Self-emptying separator

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-evacuating separator having a rotatable centrifuge cartridge (1) with a vertical axis of rotation D, which centrifuge cartridge is provided with an inlet for the suspended matter to be treated in a centrifugal field and at least one outlet for the liquid phase and a solids discharge opening (12), the solid discharge opening is associated with an emptying system having a piston spool (11), and a control fluid system (100) associated with the piston spool (11) for controlling the opening and closing movement of the piston spool, at least the fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston spool (11) can be conducted in the closed line system until into the closing chamber, a pressure vessel (118) is provided for supplying the closing chamber (103) with the fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston spool (11), the pressure vessel (118) is arranged upstream of the closing fluid valve (107) and can be loaded and preloaded by means of an additional valve (119) at a defined pressure, and the control device (101) is also provided at least for determining a pressure drop in the pressure vessel (118) when the solid opening (12) is closed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a self-emptying separator according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for treating centrifuged material according to claim 9 . Background Art

[0002] A discontinuously emptied separator within the meaning of this document has, in addition to one or more outlets for one or more liquid phases, an emptying system having a piston slide valve that can be moved alternately into an open and closed position by fluid actuation, in particular with a liquid as fluid, which releases (open position) and closes again (closed position) a solids discharge opening in the drum wall. In the open position, the solid phase is discharged from the centrifuge drum.

[0003] In order to ensure the precise function of such a cartridge emptying system of a self-emptying separator, this separator can have a control fluid system, which has a piston valve. This piston valve is used to fill the chamber on the piston slide valve with a fluid (preferably a liquid), and the piston valve is used to allow the fluid to leak out of the chamber on the piston slide valve for emptying the solids, so that the piston slide valve can move. Thus, in a separator with a vertical axis of rotation, for example, the fluid can leak out below the piston slide valve, so that the product in the cartridge squeezes it vertically downward. The goal here is to supply the control fluid system ("opening fluid") of the centrifuge cartridge with a liquid volume that is determined as accurately as possible in a short time during emptying. Thus, the emptying amount is determined by the volume of the opening fluid.

[0004] At present, the control fluid systems of most self-emptying separators are designed “openly”, ie both the closing fluid and the opening fluid are injected into the rotating drum via control water nozzles.

[0005] Thus, DE 31 15 875 C1 discloses, by way of example, an open control fluid system in which both a closing fluid and an opening fluid are injected into a rotating centrifuge drum via control water nozzles.

[0006] DE 28 22 478 describes a self-emptying separator with a control fluid system in which a control fluid is conducted under pressure through lines first centrally in a rotating drive shaft and then extending radially through the drive shaft into a centrifuge drum.

[0007] EP 3 207 995 B1 and DE 2 8 22 478 likewise disclose a self-emptying separator with a control fluid system in which a control fluid is guided via a rotating drive shaft and a supply channel is arranged annularly around the supply channel for the suspended material to be processed in order to also cool the slide ring seal. The opening fluid is discharged via a line which eccentrically penetrates the rotor drum or the centrifuge drum which rotates during operation and is then guided further in the axial direction, which is structurally almost impossible due to the rotation of the drum.

[0008] The control fluid system according to the prior art has proven to be good in practice. The disadvantage of this system is that leaks in this hydraulic system cannot be detected without any problems. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to eliminate this problem.

[0010] The present invention achieves this object through the technical solution of claim 1. The present invention also provides a method according to claim 9.

[0011] A self-emptying separator is proposed, the separator having a rotatable centrifuge barrel, the centrifuge barrel having a vertical axis of rotation, the centrifuge barrel being provided with a solids discharge opening, the solids discharge opening being provided with an emptying system having a piston slide valve, the piston slide valve being fluid-operated, in particular by means of a fluid, and the emptying system also having a control fluid system assigned to the piston slide valve for controlling the opening and closing movement of the piston slide valve. The control fluid system in turn has the following components:

[0012] a control device which is designed at least for controlling the opening and closing movement,

[0013] an opening fluid line in the cartridge, to which the fluid for activating the opening movement of the piston slide valve can be guided from a rest position that does not rotate during operation via an opening fluid supply device, in which an opening fluid valve is arranged,

[0014] a closing chamber, to which the fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston slide valve can be directed via a closing fluid supply device, in which a closing fluid valve is arranged,

[0015] at least the fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston slide valve can be guided in a closed line system up to the closing chamber,

[0016] a pressure vessel is also provided for supplying the closing chamber with a fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston slide valve, the pressure vessel being arranged upstream of the closing fluid valve and being loadable and preloadable with a defined pressure via an additional valve, and

[0017] The control device is also provided at least for determining a pressure drop in the pressure container when the solid matter opening is closed.

