EP4399030A1 - Insert de séparateur, séparateur, et procédé d'échange d'un insert de séparateur - Google Patents

Insert de séparateur, séparateur, et procédé d'échange d'un insert de séparateur

Info

Publication number
EP4399030A1
EP4399030A1 EP22773511.5A EP22773511A EP4399030A1 EP 4399030 A1 EP4399030 A1 EP 4399030A1 EP 22773511 A EP22773511 A EP 22773511A EP 4399030 A1 EP4399030 A1 EP 4399030A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
separator
product
drum
housing
insert
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22773511.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Andreas Biewald
Axel Hegemann
Burkhard Graw
Julian Steiner
Jürgen Mackel
Kai HELMRICH
Kathrin Quiter
Markus Schneider
Rüdiger GÖHMANN
Steffen Laakmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
Original Assignee
GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE102021123178.7A external-priority patent/DE102021123178A1/de
Application filed by GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH filed Critical GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
Publication of EP4399030A1 publication Critical patent/EP4399030A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B1/00—Centrifuges with rotary bowls provided with solid jackets for separating predominantly liquid mixtures with or without solid particles
    • B04B1/04—Centrifuges with rotary bowls provided with solid jackets for separating predominantly liquid mixtures with or without solid particles with inserted separating walls
    • B04B1/08—Centrifuges with rotary bowls provided with solid jackets for separating predominantly liquid mixtures with or without solid particles with inserted separating walls of conical shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B11/00—Feeding, charging, or discharging bowls
    • B04B11/02—Continuous feeding or discharging; Control arrangements therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B7/00—Elements of centrifuges
    • B04B7/02—Casings; Lids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B7/00—Elements of centrifuges
    • B04B7/08—Rotary bowls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B9/00—Drives specially designed for centrifuges; Arrangement or disposition of transmission gearing; Suspending or balancing rotary bowls
    • B04B9/12—Suspending rotary bowls ; Bearings; Packings for bearings

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a separator insert for a separator according to the preamble of claim 1, a separator with such a separator insert and a method for changing a separator insert.
  • Separators within the meaning of this document are used to separate a free-flowing suspension as the starting product in a centrifugal field into phases of different densities.
  • a wide range of applications require steam sterilization of the separators used.
  • a relatively “small” separator that can be steam-sterilized and has a disk stack and that has been introduced to the market by the applicant is the “CSC 6” separator with an equivalent clarification area of 6000 m 2 . In some situations, such as in the laboratory, this machine is still relatively large.
  • the known disk pack separators available on the market are driven by means of a spindle, which in turn is driven by a motor directly or via a gearbox.
  • the known machines are made of stainless steel.
  • WO 2014/000829 A1 discloses a separator for separating a free-flowing product into different phases, which has a rotatable drum with a lower drum part and an upper drum part and means arranged in the drum for processing a suspension in a centrifugal field of solids or for separating a heavy solid-like phase from a lighter phase in the centrifugal field, wherein one, more or all of the following are made of plastic or a plastics composite: the bowl base, the bowl top, the means for clarification.
  • the generic DE 10 2017 128 027 shows a further development.
  • the bearing devices are designed as magnetic bearings and one of the magnetic bearing devices is preferably also used as a drive device for rotating the drum, which is held in suspension during operation. This eliminates the need for mechanical components for rotating and supporting the drum, which favors the design as a separator with a separator insert for single use, since this separator insert can be exchanged very easily.
  • the present invention also uses these advantages.
  • the separator insert can be used or designed in particular as a disposable element, so that the separation process can be better controlled.
  • the invention solves this problem with a method having the features of claim 1 .
  • a method according to the invention for operating a separator is intended to reduce cross-contamination during the processing of products.
  • a separator insert is used as a pre-assembled, exchangeable unit within a separator.
  • the exchangeable separator insert should be disposed of in a simple and uncomplicated manner within the scope of the present method.
  • the present method is intended to enable separate disposal of the separator insert and any residual liquid contained therein.
  • the separator insert can be provided for insertion into stator units on a frame of the separator.
  • the Separator use include both a rotatably mounted drum and a standstill in the separation operation housing as a pre-assembled replaceable unit.
  • the separator insert can be designed as a rotor with a rotatably mounted drum, preferably with an integrated separating means, in particular a separating disk pack, for use in a housing of a separator.
  • the inlet and outlet system ie the entirety of all inlet and outlet lines, can preferably and advantageously be at least partially or completely a component of the separator insert, so that an inlet and outlet hermetically sealed with respect to the housing of the separator is ensured.
  • the housing in this variant remains a part of the separator when the separator insert is changed.
  • a disadvantage compared to the first variant is the more complicated seal between rotating and non-rotating parts.
  • the separator insert has at least the following: i. a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation with a drum and a drum wall. In a preferred embodiment, this can be designed with closed walls in a central area of the drum,
  • the area between 20-80% of the axial extent of the drum is preferably referred to as the middle area.
  • a separating agent arranged in the drum (3) ii. preferably a separating agent arranged in the drum (3)
  • a disk pack of separating disks can be used as a release agent. iii. at least one product inlet line and two product outlet lines out of the separator insert; A separate drainage discharge line can advantageously be provided to further reduce cross-contamination. In the context of the present invention, this is preferably not to be assigned to the derivation system. IV. wherein the areas of the separator insert that come into contact with the product are partially or completely made of plastic;
  • the use of plastic for the separator insert is optimal in order to subsequently dispose of the separator insert or at least the areas that come into contact with the product. This is advantageous for the processing of many pharmaceutical products, radiotracer analysis or biotechnology, e.g. when extracting phytotoxic active substances, in which the contamination should be kept as low as possible even when changing the separator insert.
  • the method according to the invention comprises at least the following steps. a) Provision of the separator with a first separator insert (II) mounted on the frame (I) or in the housing
  • this first separator insert is exchanged for a second non-contaminated and otherwise preferably identical separator insert.
  • the separator inserts and preferably the separating means of the separator inserts can vary depending on the separation task. b) introducing a starting product to be separated into the separator; c) discharging a first and second product stream separated from the product mixture through the two separate product discharge lines from the separator during a separating operation of the separator;
  • the separation operation is also abbreviated as "operation” in the following.
  • the products are separated according to their density in the centrifugal field of the separator. d) stopping the separating operation and draining a residual liquid remaining in the drum;
  • any residual liquid remaining in the drum is drained, preferably as a gravity-induced drain.
  • the drum can still move to a small extent, although gravity predominates and determines the emptying direction.
  • a separate drainage discharge line is used, this is preferably located along a bottom surface of the separator insert in order to ensure that the insert is emptied as completely as possible.
  • step d) occurs with a separator insert in which the housing and rotor are combined in a preassembled unit
  • the drainage can be arranged in such a way that both the drum and the housing are emptied of residual liquid via the drainage discharge line. More than one drainage discharge line can also be provided for this purpose.
  • e) Exchange of the emptied contaminated separator insert from the frame or housing of the separator for an unused separator insert.
  • the emptied, contaminated separator insert can then be disposed of without the remaining liquid still having to be drained.
  • immediate contamination-proof packaging of the separator insert is recommended. Draining residual liquid when the separator insert is dismantled is impractical and may require increased safety standards.
