separator

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-emptying separator for centrifugal separation of a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, a heavy solid phase SP and an intermediate heavy intermediate phase IP, having at least the following features: a) a centrifuge bowl (1) rotatable about a rotation axis D into which the suspension S to be treated can be introduced; b) at least one liquid discharge (9) for the light liquid phase; c) at least one or more solid discharge openings (13) for the heavy solid phase SP, which are provided with at least one controllable first discharge device (15) with which the at least one or more solid discharge openings (13) can be opened and closed discontinuously; and d) at least one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP, which are provided with at least one controllable second discharge device (26) with which the at least one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP can be opened and closed discontinuously, characterized in that e) the discontinuously acting second discharge device (26) can be controlled independently of the discontinuously acting first discharge device (15), so that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP can be carried out independently of the discharge of the solid phase SP in terms of time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-draining separator for centrifugally separating a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, one heavy solid phase SP, and one intermediate heavy mesophase IP, the separator having a centrifugal drum rotatable about a rotation axis D, and a method for operating such a self-draining separator. Background Technology

[0002] This type of discontinuous self-draining separator, in addition to one or more continuous outlets for one or more liquid phases, has a venting system with a piston slide valve that is fluid-operated, particularly utilizing the liquid as a fluid, alternately moving to an open and closed position. This allows the piston slide valve to release (open position) and close (closed position) one or more solid discharge openings in the drum wall. In the open position, the solid phase is ejected from the centrifugal drum and thus discharged from the drum. In the closed position, the solid discharge openings are closed, making this impossible.

[0003] To ensure the precise functioning of this rotary drum evacuation system with a piston slide valve, the piston slide valve can have a fluid delivery and discharge system to control its movement to the closed and open positions. This fluid delivery and discharge system can further include one or more valves. These valves are used to fill the control chamber on the piston slide valve with fluid (liquid or gas) and to allow the fluid to drain from the chamber on the piston slide valve to evacuate solids. Therefore, in a separator with a vertical axis of rotation, for example, fluid can leak below the piston slide valve, causing the product in the drum to push the piston slide valve vertically downwards after the fluid is discharged. The valve used to fill the control chamber is also called a control water valve, and the valve used to empty the control chamber is also called a piston valve due to its preferred structure.

[0004] DE2609663 discloses a separator with a rotating drum, wherein the separated heavy phase (concentrate) is directly discharged from the solid space through piston valves distributed around its periphery. These piston valves are controlled by a common annular valve, i.e., closed or opened. In centrifuging the product into three phases, the incoming suspension is separated in the rotating drum into a lighter or less dense liquid phase, a generally still flowable intermediate-heavy or intermediate-density mesophase, and a heavier (and, if necessary, still flowable) or denser solid phase.

[0005] According to existing technology, the intermediate phase is discharged, for example, through another continuous liquid discharge section such as a stripping disc or the like. Alternatively, the intermediate phase may be discharged together with the solids during evacuation.

[0006] For example, EP2348894B2 discloses a separator with a rotary drum, wherein the lighter phase is discharged through a clamp or stripping disc, the heavier solid phase is discharged by means of a piston slide valve, and the intermediate phase is discharged through a separation disc and another clamp or another stripping disc. However, the intermediate phase is discharged continuously. When needed, the outlet of the intermediate phase is recirculated back into the inlet.

[0007] The main problem with existing solutions is that the mesophase is only continuously discharged and often cannot be discharged without loss or with low loss. In this paper, "without loss" means that the discharged mesophase does not contain any proportion of the light and / or heavy phases. In this paper, "low loss" means that the discharged mesophase contains only a small proportion of the light and / or heavy phases. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The objective of this invention is to eliminate these problems.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention provides a self-draining separator for centrifugally separating a suspension S into at least a light liquid phase LP, a heavy solid phase SP, and an intermediate heavy mesophase IP. The self-draining separator has at least the following features: a) a centrifugal drum rotatable about a rotation axis into which the suspension S to be treated can be introduced; b) at least one liquid discharge section for the light liquid phase LP; c) at least one or more discontinuous solid discharge openings for the heavy solid phase SP, each solid discharge opening being equipped with at least one controllable first discharge device, by which the at least one or more solid discharge openings can be discontinuously opened and closed; and d) at least one or more discontinuous discharge openings for the mesophase IP, each discharge opening being equipped with at least one controllable second discharge device, by which the at least one or more discharge openings for the mesophase IP can be discontinuously opened and closed; e) wherein the second discharge device can be controlled independently of the first discharge device, so that the discharge of the mesophase IP can be time-independent of the discharge of the solid phase SP.

