Separator

Abstract

The invention relates to a separator, in particular a self-emptying separator, for centrifugal separation of a flowable product (P) into at least one liquid phase (L) and at least one solid phase (S), said separator having a rotatable centrifuge drum (1) with a vertical rotation axis (D), said drum having a separation chamber (6) in which a disc stack (7) is preferably provided, and having solids discharge openings (11) and an emptying mechanism with a single piston valve (10), which is designed to open and to close the solids discharge openings (11) discontinuously, a control assembly (12) being provided for the emptying mechanism, characterised in that the centrifuge drum (1) has, on its circumference, a first set of solids discharge openings (11a) and a second set of solids discharge openings (11b), the first set of solids discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solids discharge openings (11b) being arranged at two different axial heights on the circumference of the centrifuge drum (1) and thus being vertically distanced from one another, the two sets of solids discharge openings being openable and closable by the single piston valve (10).

Description

[0001] separator

[0002] The present invention relates to a self-emptying separator according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Self-draining separators within the meaning of this document have, in addition to one or more outlets for one or more liquid phases, a draining mechanism with a piston valve that can be moved alternately into an open and a closed position by an actuator, preferably a fluid-operated actuator, in particular with liquid as the fluid. The piston valve intermittently opens solids discharge openings in the drum wall for a certain period of time (open position) and closes them again (closed position). In the open position, a solid phase is drained from the centrifuge drum. This is not the case in the closed position.

[0004] In such emptying mechanisms with a piston valve, the sealing fluid used is injected into a closing chamber – usually located below the piston valve. The geometry of this closing chamber is designed so that the fluid pressure created by the rotation of the sealing fluid and acting on the piston valve is greater than the fluid pressure of the product to be clarified in the separation chamber above the piston valve. This pressure difference causes the piston valve to rise during operation and close the discharge openings in the drum, or close them again after solids have been discharged.

[0005] Through an appropriate valve arrangement, such as one or more piston valves in fluid communication with the closing chamber, the closing fluid can be drained from the closing chamber during solids emptying. This allows the fluid to escape from the closing chamber—usually below the piston valve—which reduces the pressure acting on the piston valve in the closing chamber. The fluid pressure exerted by the product, usually above the piston valve, pushes the piston valve downward. This releases or opens the discharge openings in the drum. An adjustable, variable volume of solids that can be discharged from the separator per unit of time is desirable.

[0006] From DE 22 14 487 a separator is known in which a part of the discharge openings is designed as permanently open nozzles, while another part of the set of discharge openings is provided as intermittently opening openings / nozzles.

[0007] US 2020 / 029935 discloses a separator in which the drum is equipped with two sets of discharge openings. A piston valve is required to open each set of openings.

[0008] US 3,403,849 describes an electromagnetically operated valve for the controlled release of closing fluid.

[0009] However, the state-of-the-art emptying devices entail a relatively high design effort and / or offer only an unsatisfactory solution with regard to the adjustability of the period in which the solids discharge openings are open as well as the adjustability of the cross-section of the solids discharge openings and thus the variability and adjustability of the solids volume that is emptied from the separator per unit of time.

[0010] The task to be solved is to create a separator with an advanced, optimized emptying mechanism.

[0011] The invention achieves this object by the subject matter of claim 1 .

[0012] According to claim 1, a separator, in particular a self-emptying separator, is provided for the centrifugal separation of a flowable product P into at least one liquid phase L and at least one solid phase S, which comprises a rotatable centrifugal drum with a vertical axis of rotation D, which has a separation chamber in which a plate pack is preferably provided, and which has solids discharge openings and a discharge mechanism with a single piston slide which is designed to discontinuously open and close the solids discharge openings, wherein a control arrangement is provided for the discharge mechanism, wherein the centrifugal drum has on its circumference a first set of solids discharge openings and a second set of solids discharge openings,wherein the first set of solids discharge openings and the second set of solids discharge openings are arranged at two different axial heights on the circumference of the centrifugal drum and are thus vertically spaced from each other, wherein the two sets of solids discharge openings are openable and closable or are opened or closed by the single piston valve.