  • the starting product e.g. a suspension
  • the separator insert being used to separate a free-flowing suspension into a centrifugal field
  • the separator insert is designed in at least two flowable phases of different densities and forms a preassembled, exchangeable unit for insertion into stator units on the frame of the separator and has at least the following: a housing which is stationary during operation and is designed in the manner of a container which, apart from a plurality is designed to be closed at openings, a rotor arranged within the housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation with a drum which has one or more openings, preferably a separating means arranged in the drum, at least two rotor units for magnetic bearing devices at two axially spaced points of the rotor with the Drum, with which the rotor with the drum can be held in suspension within the housing during operation, can be rotatably mounted
  • the separator that has a one-way module with one-way components “drum” and “housing”, whereas at least the frame and parts of the storage and drive device can be reusable.
  • the corresponding form-fitting means can be engaged and disengaged in order to change the separator insert.
  • the invention makes it possible to produce a separator in which a disposable separator insert can be used, which is preferably designed in such a way that all components that come into contact with the product are made of plastic or other non-magnetic materials, which can be disposed of after a single use. Cleaning after use is therefore no longer necessary. The machine and its operation can thus become significantly cheaper. Magnets can be recycled if necessary. In this case, it is simple and safe for spaced-apart receptacles of the bearing devices to be formed on the frame, between which the separator insert can be used in a rotationally fixed, exchangeable manner.
  • the receptacles and the housing can have corresponding pins and recesses as corresponding positive-locking means in order to hold the housing in a rotationally fixed manner on the receptacles. It is particularly simple when receptacles and pins each extend axially.
  • the position of the receptacles, in particular on the console can be adjusted in order to be able to change the separator insert.
  • the relative distance between the receptacles can be adjustable, but one or both receptacles can also be foldable, pivotable, rotatable or displaceable in order to be able to place the separator insert between the receptacles.
  • the relative vertical position can be changed by adjusting the vertical relative spacing of the receptacles with the stator units of the bearing devices in such a way that the separator insert can be exchanged, so that the corresponding positive-locking means can be engaged and disengaged by the adjustment.
  • the separator insert can be changed easily and quickly after processing a batch.
  • only one of the two receptacles can be adjustable, particularly height-adjustable, on the frame, particularly on the console, and the other receptacle can be arranged stationary on the frame, particularly on the console.
  • both receptacles it is possible for both receptacles to be adjustable, in particular height-adjustable, on the frame, in particular on the console.
  • the separator insert can have an additional drainage outlet line for draining off the residual liquid remaining in the drum in step d). This is provided in particular in addition to the inlet and outlet system of the separator insert. This makes additional diversions and control elements superfluous, unlike when emptying via a bottom-side inlet.
  • Draining the residual liquid remaining in the drum in step d) can include collecting the residual liquid outside of the separator insert in a collection container, preferably a drainage bag.
  • the residual liquid can thus be transferred from the preferably hermetic environment of the separator insert into a likewise hermetic environment of a contamination-tight collection container immediately before it is exchanged.
  • the contents of the collection container can be determined by measuring the weight of the empty container and the filled container, so that the weight of the proportion of residual liquid can be determined very precisely.
  • hazardous substances e.g. phytotoxins or radionuclides
  • an exact determination of the residual quantity may be necessary due to various national regulations.
  • the residual liquid remaining in the drum can also be emptied by draining it in step d) via a product feed line.
  • the product feed line is part of the replaceable separator insert, it can also be replaced automatically.
  • this part can preferably be designed to be exchangeable, so that it can be disposed of together with the separator insert. However, this can entail additional disassembly steps.
  • the product feed line or a downstream line element connected thereto can have a switching valve between a residual liquid collection container and a starting product container, the switching valve being actuated during draining in step d).
  • a control unit can carry out both the operating sequence of the method described and the actuation of the changeover valve and, if necessary, other components for operating the separator, for example a peristaltic pump.
  • the separator insert can be designed as an exchangeable rotatably mounted rotor with an integrated inlet and outlet system inside the housing of the separator, with the introduction of the starting product in step b) and the draining of the residual liquid in step d) via the Product feed line of the feed system takes place, with an exchange of a feed line element connected to the product feed line for a discharge element with the collection container taking place before the residual liquid is drained in step d).
  • the middle closed-wall area of the drum can advantageously extend over 20-80% of the axial extent of the drum.
  • the separator insert has the housing and the rotor
  • at least one product discharge line in particular the product discharge line of a heavy product stream
  • a pump such as a peristaltic pump, in particular a peristaltic pump
  • the pump adjusts the pressure in the product discharge line.
  • the pump e.g. by reducing the flow volume, can generate a counter-pressure to a product outlet of the heavy phase designed as a gripper within the separator insert.
  • the pump can be switched off during the draining in step d) or can work with a reduced pressure compared to step c), so that the residual liquid can flow off under the force of gravity.
  • the product discharge line can also have a control element for reducing the pressure, preferably a valve, particularly preferably a check valve, so that emptying via the drainage discharge line is ensured.
  • the residual liquid can also be pumped out via this drainage outlet line with negative pressure.
  • the residual liquid can advantageously be drained from both the drum and the housing in step d). This applies in particular to the first variant in which the housing and drum are part of the separator insert.
  • the removal of the contaminated first separator insert in step e) to replace it with a new second separator insert can advantageously be done by changing the relative position of the recordings with the stator units of the storage facilities.
  • An advantageous and simple method for replacing a first separator insert of a separator in step e) with a second separator insert can be carried out particularly preferably with the following steps: a) providing the separator with a first separator insert mounted on the frame, b) adjusting the relative position, in particular the relative distance, the recordings and release of the form fit between the frame and separator insert and removal of the first separator insert from the recordings; c) providing the second separator insert (before, during or after steps a) and b); d) inserting the other second separator insert into one of the receptacles, so that the corresponding form-fitting means at one end of the housing and at one of the receptacles engage in one another; and e) adjusting the relative position, in particular the relative distance, of the receptacles until the corresponding form-fitting means on both ends of the housing of the separator insert and on the two receptacles engage in one another in a torque-proof manner.
  • the discharge of a first and second product stream separated from the product mixture through the two separate product discharge lines from the separator during separating operation of the separator can advantageously take place in such a way that there are no connections between the product feed system and the product discharge system outside of the separator insert. In this way, a hermetic, contamination-free discharge of the product inflow and outflow is achieved.
  • a first and second product stream separated from the product mixture can be discharged through the two separate product discharge lines from the separator during separating operation of the separator in such a way that there are no connections between the product discharge system and the drainage discharge system outside of the separator insert.
  • the drainage drainage system preferably includes the aforementioned drainage drainage line, possibly an additional at the Drainage outlet line outside of the separator insert connected pipe or hose line and the aforementioned collection container.
  • step d) the draining of residual liquid from the separator when the separating operation of the separator is stopped in step d) preferably takes place in such a way that there are no connections between the product inlet system and the drainage outlet system outside of the separator insert.
  • the product inlet and/or the product outlet is also designed hermetically in relation to the drainage system, as a result of which cross-contamination is avoided.
  • the customer may provide partial recycle of each effluent stream (light or heavy phase) to the output tank (fermenter) (not shown) ranging from 10%-90% recycle to preserve certain adjuvants in the system.
