ES2403140A2 - Supercentrifuga with automatic device for solid extraction (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Supercentrifuge with automatic device for extracting solids. Supercentrifuge with automatic solids extraction device comprising a piston inside the rotor or separation and clarification chamber, which, in turn, comprises an inlet of the liquid to be clarified, a separated-clarified liquid outlet, an outlet of residual liquid and an output of solids. The piston is of frustoconical geometry with the larger base of a diameter equal to the internal diameter of the rotor, disposed inside it. It has means of longitudinal drive along the inside of the rotor characterized in that the drive element is compressed air or gases and lacks any mechanical connection with the outside in the entire path of the said plunger for emptying the solid. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

The present invention refers to a

Tubular rotor supercentrifuge for clarification of a liquid, or separation of two non-miscible liquids and solid, which presents an automatic discharge system of the solid retained in the clarification or separation of said liquids.

The present invention is of essential application in supercentrifuges. Super centrifuge means a centrifuge whose centrifugal factor is between 5,000 and 20,000 g.

They are

known supercentrifuges from rotor

tubular

for the decanting from particles solid

(clarification

of the liquid), in the that he solid is

retained inside the rotor and must be removed periodically manually.

Said centrifuges clarify and separate liquids with a low solid content and work continuously until the referred solid fills the rotor. At that time, the machine must be stopped and disassembled with tools for this purpose, for manual emptying or with cleaning elements outside the machine.

Known centrifuges perform manual emptying operations of the solid that require the intervention of specialized personnel and do not prevent operator contact with API, Super-API, hazardous products, etc. or that have emptying procedures for scratching the product, with external mechanical drives.

Therefore, it is convenient to automate the emptying of the solid retained in the

rotor in each centrifugation cycle, that is, when

he

rotor be full from solid in  he inside the own

centrifuge

He

document W003 / 086641 gives to know a

centrifuge

automatic from extraction from solid detained

by means of a piston driven from the outside, by one or more cylinders. The actuation of said piston has its origin outside the clarification or separation chamber, preferably, through pneumatic or hydraulic means. This procedure is intrusive in that an object outside the clarification or separation rotor enters the chamber to push the plunger, consequently, it is especially inconvenient in particular applications due to the (possible) contamination involved in the use of an external element. to perform the thrust on the plunger.

Having a supercentrifuge with automatic non-intrusive emptying of the solid, facilitates the processes of emptying the solid, cleaning and sterilization of all parts in contact with the product, without any operation of opening the machine and dismantling the rotor. By not intervening external or personal elements, both sterile work and the safety of these personnel are guaranteed.

Therefore, the present invention refers to a supercentrifuge with solids extraction device comprising:

-

a plunger; Y

a liquid clarification and / or separation chamber or rotor which, in turn, comprises:

a liquid inlet to separate or

clarify;

a clarified liquid outlet;

a residual liquid outlet; Y

a solids outlet.

The piston is cylindrical-conical geometry with a base greater than a diameter equal to the internal diameter of said chamber or rotor. It is arranged inside it and has longitudinal actuation means along said chamber in which the actuator means of the piston comprise a driving fluid that lacks any mechanical connection with the outside. Particularly preferably, the udinal longit drive means lack mechanical connection with the plunger in the course of said plunger.

Preferably, the impeller comprises a pressurized fluid emitter. The pressurized fluid of the impeller can be air or gases for that purpose.

Fn 1lnA rp.AlizAr.ión pArtir.1l1Flr pl pmholo p.stA is made of an inert material, for example, stainless steel and special alloys with the corresponding sealing and sealing elements that fit the internal surface of said rotor or chamber . The cylindrical length of the aforementioned plunger allows it to be maintained in an axial and concentric position throughout the travel along the chamber or rotor.

Preferably, in the said chamber the liquid inlet to be clarified or to be separated is disposed in the lower part thereof. The outlet of the clarified liquid is disposed in the upper part of the chamber through the plunger. The solid outlet is disposed at the bottom of the chamber and the residual liquid outlet is disposed at the bottom of the chamber.

Especially preferably, the chamber inputs or outputs comprise the necessary valves. Said valves may comprise a pneumatic, electric or hydraulic actuator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for extracting solids in a supercentrifuge with at least one outlet for clarified or separated liquids, one solids outlet, one residual liquid outlet, a clarification and separation chamber, comprising the stages of:

clarification or separation of liquid (s); drainage of the supernatant liquid; emptying of solid by means of plunger; Piston replacement to its initial position.

in which in the drainage stage, the rotation of the rotor (separation clarification chamber) is stopped and a residual liquid outlet is opened;

in the solid emptying stage, the residual liquid outlet (drain) is closed, the solid outlet is opened, and then a fluid (air or compressed gases) is injected, causing the plunger to push the solids arranged in the walls from the chamber through the solid outlet; Y

In the replacement stage, an antagonistic compressed fluid is injected causing the plunger to return to its initial position.