[0010] Therefore, the second discharge device can be operated independently of the first discharge device, separating the discharge of the mesophase IP from the discharge of the solid phase SP. Advantageously, with these two independently operable or "operating" discharge devices, the solid and mesophases can be discharged precisely in time only within the range required during centrifugation. Thus, in the experiment, one or more sensors can be used to determine beforehand from the characteristics of the drum which phase should be discharged for which duration. This measurement is stored. Then, during operation, by comparing with this measurement, the appropriate time and duration for discharging the respective phase can be determined separately. This can all be controlled by a control device. In particular, this also allows for the defined and lossless or low-loss discharge of the mesophase through the second discharge device.

[0011] It should be noted that the light phase is the phase with the lowest density, the intermediate-heavy phase is the phase with a relatively high density, and the heavy phase is the phase with an even higher density.

[0012] According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the first discharge device includes at least one fluidly, particularly hydraulically or electrically (particularly electromechanical or electromagnetically) operated, mechanically actuated opening and closing mechanism, by which the at least one or more solid discharge openings can be opened and closed, and the second discharge device includes at least one fluidly, particularly hydraulically or electrically actuated, mechanically actuated opening and closing mechanism, by which the at least one or more discharge openings for the mesophase IP can be opened and closed.

[0013] This design can be implemented in different ways, which will be illustrated below.

[0014] Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device is, in particular, a hydraulically operable piston slide valve arranged in or on the outside of the centrifugal drum, which can be moved to different positions to open in the open position or close the one or more solid discharge openings in the closed position.

[0015] However, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, it may be advantageously provided that the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device has at least one or more electrically or fluidly operable valves, particularly piston valves, which are configured to open or close the solid discharge openings in a closed position.

[0016] Furthermore, it can be specified that the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device is an externally arranged and, in particular, hydraulically operable piston valve on the centrifugal drum, which can move to different positions to open or close one or more discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP in an open position or in a closed position. Alternatively, it can be specified that the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device has at least one or more electrically or fluidly operable valves, in particular piston valves, which are configured to open or close the discharge openings for the one or more corresponding discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP.

[0017] The following variant is particularly preferred because it can be structurally simple to implement and operates simply and efficiently with minimal overhead during operation:

[0018] According to a preferred design, the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device is a hydraulically operable piston valve arranged in the centrifugal drum, and the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device is another hydraulically operable piston valve arranged externally on the centrifugal drum.

[0019] According to another preferred design, the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device is a hydraulically operable piston valve arranged in the centrifugal drum, and the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device is at least one operable piston valve configured to provide a corresponding discharge opening for the intermediate phase IP so as to open or close the discharge opening in a closed position.

[0020] According to the third preferred design, the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device has a controllable piston valve configured for a corresponding solid discharge opening to open or close the solid discharge opening in a closed position, and the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device has a controllable piston valve configured for a corresponding discharge opening for the intermediate phase IP to open or close the discharge opening in a closed position.

[0021] Other advantageous designs and combinations of piston slide valves and piston valves can be envisioned.

[0022] Structurally, it can be further specified that a pipe-like tube is placed on or in the discharge opening for the intermediate phase IP, the length of which is designed such that these tubes extend radially until the radius R3 reaches the layer of the intermediate phase IP radially formed in the centrifugal drum during rotation, thereby achieving the discharge of the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum at a radius R3.

[0023] Herein lies a radius R3 smaller than radius R2 (where the solid discharge opening is located), but larger than radius R1 where the liquid phase LP is discharged. This advantageously allows for the separate discharge of each phase, minimizing mixing with the corresponding other phases.

[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, the liquid discharge section may be equipped with a stripping disc. However, liquid discharge can also be achieved in other ways.

[0025] In another embodiment of the invention, the discharged solid phase SP is discharged through the at least one solid discharge opening into a first annular space, which serves as a solid trap. This first annular space is arranged within a dome-shaped housing and has a connecting pipe radially arranged on the first annular space for connecting a hose or conduit for further discharge of the solid phase SP. Thus, the solid phase SP can be discharged structurally simply and therefore advantageously independent of the intermediate phase IP.

[0026] In another embodiment of the invention, the discharged mesophase IP reaches another annular space through the at least one discharge opening, the other annular space being arranged in a dome-shaped housing and having a nozzle radially arranged on the other annular space for connecting a hose or conduit for further discharge of the mesophase IP. Thus, the mesophase IP can be discharged structurally simply and therefore advantageously independent of the solid phase SP.