  • the drainage discharge line comprises a connection piece which is formed onto the housing in a medium-tight manner and has a surface which comes into contact with the product, as well as a pipe or hose line which is preferably hermetically connected thereto for discharging the residual liquid into the collection container.
  • the socket protrudes outwards from the housing.
  • said stub protrudes from the adjacent outer wall of the housing.
  • the housing preferably has a product inlet with an inlet line and a first and a second product outlet, with the drainage outlet line being arranged as a separate line opposite the product inlet and product outlet.
  • the inlet line can have an inlet connector projecting into the interior of the housing. This creates a height difference between the inlet opening and the opening of the drainage outlet, so that it is not necessary to close off the product inlet to drain off the residual liquid.
  • the hose or pipelines can have a sterile coupling at the end.
  • the product feed system can advantageously have a pump, preferably a centrifugal pump, whose components that come into contact with the product are preferably replaced after the stop in step d).
  • the product inlet system, the product outlet system and the drainage system can preferably comprise hoses or pipelines plugged onto or onto the product inlet line, the product outlet lines and/or the drainage outlet lines as exchangeable systems.
  • a flow rate of the product feed or a physical measured value equivalent to the flow rate can advantageously be determined for controlling the pump output, in particular by measuring without medium contact.
  • the pump and the flow meter can be arranged in a riser of the product feed system for optimal measurement value acquisition.
  • a heavy phase discharge of the product discharge system can have a pump, preferably a peristaltic pump, which remains as part of the separator after the stop in step d), while the line element connected to the pump is replaced.
  • the heavy phase discharge can have a flow meter and/or a pressure sensor for adjusting the pressure in the heavy phase outlet based on the speed of the pump, with at least the flow meter being arranged along a riser.
  • a container in which the light phase is temporarily stored can advantageously be arranged in a discharge of the light phase.
  • An optical sensor for quality control can preferably be arranged in the outlet of the light phase, preferably downstream of the container in terms of flow mechanics.
  • a pump can also be arranged in the outlet for the light phase, preferably downstream of the container in terms of flow mechanics.
  • the pump output can be regulated by measuring the filling level of the container, preferably by means of a filling level measuring device.
  • the extent of the residual liquid drained in step d) can also be recorded by measurement, among other things for reasons of balancing.
  • an inert gas preferably nitrogen or an inert gas
  • an inert gas can advantageously be introduced into the separator insert, in particular through one or more connecting pieces arranged separately from the product inlets and outlets on the housing of the separator insert.
  • step b) air can advantageously be sucked out of the separator insert through the connection piece(s), e.g. in order to then flood the separator insert with protective gas.
  • gas can be introduced into the separator insert through the connection piece or connections.
  • stator units and the rotor units are mechanically ensured. This applies in particular to the precise axial and radial centering of the stator and rotor units, which are each coaxially located within one another.
  • the invention also creates a separator insert for separating a flowable suspension in a centrifugal field into at least two flowable phases of different densities, which forms a preassembled, exchangeable unit for insertion into stator units on the frame of the separator and has at least the following: a housing that is stationary during operation, which according to Type of a container is designed, which is designed to be closed except for one or one opening, a rotor arranged within the housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation with a drum which has one or more openings, a separating means arranged in the drum, at least two rotor units for Magnetic bearing devices at two axially spaced points on the drum, with which the rotor with the drum can be held in suspension within the housing during operation, can be rotatably mounted and set in rotation, the housing having form-fitting means to prevent the housing from rotating on an abutment to keep.
  • This separator insert is particularly suitable for a separator as an interchangeable module, with the frame, in particular its
  • At least one of the two magnetic bearing devices preferably also represents the rotary drive for the drum, this drive also being suitable for driving the drum at freely adjustable speeds or a freely selectable direction of rotation. It can preferably be provided that one or both magnetic bearing devices have a radial and axial bearing effect and hold the rotor in suspension during operation in the container at a distance from it. In interaction, the rotor and stator units form magnetic bearing devices. With these, the drum can be mounted axially and radially and kept in suspension.
  • a further opening in the drum is designed as a free radial outlet for a second of the flowable phases from the drum into the housing, from which it can be derived.
  • a catch ring chamber of the housing is assigned to the free outlet, which chamber has an outlet from the housing.
  • the first impeller and/or the second impeller is connected downstream of the first impeller and/or the second impeller on the flow side - i.e. possibly in each case on the outflow side - which can be actuated by a control device are.
  • This can preferably be designed as a pinch valve, which acts on the hose line from the outside, but can also be exchanged as an installation variant in the hose line and thus as a single use with the contaminated separator insert according to step D.
  • a plate pack is arranged in the drum as a separating means and that a peeling disk is arranged in a structurally space-saving and simple manner in the drum below the distributor and below the plate pack, i.e. in an area that is otherwise often used for fastening a drive spindle is required, which is not required here.
  • This impeller is used to drain the first free-flowing phase from the drum. It is preferred - as structurally simple and safe - that the rotor units for the magnetic bearing devices are arranged at the two axial ends of the drum and that the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe of the first impeller penetrate one of these two rotor units axially.
  • the separator insert is designed as a preassembled unit.
  • all elements of this insert that come into contact with the product are made of plastic or another non-magnetic material, whereby it can be exchanged as a whole and can be completely disposed of after use. Cleaning and, if necessary, steam sterilization of the separator insert are no longer necessary.
  • the respective bearing device which in addition to a radial bearing also causes an axial bearing of the drum and/or a rotary drive, can act permanently and/or electromagnetically.
  • the inlet pipe or a paring disk shaft surrounding it is inserted into the housing, preferably in a sealed manner, or is designed in one piece with it.
  • the drum can be designed as a single cone or double cone. Additionally or alternatively, it can also have one or more cylindrical sections. It can also be composed of several parts, in particular an upper part and a lower part, these parts preferably being connected to one another (e.g. by gluing or welding) after the installation of inner components and their assembly. Analogously, the housing can be composed of several parts, in particular an upper part and a lower part, these parts preferably being connected to one another (e.g. by gluing or welding) after the installation of inner components - in particular the rotor - and their assembly.
  • the outlets can have sockets on the outside of the housing, which are sealed on the outer circumference of the housing, so that hoses or the like can be connected in a simple manner.
  • the hoses can also be pre-assembled on the nozzles so that they are completely sterile and, if necessary, sterile are locked.
  • the sockets can extend, for example, radially, tangentially or obliquely to the radial direction.
  • the entire separator insert can also be provided as a sealed unit, into which no contaminants can enter.
  • the nozzles can be releasably sealed at the openings of the housing.
  • hose sections can be arranged on the nozzles, which have openable and closable connectors with which the separator insert can be connected to other elements of the inlet and outlet system such as bags or tanks or hoses or pipelines.
  • separators are suitable for operation at variable, even relatively high, speeds.
  • it can also be used for one-off processing - for example for centrifugal separation of a product batch of a free-flowing fermentation broth as a suspension - from e.g. 100 l to a few thousand, e.g. 4000 l - into different phases - and then disposed of.
  • a particular advantage is that all the components of the separator that come into contact with the product can be installed, operated and then disposed of as a prefabricated and already germ-free unit.
  • This prefabricated unit consists at least of the rotor with the drum, the separating discs, the inlet distributor and the rotor magnets or rotor units, as well as the housing with the inlets and outlets.