Preferably, the opening and closing of the entrances or exits is done by opening and

close of

valves associated to sayings tickets or exits

that

they can be powered pneumatics, electric or

hydraulically

Yet

plus preferably he fluid injected

To the device is air or gases to that effect. In a particular embodiment this air is open air of

pyrogens

For better understanding, some drawings of an embodiment of the supercentrifuge object of the present invention are attached by way of explanatory but not limitative example.

Figure 1 shows a sectioned perspective view of a supercentrifuge according to the present invention

Figure 2 shows the supercentrifuge of Figure 1 in the separation-clarification stage.

Figure 3 shows the centrifuge of Figures 1 and 2 in the draining stage of the supernatant liquid (machine stopped).

Figure 4 shows the supercentrifuge of Figures 1 to 3 in solid emptying stage (machine stopped).

Figure 5 shows the centrifuge of Figures 1 to 4 in the repositioning stage.

Figure 1 shows a supercentrifuge that has a clarification chamber -1-in which a piston -4-, a channel for liquid inlet -11-, a channel for outlet of clarified liquid -12-, a channel for residual liquid outlet -13-, a channel for solids outlet -14- and a channel for the passage of the clarified liquid -41- is arranged in the plunger.

The operation of the supercentrifuge is based on the use of rotational energy produced by a -2-motor to rotate the rotor (the chamber) -1-. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the rotation of the motor shaft -2-is transferred through a conventional -3-transmission to the chamber -1-.

In this embodiment, the supercentrifuge is fed through its lower part, by means of a nozzle arranged in the liquid inlet channel 11 to be clarified or separated. Subsequently, by the action of the centrifugal force the clarified liquids

or separated

They are evacuated in continuous by the part

higher

of the rotor to through from a channel for exit from

clarified liquid -12-.

Figure 2 shows a supercentrifuge according to the present invention in the clarification step. At this stage, a liquid is provided to be clarified or separated at the inlet -11- with the outlets of solids -14- and residual liquid -13-closed. The motor -2-is rotating at a predetermined speed and, consequently, the rotor (chamber -1-) and piston -4 also rotate. By action of the feeding, the injection of air or gases and the centrifugal force, the liquid moves towards the upper part where the piston -4-has a channel -41-that allows the passage of the clarified liquid towards the clarified liquid outlet -12-. In the case of separation and clarification of two non-miscible liquids, the steps and outputs are two, located at different diameters, depending on the interface created.

The piston -4-has passageways -41- and pressure valves for the passage and evacuation of the clarified liquid from the top of the rotor outwards.

Figure 3 shows the drainage stage of the rotor according to the present invention. In this figure the motor -2-has stopped turning and the liquid inlet to be clarified or separated -11- is closed. In this way, by action of gravity the residual liquid flows through

of the residual liquid outlet -13-, while the solids remain adhered to the chamber walls.

Figure 4 shows the solid emptying stage of a supercentrifuge according to the present invention. In this stage, the residual liquid outlet -13- is closed and the solids outlet -14- is opened. Once the solids outlet is open, the piston is displaced by compressed air or gas so that it travels through the chamber, pushing the solids from the periphery of the chamber towards the solids outlet -14-. Therefore, it is necessary for the piston -4-to have a diameter equal to that of the inner circular section of the chamber -1-so that it can remove all the retained solid.

The impulse of the piston -4-is carried out through the injection of air or gases under pressure without intrusive mechanical means, this compressed air moves the piston longitudinally along the chamber -1 displacing the solids that remain in the periphery of the chamber from separation. The piston has a geometry that fits the shape of the solids outlet to ensure the thrust and extraction of all the solid from the chamber -1-.

In this particular embodiment, the piston -4 is driven, preferably with normal or filtered compressed air or gases (and pyrogen-free in pharmacy and biotechnology processes), and drags the solid towards the solids outlet -14-. In addition, the piston -4-has a cylindrical-conical format for proper adjustment and guidance on the cylindrical surface of the rotor and the final emptying of the solid from the bottom. It has closing and friction rings for the purpose of scanning

of the

solid Y adjustment in the part lower conical

of the

rotor.