[0027] This task can also be solved by the method according to the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and various embodiments. The invention is not limited to these embodiments, but may be implemented in other ways, either literally or equivalently. In the drawings:

[0029] Figures 1 to 3 These are cross-sectional views of different variants of the separator, each featuring a centrifugal drum and a component of the centrifugal drum for venting the solid and intermediate phases. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Three embodiments are illustrated in the following description of the accompanying drawings. Features of these embodiments may also be combined with embodiments not shown.

[0031] Terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “outer,” or “inner” refer to the corresponding positions shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0032] The features of the following embodiments can be combined as shown, or they can be combined with other embodiments not shown in other ways.

[0033] Figure 1 A first centrifuge is shown, having a rotatable centrifugal drum 1. The centrifugal drum 1 may have a vertical axis of rotation D. The centrifugal drum 1 may be enclosed by a dome-shaped housing 2 that remains stationary during centrifuge operation. Other components, such as a rotation drive or control device, are not shown.

[0034] The centrifuge drum 1 can preferably be designed as a single cone and / or, as here, as a double cone (in the lower and / or upper and especially the inner part). This shape facilitates the accumulation of the separated solid phases in a defined area of ​​the drum. The centrifuge drum 1 is preferably designed for continuous operation, continuously centrifuging a continuously entering suspension S and separating it into a light liquid phase LP, an intermediate-heavy mesophase IP, and a heavy solid phase SP.

[0035] The centrifugal drum 1 may have a lower drum portion 3 and an upper drum portion 4. These drum components 3 and 4 may be tapered externally and / or internally respectively and interconnected in different ways using locking rings 5.

[0036] The inlet pipe 8 is used to input the suspension S to be treated into the centrifuge drum 1.

[0037] The inlet tube 8 can be constructed as a stationary element that does not rotate during operation, as shown here. However, it can also be constructed to rotate. Here, it extends concentrically with the axis of rotation D into the centrifugal drum 1. Furthermore, it passes through the housing 2 above the centrifugal drum 1.

[0038] A distributor 6 for feeding products into the centrifugal drum 1 and a disc assembly 7 consisting of separating discs can be arranged in the centrifugal drum 1. The separating discs 7 can be arranged on the distributor rod of the distributor 6.

[0039] according to Figures 1 to 3 In a preferred, but not mandatory, design, the inlet pipe 8 extends into the centrifugal drum 1 from above. However, it can also extend into the centrifugal drum 1 from below (not shown).

[0040] The centrifuge drum 1 has a liquid discharge section 9 through which the light liquid phase LP can be discharged from the drum 1. The liquid discharge section 9 is implemented here by a stripping disc 11. However, it can also be constructed in other ways.

[0041] The liquid discharge section 9 internally connects to the annular space 9', which in turn connects to the radial connecting pipe 9" for connecting a hose or pipeline to discharge the liquid phase LP.

[0042] The light liquid phase LP flows radially inward from inside the disc assembly 7 into the stripping disc chamber 10, which rotates with the centrifugal drum 1. A stripping disc 11 is arranged in the stripping disc chamber 10. The stripping disc 11 is non-rotatable, i.e., stationary, within the stripping disc chamber 10. The liquid phase LP is drawn from the centrifugal field formed in the operating centrifugal drum 1 along a radius R1 by the stripping disc 11, which also functions as a clamp and acts as a centrifugal pump, and is then discharged or led out of the centrifugal drum 1 through the liquid discharge section 9, the annular space 9', and the connecting pipe 9”. Therefore, the discharge of the liquid phase LP is continuous.

[0043] In order to discharge the heavy solid phase SP, a fluidly and / or electrically controlled (in this case, fluidly controlled) and mechanically operated opening and closing mechanism is provided, which is configured here as an internal piston slide valve 12 arranged in the centrifugal drum 1.

[0044] An internal piston slide valve 12 is configured to open and close at least one solid discharge opening 13. Preferably, a plurality of solid material discharge openings 13 may be circumferentially distributed in the region of the maximum diameter of the centrifugal drum 1, i.e., on radius R2. The discharged solid phase SP reaches a first solid trap-like annular space 14 through the solid discharge opening 13. This annular space is arranged in the housing 2 and may have a connecting pipe 14' radially arranged on the first annular space 14 for connecting a hose or conduit for further discharge of the solid phase SP.