  • the unit can also contain inlet and outlet lines (e.g. hoses) as well as measuring equipment or other components that come into contact with the product, which are intended for single use and are disposed of together with the separator unit after use.
  • the housing only has the openings for inlet pipes and for outlets and is otherwise designed to be hermetically closed.
  • the inlet pipes and the outlets protrude outwards from the housing in the manner of sockets, with these sockets being connected to the housing in a sealed manner or being formed in one piece with it.
  • Figure 1 a schematic, sectional representation of a first interchangeable
  • FIG. 2 a schematic, sectional view of a second replaceable separator insert of a separator together with a schematic view of an inlet and outlet system and a control unit of the separator;
  • FIG. 3 a schematic representation of a separator with a reusable frame and an exchangeable separator insert, the latter here in the manner of FIG. 1, with hose sections arranged thereon;
  • FIG. 4 a perspective view of the replaceable separator insert
  • FIGS. 1-7 shows a perspective view of a modification of the separator and the separator insert of FIGS. 1-7 as a further exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an installation for carrying out the method according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 1-8 shows a perspective view of a separator insert as a modification of the variants of FIGS. 1-8 with an integrated drainage discharge line; and 11 shows a further embodiment variant with a rotor as a separator insert and a housing as a fixed, non-exchangeable component part of the separator;
  • FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment variant of a separator insert, which has at least one connecting piece on its housing for supplying or discharging gas.
  • Figure 1 -12 shows several separators with a multiple use frame I and with an exchangeable separator insert II for centrifugal separation.
  • the method according to the invention can be implemented in particular by the embodiment variants of FIGS. 9-12, in which a drainage discharge line 120 is provided.
  • the separator insert could also be designed in the manner of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 and optionally be supplemented by a drainage discharge line (not shown).
  • the separator insert II is preferably designed as a prefabricated unit.
  • the separator insert II is designed as a one-way separator insert that can be exchanged or exchanged as a whole and is designed as a preassembled unit, which is constructed entirely or predominantly from plastic or plastic composite materials.
  • the separator insert (which does not include elements 4a and 5a) is shown separately in FIGS. 1 and 2 by way of example. It can be disposed of after a product batch has been processed and replaced with a new separator insert II.
  • the separator insert II of the separator has a housing 1 and the rotor 2, which is inserted into the housing 1 and can be rotated relative to the housing 1 during operation.
  • the rotor 2 has an axis of rotation D. This can be aligned vertically, which corresponds to the structure of the frame I. However, it can also be aligned differently in space if the frame is also designed accordingly.
  • the rotor 2 of the separator insert II has a rotating drum 3 .
  • the rotor 2 is rotatably mounted with respective magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 at two locations spaced apart axially from one another in the direction of the axis of rotation. Preferably, the rotor 2 or the drum 3 is then also rotatably mounted at the two axial ends.
  • the separator insert II has rotor units 4b, 5b of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5.
  • stator units 4a, 5a of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 are arranged on the frame 1-1.
  • the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 preferably act radially and axially and keep the rotatably mounted rotor 2 in suspension, preferably in the housing 1 at a distance from it.
  • Such a separator with an easily exchangeable separator insert can be useful and advantageous when processing products where it can be ruled out with a very high degree of certainty that impurities are introduced into the product - a free-flowing suspension or its phases - during centrifugal processing or where cleaning and disinfecting the separator would be very expensive or not possible at all.
  • the frame I has a console 1-1. This can - but does not have to - be stored on a carriage I-2 with rollers I-3.
  • Receptacles I-4 and I-5 can be formed on the console 1-1, which also serve to receive and hold the separator insert II during operation.
  • a first axial end of the separator insert II preferably protrudes into or onto the upper receptacle I-4 from below and a lower end of the separator insert II protrudes into or onto the other receptacle I-5 from above, and the separator insert is there II held on the console 1-1 and thus on the frame I rotatably.
  • One or both of the receptacles I-4 and/or I-5 can be arranged on the side of the frame I, in particular the console 1-1. According to one variant, it can also be provided that, for example, the lower receptacle I-5 is designed to be stationary on the console I-1. It is then advantageous that the further upper receptacle I-4 is designed to be adjustable in height on the console 1-1.
  • console 1-1 has such a vertical extension/length that the separator insert in a first position of the height-adjustable recording I-4 is held stationary by the two height-adjustable recordings I-4, I-5 and can be changed in the other upper position.
  • the receptacles I-4 and I-5 with the stator units 4a, 5a on the frame I can be moved axially apart and back together in order to change the separator insert II, i.e. to remove the old separator insert II from the To be able to remove frame I and exchange it for a new one.
  • This can be implemented, for example, with a rail on the console and a sliding carriage that can be locked in a sliding position on the height-adjustable mount (not shown in detail).
  • the respective stator units 4a, 5a of two drive and magnetic bearing devices 4 and 5 can be arranged in the respective receptacles I-4 and I-5.
  • the control and power electronics for this can be arranged in or on the frame I, e.g. in, on or on the console 1-1.
  • Corresponding form-fitting means can be formed on the receptacles I-4 and I-5 and on a housing 1 of the separator insert II that does not rotate during operation, in order to be able to insert the separator insert II in a rotationally fixed manner into the stator units 4a, 5a.
  • the upper and lower stator units 4a, 5a can each have axes that are aligned with one another.
  • the housing 1 and the receptacles I-4 or I-5 with the stator units 4a, 5a can have projections (e.g. pins or webs) and recesses (e.g. bores) as the corresponding form-fitting means, in order to prevent the housing 1 from rotating to hold on the stator units and thus on the frame II.
  • the corresponding form-fitting means can also be formed directly on the frame II.
  • the position of these corresponding positive-locking means also defines the functionally required position of the stator units 4a, 5a and the rotor units 4b, 5b relative to one another. This particularly affects the precise centering of each coaxial nested units 4a, 5a and 4b, 5b. In this case, a holding force (from above and below) can be exerted on the housing through the receptacles, if necessary also in the axial direction, in order to hold this if necessary also in a non-positive manner.
  • the receptacles I-4 and I-5 with the stator units 4a, 5a of the frame I each have several pins 41a projecting in the axial direction, and the respective separator insert II can have corresponding blind holes on the housing 1, for example extending in the axial direction, as recesses 42 or 41 b have.
  • the receptacle I-4 with the stator unit 4a has pins 41 projecting axially or here vertically downwards (not visible here) and the separator insert II has corresponding blind-hole-like recesses 42 vertically above (can be seen here) and the lower receptacle I- 5 with the lower stator unit 5a has pins 41a that protrude axially or here vertically upwards (can be seen here) and the separator insert II has corresponding blind hole-like recesses axially below (not visible here).
  • pins 41a and recesses 41b are distributed here on the corners of an imaginary polygon, in particular a square, specifically formed on the receptacles I-4, I-5 and the housing 1 of the separator insert II at the top and bottom.
  • corresponding form-fitting means 41a, 41b and 42 are distributed around the circumference of the separator insert II.
  • the corresponding form-fitting means can also be arranged asymmetrically in order to ensure that the separator insert can only be used in a single orientation.
  • the stator units 4a, 5a can each have openings, in particular through-openings 43, in order to accommodate lines such as hoses 44, 45 which are connected to the separator insert II at the top and/or bottom.