[0013] This creates a separator with a discharge device for the solid phase that is structurally simple and allows for easy adjustment of the cross-section of the open solid discharge openings for solid discharge. The cross-section of the open solid discharge openings for solid discharge is variable due to the two sets of solid discharge openings, as either one or both sets of solid discharge openings can be opened by the piston valve. This advantageously allows for variable and adjustable solid volume discharged from the separator per unit of time.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the control arrangement for the emptying mechanism has a closing chamber for a fluid and a valve arrangement with at least one closing chamber valve which is connected to the closing chamber in order to actuate the single piston slide by discharging closing fluid in a switching position.

[0015] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the control arrangement for the emptying mechanism acts on the valve arrangement with at least one electrically switchable closing chamber valve. This provides a simple way, particularly for the closing chamber valve(s), to provide variable adjustability of the solid volume to be emptied. This allows the piston slide to move to any desired intermediate position, thus making the emptying of the solid volume particularly variable.

[0016] This allows the closing chamber valve to be opened and closed in a controlled manner to discharge the closing fluid. This allows the solids discharge process to be controlled independently of the centrifuge's other separation or clarification processes. In particular, it can be decoupled in time.

[0017] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the piston slide is in a closed position due to a completely filled closing chamber and closes the first set of solid discharge openings and the second set of solid discharge openings.

[0018] Furthermore, in another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the piston slide is in an open position when the closing chamber is completely empty, releasing and opening the first set of solids discharge openings and the second set of solids discharge openings. This allows the piston slide to be opened in a structurally simple manner and using proven means, allowing the maximum possible volume of solids to be discharged per unit of time.

[0019] Likewise, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the piston slide can be in a central position due to a partially emptied closing chamber, exposing only the first set of solids discharge openings located at the top. This allows for the minimum possible emptying of the solids volume per unit of time to be achieved in a structurally simple manner.

[0020] Furthermore, in another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the piston slide can be lowered to the center position and raised to the center position. This allows the piston slide to be moved to the center position easily and quickly for emptying the solid volume.

[0021] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the piston valve can be positioned in a respective intermediate position, in which the cross-section of the solids discharge openings of the first set of solids discharge openings or the cross-section of the solids discharge openings of the second set of solids discharge openings is only partially open or closed axially. This allows for particularly variable adjustability of the dischargeable solids volume during partial emptying.

[0022] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the solids discharge openings of the first set of solids discharge openings and the solids discharge openings of the second set of solids discharge openings are positioned at an angular offset from one another on the circumference of the centrifuge drum. This results in a structurally simple, strength-optimized arrangement of the two sets of solids discharge openings in the centrifuge drum.

[0023] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of solids discharge openings in the first set of solids discharge openings and the number of solids discharge openings in the second set of solids discharge openings are different. This results in a simple, non-linear correlation between the degree of opening of the piston valve and the solids discharge volume per unit of time.

[0024] Furthermore, in another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first set of solids discharge openings and the second set of solids discharge openings are each rotationally symmetrical. This allows for a simple, structurally sound centrifugal drum without imbalance. Rotational symmetry is understood to mean rotational symmetry about the angular offset of the individual solids discharge openings relative to one another.

[0025] Alternatively, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the combination of the first set of solids discharge openings and the second set of solids discharge openings can result in rotational symmetry. This also results in a simple, unbalanced centrifugal drum.

[0026] Furthermore, in another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening cross-section of the solids discharge openings of the first set of solids discharge openings or the solids discharge openings of the second set of solids discharge openings is identical. This results in a simple, linear correlation between the degree of opening of the piston valve and the solids discharge volume per unit of time.

