Centrifugal separator, in particular degerming separator

Abstract

The utility model relates to a centrifugal separator, which is used for separating a flowing product to be processed in a centrifugal area into a solid phase, a light first liquid phase and a heavy second liquid phase, and at least comprises a rotatable centrifugal cylinder with a vertical rotating axis and a distributor arranged in the centrifugal cylinder, the distributor has a distributor channel for introducing the product from the product inflow tube into the separation chamber, in operation the product is guided into the separation chamber in the distributor, the distributor further has a first opening such that a first portion of the product introduced through the distributor is guided from the distributor channel into the disk pack, the separation chamber having a radially outer solids collection chamber; a discontinuously closable solid discharge opening for discharging a solid phase, a first liquid outlet for discharging a lighter liquid phase, and a second liquid outlet for discharging a heavier liquid phase, except for the first opening, one or more second openings are also configured in the dispenser for directing a second portion of the product outwardly into the centrifuge cartridge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a centrifugal separator, in particular to a sterilization separator. Background Art

[0002] Centrifuges are used for various separation and / or filtration purposes and are therefore used for sterilizing milk. Centrifuges are also called sterilizing separators. A conventional application of sterilizing separators is to filter out bacteria and spores (so-called microbial flora) that form a heavier liquid phase from milk that forms a lighter liquid phase. This heavier liquid phase may also contain impurities such as breast cells. During sterilization, it can be provided that the milk is continuously introduced into a centrifuge drum and that the milk introduced into the centrifuge drum is continuously centrifuged and filtered in the centrifuge drum. Here, the milk is separated into a solid phase with microorganisms and spores and a lighter first liquid phase consisting of sterilized milk and a heavier second liquid phase consisting of a flowable concentrate that further contains microorganisms and proteins. In contrast, no or substantially no separation occurs with respect to cream and skimmed milk during this sterilization.

[0003] Such a sterilizing separator is known from DE 38 02 305 C1 of the type mentioned above. The sterilizing separator has a rotatable centrifugal drum in which a separation disc group is arranged. The milk to be sterilized is guided through an upright inlet pipe into a distributor of the centrifuge that rotates with the centrifugal drum during operation, where the milk is accelerated in the distributor channel to the centrifugal drum rotation speed. The distributor channel has an opening through which the milk can flow into the ascending channel of the separation disc group. Sediments consisting of bacteria and microorganisms are separated from the milk as a solid phase in the centrifugal zone and accumulated in a solid collection chamber located radially outside the centrifugal drum, from which the sediment is discontinuously discharged through a solid discharge opening. The filtered milk flows through the separation disc group into the radial center of the centrifugal drum and is guided from there into a gripper chamber, from which the milk is discharged by means of a first centrifugal pump. In the radial region or radial space between the separation disk group and the separated microorganisms (= solid phase), a still mobile protein and microorganism concentrate, which also contains microorganisms and proteins that are guided out of the separation space through channels above the separation disks via the separation disk group by a further centripetal pump, accumulates. This mobile concentrate is recirculated to the inlet. This ensures that even "lighter" bacteria and spores are reliably separated in the next "separation process".

[0004] Effective sterilization is achieved when a filter surface for the filtration process that is as large as possible and suitable for the corresponding inflow power is provided in the centrifuge drum of the centrifuge. Here, the filter surface load should be at least 0.1 liters per square meter per hour (inflow power / equivalent filter surface).

[0005] If the inflow capacity is selected to be too low or in other words too large a filter surface is selected, this may result in too much protein or protein being separated from the milk. An excessively high milk protein content in the heavier liquid phase (concentrate) can even lead to this phase thickening in the solid phase collection chamber in the centrifuge drum, so that it can no longer be discharged from the centrifuge drum as a still mobile liquid phase via the separation disk. In addition, this also prevents the separation of bacteria in the solid phase collection chamber, since the solid protein layer that forms flows into the solid phase collection chamber of the centrifuge.

[0006] Influent milk has a typical protein content of about 3.5% w / v (see, for example, EP 1 768 493 B1,

[0030] ). Utility Model Content

[0007] The problem arises in particular in the above-mentioned effects of thickening of the heavier liquid phase and the disadvantages resulting therefrom. Therefore, starting from the prior art of the type described, the object of the present invention is to reduce this effect.