The

figure 5 sample the stage from return of the

plunger

-4 to its position initial, is tell, to a

position in which the next clarification or separation process can be carried out.

To return the piston to the top of the rotor without using intrusive elements that can contaminate the clarification and separation chamber, a pressurized fluid is injected into the solids outlet -14

(although additional entries for air injection could be used) and given the coincidence of surfaces between the inner circular section of the chamber -1-and the outer circular section of the piston -4-, it moves to the top of the rotor in position to receive a new liquid to clarify or separate.

In the case of separating centrifuges, the two separate non-miscible liquids are extracted by the outlet of clarified liquid -12-, at the top of the rotor, and an additional one by double collector, retaining the solid in a similar manner as in the single liquid clarification.

The materials used in the manufacture of the components of the centrifuge according to the present invention, shapes and dimensions thereof and all the accessory details that may be presented will be independent of the object of the invention, provided they do not affect their essentiality.

While the invention has been described with respect to examples of preferred embodiments, these should not be construed as limiting the invention, which will be defined by the broader interpretation of the following claims.

Claims (9)

 :one. Centrifuqa with an automatic solids extraCCJ.on device that includes: -a piston and 5 ... a centrifuge chamber or rotor and the separation which, in turn, comprises: an inlet of fluid to be separated and the filter; a separate fluid outlet and it lO clarified; a residual fluid outlet; and an exit of solids; said geometry plunger c. J.ndricoconic having a body of a diameter equal to the internal diameter 15 of said chamber, being disposed inside the chamber or rotated and having longitudinal actuating means along said chamber characterized in that the longitudinal actuation means of the piston comprise a fluid without 20 any mechanical connection with the outside. 2. Centrifuge, according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal actuating means lack mechanical connection with the plunger in the reco.r..r.i.do of: L cited émbo10. 25 3. Centrifuge, according to any of the claims: 1 or 2, characterized in that the Jongitudinal drive means comprise an elnlSOr of pressurized fluids. 4. Centrifuge, according to claim 3, 30 characterized in that the pressurized fluid of the impeller is compressed air or gases for that purpose. 5 .. Centrifuge, the .re: i.vindicac · j.On characterized in that the fluid under pressure is free air from ,,, But if necessary. , .. or. Centrifuge, according to cuaJ.qu1.ex: a of the 'one : claim, previous ones characterized by e.! cj'tado plunger and eJ. r otor or camC! Ld are made of a frog: déll, inert, for example: steel: Stainless with 1.OS corresponding sealing elements and tank: Ldad that fit the internal surface of the rotor. ']. CentTi.fuga, according to any of the r: eivvindicac: Lones anteLLor'es, characterized in that the liquid inlet to be clarified or separated is disposed in the lower part of the chamber. 8, Centrifuge, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it came out. of the clarified liquid each or BCp Liquids': 3. All JI . [. , c ..) ar1.:lcaoos is arranged in the upper part of the chamber.

9.

Centrifugal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output of ~ olid () is arranged in the lower part: r of the chamber.

10.

Centrifugal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the

1 I _ •, sa: LidiJ of .Ll.qUlGO residual is disposed in the infer.-j oc part of the chamber, for example. same salt behavior as the solid. eleven . Centrifugal, according to any of the indiv. Ind: i.cations before L. loreST characterized in that lilG inputs: () outputs comprise a valve with an actuator. 12 _ P_rocedimien_to for the automatic removal of solids in a centrifuge with at least one outlet. of solids, a salt of Liquors: Ldua.L uniJ. I eáméH.'a of separation and a piston r comprising the steps of: clarification-separation of liquidO; emptying or draining the liquid s ob.cenodante¡ emptying of solid by means of plunger; reposic: Piston rod in position initial; in which in the emptying or draining stage the rotor rotation ID (clar chamber: Separation location) is defined and a residual liquid outlet is opened! characterized in that in the stage of emptying the solid the residual liquid outlet is closed (drainage) and the solid outlet is opened, then a fluid is injected causing the plunger to push the solids available to the pRarls s rlR -l A C.3T'laré \;, l tr; ,, \\ f ~~ of the solid output; Y At the replacement stage, an anti-bolt fluid is injected causing the plunger to return to: its position initial .. 13. Method, according to claim 12, characterized by the fluid injected into the device and E, a (; ompl "imid:. · () Gases, effect. 14. ?: rocedün: Slow I according to La. claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the fluid injected into the device is air or pyrogen gases.