  • One or both receptacles I-4 and I-5 is/are designed to be vertically adjustable.
  • one of the two receptacles I-4 or I-5 can also be designed to be fixed on the frame I. So it is also conceivable that one of the two recordings I-4 or I-5 - for example the lower one - is formed on a wall of the frame I and is non-adjustable. It is then sufficient to design the frame I in such a way that the respective other receptacles I-4 or I-5 can be adjusted, in particular are arranged and/or designed to be vertically adjustable in height on the frame I.
  • Fig. 5 shows the frame I before inserting a separator insert II.
  • the two stator units 4a, 5a have been moved so far apart relative to one another that the respective separator insert can be lifted axially between the two receptacles with the stator units 4a, 5a (FIGS. 5, 6), with the separator insert II then being in/on the lower receptacle I-5 is set (FIGS. 6 and 7) so that the corresponding form-fitting means—here 41, 42—intermesh.
  • the hose 45 at the lower end of the housing 1 has been guided downwards through the through-opening 43 of the lower—and thus axially associated—stator unit 5a (FIG. 6).
  • the upper receptacle I-4 is now lowered until the corresponding form fitting means of the upper receptacle I-4 and the housing 1 of the separator insert I—here 41, 42—also securely engage (FIG. 7). At this time, upper hoses 44 on the housing 1 are passed through the through hole 43 of the upper receptacle I-4.
  • the separator insert II is now securely held on the frame I in a rotationally fixed manner. Therefore, the spinning and separating process for processing a batch of product can begin in the centrifugal field. After the intended batch has been processed, the upper separator unit is raised again until the separator unit can be lifted out of the frame I and exchanged for a new one.
  • exemplary preferred separator inserts II together with the construction of the drive and bearing system of the separator, the control of the separator and the inlet and outlet system of the separator are described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
  • the invention is not limited to this.
  • the inlet and outlet lines can also be implemented differently on the separator insert II.
  • the rotor units 4b, 5b can essentially be designed in the manner of inner rings made of magnets, in particular permanent magnets
  • the reusable stator units 4a, 5a can essentially be designed in the manner of outer rings, which are used for the axial and radial bearing of the rotor 2 (e.g. at the top). or alternatively can be used for rotary drive (e.g. below).
  • the rotor units 4b and/or 5b also represent a part of the rotating system or rotor.
  • the rotor of the drive is therefore part of the drum of the centrifugal separator.
  • One or both of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 is/are thus preferably also used as a drive device for rotating the rotor 2 with the drum 3 in the housing 1.
  • the respective magnetic bearing device forms a combined magnetic bearing and drive device.
  • the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 can be embodied as axial and/or radial bearings which support the drum 3 at its ends in an overall cooperating manner axially and radially during operation and keep it floating and rotating overall during operation.
  • the basic structure of the magnetic bearing devices 4 and 5 can be the same or largely the same. In this case, in particular, only one of the two magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 can also be used as a drive device. There are thus in each case corresponding components of the magnetic bearing 4, 5 on the separator insert II - on its rotor 2 - and other corresponding parts on the frame I are formed.
  • One or both stator units 4a, 5a can also be electrically connected to control and power electronics for controlling the electromagnetic components of the magnetic bearing devices.
  • the respective magnetic bearing device 4, 5 can, for example, work according to a combined electromagnetic and permanent magnetic operating principle.
  • At least the lower axially acting magnetic bearing device 5 is used to keep the rotor 2 floating inside the housing 1 axially by levitation. It can have one or more first permanent magnets, for example on the underside of the rotor, and can also have electromagnets on a receptacle on the frame, which coaxially position the permanent magnet or magnets surround.
  • the drive of the rotor can be achieved electromagnetically. However, a drive via rotating permanent magnets can also be implemented.
  • Such storage and drive devices are used, for example, by the company Levitronix, e.g. for driving centrifugal pumps (EP2 273 124 B1). They can also be used in the context of this document.
  • a first Levitronix motor "below” can be used as a drive, which also magnetically supports the drum radially and axially.
  • the rotor speed can be variably adjusted with the aid of a control device 37 (see FIG. 1 or 2) or a separate control device for the magnetic bearings 4, 5. Likewise, the direction of rotation of the rotor 2 can be specified and changed in this way.
  • the rotor 2 rotates. It is thus held in suspension axially and centered radially.
  • the rotor 2 with the drum 3 is preferably operated at a speed of between 1,000, preferably 5,000 to 10,000, possibly also up to 20,000 revolutions per minute.
  • the centrifugal forces arising as a result of the rotation lead to the above-described separation of a suspension to be processed into various flowable phases LP, HP of different densities and to their derivation, as described in more detail below.
  • the product batch is processed in continuous operation, which means that the phases separated from the suspension are completely drained from the drum during operation.
  • the housing 1 is preferably made of a plastic or a plastic composite material.
  • the housing 1 can be cylindrical and have a cylindrical outer shell, at the ends of which two radially extending boundary walls 6, 7 (top and bottom) are formed.
  • the drum 3 is used for the centrifugal separation of a free-flowing suspension S in a centrifugal field into at least two phases LP, HP of different densities, which can be, for example, a light liquid phase and a heavy solid phase or a heavy liquid phase.
  • the rotor 2 and its drum 3 have a vertical axis of rotation D in a preferred embodiment.
  • the housing 1 and the rotor 2 could also be oriented differently in space.
  • the following description relates to the vertical alignment shown (Fig. 3). With a different orientation in space, the alignments change according to the new alignment.
  • one or both outlets - to be discussed later - are arranged differently.
  • the rotor 2 of the separator with the drum 3 preferably consists entirely or predominantly of a plastic material or a plastic composite material.
  • the drum 3 is preferably designed to be cylindrical and/or conical, at least in sections. The same applies to the other elements in the rotor 2 and on the housing 1 (except for elements of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5).
  • the housing 1 is designed in the manner of a container, which is advantageously hermetically sealed except for a few openings/opening areas (still to be discussed).
  • one of the openings is formed in each of the two axial boundary walls 6, 7, which are here, for example, at the top and bottom.
  • One of the openings--in the first, here upper, axial boundary wall 6-- enables or serves as an inlet 8 according to FIGS 1 to the drum 3.
  • first phase is a lighter phase LP and the second phase is a denser, heavier phase HP compared to the first phase.
  • a second of the openings--in the second, here lower, axial boundary wall 7-- enables or serves as an outlet for the second, heavier phase HP directly from the drum 3 through the housing 1.
  • the drum 3 also has openings which correspond to the openings of the housing.
  • a feed pipe 12 for a suspension to be processed extends into an upper opening 12a at one axial end of the drum 3 . This penetrates the housing 1, in particular its one - here upper - axial boundary wall 6. On the outer circumference, the inlet pipe 12 is sealed towards the housing 1 according to FIG executed. It is preferably also made of plastic. One end of the inlet pipe 12 protrudes outwards from the housing 1 at the top and extends through the upper boundary wall 6 into the drum 3 , without touching the drum 3 .
  • the inlet pipe 12 passes through the housing 1 and one magnetic bearing 4 concentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotor 2, then extends further axially within the housing 1 into the rotatable drum 3 and ends there with its other end - a free outlet end.
  • the feed pipe 12 ends in the drum 3 in a distributor 13 that can be rotated with the drum 3.
