the support ring 22 'of the outer piston valve 22 has optionally the overflow hole 32, so that the maximum capacity of this chamber (and thus the maximum closing force of the outer piston valve 22) is definable. The chamber communicates with the piston valves 31 which are arranged in a wall of the outer piston valve 22 rotating with the centrifugal bowl 1 in such a way that they are closed by centrifugal force acting on the centrifugal bowl 1 when it is in operation.

The opening process, i.e. the lowering of the outer piston valve 22, is effected by an opening fluid which opens the piston valves 31, which in turn allows the closing fluid under the outer piston valve 22 to escape from the chamber. The opening fluid is metered via a corresponding second opening fluid valve V3. A third annular space 33 is assigned to the discharge openings 25 in the wall of the centrifugal drum 1 for the intermediate phase IP, so that the intermediate phase IP is discharged separately. The third annular space 33 can have a connecting piece 33′ arranged radially on the third annular space 33 for the connection of a hose or a line for the further discharge of the intermediate phase IP.

The closing fluid escapes through the piston valves 31 into a fourth annular chamber 34, which is arranged in the housing 2 and can have a connecting piece 34′ arranged radially on the fourth annular chamber 34 for connecting a hose or a line for further discharge of the fluid.

It is advantageously possible according to FIG. 1--here by the second piston valve 22--to discharge the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum 1 in a defined manner and with very little loss. The separate, second discharge device 26, which can be controlled independently of the first discharge device 15, advantageously completely decouples the discharge of the intermediate phase IP through the outer piston valve 22 from the discharge of the solid phase SP through the inner piston valve 12. As a result, the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 independently of the solid phase SP.

The actuation of the inner piston slide 12 and the actuation of the outer piston slide 22 can be controlled independently of one another by a control unit (not shown here). The control device can also be a central control device for controlling the separator, which, in addition to controlling the two piston slides 12, 22, is also provided for other control and/or regulation tasks of the centrifuge.

Another separator is shown in FIG. The basic structure initially largely corresponds to that of the separator in FIG. 1 . Below are mainly Deviations and/or additions to the embodiment variant of FIG. 1 are described.

The solid phase SP is discharged according to FIG. 2, as in the embodiment variant according to FIG.

Deviating from the embodiment variant of the centrifuge according to FIG. 1, however, the embodiment variant of the centrifuge according to FIG.

According to the embodiment variant in FIG. 2, the intermediate phase IP is discharged first again through socket-like pipes 23, which are mounted in initially radial bores in the inner piston slide 12, which merge into axial bores 24 in the lower drum part 3 or with which they correspond and their length is adapted in such a way that they reach into the layer of the intermediate phase IP that forms when the centrifugal drum 1 rotates, characterized here by a radius R3. The radius R3 is smaller than the radius R2 on which the solids discharge openings 13 are arranged, but larger than the radius R1 on which the liquid phase LP is discharged through the impeller 11.

To discharge the intermediate phase IP, a discontinuously controllable, second discharge device 26 is provided with mechanically acting opening and closing means, which here has a plurality of piston valves 35 . Via the corresponding bores 24 running in the axial direction in a wall of the lower drum part 3, the intermediate phase IP reaches a plurality of discharge openings 25 distributed around the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1, which can be closed or opened here by one of the piston valves 35. The piston valves 35 can be arranged in the wall of the drum base 3 of the centrifugal drum 1 in such a way that the discharge openings 25 are closed by centrifugal force during operation. By hydraulic activation with a control fluid, however, they can be opened.

The second discharge device 26 also includes an opening fluid feed 36 via which control fluid can be fed to the piston valves 35 . The piston valves 35 can be opened by the control fluid when the intermediate phase IP is to be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 . The opening time of the piston valves 35 can be adjusted via the supply duration of the supplied opening fluid. The opening fluid is metered via a corresponding opening fluid valve V7. The discharge openings 25 for the intermediate phase IP here open into a second annular space 37, so that both the solid phase SP and the intermediate phase IP can be discharged separately from one another. The annular space 37 is arranged in the housing 2 and can have a connecting piece 37′ arranged radially on this annular space 37 for the connection of a hose or a line for the further discharge of the intermediate phase IP.