[0008] To this end, the utility model provides a centrifugal separator, which is particularly implemented as a sterilizing separator for sterilizing milk, and the centrifugal separator is configured to separate the flowable product to be processed into a solid phase (sediment with microorganisms), a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase in a centrifugal zone, and the centrifugal separator at least comprises: a rotatable centrifugal cylinder with a vertical rotation axis, the centrifugal cylinder having a centrifugal cylinder upper part and a centrifugal cylinder lower part; a separation disc group constructed in a separation chamber of the centrifugal cylinder; a distributor arranged in the centrifugal cylinder, the distributor being used to introduce the product from a product inlet pipe into a The separation chamber is provided in which the product is introduced into the separation chamber in the distributor during operation (note: in this way the product is accelerated to the centrifuge drum rotational speed in the distributor channel of the distributor), the distributor also having a first opening so that a first part of the product P introduced through the distributor is introduced from the distributor channel into the disk package, preferably into the ascending channel of the separation disk package, the separation chamber having a radially outer solids collection chamber, and a discontinuously closable solids discharge opening for discharging the solid phase S, as well as a first liquid outlet for discharging the lighter liquid phase and a second liquid outlet for discharging the heavier liquid phase. It is further provided that, in addition to the first opening, one or more second openings are formed in the distributor, which second openings introduce a second part of the product P into the centrifuge drum in an outwardly directed manner.

[0009] The heavier liquid phase is thus diluted in the separation chamber and thus blockage of the flow paths in the cartridge is avoided in a simple manner. The heavier liquid phase in the case of sterilized milk is the still free-flowing concentrate which has an increased content of proteins and microorganisms compared to the product, in this case milk.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the centrifugal separator is implemented as a sterilizing separator for sterilizing milk.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first part of the product introduced through the distributor is guided from the distributor channel into the ascending channel of the separation disc group.

[0012] Optionally, it can be advantageously provided that the first opening and / or the second opening is arranged in the distributor base and that these openings are also at least partially provided with a replaceable sleeve. This makes it possible to change the cross section of the respective opening in a simple manner (by inserting a sleeve with a corresponding optimized flow cross section) and to adapt the cross section to the respective product properties.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all or part of the first opening and / or the second opening of the distributor base is provided with a replaceable sleeve, the sleeve having a through-flow opening, and the through-flow opening having a through-flow cross section.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the dispenser base is divided into an upper part and a lower part, so that the sleeve can be replaced.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first portion of the product introduced through the distributor is guided from the distributor channel into the ascending channel of the separation disc group.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second liquid phase is guided from the separation chamber to the second liquid outlet via a separation disk.

[0017] It can then be further particularly preferably provided that a first portion of the discharged heavier second liquid phase can be recirculated into the centrifuge drum and a second portion of the second liquid phase can be discharged.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first portion of the heavier second liquid phase discharged from the centrifuge drum can be recycled into the centrifuge drum, and a second portion of the second liquid phase can be discharged from the entire centrifuge via a second pipeline.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second liquid phase is a concentrate having an increased protein content relative to the product.

[0020] The utility model also provides a method for sterilizing milk using the sterilizing separator according to the utility model, which is characterized by the following steps:

[0021] i) Provide sterilization separator,

[0022] ii) rotating the centrifuge drum,

[0023] iii) continuously centrifuging the milk introduced into the centrifuge drum in the centrifuge drum to separate the milk into a solid phase S consisting in particular of microorganisms and spores, a first lighter liquid phase L1 consisting of sterilized milk and a second heavier liquid phase L2 consisting of a flowable protein and microorganism concentrate which additionally contains microorganisms and spores, and

[0024] iv) recycling a first portion of the second liquid phase into the centrifuge drum and conducting a second portion of the second liquid phase out of the sterilizing separator, and when introducing milk to be processed, directing the first portion of the milk to be processed through a first opening in the distributor into the separation disc group and directing the other portion of the milk to be processed through one or more second openings into a region radially outside the separation disc group.