[0027] Alternatively, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings of the first set of solids discharge openings and the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings of the second set of solids discharge openings are dimensioned differently. This creates a non-linear relationship between the position of the piston valve and the dischargeable solids volume per unit of time through a structurally simple measure.

[0028] Likewise alternatively, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings of the first set of solids discharge openings are of different dimensions and the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings of the second set of solids discharge openings are of different dimensions. In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cross-section of the solids discharge openings of the second set of solids discharge openings is smaller than the cross-section of the solids discharge openings of the first set of solids discharge openings. In each case, a non-linear relationship is established between the position of the piston slide and the emptied solids volume per unit of time by a structurally simple measure.

[0029] Furthermore, in a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a circumferentially closed nozzle-like channel is connected to the respective solids discharge opening, which in each case passes through a wall of the centrifugal drum and through which the solids S are discharged radially outwards from the centrifugal drum.

[0030] The problem is also solved by a method for controlling the solids discharge of a separator, wherein the single piston valve can be controlled such that it fully opens the first set of solids discharge openings and / or the second set of solids discharge openings axially or partially axially. To increase the precision of this emptying system, it is conceivable to measure the axial position of the piston valve, transmit it to the control device, evaluate it there, and control the closing fluid valve or the closing chamber valve based on this evaluation. This not only controls but also regulates the exact positioning of the piston valve.

[0031] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the remaining subclaims.

[0032] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. The invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment, but can also be implemented in other ways, either literally or in other equivalent ways. It shows:

[0033] Figure 1: in Fig. 1 a) a schematic full section of a separator according to the invention and in Fig. 1 b) an enlarged detail from Fig. 1 a;

[0034] Figure 2: an enlarged detail of a schematic full section of an embodiment variant of the separator according to the invention from Fig. 1 a;

[0035] Figure 3: a schematic full section through a hood of a separator according to the invention;

[0036] Figure 4: a schematic full section through a hood of an embodiment of a separator according to the invention;

[0037] Figure 5: a schematic full section through the housing and through a

[0038] Machine housing of a state-of-the-art separator; and

[0039] Figure 6: A schematic full section through the drum of a clarifier according to the prior art. The following description of the figures describes several exemplary embodiments of a separator. The individual features of these exemplary embodiments can also be combined with exemplary embodiments not shown and are also suitable as advantageous embodiments of the subject matter described in one or more of the main and subclaims.

[0040] The separator according to the prior art has a rotatable centrifugal drum 1, which, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, can have a vertical axis of rotation D. The centrifugal drum 1 can be enclosed by a hood H that does not rotate during operation of the separator. The centrifugal drum 1 is rotated by a drive motor M, which, according to the embodiment in Figure 5, acts indirectly via a belt drive on a drive spindle SP of the centrifugal drum 1. The drive spindle SP is rotatably mounted in a machine frame G. It carries the centrifugal drum 1, which is placed on a free end of the drive spindle SP. Alternatively, other drive variants are also feasible, for example a direct drive of the centrifugal drum 1, wherein a drive motor acts directly on the drive spindle SP of the centrifugal drum 1.

[0041] The centrifugal drum 1 can be designed with a single cone and / or double cone (bottom and / or top, and especially inside), as shown here. The centrifugal drum 1 can have a lower drum section 2 and an upper drum section 3. These drum sections 2, 3 can be connected to each other in various ways, for example with a locking ring (not shown here). The centrifugal drum 1 also has a product inlet pipe 4.

[0042] The separator is designed for continuous operation, not just batch operation.

[0043] A distributor 5 is formed in the centrifugal drum 1 for supplying the product from the product inlet pipe 4 into a separation chamber 6. In the distributor 5, the product P is transferred into the rotating system.

[0044] The actual centrifugal separation of the product P takes place in the separation chamber 6. This chamber comprises a disk stack 7 of separation disks. Furthermore, radially outwardly, it has a solids collection chamber 8 in which the solid phase S separated from the suspension or the flowable product P collects during the separation and / or clarification process.