Also according to FIG. 2 it is possible--here by the hydraulically controllable piston valves 35--to discharge the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum 1 in a defined manner and with very little loss.

The discharge of the intermediate phase IP through the piston valves 35 from the discharge of the solid phase SP through the inner piston slide 12 can advantageously be completely decoupled by the second discharge device 26 , which is also separate here and can be controlled independently of the first discharge device 15 . As a result, the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 independently of the solid phase SP.

The actuation of the inner piston slide 12 and the actuation of the controllable piston valves 35 can be controlled independently of one another by a control unit (not shown here). The control unit can also be a central centrifuge control which, in addition to controlling the inner piston slide and the piston valves 35, is also provided for other control and regulation tasks of the centrifuge.

3 shows a third centrifugal separator. The basic structure initially largely corresponds to that of the separator in FIGS. 1 and 2. Above all, deviations from and/or additions to the embodiment variant in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described below.

Deviating from the embodiment variant of the centrifuge according to FIG. 1 or 2, the embodiment variant of the centrifuge according to FIG. 3 has neither an inner piston slide 12 nor an outer piston slide 22.

In the variant embodiment of the centrifuge according to FIG. 3, the intermediate phase IP is discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 by at least one, preferably several, piston valves 35 distributed around the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1--as already described for the variant embodiment according to FIG. The piston valves 35 are here the opening and closing means of the discontinuously working, second discharge device 26, which serves to discharge the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum 1.

Likewise, the solid phase SP according to FIG. 3 is also discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 by at least one, preferably several, piston valves 38 which are distributed around the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1 . The piston valves 38 are here the opening and closing means of the first discharge device 15 which operates discontinuously and which serves to discharge the solid phase SP from the centrifugal drum 1 .

Both the solid phase SP and the intermediate phase IP reach the respective piston valves 35 via the socket-like tubes 23 and corresponding bores 24 running in the axial direction in a wall of the lower drum part 3 or via bores 40 in the wall of the lower drum part 3 of the centrifugal drum 1. 38, which are mounted in the outer wall of the drum base 3 of the centrifugal drum 1 at different heights (relative to a bottom of the centrifugal drum 1 or the drum base 3). The radius R3 on which the inlet opening of the pipe 23 for discharging the intermediate phase IP are arranged is smaller than the radius R2 on which the solids discharge openings 13 are arranged, but larger than the radius R1 on which the liquid phase LP flows through the impeller 11 is discharged.

For the fluidic actuation of the respective piston valve 38, the first discharge device 15 comprises an opening fluid feed 39, via which control fluid can be fed to the respective piston valve 38. The respective piston valve 38 can be opened by the control fluid when the solid phase SP is to be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 .

For fluidic actuation of the respective piston valve 35 , the second discharge device 26 also includes an opening fluid feed 36 , via which control fluid can be fed to the respective piston valve 35 . The respective piston valve 35 can be opened by the control fluid when the intermediate phase IP is to be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 .

The opening time of the respective piston valves 35, 38 can be adjusted via the duration of the respectively supplied control fluid. The piston valves 35, 38 are each arranged in the wall of the drum base 3 of the centrifugal drum 1 so that they are closed by centrifugal force. The opening fluid for the piston valves 35, 38 is metered via corresponding opening fluid valves V8, V9, which are used in opening fluid feeds 17, 18, respectively.

Due to the separate, second discharge device 26, which can be controlled independently of the first discharge device 15, the discharge of the intermediate phase IP through the piston valves 35 is advantageously completely decoupled from the discharge of the solid phase SP through the piston valves 38. As a result, the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 independently of the solid phase SP.