[0025] In this method, the heavier liquid phase is also diluted in the separation chamber and clogging of the flow paths in the cartridge is avoided. The separated fraction of the concentrate can be processed further, so it can be used for protein-rich dairy products, yogurt (if necessary after a heat treatment to reduce microorganisms, such as sterilization and subsequent cooling) or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The utility model is explained in detail below with the help of the accompanying drawings.

[0027] In the attached figure:

[0028] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a schematically shown view of a centrifugal separator according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the

[0030] Figure 3 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of a schematically illustrated illustration of a centrifugal separator according to the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] An embodiment is described in the following description of the drawings. Individual features of this embodiment can also be combined with embodiments not shown and are also respectively applicable as advantageous designs of one or more of the technical solutions described in the independent claims and the dependent claims.

[0032] The terms used hereinafter, such as “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “horizontal” or “vertical”, all relate to the views in the corresponding drawings.

[0033] First in Figure 3 A centrifugal separator according to the prior art is described in . Figure 3 The centrifuge 1 in the embodiment is preferably designed as an automatically emptying centrifuge, in particular as a sterilizing centrifuge.

[0034] The centrifuge 1 has a centrifuge drum 2 which can rotate during operation. The centrifuge drum 2 can have a vertical axis of rotation D. The centrifuge drum 2 is shown schematically here and can be designed (as shown here) in a single-conical and / or double-conical manner (lower part and / or upper part and in particular the inner part). The centrifuge drum is arranged on a drive shaft 11, to which it is coupled in a non-rotatable manner. During operation, this drive shaft can be rotated by a drive motor (not shown here) and accelerated to an operating speed in order to generate centrifugal accelerations of several thousand g in the drum.

[0035] The centrifuge drum 2 is preferably designed for continuous operation, that is to say for continuous, non-batch centrifugal processing of a flowable suspension (preferably milk to be sterilized here). The centrifuge is preferably (as shown here) designed as a sterilizing separator, which is provided for separating the product to be processed (here raw milk) into a solid phase S (here bacteria and microorganisms) and two different heavy liquid phases: L1 (here a lighter liquid phase consisting of filtered milk) and L2 (here a flowable heavier concentrate phase with a high protein content) in the centrifugal zone.

[0036] The centrifuge drum 2 can have a centrifuge drum upper part 3 and a centrifuge drum lower part 4. These centrifuge drum parts 3, 4 can be connected to one another in different ways, for example by means of a locking ring (also not shown here).

[0037] The product inlet pipe 6 extends into the centrifuge drum 2. A distributor 5 is also configured in the centrifuge drum 2 and is coupled to the centrifuge drum in a non-rotatable manner to guide the product from the product inlet pipe 6 into the separation chamber 7. In the distributor 5, the product P is transported to the rotating system. In the distributor channel 8, the product P is accelerated to the centrifuge drum rotational speed. The distributor channel 8 can be configured in the distributor base 9.

[0038] The product inlet pipe 6 here projects from above through a cover 10 which is stationary during operation of the centrifuge 1 or from the end of the centrifuge drum 2 which is opposite the drive shaft 11 into the centrifuge drum.

[0039] The cover 10 can be arranged on a frame (not shown here) and supported on the frame. The cover 10 can be divided into an upper conical cover part 12 and a lower conical cover part 13. The lower conical cover part 13 also forms a solids collector 14 here.

[0040] The product P is actually centrifuged into different phases in the separation chamber 7. The centrifugal chamber 7 has a separation means, preferably a separation disc package 15 consisting of separation discs. In the distributor channel 8, first openings 16 are formed on the upper side of the distributor base. These first openings can extend in the axial direction in a preferred embodiment. It is important that a first portion of the product P introduced and flowing through the distributor (i.e., milk, which is particularly, but not absolutely sterilized) is guided into the disc package through the first openings 16. In the embodiment shown, this first portion can be introduced into an axially extending riser channel 17 of the separation disc package 15, which can be formed by aligned holes in the separation discs.

[0041] Radially outside the separation disk package 15 , the separation chamber 7 has a solids collecting chamber 18 , in which the solid phase S separated from the suspension or the free-flowing product P during the separation and / or filtration process accumulates.