[0045] The centrifugal drum 1 has at least one liquid discharge for a liquid phase L. The centrifugal drum 1 can also have more than one liquid discharge, as shown in Fig. 5. According to Fig. 6, the liquid discharge is designed as a paring disc 9. The liquid discharge can also be implemented in another way.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows, by way of example, a so-called clarifying separator, which is intended to clarify a product P to be processed in the centrifugal field or to separate therefrom a solid phase S and a liquid phase L. The separator can also be designed as a so-called separating separator, in which two liquid phases and a solid phase are separated from each other, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0047] A discharge mechanism is used to drain the solid phase S. This discharge mechanism has a piston valve 10 for opening and closing solid discharge openings 11. The solid discharge openings 11, which are present here in a single set, can be circumferentially distributed in the area of ​​the largest diameter of the centrifuge drum 1. The solid discharge openings 11 are expediently arranged on the circumference of the centrifuge drum 1 in such a way that the solid discharge openings 11 do not lead to an imbalance of the centrifuge drum 1. The piston valve 10 is vertically movable here.

[0048] The emptying mechanism further comprises a control arrangement 12 associated with the piston valve 10 for controlling its opening and closing movements.

[0049] The left half of the centrifuge in Fig. 6 shows the piston slide 10 in a lowered opening position, while in the right half of the centrifuge the piston slide 10 is shown in a raised closing position.

[0050] The control arrangement 12 can comprise a computer-like electronic control device 13 (see Fig. 6) or be connected to it. A higher-level control system of the centrifuge can also be used as this control device 13.

[0051] The control arrangement 12 further comprises a closing chamber 14 for fluid.

[0052] This closing chamber 14 is designed such that the closing movement of the piston slide 10 can be initiated by introducing fluid via a closing fluid valve 15, and such that a closed position of the piston slide 10 can be maintained during rotation at an operating speed for centrifugal processing. The closing fluid valve 15 can be controlled by the electronic control device 13. For the closing movement of the piston slide 10, the closing chamber valve 16 must be closed.

[0053] By means of a valve arrangement which may comprise at least one or more closing chamber valves 16 which are in fluid communication with the closing chamber 14, the fluid can be drained from the closing chamber 14 and thus the solids collection chamber 8 can be emptied through the solids discharge openings 11.

[0054] The closing chamber valve 16 is often designed as a centrifugal valve that closes by centrifugal force at the operating speed of the centrifuge drum 1. By introducing an opening fluid into the closing chamber valve 16 via an opening fluid valve 19, the opening movement of the piston slide 10 is initiated and the water is drained from the closing chamber 14.

[0055] What is not optimal about the state of the art is that the targeted discharge of only a portion of the fluid from the closing chamber 14 cannot be precisely reproduced, as this depends on the hydraulic pressures above and below the piston valve 10. Furthermore, the cross-section of the solid discharge openings 11 cannot be variably adjusted. The invention therefore pursues a different approach.

[0056] Deviating from the prior art, the centrifugal drum 1 of a separator according to the invention has a first set of solids discharge openings 11 a and a second set of solids discharge openings 11 b on its circumference, as shown in Figures 1 a, 1 b, 2, 3 and 4. Preferably, the first set of solids discharge openings 11 a and the second set of solids discharge openings 11 b are arranged on the largest radius of the centrifugal drum 1. The first set of solids discharge openings 11 a and the second set of solids discharge openings 11 b are arranged at two different axial heights on the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1 and are thus vertically spaced from one another, as shown in Figures 1 a, 1 b, 2, 3 and 4, and can be opened or closed with a single piston valve 10.

[0057] A channel 18a, 18b is connected to the respective solids discharge opening 11a, 11b, which in each case passes through a wall of the centrifugal drum 1 and through which the solids S are discharged radially outwards from the centrifugal drum 1.