[0045] In order to discharge the solid phase SP, a first discharge device 15 is provided, which includes a mechanically actuated opening and closing mechanism that can be fluidly actuated by an adjustment mechanism to perform opening and closing movements.

[0046] For this purpose, the first discharge device 15 may include a jet chamber 16 for opening fluid and a jet chamber 17 for closing fluid. Fluid, particularly water, can be introduced into the jet chamber by opening the fluid delivery device 18 and closing the fluid delivery device 19. A first opening fluid valve V1 and a first closing fluid valve V2 are arranged in the opening and closing fluid delivery devices to activate the opening and closing movements of the internal piston slide valve 12.

[0047] The closing process of the solid discharge opening 13 (that is, the lifting of the internal piston valve 12 here) can be carried out by a shut-off fluid injected into a chamber below the internal piston valve 12. The shut-off fluid is metered via a shut-off fluid valve V2. The chamber is connected to a piston valve 20, which is arranged in the wall of the centrifugal drum 1 such that the piston valve can be closed by the centrifugal force present in the operating centrifugal drum 1.

[0048] The opening of the solid discharge opening 13 (i.e., the descent of the internal piston slide valve 12) is achieved by the opening fluid that opens the piston valve 20, which in turn allows the closing fluid below the internal piston slide valve 12 to leak out of the chamber. For this purpose, a small amount of opening fluid is briefly introduced through the inlet line into the connecting line in the lower part 3 of the centrifugal drum via the opening fluid injection chamber 16. The opening fluid is responsible for the formation of liquid pressure on all sides, which causes the locking piston to overcome centrifugal force and move radially relative to the axis of rotation D, thereby opening the piston valve 20 of the centrifugal drum 1.

[0049] The fluid is metered via the opening fluid valve V1.

[0050] By opening the piston valve 20, fluid leakage is stopped into the second annular space 21, which is arranged in the housing 2 and may have a connecting pipe 21' arranged radially on the second annular space 21 for connecting a hose or pipe for further fluid discharge.

[0051] To derive the intermediate phase IP, another electrically or fluidly operable, as well as mechanically operable, opening and closing device is provided. The opening and closing device is based on... Figure 1 It is configured to be externally arranged on the centrifugal drum 1 and is therefore, in this case, a second piston slide valve 22.

[0052] This can be advantageously constructed as shown below. However, it can also be implemented structurally differently.

[0053] An external second piston valve 22 is arranged below the centrifugal drum 1 on the outer side of the centrifugal drum. The piston valve 22 is configured to close or open the discharge opening 25, allowing the intermediate phase IP to be discharged from the discharge opening 25. For this purpose, the piston valve 22 can move in the axial direction. To this end, the piston valve 22 is movably guided within a support ring 22'. To enable the axial movement of the piston valve 22, the support ring 22' has conduits 27, 28 and may have an overflow orifice 32, which can be loaded to open or close the fluid as required, as will be described in detail below.

[0054] The mesophase IP can be discharged via a tubular pipe 23, which is circumferentially installed in the orifices of the internal piston valve 12 and its length is adjusted to extend into the layer of mesophase IP formed during the rotation of the centrifugal drum 1, characterized here by a radius R3. The mesophase IP reaches at least one, preferably multiple, discharge openings 25 distributed around the periphery of the centrifugal drum 1 through corresponding axially extending holes 24 in the wall of the lower part 3 of the drum. These discharge openings can be closed or opened by the external piston valve 22.

[0055] The radius R3 is smaller than the larger radius R2 where the inlet arrangement of the heavier solid discharge opening 13 is located, but larger than the radius R1 where the lighter liquid phase LP is discharged through the stripping disk 11.

[0056] To discharge the intermediate phase IP, a second discharge device 26 that operates discontinuously is provided, which includes a mechanical opening and closing mechanism that can be fluidly actuated by an adjustment mechanism to perform opening and closing movements.

[0057] For this purpose, the second discharge device 26 includes a jet line 27 for opening fluid and a jet line 28 for closing fluid. Fluid, particularly water, can be introduced into the jet line by opening the fluid delivery device 29 and closing the fluid delivery device 30. A second opening fluid valve V3 and a second closing fluid valve V4 are arranged in the opening and closing fluid delivery devices to activate the opening and closing movements.

[0058] Multiple piston valves 31 are provided, which are used to controllably discharge fluid for performing the opening and closing movements of the external piston slide valve 22.