The discharge openings 13, 25 arranged at different heights in the wall of the lower drum part 3 for the intermediate phase IP and for the solid phase SP are each assigned annular spaces 37, 14, so that both the solid phase SP and the intermediate phase IP can be discharged separately from one another . The respective annular space 37, 14 has a connecting piece 37', 14', which is arranged radially on the respective annular space 37, 14. The respective socket 37', 14' is intended for the connection of a hose or a line for the further discharge of the respective phase.

The valves V1 to V9 of the various embodiments are preferably designed as controllable valves, in particular as electrically controllable valves, which can be connected to the control device.

Reference sign

1 centrifugal drum

2 housing

3 drum base

4 drum top

5 locking ring

6 distributors

7 plate pack

8 inlet pipe

9 liquid discharge

9' annulus

9" nozzle

10 peeling disk chamber

11 paring disc

12 inner piston slider

13 solids discharge opening

14 first annulus

14' sock

15 first discharge device

16 injection chamber

17 injection chamber

18 orifice fluid supply

19 closing fluid supply

20 piston valve

21 second annulus

2T sock

22 outer piston slider

22'' carrying ring

23 tube

24 bore

25 discharge opening

26 second discharge device

27 injection line

28 injection line

29 orifice fluid supply

30 closing fluid supply

31 piston valve

32 overflow hole

33 third annulus 33' socks

34 fourth annulus

34' sock

35 piston valve

36 orifice fluid supply

37 second annulus

37' sock

38 piston valve

39 orifice fluid supplies

40 bore

D axis of rotation

S suspension

LP liquid phase

SP solid phase

IP intermediate phase

R1 radius

R2 radius

R3 radius

V1 , V5 first orifice fluid valve

V2, V6 first closing fluid valve

V3 second port fluid valve

V4 second closing fluid valve

V7 opening fluid valve

V8 port fluid valve

V9 port fluid valve

Claims

Self-emptying separator for centrifugally separating a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, one heavy solid phase SP and one medium-heavy intermediate phase IP, which has at least the following: a) a centrifugal drum (1) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation D and into which the suspension to be processed S can be introduced, b) at least one liquid discharge (9) for the light liquid phase, c) at least one or more discontinuously acting solids discharge opening(s) (13) for the heavy solids phase SP, to which at least one first controllable discharge device (15) is assigned with which the at least one or more solids discharge opening(s) (13) can be opened and closed again in a discontinuous manner, and d) at least one or more discharge opening(s) (25) that act discontinuously for the intermediate phase IP, the at least a second controllable discharge device (26) is assigned, with which the wen at least one or more discharge opening(s) (25) for the intermediate phase IP can be opened and closed again in a discontinuous manner, e) the second discharge device (26) with a discontinuous effect can be controlled independently of the first discharge device (15) with a discontinuous effect, so that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP can take place independently of the discharge of the solid phase SP. Self-emptying separator according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first discharge device (15) comprises at least one fluidically, in particular hydraulically, and/or electrically controllable and mechanically acting opening and closing means, with which the at least one or more solids discharge opening(s) ( 13) can be opened and closed, and the second discharge device (26) comprises at least one fluidically, in particular hydraulically, and/or electrically controllable and mechanically acting opening and closing means, with which the at least one or more discharge opening(s) (25 ) is/are openable and closable for the intermediate phase IP. Self-emptying separator according to Claim 2, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device (15) is a piston slide (12) which is arranged in or outside of the centrifugal drum (1) and can in particular be actuated hydraulically, which can be moved into different positions in order to open the one or more solids discharge openings (13) in an open position or to close them in a closed position.

4. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device (15) has at least one or more electrically or fluidically controllable valves, in particular piston valves (38), which the or the respective Solids discharge openings (13) are assigned in order to open them or to close them in a closed position.

5. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device (26) is a piston slide (22) which is arranged on the outside of the centrifugal drum (1) and can be actuated in particular hydraulically and which can be moved to different positions is movable to open the one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP in an open position or to close it in a closed position.

6. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device (26) has at least one or more electrically or fluidically controllable valves, in particular piston valves (35), which the or the respective Discharge openings (25) are assigned for the intermediate phase in order to open them or to close them in a closed position.

7. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device is a piston slide (12) arranged in the centrifugal drum (1) and in particular hydraulically controllable, and that the mechanically acting opening - and closing means of the second discharge device (26) is a further and in particular hydraulically controllable piston valve (22) arranged on the outside of the centrifugal drum (1).

8. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 6, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device in the centrifugal drum (1) arranged and in particular hydraulically controllable piston slide (12) and that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device (26) has hydraulically or electrically controllable piston valves (35), which are assigned to the respective discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP, to open them or to close them in a closed position.

9. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 6, characterized in that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the first discharge device has hydraulically or electrically controllable piston valves (38), which are assigned to the respective solids discharge openings in order to close them to be opened or closed in a closed position and that the mechanically acting opening and closing means of the second discharge device (26) has further hydraulically or electrically controllable piston valves (35) which are assigned to the respective discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP in order to open them or in to close a closed position.

10. Self-draining separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in or on the discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP, socket-like tubes (23) are set, the length of which is designed so that they are radially to a radius R3 in a during rotation of the centrifugal drum (1) in this radially forming layer of the intermediate phase IP, so that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum (1) takes place on this radius R3.

11 . Self-emptying separator according to Claim 9, characterized in that the socket-like tubes (23) are distributed over the circumference of a lower part (3) of the drum.

12. Self-draining separator according to claim 9, characterized in that the socket-like tubes (23) are distributed over the circumference of the inner piston slide (12).

13. Self-emptying separator according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the radius R3 is smaller than a radius R2 on which the solids discharge openings (13) are arranged, but is larger than a radius R1 on which the liquid phase LP is discharged will. 21

14. Self-draining separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid discharge (9) is associated with a paring disk (11).

15. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suspension S to be processed can be introduced into the centrifugal drum (1) through an inlet pipe (8) and a distributor (6).

16. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharged solids phase SP passes through the at least one solids discharge opening (13) into a first annular space (14) which is arranged in a hood-like housing (2) and has a radially attached to the first annular space (14) arranged connector (14 ') for connecting a hose or a line for further discharge of the solid phase SP.

17. Self-emptying separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharged intermediate phase IP passes through the at least one discharge opening (25) into a further annular space (33, 37) which is arranged in the hood-like housing (2) and has a radial has sockets (33', 37') arranged on the further annular space (33, 37) for connecting a hose or a line for the further discharge of the intermediate phase IP.

18. Method for operating a self-cleaning separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following method steps: a) providing the operating self-cleaning separator and a suspension S, b) introducing the suspension S into a centrifugal field of a centrifugal drum (1) of the separator an inlet pipe (8) and a distributor (6), c) discharge of at least one liquid phase LP through the liquid discharge (9), d) discontinuous discharge of a solid phase SP through at least one solid discharge opening (13) to which a first discharge device (15) is assigned , with which the at least one solids discharge opening (13) can be opened and closed discontinuously, e) Discontinuous discharge of an intermediate phase IP through the at least one discharge opening (25) for the intermediate phase IP, to which the second discharge device (26) is assigned, with which the at least one 22

discharge opening (25) for the intermediate phase IP can be opened and closed discontinuously, f) the second discharge device (26) being controllable and controlled independently of the first discharge device (15), so that the intermediate phase IP is discharged from the discharge the solid phase SP can be decoupled. Method according to Claim 18, characterized in that method steps b) to f) run parallel in time. Method according to Claim 18 or 19, characterized in that method steps d) and e) run periodically or aperiodically. Method according to one of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that method steps d) and e) have different periods.