[0058] If the piston slide 10 is in the closed position due to a completely filled closing chamber 14 (Fig. 1 a, right half of the image), the first set of solid discharge openings 11 a and the second set of solid discharge openings 11 b are closed by the piston slide 10.

[0059] If the piston slide 10 is in the opening position due to a completely emptied closing chamber 14 (Figure 1 a, left half of the image), the first set of solid discharge openings 11 a and the second set of solid discharge openings 11 b are released and opened by the piston slide.

[0060] However, if the closing chamber 14 is only partially emptied, the piston slide 10 is in a middle position and only releases the first set of solid discharge openings 11 a arranged at the top (see Fig. 1 b and Fig. 2).

[0061] In order to be able to position the piston slide 10 in such a “central position”, it is necessary to be able to open and close the closing chamber valve 20 (see Fig. 1 a) in a targeted manner for a defined period of time in order to discharge the closing fluid.

[0062] It can therefore be provided that the control arrangement 12 for the emptying mechanism acts on the valve arrangement with the at least one closing chamber valve 20 and on the single piston slide 10, wherein the closing chamber valve 20 is electrically switchable, i.e., has an electromechanical or piezoelectric operating mechanism. With such a closing chamber valve 20, opening and closing can occur independently of the hydraulic pressures in the centrifuge drum 1.

[0063] The at least one closing chamber valve 20 accordingly preferably operates as an electrical valve, such as a solenoid valve or piezo valve, which can be opened and closed by electrical control pulses from the control device 13. This control pulse could, for example, be sent wirelessly into the rotating system to a receiver on the valve (not shown). The electrical energy required for this can, for example, be transmitted to the rotating centrifuge drum 1 by means of a system that operates according to the inductive principle. Likewise, an energy storage device, such as a battery, can also be provided in the centrifuge drum 1. The closing chamber valve 20 can also operate according to another suitable operating principle.

[0064] Thus, if necessary, a portion of the closing fluid can be emptied from the closing chamber 14. In combination with the product P located above the piston valve 10, which exerts pressure on the piston valve 10, the piston valve 10 lowers until the pressures below and above the piston valve 10 have equalized, thus reaching the desired center position of the piston valve 10.

[0065] In Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b and Fig. 2, the solids discharge opening 11a of the first set of solids discharge openings and the solids discharge opening 11b of the second set of solids discharge openings are shown axially directly one above the other, which is not necessary and is also not advantageous for strength reasons.

[0066] The solids discharge openings 11 a of the first set of solids discharge openings and the solids discharge openings 11 b of the second set of solids discharge openings can also be placed at an angle to one another on the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0067] Likewise, the number of solid discharge openings 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings and the number of solid discharge openings 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings can be different, as shown in Fig. 4. The channels 18a, 18b of the individual solid discharge openings 11a, 11b (which in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b each show a horizontal course) can be arranged vertically in a fan shape, so that the piston slide

[0068] The inlets of the channels 18a, 18b facing the piston spool 10 have a smaller vertical distance from each other than the outlets of the channels 18a, 18b facing away from the piston spool 10 (see Fig. 2). Two of the channels 18a, 18b, which are located one above the other in the circumferential direction, can thus run at an angle to each other.

[0069] To avoid imbalance of the centrifugal drum 1, it is advantageous if the first set of solids discharge openings 11a and the second set of solids discharge openings 11b are each rotationally symmetrical. However, it is also conceivable that only the combination of the first set of solids discharge openings 11a and the second set of solids discharge openings 11b results in rotational symmetry.

[0070] Furthermore, an opening cross-section of the solid discharge openings 11 a of the first set of solid discharge openings 11 a or of the solid discharge openings 11 b of the second set of solid discharge openings 11 b can be identical. However, it is also conceivable that the opening cross-sections of the solid discharge openings 11 a of the first set of solid discharge openings 11 a and the opening cross-sections of the solid discharge openings

[0071] 11 b of the second set of solids discharge openings 11 b are dimensioned differently. For example, the respective cross-section of the solids discharge openings 11 b of the second set of solids discharge openings 11 b can be larger than the respective cross-section of the solids discharge openings

[0072] 11 a of the first set of solids discharge openings 11 a.