[0018] Such a self-emptying separator has a whole series of advantages.

[0019] The opening and closing fluid (ie the fluid then used for opening or closing, ie the fluid used to activate the respective opening or closing movement of the piston slide valve) can be water, for example, or a product or a mobile suspension to be processed.

[0020] The determined pressure drop in the pressure vessel when the closing fluid for closing the solids discharge opening is introduced makes it possible to infer relatively accurately the ejected emptying volume, and the emptying can then be increased or reduced if necessary by opening the water metering device in order to achieve a preselected emptying quantity. The preselected emptying quantity is dependent on the drum geometry and the process-specific requirements of the centrifuge.

[0021] Thus, if the determined actual value of the volume of solid matter discharged does not correspond to the theoretical value, the amount of opening water in the metering device can be adapted (enlarged or reduced) for the subsequent discharge.

[0022] When completely emptying, the shut-off valve is closed so that the cartridge remains open until the cartridge has been completely emptied.

[0023] The pressure drop that occurs in the preloaded pressure vessel between two partial emptyings can be used as an indicator for sealing defects on the piston slide valve or the cartridge valve and for leakage monitoring. This is possible in particular because, unlike when shut-off water is injected into the rotating centrifuge drum using a water injection device, no volume of shut-off fluid is lost in the rotating system when filling the shut-off chamber.

[0024] According to an optional and advantageous development, it can be provided that the volume of the opening fluid required for the opening can be metered by means of a metering device.

[0025] It is advantageous here that both the closing fluid and the opening fluid are preferably guided in a closed and sealed hydraulic system (pipelines, valves and the like) from a position outside the rotating system of the separator via a swivel joint into the drive shaft and from there into the rotating drum into an opening fluid line in the drum or into a closing chamber. Injection from a non-rotating position into the injection chamber of the rotating centrifuge drum is not necessary. The guide lines in the closed system make it possible to guide a defined fluid volume precisely into the corresponding chamber. Losses of fluid during injection are avoided.

[0026] The invention accordingly also proposes the following method: A method for carrying out a solids fraction discharge when processing a flowable product with a separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the following method steps:

[0027] Step a): providing a self-emptying separator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 thereof,

[0028] Step b): continuously rotating the centrifuge barrel and continuously treating the mobile suspension to centrifugally separate the suspension into at least a liquid phase and a solid phase;

[0029] Step c) Emptying the solids at intervals (repeatedly during step b)) by the following sub-steps:

[0030] Sub-step i): opening the opening fluid valve so that the opening fluid volume metered by the metering device is placed into the opening fluid pipeline in the barrel, whereby the piston slide valve moves into the open position and the solids opening is released by the piston slide valve and thus opened, whereby the solids of the centrifuge barrel are emptied;

[0031] Sub-step ii): ending the solids emptying by closing the opening fluid valve and opening the closing fluid valve, whereby closing fluid is refilled from the pressure vessel into the closing chamber via the opened closing fluid valve until the closing chamber is filled and the piston slide valve covers the solids opening of the centrifuge barrel and the solids opening is thereby closed; and

[0032] Sub-step iii): Determining the pressure drop in the pressure vessel when closing the solid opening.

[0033] The change in the pressure drop in substep iii) between the two partial emptyings, which themselves lead to the same pressure drop, can again be used in a simple manner as an indicator for a sealing defect, thereby enabling monitoring of leaks in rotating systems in a simple manner.

[0034] Furthermore, it is possible to determine the volume of solids discharged using the pressure drop determined in step iii) and / or to adjust the discharge quantity for the next discharge using the change in the pressure in the pressure container.

[0035] For example, between the two emptyings in substeps i), ii) and iii), the pressure vessel is in each case preloaded again to a predetermined pressure by filling with a fluid.

[0036] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the remaining dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using exemplary embodiments. The invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments but can also be implemented in another way literally or in another way equivalently. In the accompanying drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 A schematic sectional view of a separator having a control fluid system according to the invention is shown, as well as a block diagram of the control fluid system;

[0039] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the rotary joint of the separator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] An embodiment is described in the following description of the figures. Individual features of this embodiment can also be combined with embodiments not shown and can also be respectively applied as advantageous embodiments of the technical solutions described in a single or multiple independent claims and dependent claims.