  • the distributor 13 has a tubular distributor shaft 14 and a distributor foot 15.
  • In the distributor foot 15 one or more distributor channels 16 are formed.
  • a stack of separating disks consisting of separating disks 17 that are conical here can be placed on the distributor 13 .
  • the distributor 13 and the separating plates 17 are preferably also made of plastic.
  • a first impeller 33 serves to drain off the heavier phase HP of the two phases HP and LP from the drum 3.
  • An impeller shaft or a central discharge pipe 34 penetrates the second axial boundary wall 7 (see Figures 1 and 2).
  • the drum 3 has at least two cylindrical sections 18, 19 of different diameters.
  • One or more conical transition regions can be formed on the drum 3 adjacent to this.
  • the drum 3 can also have a single or double conical design overall in its central axial area (not shown here).
  • the drum 3 can have a lower cylindrical portion 20 of smaller diameter, on/in which the rotor assembly 5b of the lower magnetic bearing is also formed, which merges into a conical portion 20a, then here a cylindrical portion 19 of larger diameter, for example, then again a tapered portion 18a and then an upper smaller-diameter cylindrical portion 18 on which the rotor unit 4b of the upper magnetic bearing 4 is formed.
  • the separator inserts of FIGS. 1 and 2 differ with regard to the derivation of the lighter phase.
  • Openings (which can be distributed around the circumference of the drum 3, so that a plurality of openings can be provided on the drum 3) serve as radial or tangential outlets 21 of the light phase LP from the drum 3 according to FIG according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 then the outlet or serves as outlet 10 for the lighter product phase LP which forms during the centrifugal separation and which has been discharged from the drum 3 .
  • the first outlets 21 on the radius ro of the drum 3 are designed in particular as "nozzle-like" openings in the outer casing of the drum 3 . They are also designed as so-called “free” drains from drum 3 .
  • the first outlets 21 serve to discharge the lighter phase LP.
  • the outlets can be designed in such a way that the light phase emerges radially or, alternatively, be shaped in such a way that the light phase emerges tangentially against the direction of rotation of the drum and thus contributes to driving the rotor and reducing the drive energy.
  • This phase emerging from the drum 3 is caught in the housing 1 in an upper catch ring chamber 23 of the housing 1 .
  • This catch ring chamber 23 is designed in such a way that the phase caught in it is passed to the outlet 10 of the catch ring chamber 23 . This can be achieved in that the outlet 10 is located at the lowest point of the catch ring chamber 23 in each case.
  • the annular catching chamber 23 is open radially inward toward the rotating drum 3 and is spaced apart in such a way that liquid spurting out of the respective outlet 21 during the centrifugal separation essentially only sprays into the associated annular catching chamber 23, which is at the same axial level becomes.
  • a chamber 25 that is not used for discharging a phase can optionally be formed below the annular capture chamber 23 .
  • This chamber 25 can optionally have a leakage drain (not shown here). The leakage can drain freely. However, it can also be sucked off by vacuum if the chamber 25 has a vacuum connection for connecting a device that generates a vacuum.
  • the first annular catch chamber 23 and the chamber 25 can be separated from one another by a first here conical wall 26 which, starting from the outer surface of the housing 1, runs conically inwards and upwards and ends at a distance from the drum 3 radially in front of it.
  • the product phase LP is discharged from the housing 1 through the outlet 10, preferably at the lowest point of the annular capture chamber.
  • Connection pieces can be provided in the area of the outlet 10 on the outside of the housing 1 in order to be able to easily connect lines, hoses and the like.
  • the housing 1 can be composed of a plurality of plastic parts which are connected to one another in a sealed manner, for example by gluing or welding.
  • the first impeller 33 is provided according to FIGS. 1 and 2, which extends essentially radially and into an axially running discharge pipe 34 as an impeller shaft passes, which passes through the lower axial boundary wall 7 of the housing 1.
  • the paring disk 33 has an outer diameter ru. In this case, ru > ro.
  • the inlet openings 33a of the impeller 33 are therefore on a larger diameter or radius ru than the outlets 21 for the light phase LP on the radius ro. It is thus possible to derive a phase HP that is heavier than the lighter phase LP from the drum 3 with the paring disk 33 .
  • the impeller 33 stands still during operation of the separator and dips with its outer edge into the heavier phase HP rotating in the drum 3 .
  • the phase HP is diverted inwards through the channels in the impeller 33 .
  • the impeller 33 thus serves to derive the phase HP in the manner of a centripetal pump.
  • the peeling disc 33 can be arranged in the drum 3 below the distributor 14 and below the plate pack 17 in a simple and compact manner.
  • the radius ru corresponds to the immersion depth of the peeling disc 33.
  • the drain pipe 34 is led out with one end out of the housing 1 down out of the drum and through the lower boundary wall 7, while not touching the drum 3 at the same time.
  • the drain tube 34 may be integrally formed with the housing 1 or may be sealingly inserted therein.
  • a hose or the like can be connected to the discharge pipe as a discharge line 35 .
  • the discharge pipe passes through the housing 1 and the lower magnetic bearing 5 concentrically to the axis of rotation D of the rotor 2, then extends further axially within the housing 1 into the impeller 33.
  • the volume flow of the heavy phase HP in the discharge line 35 can be throttled by the control valve 36 and the immersion depth of the associated impeller can be increased.
  • the control valve 36 is preferably connected to the control device 37 wirelessly or by wire.
  • the control device 37 can also be designed and provided for controlling the magnetic bearings 4, 5 and the drive.
  • the light phase LP is also discharged via an impeller.
  • an impeller 22 is provided in the upper region of the drum 3 here, the inlet openings 22a of which in turn can be on a smaller radius ro than the radius ru of the inlet of the first—lower—impeller 33 for the heavier phase.
  • the shank of this impeller 22 can surround the inlet pipe 8 like an outer outlet pipe 24 in the manner of a ring channel and instead of the inlet pipe 8 can be tightly connected to the housing 1 or formed in one piece with it.
  • the drain pipes 24, 34 of the two peeling discs 22, 33 are thus led out of the drum 3 at opposite ends of the latter, as shown in FIG. They are also led out of the housing 1 at opposite ends of the latter. They can be inserted into the housing 1 in a sealed manner. But you can also be made in one piece with this plastic.
  • the inlet pipe 12 can be connected to the impeller shaft 24 at the upper end of the latter.
  • a radial or tangential connecting piece 24a can be led out of the impeller shaft 24 .
  • a discharge line 40 for discharging the light phase can be connected to this, which can open into a bag or tank, for example.
  • the ends of the tubes 12 and 34 can also be designed as sockets for connecting hoses or the like (FIG. 2, but also FIG. 1).
  • controllable, in particular electrically controllable, control valve 39 is also inserted in the discharge line 40 for the light phase LP.
  • the volume flow of the light phase LP can be changed by the control valve 39, in particular throttled to a greater or lesser extent, and the immersion depth of the second impeller 22 can thus be changed.
  • the control valve 39 is also connected to the control device 37 wirelessly or by wire, so that it can be controlled by the control device 37 .
  • the respective impeller disk 22, 33 is a cylindrical and essentially radially aligned disk provided with several channels, for example with one to six channels, which is stationary during operation and has channels, so that a type of centripetal pump is formed.