[0073] In this way, when the piston slide 10 is in the center position, small amounts of solid S can be emptied from the centrifugal drum 1 per unit of time, while when the piston slide 10 is fully lowered, significantly larger amounts of solid S can be emptied from the centrifugal drum 1 per unit of time. The discharge quantity per unit of time is thus not linear to the stroke of the piston slide 10. It is also conceivable that the sum of the opening cross sections of the solid discharge openings 11 a of the first set of solid discharge openings and the sum of the opening cross sections of the solid discharge openings 11 b of the second set of solid discharge openings are dimensioned differently.

[0074] The cross-section of the respective solids discharge openings 11 a, 11 b can be circular, elongated or slot-shaped, oval or elliptical, triangular, rectangular or polygonal.

[0075] The opened piston slide 10 only rises back into the closed position when closing fluid is again fed into the closing chamber 14 via the closing fluid valve 15. Analogous to the lowering of the piston slide 10 into the center position, it is also possible to raise the piston slide 10 into the center position, since the stroke of the piston slide 10 depends on the amount of closing fluid introduced, the density of the closing fluid, and the pressure in the closing chamber 14 resulting from centrifugal force.

[0076] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the piston slide 10 can also be positioned in a respective intermediate position, in which the respective cross-section of the solids discharge openings 11a of the first set of solids discharge openings 11a or the respective cross-section of the solids discharge openings 11b of the second set of solids discharge openings 11b is only partially open or closed. "Partially" means that the piston slide 10 opens the first set of solids discharge openings 11a or the second set of solids discharge openings 11b, for example, halfway, i.e., not completely.

[0077] An exact dosage of the closing fluid quantity can be easily achieved with the closing fluid valve 15 and with the control device 13.

[0078] To increase the precision of this emptying system, it is conceivable to measure the axial position of the piston valve 10, transmit it to the control device 13, evaluate it there, and, depending on this evaluation, control the closing fluid valve 15 or the closing chamber valve 20. This not only controls but also regulates the exact positioning of the piston valve.

[0079] With the separator described, both the opening time of the solids discharge openings 11a, 11b and the opening cross-section (sum of the cross-sections of the solids discharge openings 11a, 11b released by the piston valve 10) can be adjusted.