[0041] Figure 1 A rotatable centrifuge drum 1 of a centrifugal separator which is designed as a self-emptying separator is shown. The centrifuge drum 1 can have a vertical axis of rotation D.

[0042] The drive shaft SP for rotating the centrifuge barrel 1 is rotatably supported in the machine frame G. The drive shaft carries the centrifuge barrel 1, which is mounted on the free end of the drive spindle SP. The drive shaft SP is rotated here by means of a motor 14. Alternatively, other drive variants can also be realized.

[0043] The centrifuge drum 1 can be designed monoconically and / or as here biconically (at the bottom and / or at the top and in particular at the inside). The centrifuge drum 1 is preferably designed for continuous operation, ie for continuous, non-batch centrifugation of mobile suspensions.

[0044] The centrifuge drum 1 can have a drum top part 2 and a drum bottom part 3. These drum parts 2, 3 can be connected to one another in various ways, for example, by means of a closing ring 4.

[0045] A distributor 5 is formed in the centrifuge drum 1 for guiding the product from a product inlet pipe 6 into a separation chamber 7. The product P is transferred into the rotating system in the distributor 5. The product inlet pipe 6 leads into the centrifuge drum 1 from above or from the end of the centrifuge drum 1 opposite the drive shaft SP.

[0046] Figure 1 By way of example, a so-called clarifier separator is shown which is provided for clarifying a product P to be processed (mobile suspension) or for separating it into a solid phase S and a single liquid phase L in a centrifugal field.

[0047] The actual centrifugal separation of the product P into different phases takes place in the separation space 7. The separation space 7 preferably has a disk package 8 consisting of separation disks. The separation space also has a solids collection space 9 radially outside this, in which the solid phase S separated from the suspended or mobile product P during the separation and / or clarification process collects.

[0048] In addition, the separator has a single liquid outlet 10, via which the liquid phase L can be discharged from the centrifuge drum 1. The liquid outlet 10 is implemented here as a so-called stripping disc, which works as a centrifugal pump. The liquid outlet 10 can also be realized in another way. In addition, multiple liquid phases can also be discharged, for which the centrifuge drum 1 must then be provided with a corresponding other discharge system (for example, another stripping disc and a separation disc for guiding another liquid phase to the stripping disc, both not shown). The separator is then constructed as a so-called separating separator, in which two liquid phases and one solid phase are separated from each other.

[0049] The fluid-operated emptying system for discharging the solid phase S from the solid collecting space 9 of the centrifuge barrel 1 has a piston slide valve 11 for opening and closing a plurality of solid discharge openings 12, which can be configured in a peripherally distributed manner in the region of the largest diameter of the centrifuge barrel 1. The emptying system also has a control fluid system 100 assigned to the piston slide valve 11 for controlling the opening and closing movement of the piston slide valve.

[0050] The control fluid system 100 has a control device 101. This control device can be designed as a superordinate control computer of the separator. The control fluid system 100 also includes an opening fluid line in the barrel 102 and a closing chamber 103 in the centrifuge barrel 1, to which a fluid, in particular water, for activating the opening and closing movements can be directed via an opening fluid supply device 104 and a closing fluid supply device 105, in which an opening fluid valve 106 and a closing fluid valve 107 can be provided, respectively.

[0051] It is advantageous here to convey not only the closing fluid but also preferably the opening fluid in a closed, sealed hydraulic system (lines, valves and the like) from a location outside the rotating system of the separator via a sealed swivel joint 13 (see also Figure 2 ) is guided into the drive shaft SP and from there into the rotating centrifuge drum 1 into an opening fluid line or a closing chamber 103 in the drum 102.

[0052] Therefore, injection from a non-rotating position of the injection chamber into the rotating centrifuge drum 1 is not necessary.

[0053] The fluid supply device 104 is opened and the fluid supply device 105 is closed, respectively, from a stationary position outside the rotating elements of the separator during operation (such as the centrifuge barrel 1 and the drive shaft SP) through the swivel joint 13 through the drive shaft SP rotating during operation of the separator and then through radial pipeline sections 1043, 1053 until entering the centrifuge barrel 1 rotating at the rotational speed of the drive shaft SP.