  • the respective paring disk 22 or 33 dips with its outer edge into the phase LP or HP rotating in the separator.
  • the respective phase LP, HP is diverted inwards through the channels in the impeller and the rotational speed of the respective phase LP, HP is converted into pressure.
  • the respective impeller 22, 33 thus replaces a drain pump for the respective phase LP, HP.
  • the impellers thus each work as a centripetal pump. They can be made of plastic.
  • a third paring disk could also be provided, which could be used to derive a further phase.
  • the respective separator is provided with its reusable components or reusable components.
  • This includes the frame I and the drive and stator units 4a, 5a of the magnetic bearing devices.
  • This also includes a control unit 37.
  • a separator insert II is then provided and mounted on the frame I. To do this, only the stator units 4a and 5a have to be moved apart.
  • the separator insert is then inserted in a form-fitting manner and the stator units are moved towards one another. The housing is thus securely held against rotation.
  • hoses are now connected to the nozzles, which end in tanks or bags.
  • the respective separator insert of FIGS. 1 and 2 can therefore preferably also have hoses and nozzles which can be connected to other lines (not shown here) and containers such as bags, tanks, pumps and the like.
  • the lighter phase LP flows radially inwards in the bowl 3 in the separation space and rises through a channel 38 on a stem of the distributor. There the phase LP leaves the drum according to FIGS. 1 and 2 on a radius ro.
  • the separating process can be influenced in a simple manner with the control valve or valves 36 , 39 . This results in an optimization of the separation process.
  • the main application of the method according to the invention for operating the separator is cell separations in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • the performance range is intended for processing broths from fermenters in the range of 100 l - 4000 l as well as for laboratory applications.
  • separators are used in various areas of industry in which separators are used would also be conceivable: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, dairy technology, renewable raw materials, oil and gas, beverage technology, mineral oil, etc.
  • the separators shown make it possible to produce a separator insert in which preferably all the components that come into contact with the product can be made of plastic or other non-magnetic materials, which can be disposed of after a single use or fed into a recycling process. Cleaning after use is therefore no longer necessary.
  • the separator and its operation can thus be implemented cost-effectively.
  • FIG. 8 shows a modification of the separator insert II of FIGS. 1-7 in a second embodiment variant, identical features being provided with analogous reference symbols.
  • the special feature of this second embodiment variant is that the one or more form-fitting means 41a and the corresponding form-fitting means 41b provided on the frame I are only provided on one side between the frame I and the separator insert II, and as a result also an axial and Anti-rotation of the separator insert II relative to the frame I is made possible. This reduces, among other things, the complexity of the structure.
  • Figs. 1-8 The use of the modular centrifugal separator with replaceable liner shown in Figs. 1-8 provides a sterile interior, i. H. a sterile flow path within the centrifugal separator.
  • separators with product feed and discharge system and drainage system consisting of separator insert, feed system and discharge system
  • other interchangeable components can also be used to provide a sterile flow path for the feed suspension and the separated light and heavy phases.
  • the feed suspension pump, feed tubing, light phase and heavy phase tubing, and heavy phase receptacle may be interchangeable sterile components used to separate a single batch of product or a limited number of product batches are used appropriately.
  • the tubing for the drainage liquid, as well as the container for the drainage liquid, can also be replaceable sterile components. All of these components are connected to each other with sterile connectors to enable easy and at the same time sterile changing of the components.
  • the product feed system, the product discharge system and the drainage discharge system of the separator are explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 9:
  • a single-use centrifugal pump 101 for example, can be used in the inlet. This has the advantage that it is smaller than comparable peristaltic pumps with the same throughput. Depending on its speed and the existing back pressure, the pump delivers a certain volume.
  • the flow meter 102 which is also arranged in the feed line between the pump 101 and the separator insert II, preferably works with a non-contact measuring principle, for example the ultrasonic transit time difference method. This means it can simply be pushed over the supply line without coming into contact with the product. It can therefore be reused continuously, while the inlet hose is a single-use product.
  • the measurement signal from the flow meter is used to regulate the speed of the feed pump. In this way, a controller can adjust the speed of the inflow pump so that the preselected target value for the inflow quantity corresponds to the measured actual value.
  • the pump and flow meter are placed in the rising inlet pipe so that the pipe is always filled with liquid, resulting in a more stable reading of the flow meter 102.
  • a pump 110 and a flow meter 111 are arranged in the discharge line for the heavy phase.
  • the pump and flow meter are placed in the rising drain line, so the line is always filled with liquid, resulting in a more stable reading of the flow meter 111.
  • the drain pump 110 is preferably designed as a peristaltic pump.
  • the advantage of a peristaltic pump is, among other things, that it only comes into contact with the outside of the drain hose and is not in direct contact with the product.
  • a valve can also be used to regulate the flow, either acting on the outside of the hose or in the hose as a single-use version.
  • the peristaltic pump delivers a defined volume depending on the speed. Unlike the centrifugal pump, it can be used as a throttle, i.e. create a pressure in the outlet of the heavy phase, the level of which can be regulated by the controller. Correspondingly, the pressure sensors required for this can be provided in individual hose lines or preferably in all hose lines (not shown in the figure).
  • a tank 105 serving as a buffer tank is provided in the light phase discharge line.
  • the filling level of the light phase currently in the buffer container is determined by means of a filling level measuring device 104 and passed on to the controller.
  • a load cell can also be used to quantify the filling quantity.
  • the introduction of the light phase from the separator insert II into the container 105 can take place in the upper part of the container 105 (above the liquid level) or in the lower part of the container (below the liquid level). For products that tend to foam, the above introduction has proven itself.
  • the outlet of the reservoir 105 is connected to a descending drain hose which is passed through an optical sensor 106 and a peristaltic pump 107 .
  • the speed of the pump is optimally regulated with the aid of the measurement signal from the filling level measurement device 104 in such a way that the container 105 is never completely full and is never completely empty. In this way, the drain hose is always full, which results in a stable signal from the optical sensor 106 . This can also be achieved by arranging two limit switches to monitor the minimum and maximum levels.
  • the signal from the optical sensor 106 is used to assess the quality of the light phase. Here, for example, the amount of remaining trub and suspended matter can be assessed.
  • the pump 107 can be designed either as a centrifugal pump or as a peristaltic pump.
  • the volume of the container 105 is to be chosen in such a way that the dwell time of the light phase in the container is long enough for bubbles to be able to separate from the liquid.
  • the delivery rate of the pump 107 can be adjusted in such a way that a constant filling level is maintained approximately in the middle of the container 105.
  • the sloping discharge hose line connected to the drainage discharge of the separator insert II leads into a container 109 which is provided with a filling level measuring device 108 .
  • This can be used to determine the drained amount of drainage liquid. Drainage liquid is mainly generated when the drum comes to a standstill at the end of batch processing and drains through this drain. It is also possible to determine the mass, for example using a load cell. As an alternative, a limit switch can also be used here. All of the aforementioned variants are preferably non-invasive. With this, the filling level of the heavy phase in the container 109 can be determined and regulated in the same way as with the light phase. All of the hose lines in FIG. 9 for supply and discharge lines into and out of the separating system then each end in a sterile coupling 112. Not shown in FIG. 9 is the frame for holding the separator insert and the drive.