[0080] Reference symbol

[0081] 1 centrifugal drum

[0082] 2 Drum base

[0083] 3 Drum top

[0084] 4 Product inlet pipe

[0085] 5 distributors

[0086] 6 Separation space

[0087] 7 plate package

[0088] 8 Solids collection chamber

[0089] 9 Peeling disc

[0090] 10 piston valves

[0091] 11 , 11a, 11 b Solids discharge opening

[0092] 12 Control arrangement

[0093] 13 Control device

[0094] 14 Locking chamber

[0095] 15 Closing fluid valve

[0096] 16 Closing chamber valve

[0097] 17 Drain channel

[0098] 18a, 18b Canal

[0099] 19 Opening fluid valve

[0100] 20 closing chamber valve

[0101] D axis of rotation

[0102] S solid

[0103] L Liquid phase

[0104] P Product

[0105] M drive motor

[0106] SP drive spindle

[0107] G Machine frame

[0108] H hood

Claims

Claims: Separator, in particular a self-emptying separator, for centrifugal separation of a free-flowing product (P) into at least one liquid phase (L) and at least one solid phase (S), comprising a rotatable centrifugal drum (1) with a vertical axis of rotation (D), which has a separation chamber (6) in which preferably a disc pack (7) is provided, and which has solid discharge openings (11) and a discharge mechanism with a single piston slide (10) designed to open and close the solid discharge openings (11) discontinuously, wherein a control arrangement (12) for the discharge mechanism is provided, characterized in that the centrifugal drum (1) has on its circumference a first set of solid discharge openings (11a) and a second set of solid discharge openings (11b),wherein the first set of solid discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solid discharge openings (11b) are arranged at two different axial heights on the circumference of the centrifugal drum (1) and are thus vertically spaced apart from each other, wherein the two sets of solid discharge openings can be opened and closed by the single piston valve (10). Separator according to claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (12) for the discharge mechanism has a closing chamber (14) for a fluid and a valve arrangement with at least one closing chamber valve (20) which is connected to the closing chamber (14) to actuate the single piston valve (10) by releasing closing fluid. Separator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control arrangement (12) for the discharge mechanism acts on the valve arrangement with the at least one closing chamber valve (20),which has an electromechanical or piezoelectric operating mechanism. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston valve (10) is in a closed position by means of a completely filled closing chamber (14) and the first set, The solid discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solid discharge openings (11b) are closed.

5. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston slide (10) is in an open position through a completely emptied closing chamber (14) and releases and opens the first set of solid discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solid discharge openings (11b).

6. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston slide (10) can be moved into a central position so that it only releases the first, preferably vertically arranged top set of solid discharge openings (11 a).

7. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston slide (10) can be positioned in a respective intermediate position in which the cross-section of the solid discharge openings (11 a) of the first set of solid discharge openings or the cross-section of the solid discharge openings (11 b) of the second set of solid discharge openings is only partially open axially.

8. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centrifugal drum (1 ) is designed to be single and / or double conical.

9. Separator according to claim 8, characterized in that the first set of solid discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solid discharge openings (11b) are arranged on the largest radius of the single and / or double conical centrifugal drum (1).

10. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the solid discharge opening (11 a) of the first set of solid discharge openings and the solid discharge opening (11 b) of the second set of solid discharge openings are arranged axially directly above one another. A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the solid discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solid discharge openings and the solid discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solid discharge openings are arranged at an angle to each other circumferentially on the circumference of the centrifugal drum (1). A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of solid discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solid discharge openings and the number of solid discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solid discharge openings are different. A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first set of solid discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solid discharge openings (11b) are each designed to be rotationally symmetrical.A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of ​​the solid discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solid discharge openings or of the solid discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solid discharge openings is identical. A separator according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cross-sectional areas of the solid discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solid discharge openings and the cross-sectional areas of the solid discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solid discharge openings are different.Separator according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the sum of the opening cross-sections of the solid discharge openings (11 a) of the first set of solid discharge openings and the sum of the opening cross-sections of the solid discharge openings (1 1 b) of the second set of solid discharge openings are dimensioned differently from each other. A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the respective solid discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solid discharge openings (11b) is smaller than the cross-section of the respective solid discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solid discharge openings (11a). A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the respective solid discharge openings (11a, 11b) is circular, oblong or slotted, oval or elliptical, triangular, rectangular or polygonal. A separator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a channel (18a, 18b) is connected to each of the respective solid discharge openings (11a, 11b), each channel extending through a wall of the centrifugal drum (1) and through which the solid S is discharged radially outwards from the centrifugal drum (1).Separator according to claim 19, characterized in that the channels (18a, 18b) of the individual solid discharge openings (11a, 11b) each have a horizontal orientation. Separator according to claim 19, characterized in that the channels (18a, 18b) of the individual solid discharge openings (11a, 11b) are arranged in a fan shape, such that the inlets of the channels (18a, 18b) facing the piston valve (10) have a smaller vertical distance from each other than the outlets of the channels (18a, 18b) facing away from the piston valve (10). Method for controlling the solids discharge of a separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the single piston slide (10) can be controlled in such a way that it opens or closes the first set of solids discharge openings (11a) and / or the second set of solids discharge openings (11b) completely axially or partially axially.

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