[0054] Here, the swivel joint 13 advantageously enables a sealed transition of the fluid from a stationary supply line (such as here opening the fluid supply device 104 and closing the fluid supply device 105) into / from a rotating separator element, such as a drive shaft SP, or through a rotating separator element, such as a drive shaft, until it enters the centrifuge barrel 2, which rotates at the same speed.

[0055] exist Figure 2 Shown in Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of an exemplary swivel joint 13 of the separator in FIG.

[0056] The swivel joint 13 is designed here as a double-line swivel joint.

[0057] The opening and closing fluid supply 104 and 105 into the swivel joint 13 are preferably effected in radial direction via radial guide line sections 1041 , 1051 into a tubular section 17 of the swivel joint 13 which is aligned with the drive shaft SP and does not rotate during operation of the separator.

[0058] After entering the radial guide line sections 1041, 1051, the opening fluid and the closing fluid are guided separately from one another in the tubular section 17 in respective axially arranged fluid channels 1042, 1052. The fluid channels 1042, 1052 are designed coaxially here.

[0059] This tubular section 17 is axially adjacent to a drive shaft SP, which rotates during operation and in which the fluid channels 1042, 1052 are continued axially or coaxially relative to each other as fluid channels 1042-1, 1052-1. The respective fluid channels 1042-1, 1052-1 of the drive shaft SP open into the respective corresponding radial pipeline sections 1043, 1053, which respectively exit from the drive shaft SP in the radial direction.

[0060] The transitions of the fluid channels 1042, 1042-1 and 1052, 1052-1 between the non-rotating tubular section 17 and the rotating drive shaft SP can be sealed by means of the seal 16. The drive shaft SP can again be driven by the drive device 14 as an example. Here, the rotor 14-1 of the drive device 14 is fixedly connected to the drive shaft SP and the stator 14-2 of the drive device 14 is fixedly connected to the housing G.

[0061] The opening fluid supply device 104 is equipped with a metering device 108 which is connected upstream of the opening fluid valve 106 .

[0062] The metering device 108 has a metering element 110 that can move in the metering space 109, in particular a mobile metering element, which divides the metering space 109 into a fluid space 111 and a pressure chamber 112 for loading with a fluid, in particular a gas such as compressed air. Here, the metering element 110 is designed as a movable, in particular deformable membrane. The metering element 110 can also be designed differently.

[0063] The fluid space 111 is formed between the filling valve 113 and the opening fluid valve 106 and the adjusting element 114 .

[0064] Furthermore, a compressed air line 115 opens into the pressure chamber 112 , to which a valve 116 is connected. The corresponding control leads of all controllable valves can be connected to the control device 101 .

[0065] A piston valve 117 which is introduced into the wall of the centrifuge drum 1 can be used here to discharge the closing fluid (and the opening fluid) in a manner controlled by the opening fluid.

[0066] In order to keep the solids discharge opening 12 of the centrifuge drum 1 closed during operation, as in Figure 1 The right side of the figure shows that the closing fluid valve 107 is opened or the closing fluid valve is opened. The closing chamber 103 in the centrifuge barrel 1 is supplied with closing fluid via a pressure vessel 118, in which the closing fluid is under pressure, which is preloaded during filling via an additional valve 119 and a fluid source (not shown here), such as a pump, connected upstream, so that a defined pressure closing prevails in the fluid system.

[0067] The term "preloading" can mean that the pressure container 118 is provided with a defined (over) pressure via the valve 119 by the valve 119 remaining open during filling until a defined pressure is detected by a suitable measuring device M, whereupon the valve 119 is closed. This can take place, for example, in the time interval between two solids emptyings (ie, partial emptyings).

[0068] If a partial emptying is carried out to empty the solids space 9 of the centrifuge drum 1 of the solids S, the opening fluid valve 106 is first opened so that the opening fluid volume metered by the metering device 108 is introduced into the opening fluid line 102 in the drum. The opening fluid overcomes the locking force of the piston valve 117, thereby discharging the closing fluid, so that the piston slide valve 11 moves into the open position and is released by the piston slide valve 11 and thus opens the solids opening 12.

[0069] If the partial emptying is to be ended, the opening fluid valve 106 is closed and the closing fluid valve 107 is opened. As a result, the closing fluid comes out of the pressure container 118 via the opened closing fluid valve 107 into the closing chamber 103 until the closing chamber is filled and the piston slide valve 11 covers the solid opening 12 of the centrifuge barrel 1 and the solid opening 12 is closed.

