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

[0002] Self-emptying separators as defined in this document have, in addition to one or more outlets for one or more liquid phases, an emptying mechanism with a piston valve. This piston valve is alternately movable into an open and a closed position by an actuator, preferably a fluid-operated actuator, particularly one using liquid as the fluid. In this way, the piston valve intermittently opens (open position) and closes (closed position) solid discharge openings in the drum wall for a certain period of time. In the open position, a solid phase is discharged from the centrifugal drum. This does not occur in the closed position.

[0003] In such discharge mechanisms with a piston valve, the closing fluid 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 generated by the rotation of the closing 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.

[0004] By means of a suitable 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 slide—which reduces the pressure acting on the piston slide within the closing chamber. Consequently, the fluid pressure exerted on the piston slide, typically by the product above it, moves the piston slide downwards. This releases or opens the discharge openings in the drum.

[0005] A desirable feature is an adjustable, variable solids volume that can be emptied from the separator per unit of time.

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

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

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

[0009] However, the state-of-the-art emptying devices involve a relatively high level of design complexity and / or offer only an unsatisfactory solution with regard to the adjustability of the period in which the solid discharge openings are open, as well as the adjustability of the cross-section of the solid discharge openings and thus the variability and adjustability of the solid 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 goal through 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 free-flowing product P into at least one liquid phase L and at least one solid phase S, comprising a rotatable centrifugal drum with a vertical axis of rotation D, which has a separation chamber in which a disc stack is preferably provided, and which has solid discharge openings, and a discharge mechanism with a single piston slide valve designed to open and close the solid discharge openings discontinuously, wherein a control arrangement for the discharge mechanism is provided, wherein the centrifugal drum has a first set of solid discharge openings and a second set of solid discharge openings on its circumference.wherein the first set of solid discharge openings and the second set of solid discharge openings are arranged at two different axial heights on the circumference of the centrifugal drum and are thus vertically spaced apart from each other, wherein the two sets of solid discharge openings can be opened and closed with the single piston slide.

[0013] This creates a separator with a discharge device for the solid phase, which is structurally simple and allows for easy adjustment of the cross-section of the open solid discharge openings. The cross-section of the open solid discharge openings is variable due to the two sets of openings, as either one or both sets can be open via 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, 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 that is connected to the closing chamber in order to actuate the single piston slide by releasing closing fluid in a switching position.

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

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

[0017] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the piston valve is in a closed position by means of 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 valve can be located in an open position due to a completely emptied closing chamber, thereby releasing and opening the first set of solid discharge openings and the second set of solid discharge openings. This allows for a simple, yet structurally sound, open position of the piston valve using proven means, enabling the discharge of the maximum possible volume of solids per unit of time.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the piston valve can be located in a central position due to a partially emptied closing chamber, thus only opening the first, upper set of solid discharge openings. This design achieves a minimal possible emptying of the solid volume per unit of time.

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

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

[0022] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the solid discharge openings of the first set of solid discharge openings and the solid discharge openings of the second set of solid discharge openings are positioned at an angle to each other on the circumference of the centrifugal drum. This results in a structurally simple, structurally optimized arrangement of the two sets of solid discharge openings in the centrifugal drum in terms of strength.

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

[0024] Furthermore, in another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first set of solid discharge openings and the second set of solid discharge openings are each rotationally symmetrical. This allows for a simple design of a centrifugal drum without imbalance. Rotational symmetry here refers to rotational symmetry about the angular offset of the individual solid discharge openings relative to each other.

[0025] Alternatively, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the combination of the first set of solid discharge openings and the second set of solid discharge openings can result in rotational symmetry. This also makes it easy to achieve a centrifugal drum without imbalance.

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

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

[0028] Alternatively, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross-sectional areas of the solid discharge openings of the first set of solid discharge openings and the cross-sectional areas of the solid discharge openings of the second set of solid discharge openings may be of different dimensions. In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the solid discharge openings of the second set of solid discharge openings is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the solid discharge openings of the first set of solid discharge openings. In each case, a non-linear relationship between the position of the piston valve and the discharge volume of solids per unit time is established by a structurally simple measure.

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

[0030] The problem is also solved by a method for controlling the solid discharge of a separator, wherein the single piston slide can be controlled in such a way that it opens the first set of solid discharge openings and / or the second set of solid discharge openings fully axially or partially axially.

[0031] To increase the precision of this emptying system, it is conceivable to measure the axial position of the piston valve, transmit this data to the control unit, evaluate it there, and then actuate the closing fluid valve or the closing chamber valve based on this evaluation. This way, the exact positioning of the piston valve is not only controlled but also regulated.