[0042] The emptying system 19 is used to discharge the solid phase S from the solid collection chamber 18 of the centrifuge drum 2. This emptying system can be implemented in a fluid-operated manner (as shown here). The fluid-operated emptying system 19 can have a piston slide 20 for opening and closing a plurality of solid discharge openings 21, which can be configured in a circumferentially distributed manner in the region of the maximum diameter of the centrifuge drum 2. The emptying system 19 can also have a control fluid system assigned to the piston slide 20 for controlling its opening and closing movement.

[0043] The centrifuge 1 then has a first liquid outlet 22, through which the lighter liquid phase L1 (i.e. the sterilized or filtered milk that flows into the center of the centrifuge drum 2 through the separation disc group 15) can be discharged from the centrifuge drum 2. The first liquid outlet 22 can be designed as a so-called skimmer plate, which works as a centripetal pump. However, the first liquid outlet 22 can also be alternatively realized in other ways, for example by a sealed liquid outlet.

[0044] The concentrated phase accumulates as a heavier second liquid phase L2 in the radial space region 23 between the separation disk group 15 and the solid phase S, and the heavier second liquid phase is guided out of the centrifuge drum 2 through the channel 24 above the separation disk group 15 through the second liquid outlet 25. The second liquid outlet 25 is also implemented as a skimming plate here. The second liquid outlet 25 can also be realized in other ways, such as by a liquid outlet with a sealed design.

[0045] The first part of the removed concentrate is recirculated via the first line 26 to the product inlet 6. This ensures that even "lighter" bacteria and spores are reliably separated in the next "separation process". The second part of the protein-rich concentrate can be removed via the second line 27 and, if necessary, further processed.

[0046] When the milk is centrifuged, the protein content in the concentrate may increase (proteins are separated out by centrifugal force), which may lead to the thickening of the concentrate described in the introduction, which in turn may prevent the separation of bacteria and spores.

[0047] To counteract this effect, Figure 3 Different, according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The exemplary embodiment (which is modified here only to this extent) provides that a thickening of the concentrate due to an excessively high protein content is prevented by a specific design of the distributor base 9 of the centrifuge 1 .

[0048] This is achieved in that, in addition to the first openings 16 in the distributor base 9, which guide the product P, i.e. the milk, into the rising channel 17, second openings 28 are also provided on the outer circumference of the distributor base 9, which guide a portion of the product, in particular the milk to be filtered, in the direction of the solids collection chamber 18 (see in this regard). Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to a preferred embodiment, the second openings 28 can be oriented in such a way that the product, in particular the further part of the milk which is preferably to be filtered, flows into the separation chamber essentially in a radial direction.

[0049] Thus, the protein-rich heavier liquid phase L2 (ie the concentrate) in the solid collecting chamber 18 is diluted and thus clogging of the solid collecting chamber 18 and / or the passage above the separation disc pack is avoided.

[0050] In order to be able to distribute the product to be filtered (i.e. the milk to be filtered) in a targeted manner on the one hand into the rising channel 17 and on the other hand into the solids collection chamber 18, according to an optional improvement, it can be provided that the first opening 16 and / or the second opening 28 of the distributor base 9 are provided with a replaceable sleeve 29, which has a corresponding flow cross section. These sleeves are then inserted into the openings and fixed there. The sleeves can be clamped there, for example, or fixed via a thread or the like. In order to replace the sleeves, it can also be provided that the distributor base is detachable, so that, for example, the lower part can be removed from it, so that the sleeves 29 can be replaced.

[0051] In order to change the total flow cross section of the first openings and / or the second openings, it is not necessary to provide all openings with sleeves, although this is also conceivable.

[0052] The flow cross section of the first opening and / or the second opening, through which the introduced product flows into the separation chamber, can thus be variably designed by providing the exchangeable sleeve 29 with flow openings 16 , 30 or flow cross sections of different sizes.

[0053] By suitably selecting the flow cross sections of the flow openings 16 , 30 of the sleeve 29 , the milk flow from the distributor 5 can be distributed individually and in a process-friendly manner into the rising channel 17 or in the direction of the solids collecting chamber 18 .

[0054] For example, the respective optimum flow cross section of the flow openings 16 , 30 of the sleeve which open into the riser channel 17 or in the direction of the solids collecting chamber 18 can be determined by tests.