[0070] As a result, a pressure drop is formed in the pressure container 118, which can be determined, in particular measured by the measuring device M. The amount of the pressure drop in the pressure container 118 allows inferences to be drawn about how much closing fluid has been consumed and thus allows accurate reporting on the solid volume emptied by the partial emptying performed. For the next emptying, the pressure container 118 is preloaded again via the valve 119 and is provided with a defined pressure, which can be detected or measured via the measuring device M.

[0071] By means of the metering device 108 for opening the fluid, the solid volume to be discharged in the next solid discharge process can be increased or decreased as necessary by comparison with the discharged solid volume determined by the pressure drop of the pressure container 118, so as to obtain a preselected discharged solid volume. Accordingly, a larger or smaller opening fluid volume in the metering device 108 is premetered by the metering device 108 as for the previous partial discharge.

[0072] The preselected solid volume depends on the geometry of the centrifuge drum 1 and the process requirements of the separator.

[0073] When completely emptying, the shut-off fluid valve 107 is closed, so that the centrifuge drum 1 remains open until the centrifuge drum 1 is completely empty.

[0074] The pressure drop that occurs in the preloaded pressure container 118 between two partial emptyings can be used as an indicator for a sealing defect on the piston slide valve 11 or the piston valve 117 and for leakage monitoring.

[0075] Here, not only the closing fluid but also the opening fluid is preferably guided in a closed and sealed hydraulic system from a location outside the rotating system of the separator via a swivel joint 13 into the drive shaft SP and from there into the rotating centrifuge drum 1 into the opening fluid line or the closing chamber 13 in the drum 12. For example, with the aid of a measuring device M, which can be designed as a pressure monitoring device, it can be determined whether there is a leak in this closed system, for example in a piston slide valve seal or in a piston valve 117 for discharging the closing fluid. The volume of solids discharged can also be inferred from the pressure drop during the emptying process of the separator.

[0076] The control device 101 can be controlled by means of a computer program product in the form of a control program, which also takes over the separator control and / or regulation and thereby can also control and / or regulate the actuation of the piston slide valve 11, in particular also the metering of the opening fluid in the metering device 108 and the preloading of the pressure vessel 118 and also the execution and implementation of the measurement.

[0077] Reference numerals list

[0078] 1 Centrifuge barrel

[0079] 2. Upper part of the cylinder

[0080] 3. Bottom of the tube

[0081] 4 Closed loop

[0082] 5 Distributor

[0083] 6Products enter the tube

[0084] 7. Separation Space

[0085] 8-disc set

[0086] 9 Solids Collection Space

[0087] 10Liquid discharge port

[0088] 11 Piston slide valve

[0089] 12 Solids discharge opening

[0090] 13-turn swivel joint

[0091] 14 Drive device

[0092] 14-1 rotor

[0093] 14-2 Stator

[0094] 16 Seals

[0095] 17 pipe sections

[0096] 100 Control Fluid Systems

[0097] 101 Control Device

[0098] 102 Open fluid lines in cartridge

[0099] 103 Closure Room

[0100] 104 Open the fluid supply device

[0101] 1041 radial guide pipeline section

[0102] 1042 Fluid Channel

[0103] 1042-1 Fluid Channel

[0104] 1043 radial pipeline section

[0105] 105 Close the fluid supply device

[0106] 1051 radial guide pipeline section

[0107] 1052 Fluid Channel

[0108] 1052-1 Fluid Channel

[0109] 1053 radial pipeline section

[0110] 106 Open the fluid valve

[0111] 107 Close the fluid valve

[0112] 108 Measuring device

[0113] 109 Metering Space

[0114] 110 metering element

[0115] 111 Fluid Space

[0116] 112 Pressure chamber

[0117] 113 injection valve

[0118] 114Regulator

[0119] 115 Compressed air pipeline

[0120] 116 valve

[0121] 117 Piston Valve

[0122] 118 Pressure Vessel

[0123] 119 valve

[0124] G Machine Frame

[0125] D Rotation axis

[0126] L Liquid Phase

[0127] S Solid

[0128] SP drive shaft

[0129] P Products

[0130] M measuring device.