[0059] The closing process, i.e., raising the external piston slide valve 22, is carried out here by a shut-off fluid injected below the external piston slide valve 22 into a chamber in the support ring 22'. The shut-off fluid is metered via a second shut-off fluid valve V4. The chamber in the support ring 22' of the external piston slide valve 22 may optionally have an overflow orifice 32, thereby limiting the maximum filling amount of the chamber (and thus limiting the maximum closing force of the external piston slide valve 22). The chamber is connected to a piston valve 31, which is arranged in the wall of the external piston slide valve 22 surrounding the centrifugal drum 1, such that the piston valve is closed by the centrifugal force present in the operating centrifugal drum 1.

[0060] The opening process, namely lowering the external piston slide valve 22, is carried out by an opening fluid, causing the piston valve 31 to open, which in turn allows the closing fluid below the external piston slide valve 22 to leak out of the chamber. The opening fluid is metered through a corresponding second opening fluid valve V3. A third annular space 33 is provided in the discharge opening 25 in the wall of the centrifugal drum 1 for the mesophase IP, so that the mesophase IP is discharged separately. The third annular space 33 may have a connecting pipe 33' radially arranged on the third annular space 33 for connecting hoses or pipes for further discharge of the mesophase IP.

[0061] The fluid is shut off from leaking through piston valve 31 into fourth annular space 34, which is arranged in housing 2 and may have a connector 34' radially arranged on fourth annular space 34 for connecting hoses or pipes for further fluid discharge.

[0062] according to Figure 1 (Advantageously, via the second piston valve 22) it is possible to confine the intermediate phase IP and discharge it from the centrifugal drum 1 with very low loss. The discharge of the intermediate phase IP via the external piston valve 22 is advantageously separated from the discharge of the solid phase SP via the internal piston valve 12 by a separate second discharge device 26, which can be operated independently of the first discharge device 15. Thus, the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 independently of the solid phase SP.

[0063] The operation of the internal piston valve 12 and the operation of the external piston valve 22 can be controlled independently of each other via a control device (not shown here). The control device can also be a central control device for controlling the centrifuge, which, in addition to controlling the two piston valves 12, 22, is also configured for other control and / or regulation tasks of the centrifuge.

[0064] exist Figure 2 Another separator is shown. Its basic structure largely corresponds to... Figure 1 The basic structure of the separator. The following mainly describes the... Figure 1 Different and / or supplementary implementation variants.

[0065] The discharge of solid phase SP is based on Figure 2 As in accordance with Figure 1 In the modified implementation, a built-in piston slide valve 12 is used. A first opening fluid valve V5 is provided here to supply opening fluid, and a first closing fluid valve V6 is provided to supply closing fluid.

[0066] But according to Figure 1 The implementation variations of the centrifuges differ, according to Figure 2 The modified centrifuge implementation does not have an external piston slide valve 22.

[0067] according to Figure 2 In a modified implementation, the mesophase IP is first discharged through a connecting pipe 23, which is fitted into a radially extending hole in the internal piston valve 12. This hole transitions into an axial hole 24 in the lower part 3 of the rotating drum, or corresponds to the axial hole, the length of which is adjusted so that it reaches the layer of mesophase IP formed during the rotation of the centrifugal drum 1, characterized here by radius R3. Radius R3 is smaller than radius R2 (the solid discharge opening 13 is arranged on radius R2), but larger than radius R1 (the liquid phase LP is discharged through the stripping disc 11 on radius R1).

[0068] To discharge the mesophase IP, a second discharge device 26, which operates discontinuously, is provided. This device has a mechanically operated opening and closing mechanism and includes multiple piston valves 35. The mesophase IP reaches multiple discharge openings 25 distributed around the periphery of the centrifuge drum 1 through corresponding axially extending holes 24 in the wall of the lower part 3 of the centrifuge drum 1. These discharge openings can be individually closed or opened by one of the piston valves 35. The piston valves 35 are arranged in the wall of the lower part 3 of the centrifuge drum 1 such that the discharge openings 25 are closed by centrifugal force during operation. They can be opened by hydraulic control using a control fluid.

[0069] The second discharge device 26 also includes an opening fluid delivery device 36 through which control fluid can be delivered to the piston valve 35. When the intermediate phase IP is to be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1, the piston valve 35 can be opened by the control fluid. The opening time of the slide valve 35 can be adjusted by the duration of the input opening fluid delivery. The opening fluid is metered via a corresponding opening fluid valve V7. Here, the discharge opening 25 for the intermediate phase IP leads into the second annular space 37, so that not only the solid phase SP but also the intermediate phase IP can be discharged separately from each other. The annular space 37 is arranged in the housing 2 and may have a connecting pipe 37' radially arranged on the annular space 37 for connecting a hose or conduit for further discharge of the intermediate phase IP.