[0055] It should also be noted that the centrifuge is equipped with an electronic control device for controlling and regulating the centrifugation process, with which, for example, the rotational speed of a drive motor (not shown here) can be adjusted and with which, for example, an actuator (not shown here) can be actuated.

[0056] Reference numerals list

[0057] 1 Centrifuge

[0058] 2 Centrifuge tube

[0059] 3-tube upper part

[0060] 4-barrel lower part

[0061] 5 Distributor

[0062] 6 Product inflow pipe

[0063] 7 Separation chamber

[0064] 8 distributor channels

[0065] 9 Distributor base

[0066] 10 Hood

[0067] 11 Drive shaft

[0068] 12. Hood

[0069] 13. Hood

[0070] 14 Solids collector

[0071] 15 Separation disc set

[0072] 16 First Opening

[0073] 17 Ascending Channel

[0074] 18 Solids Collection Chamber

[0075] 19 Drain the system

[0076] 20 Piston slide

[0077] 21 Solids discharge opening

[0078] 22 First liquid outlet

[0079] 23 Space

[0080] 24 channels

[0081] 25 Second liquid outlet

[0082] 26 First Pipeline

[0083] 27 Second pipeline

[0084] 28 Second opening

[0085] 29 Sleeve

[0086] 30 Flow opening

[0087] D Rotation axis

[0088] L1 Liquid Phase

[0089] L2 Liquid Phase

[0090] S Solid

[0091] P product.

Claims

1. A centrifugal separator (1) which is arranged to separate a flowable product (P) to be processed into a solid phase (S) and a first lighter liquid phase (L1) and a second heavier liquid phase (L2) in a centrifugal zone, and which has at least: a) a rotatable centrifuge drum (2) having a vertical rotation axis (D), the centrifuge drum having a centrifuge drum upper part (3) and a centrifuge drum lower part (4); b) a separation disc assembly (15) constructed in the separation chamber (7) of the centrifuge cylinder (2); c) a distributor (5) arranged in the centrifuge drum (2), the distributor being used to introduce the product from the product inlet pipe (6) into the separation chamber (7), and during operation, the product (P) is guided in the distributor (5) into the separation chamber (7), d) wherein the distributor (5) further comprises a first opening (16) so that a first portion of the product (P) introduced through the distributor is directed from the distributor channel (8) into the disk package, and the separation chamber (7) comprises a radially outer solids collection chamber (18); e) a discontinuously closable solid discharge opening (21) for discharging the solid phase (S) and a first liquid outlet (22) for discharging the lighter first liquid phase (L1) and a second liquid outlet (25) for discharging the heavier second liquid phase (L2); It is characterized in that f) In addition to the first opening (16), one or more second openings (28) are formed in the dispenser (5), which second openings guide a second portion of the product (P) into the centrifuge drum in an outwardly directed manner.

2. The centrifuge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The centrifuge (1) is embodied as a sterilizing centrifuge for sterilizing milk.

3. The centrifuge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first portion of the product (P) introduced through the distributor is directed from the distributor channel (8) into the rising channel (17) of the separation disc package (15).

4. The centrifuge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first opening (16) and / or the second opening (28) are formed in the dispenser base (9).

5. The centrifuge (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: All or part of the first opening (16) and / or the second opening (28) of the distributor base (9) is provided with a replaceable sleeve (29), which has a throughflow opening (30) with a throughflow cross section.

6. The centrifuge (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The dispenser base (9) is divided into an upper part and a lower part, so that the sleeve can be replaced.

7. The centrifuge (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: A first portion of the product (P) introduced through the distributor is directed from the distributor channel (8) into the rising channel (17) of the separation disc package (15).

8. The centrifuge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second liquid phase (L2) is led from the separation chamber (7) via a separation disc to the second liquid outlet.

9. The centrifuge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: A first portion of the heavier second liquid phase (L2) discharged from the centrifuge drum (2) can be recirculated into the centrifuge drum (2), and a second portion of the second liquid phase (L2) can be discharged from the entire centrifuge via a second line (27).

10. The centrifuge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second liquid phase (L2) is a concentrate having an increased protein content relative to the product (P).

Images