  • a filling level measuring device 108 or 104 can be arranged, for example as an ultrasonic sensor element, in a bottom area of the container 105/109. It emits a signal that is reflected at the liquid boundary. A time measurement enables the filling level to be determined.
  • FIG. 10 shows a modification of the first variant of the separator insert II from FIGS. 1-8 for connection to the drainage system from FIG. This is arranged in the bottom area 121 of the separator insert and has a liquid outlet 122 and 123 both from the drum and from the housing. The remainder can be structurally identical to previous variants.
  • FIG. 11 shows a second variant of a separator insert III, which can be operated within the scope of a method according to the invention.
  • This separator insert III has an inlet on the bottom via the inlet line 61 and the distributor 70 into the plate stack 67 .
  • the product feed line 61 includes a feed connection piece 73 which extends from the bottom of the housing 68 into the interior of the rotor 65 and opens into a distributor space 78 of a holding device 77 of the plate stack 67 .
  • the holding device 77 can have a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor 65 .
  • One or more distribution ducts 70 lead off from the distribution space 78 and allow radial forwarding of the supplied starting product into a separation zone of the rotor 65 .
  • the product flow 62 of the light phase takes place analogously to FIGS. 1-10.
  • the product outlet 63 of the heavy phase is discharged via channels in a separating plate 69, here as a closed-walled separating plate at the end of the plate pack, and finally through a gripper 64 into a discharge through the product line of the product outlet 63.
  • a separating plate 69 here as a closed-walled separating plate at the end of the plate pack
  • the separator insert III can be designed in such a way that the rotor 65, in particular the drum 66 and the plate pack 67, can be removed from the housing 68.
  • the rotor, in particular the drum be emptied of residual liquid before the rotor is removed in the context of the present method. In this case, this can be done via the feed line 61 .
  • the feed line can be attached to the housing in an exchangeable and medium-tight manner via seals that are not shown, e.g.
  • 11 can be modified in many ways, but shows in particular that the method according to the invention can also be applied to a separator in which only the rotor with its product inlet and outlet lines is designed as an exchangeable separator unit III.
  • the housing 68 can be opened--not shown--for example by forming a part of the housing as a cover.
  • at least the upper receptacle should preferably be removed from the cover.
  • the residual liquid is discharged into a collection container 74 via the drainage discharge line 120 via a line element 71 connected thereto, in particular a discharge element in the form of a hose attached or attached.
  • the feed line 61 in particular the feed connection piece 73, is connected to a feed line element 72, which is connected to a container 75 with the suspension of the starting product is connected.
  • a switching valve (not shown) can be arranged in this line element, which switches between two containers 75, for example in order to supply a demulsifier to improve the suspension. Alternatively, the valve can be closed and the line elements exchanged with the containers.
  • the feed element can have a pump, e.g. a peristaltic pump, in which only the feed element comes into contact with the starting product.
  • a pump e.g. a peristaltic pump
  • FIG. 12 shows a further variant of a separator insert II which can be operated within the scope of a method according to the invention.
  • This separator insert II has at least one connecting piece 76 on its housing 1 .
  • the separator insert can be filled with an inert gas through this connecting piece before the product to be separated reaches the separator insert. This prevents the product to be separated from coming into contact with air or oxygen.
  • a second connecting piece 76 can be provided on the housing 1, which is provided for discharging gases from the separator insert, so that the separator insert can be flushed with inert gas.
  • the gas can also be sucked out of the otherwise hermetically sealed separator insert through the connecting piece 76 in such a way that a vacuum is created in the separator insert, which not only reduces contact with the remaining oxygen, but also reduces the friction of the rotating drum 66. which is now rotating in a lower density atmosphere.
  • a compressed gas for example compressed air
  • a compressed gas can also be introduced via one or more of the gas connections 76, which additionally promotes the emptying of the housing via the drainage line.
  • stator units 4a, 5a are stator stator units 4a, 5a
  • Line element 71 supply line element 72 inlet connection 73 collection container 74

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  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé pour faire fonctionner un séparateur destiné à réduire les contaminations croisées lors du traitement de produits, un insert de séparateur (II, III) étant disposé sur un cadre (I) ou dans un logement (68) du séparateur sous la forme d'une unité interchangeable pré-assemblée destinée à être insérée dans des unités de stator (4a, 4b) et l'unité de séparateur (II, III) comprenant au moins les éléments suivants : i) un rotor (2, 65) apte à tourner autour d'un axe de rotation (D) et comportant un tambour (3, 66) et une paroi de tambour ; ii) de préférence un moyen de séparation disposé dans le tambour (3) ; iii) au moins une conduite d'amenée de produit et deux conduites d'évacuation de produit ; iv) les zones de l'insert de séparateur entrant en contact avec le produit étant partiellement ou entièrement en matière plastique. Le procédé est caractérisé par les étapes suivantes consistant : a) à utiliser le séparateur avec un premier insert de séparateur (II, III) monté sur le cadre (I) ou dans le logement ; b) à introduire un produit de départ à séparer dans le séparateur ; c) à évacuer un premier et un second flux de produit (LP, HP), qui sont séparés du mélange de produits, hors du séparateur à travers les deux conduites d'évacuation de produit séparées pendant une opération de séparation du séparateur ; d) à arrêter l'opération de séparation et d'évacuation du liquide résiduel restant dans le tambour ; e) à échanger l'insert de séparateur contaminé vidé (II, III) du cadre ou du logement du séparateur pour un insert de séparateur inutilisé.
EP22773511.5A 2021-09-07 2022-09-06 Insert de séparateur, séparateur, et procédé d'échange d'un insert de séparateur Pending EP4399030A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102021123178.7A DE102021123178A1 (de) 2021-09-07 2021-09-07 Separatoreinsatz, Separator und Verfahren zum Wechseln eines Separatoreinsatzes
DE202022104551 2022-08-10
PCT/EP2022/074767 WO2023036786A1 (fr) 2021-09-07 2022-09-06 Insert de séparateur, séparateur, et procédé d'échange d'un insert de séparateur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4399030A1 true EP4399030A1 (fr) 2024-07-17

Family

ID=83398360

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22773511.5A Pending EP4399030A1 (fr) 2021-09-07 2022-09-06 Insert de séparateur, séparateur, et procédé d'échange d'un insert de séparateur

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4399030A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2024533062A (fr)
KR (1) KR20240050364A (fr)
IL (1) IL310796A (fr)
WO (1) WO2023036786A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB783256A (en) * 1955-09-22 1957-09-18 Separator Ab Centrifugal separator
EP2273124B1 (fr) 2009-07-06 2015-02-25 Levitronix GmbH Pompe centrifuge et procédé d'équilibrage de la poussée axiale dans une pompe centrifuge
DE102012105499A1 (de) 2012-06-25 2014-01-02 Gea Mechanical Equipment Gmbh Separator
DE102017128027A1 (de) * 2017-11-27 2019-05-29 Gea Mechanical Equipment Gmbh Separator
EP3666384B1 (fr) 2018-12-10 2021-08-18 Alfa Laval Corporate AB Séparateur centrifuge et procédé d'élimination de verrous d'air dans un séparateur centrifuge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IL310796A (en) 2024-04-01
JP2024533062A (ja) 2024-09-12
KR20240050364A (ko) 2024-04-18
WO2023036786A1 (fr) 2023-03-16

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