[0070] according to Figure 2 The intermediate phase IP can also be limited and discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 with very low loss via the hydraulically operable piston valve 35.

[0071] The discharge of the intermediate phase IP can be advantageously completely separated from the discharge of the solid phase SP via the internal piston slide valve 12 by means of the second discharge device 26, which is also separately operated and independent of the first discharge device 15. Thus, the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 independently of the solid phase SP.

[0072] The operation of the internal piston slide valve 12 and the operation of the operable piston valve 35 can be controlled independently of each other via a control device (not shown here). The control device may also be a central centrifugal control device, which, in addition to controlling the internal piston slide valve and piston valve 35, is also configured for other control and regulation tasks of the centrifuge.

[0073] exist Figure 3 The third centrifuge is shown. Its basic structure largely corresponds to... Figure 1 and 2 The basic structure of the separator. The following mainly describes the... Figure 1 and 2Different and / or supplementary implementation variants.

[0074] According to Figure 1 or Figure 2 The implementation variations of the centrifuges differ, according to Figure 3 The modified centrifuge implementation scheme has neither an internal piston valve 12 nor an external piston valve 22.

[0075] According to Figure 3 In a variant of the centrifuge implementation, the intermediate phase IP is discharged from the centrifuge drum 1 via at least one, preferably multiple, piston valves 35, which are distributed around the periphery of the centrifuge drum 1, as already specified in the relevant provisions. Figure 2 As described in the implementation variant. Here, the piston valve 35 is the opening and closing mechanism of the discontinuously operating second discharge device 26, which is used to discharge the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum 1.

[0076] Similarly, according to Figure 3 The solid phase SP is also discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 through at least one, preferably multiple, piston valves 38 distributed around the periphery of the centrifugal drum 1. Here, the piston valves 38 are opening and closing mechanisms of a first discharge device 15 that operates discontinuously to discharge the solid phase SP from the centrifugal drum 1.

[0077] Through the connecting pipe 23 and the corresponding axially extending holes 24 in the wall of the lower part 3 of the centrifugal drum 1 or holes 40 in the wall of the lower part 3 of the centrifugal drum 1, both the solid phase SP and the intermediate phase IP reach the corresponding piston valves 35 and 38. These piston valves are installed at different heights (based on the bottom of the centrifugal drum 1 or the lower part 3) in the outer wall of the lower part 3 of the centrifugal drum 1. The radius R3 of the inlet opening of the pipe 23 for discharging the intermediate phase IP is smaller than the radius R2 (on which the solid discharge opening 13 is arranged), but larger than the radius R1 (on which the liquid phase LP is discharged through the stripping disc 11).

[0078] To enable fluid actuation of the corresponding piston valve 38, the first discharge device 15 includes an opening fluid delivery device 39, through which control fluid can be delivered to the corresponding piston valve 38. When the solid phase SP is to be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1, the corresponding piston valve 38 can be opened by the control fluid.

[0079] To enable fluid actuation of the corresponding piston valve 35, the second discharge device 26 also includes an opening fluid delivery device 36, through which control fluid can be delivered to the corresponding piston valve 35. When the intermediate phase IP is to be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1, the corresponding piston valve 35 can be opened by the control fluid.

[0080] The opening times of the corresponding piston valves 35 and 38 can be adjusted within the duration of the control fluid provided. Piston valves 35 and 38 are respectively arranged in the wall of the lower part 3 of the centrifugal drum 1, so that they are closed by centrifugal force.

[0081] The opening fluid for piston valves 35 and 38 is metered via corresponding opening fluid valves V8 and V9, which are respectively inserted into opening fluid delivery devices 17 and 18.

[0082] The intermediate phase IP is advantageously and completely separated from the solid phase SP by the discharge via piston valve 38 through piston valve 35 via a separate second discharge device 26, which is operated independently of the first discharge device 15. Thus, the intermediate phase IP can be discharged from the centrifugal drum 1 independently of the solid phase SP.

[0083] The discharge openings 13 and 25, arranged at different heights in the wall of the lower part 3 of the rotating drum, for the intermediate phase IP or the solid phase SP, are respectively equipped with annular spaces 37 and 14, so that not only the solid phase SP but also the intermediate phase IP can be discharged separately from each other. The corresponding annular spaces 37 and 14 have connecting pipes 37' and 14' arranged radially on them. The connecting pipes 37' and 14' are used to connect hoses or conduits for further discharge of the corresponding phase.