Claims

1. A self-emptying separator, comprising a rotatable centrifuge barrel (1), the centrifuge barrel having a vertical axis of rotation D, the centrifuge barrel being provided with an inlet for a suspended matter to be treated in the centrifuge field and at least one outlet for a liquid phase and a solids discharge opening (12), the solids discharge opening being provided with an emptying system having a piston slide valve (11), the piston slide valve being fluid-operable, in particular fluid-movable, into an open and closed position, the emptying system also comprising a control fluid system (100) assigned to the piston slide valve (11) for controlling the opening and closing movement of the piston slide valve, the control fluid system (100) in turn comprising: a) a control device (101), which is designed at least for controlling the opening and closing movement, b) an opening fluid line in the cartridge (102), to which fluid for activating the opening movement of the piston slide valve (11) can be directed from a stationary position that does not rotate during operation via an opening fluid supply device (104), in which an opening fluid valve (106) is arranged, c) a closing chamber (103), to which a fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston slide valve (11) can be directed via a closing fluid supply device (105), in which a closing fluid valve (106) is arranged, It is characterized in that d) at least the fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston slide valve (11) can be guided in a closed line system up to the closing chamber, e) a pressure vessel (118) is provided for supplying the closing chamber (103) with a fluid for activating the closing movement of the piston slide valve (11), the pressure vessel being arranged upstream of the closing fluid valve (107) and being loadable and preloadable with a defined pressure via an additional valve (119), and f) The control device (101) is also configured at least to determine a pressure drop in the pressure container (118) when the solid matter opening (12) is closed.

2. The self-emptying separator according to claim 1, characterized in that The volume of fluid required for opening the piston slide valve (11) for activating the opening movement can be metered by means of a metering device (108).

3. A self-emptying separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Both the fluid for activating the opening movement and the fluid for activating the closing movement are guided or can be guided in a closed line system into an opening fluid line in the cartridge (102) or into the closing chamber (103).

4. A self-emptying separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The pressure in the pressure vessel (118) can be determined via a measuring device M.

5. A self-emptying separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The metering device (108) has a metering element (110) which is movable in a metering space (109) and an adjusting element (114) for metering the fluid quantity required for opening.

6. A self-emptying separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The opening fluid supply (104) and the closing fluid supply (105) are at least partially realized via a sealed swivel joint (13) via a drive shaft SP that rotates during operation of the separator.

7. The self-emptying separator according to claim 6, characterized in that The swivel joint (13) is configured as a double-line swivel joint.

8. A self-emptying separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control device (101) has a computer control program which assumes the control and regulation of the separator and also controls the actuation of the piston slide valve (11), in particular also controls the metering of the opening fluid in the metering device (108) and the actuation of the valve (119) for preloading the pressure container (118) and also controls the execution and implementation of measurements.

9. Method for carrying out the emptying of solids fraction when processing a free-flowing product with a separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The following method steps: a) providing a self-emptying separator according to any one of the preceding claims, b) rotating the centrifuge barrel (1) and continuously treating the mobile suspension to centrifugally separate the suspension into at least a liquid phase F and a solid phase S; c) emptying the solid S repeatedly at intervals during step b) by the following sub-steps: i. opening the opening fluid valve (106) so that the opening fluid volume metered by the metering device (108) is placed into the opening fluid line in the barrel (102), whereby the piston slide valve (11) moves into the open position and the solids opening (12) is released by the piston slide valve (11) and thus opened, thereby emptying the centrifuge barrel (1) of solids; ii. ending the solids discharge by closing the opening fluid valve (106) and opening the closing fluid valve (107), whereby the closing fluid is refilled from the preloaded pressure vessel (118) via the open closing fluid valve (107) into the closing chamber (103) until the closing chamber is filled and the piston slide valve (11) covers the solids opening (12) of the centrifuge barrel (1) and the solids opening (12) is thereby closed; iii. Determining the pressure drop in the pressure vessel (118) when the solids opening (12) is closed.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that Leakage monitoring is achieved by using the change in the pressure drop in step iii) between two partial emptyings as an indicator for a sealing defect on the piston slide valve (11) or on the piston valve (117).

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that The volume of the solids discharged is determined as an actual value using the pressure drop determined in step iii).

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that The actual value is compared with a theoretical value and, if the actual value of the volume of solid matter discharged does not correspond to a predetermined theoretical value, the amount of opening water is adapted in the metering device (108) for subsequent discharge.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that The pressure vessel (118) is preloaded to a predetermined pressure by filling it with a fluid.

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