[0084] Valves V1 to V9 in different implementations are preferably designed as operable valves, particularly electrically operable valves, which can be connected to a control device.

[0085] Figure Labels

[0086] 1 Centrifugal Rotary Drum

[0087] 2. Shell

[0088] 3. Lower part of the rotating drum

[0089] 4. Upper part of the rotating drum

[0090] 5. Locking loop

[0091] 6 Distributors

[0092] 7 disk group

[0093] 8. Inlet pipe

[0094] 9. Liquid discharge section

[0095] 9' Ring Space

[0096] 9” takeover

[0097] 10. Peeling disc chamber

[0098] 11. Peeling disc

[0099] 12 Internal piston slide valve

[0100] 13 Solid discharge space

[0101] 14 First Ring Space

[0102] 14' takeover

[0103] 15 First Discharge Device

[0104] 16. Jet Chamber

[0105] 17. Jet Chamber

[0106] 18. Turn on the fluid delivery device.

[0107] 19. Shut down the fluid delivery device

[0108] 20 Piston Valve

[0109] 21 Second Ring Space

[0110] 21' takeover

[0111] 22 External piston slide valve

[0112] 22” support ring

[0113] 23 tubes

[0114] 24 holes

[0115] 25 Discharge opening

[0116] 26 Second discharge device

[0117] 27. Injection piping

[0118] 28. Injection piping

[0119] 29. Turn on the fluid delivery device.

[0120] 30. Shut down the fluid delivery device

[0121] 31 Piston Valve

[0122] 32 Overflow hole

[0123] 33 Third Ring Space

[0124] 33' takeover

[0125] 34 Fourth Ring Space

[0126] 34' takeover

[0127] 35 Piston Valve

[0128] 36. Turn on the fluid delivery device.

[0129] 37 Second Ring Space

[0130] 37' takeover

[0131] 38 Piston Valve

[0132] 39. Shut down the fluid delivery device

[0133] 40 holes

[0134] D. Rotation axis

[0135] S suspension

[0136] LP liquid phase

[0137] SP solid phase

[0138] IP intermediate phase

[0139] R1 radius

[0140] R2 radius

[0141] R3 radius

[0142] V1 and V5 are the first fluid valves to open.

[0143] V2, V6 First Shut-off Fluid Valve

[0144] V3 Second Open Fluid Valve

[0145] V4 Second Shut-off Fluid Valve

[0146] V7 Open fluid valve

[0147] V8 Open fluid valve

[0148] V9 Open fluid valve

Claims

1. A self-draining separator for centrifugally separating a suspension S into at least one light liquid phase LP, a heavy solid phase SP, and an intermediate heavy mesophase IP, the self-draining separator having at least the following characteristics: a) A centrifugal drum (1) that can rotate around the axis of rotation D, and the suspension S to be treated can be introduced into the centrifugal drum; b) At least one liquid discharge section (9) for light liquid phase; c) At least one or more solid discharge openings (13) for heavy solid phase SP that operate discontinuously, the solid discharge openings being provided with at least one operable first discharge device (15) by means of which the at least one or more solid discharge openings (13) can be opened discontinuously and can be closed again. as well as d) At least one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP that operate discontinuously, said discharge openings being provided with at least one operable second discharge device (26) by means of which said at least one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP can be opened discontinuously and can be closed again. e) wherein the discontinuous second discharge device (26) can be controlled independently of the discontinuous first discharge device (15), so that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP can be carried out in time independently of the discharge of the solid phase SP with no loss or low loss. In this process, a tube (23) in the form of a pipe is placed on or in the discharge opening (25) for the intermediate phase IP. The length of the tube is designed such that the tube extends radially until the radius R3 reaches the layer of the intermediate phase IP formed radially in the centrifugal drum (1) when the centrifugal drum (1) rotates, thereby achieving the discharge of the intermediate phase IP from the centrifugal drum (1) at a radius R3.

2. The self-draining air separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first discharge device (15) includes at least one fluidly and / or electrically operated, as well as mechanically operated, opening and closing mechanism, which can open and close the at least one or more solid discharge openings (13), and The second discharge device (26) includes at least one fluid and / or electrically operated and mechanically operated opening and closing mechanism, which can open and close the at least one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP.

3. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device (15) is a piston slide valve (12) arranged in or on the centrifugal drum (1), which can move to different positions to open the one or more solid discharge openings (13) in the open position or close the one or more solid discharge openings in the closed position.

4. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device (15) has at least one or more electrically or fluidly operable valves, which are provided to one or more corresponding solid discharge openings (13) to open or close the solid discharge openings in a closed position.

5. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device (26) is a piston slide valve (22) externally arranged on the centrifugal drum (1), which can move to different positions to open the one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase IP in the open position or close the one or more discharge openings for the intermediate phase IP in the closed position.

6. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device (26) has at least one or more electrically or fluidly operable valves, which are provided with corresponding one or more discharge openings (25) for the intermediate phase, so as to open or close the discharge openings in a closed position.

7. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device is a piston slide valve (12) arranged in the centrifugal drum (1), and the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device (26) is another piston slide valve (22) arranged externally on the centrifugal drum (1).

8. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device is a piston slide valve (12) arranged in the centrifugal drum (1), and the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device (26) has a hydraulically or electrically operated piston valve (35) configured to provide a corresponding discharge opening for the intermediate phase IP so as to open or close the discharge opening in a closed position.

9. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the first discharge device has a hydraulically or electrically operated piston valve (38) configured to open or close the solid discharge opening in a closed position, and the mechanical opening and closing mechanism of the second discharge device (26) has an additional hydraulically or electrically operated piston valve (35) configured to open or close the discharge opening in a closed position for a corresponding discharge opening for the intermediate phase IP.

10. The self-draining air separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tubes (23) are distributed around the lower part (3) of the rotating drum.

11. The self-draining air separator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting tube (23) is distributed around the piston slide valve (12) inside.

12. The self-draining air separator according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, The radius R3 is smaller than the radius R2 where the solid discharge opening (13) is located, but larger than the radius R1 where the liquid phase LP is discharged.

13. The self-draining air separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The liquid discharge section (9) is equipped with a stripping disc (11).

14. The self-draining air separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The suspension S to be treated can be introduced into the centrifugal drum (1) through the inlet pipe (8) and the distributor (6).

15. The self-draining air separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The discharged solid phase SP reaches the first annular space (14) through the at least one solid discharge opening (13), the first annular space being arranged in a dome-shaped housing (2) and having a nozzle (14') radially arranged on the first annular space (14) for connecting a hose or pipeline for further discharge of solid phase SP.

16. The self-draining air separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The discharged intermediate phase IP reaches another annular space (33, 37) through the at least one discharge opening (25), the other annular space being arranged in a dome-shaped housing (2) and having a nozzle (33', 37') radially arranged on the other annular space (33, 37) for connecting a hose or conduit for further discharge of the intermediate phase IP.

17. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The opening and closing mechanism included in the first discharge device (15) is hydraulically operable.

18. The self-draining air separator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The opening and closing mechanism included in the second discharge device (26) is hydraulically operable.

19. The self-draining air separator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The piston slide valve (12) is hydraulically controllable.

20. The self-draining air separator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The valve is a piston valve (38).

21. The self-draining air separator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The piston slide valve (22) is hydraulically controllable.

22. The self-draining air separator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The valve is a piston valve (35).

23. The self-draining air separator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The piston slide valve (12) is hydraulically controllable.

24. The self-draining air separator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The additional piston valve (22) is hydraulically controllable.

25. The self-draining air separator according to claim 8, characterized in that, The piston slide valve (12) is hydraulically controllable.

26. A method for operating a self-draining air separator according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: a) Provide an operating self-draining air separator and suspension S. b) The suspension S is introduced into the centrifugal field of the centrifugal drum (1) of the separator through the inlet pipe (8) and the distributor (6). c) At least one liquid phase LP is discharged through the liquid discharge section (9). d) Discontinuous discharge of solid phase SP through at least one solid discharge opening (13), the solid discharge opening being equipped with a first discharge device (15) which allows the at least one solid discharge opening (13) to be opened and closed discontinuously. e) The intermediate phase IP is discharged discontinuously through the at least one discharge opening (25) for the intermediate phase IP, the discharge opening being provided with the second discharge device (26), which allows the at least one discharge opening (25) for the intermediate phase IP to be opened and closed discontinuously. f) wherein the second discharge device (26) can be controlled independently of the first discharge device (15) and is controlled such that the discharge of the intermediate phase IP can be separated from the discharge of the solid phase SP.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that, Steps b) through f) of the method are performed in parallel over time.

28. The method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, The method steps d) and e) are performed periodically or non-periodically.

29. The method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, The method steps d) and e) have different cycle durations.

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