[0032] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the remaining dependent claims.

[0033] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawing. The invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment, but can also be realized in other ways, either literally or equivalently. The drawing shows: Figure 1:in Fig. 1a ) a schematic full section of a separator according to the invention and in Fig. 1b ) a cropped enlargement from Fig. 1a Figure 2: a close-up of a schematic full section of an embodiment of the separator according to the invention. Fig. 1a Figure 3: a schematic full section through a hood of a separator according to the invention; Figure 4: a schematic full section through a hood of an embodiment of a separator according to the invention; Figure 5: a schematic full section through the housing and through a machine housing of a separation separator according to the prior art; and Figure 6: a schematic full section through the drum of a clarification separator according to the prior art.

[0034] 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 each also suitable as advantageous embodiments of the objects described in one or more of the main and dependent claims.

[0035] The state-of-the-art separator has a rotatable centrifugal drum 1, which, as in the Figuren 5 and 6 The centrifugal drum 1 can have a vertical axis of rotation D, as shown. The centrifugal drum 1 can be enclosed by a hood H that does not rotate with the separator during operation. The centrifugal drum 1 is rotated by a drive motor M, which, according to the design in Fig. 5 The drive is indirectly applied via a belt drive to a drive spindle SP of the centrifugal drum 1. The drive spindle SP is rotatably mounted in a machine frame G. It supports the centrifugal drum 1, which is mounted on a free end of the drive spindle SP. Alternatively, other drive variants are also possible, for example, a direct drive of the centrifugal drum 1, in which a drive motor acts directly on the drive spindle SP of the centrifugal drum 1.

[0036] The centrifugal drum 1 can be designed with a single conical shape and / or, as shown here, a double conical shape (bottom and / or top, and especially inside). The centrifugal drum 1 can have a drum base 2 and a drum top 3. These drum parts 2 and 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.

[0037] The separator is designed for continuous operation, not just batch operation.

[0038] In the centrifugal drum 1, a distributor 5 is formed for the product feed from the product feed pipe 4 into a separation chamber 6. In the distributor 5, the product P is transferred into the rotating system.

[0039] The actual centrifugal separation of product P takes place in the separation chamber 6. This chamber has a plate pack 7 consisting of separation plates. Radially to the outside of this, it also has a solids collection chamber 8, in which the solid phase S, separated from the suspension or the free-flowing product P, collects during the separation and / or clarification process.

[0040] 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 The liquid discharge is shown. Fig. 6 designed as a peeling disc 9. The liquid discharge can also be implemented in another way.

[0041] In Fig. 6 An example of a so-called clarifying separator is shown, which is designed to clarify a product P to be processed in a centrifugal field or to separate a solid phase S and a liquid phase L from it. The separator can also be designed as a so-called separation separator, in which two liquid phases and one solid phase are separated from each other, as is the case in Fig. 5 is shown.

[0042] A discharge mechanism, comprising a piston valve 10 for opening and closing solid discharge openings 11, serves to remove the solid phase S. The solid discharge openings 11, present here in a single set, can be arranged circumferentially in the region of the largest diameter of the centrifugal drum 1. Advantageously, the arrangement of the solid discharge openings 11 on the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1 is such that they do not cause an imbalance of the centrifugal drum 1. The piston valve 10 is vertically movable.

[0043] The emptying mechanism also includes a control arrangement 12 associated with the piston valve 10 for controlling its opening and closing movements.

[0044] The left half of the centrifuge in Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows the piston valve 10 in a lowered open position, while in the right half of the centrifuge the piston valve 10 is shown in a raised closed position.

[0045] The control arrangement 12 can include a computer-like electronic control unit 13 (see Fig. 6 ) or be connected to it. A higher-level control unit of the centrifuge can also be used as this control unit 13.

[0046] The control arrangement 12 further includes a closing chamber 14 for fluid.

[0047] 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 unit 13. The closing movement of the piston slide 10 requires that the closing chamber valve 16 be closed.

[0048] By means of a valve arrangement which may include 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.

[0049] The closing chamber valve 16 is often designed as a centrifugal valve, which closes by centrifugal force at the operating speed of the centrifugal drum 1. Introducing an opening fluid into the closing chamber valve 16 via an opening fluid valve 19 initiates the opening movement of the piston spool 10 and empties the water from the closing chamber 14.

[0050] A disadvantage of the prior 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 is not variably adjustable. The invention therefore pursues a different approach.

[0051] In contrast to the prior art, the centrifugal drum 1 of a separator according to the invention has on its circumference a first set of solid discharge openings 11a and a second set of solid discharge openings 11b, as shown in the Figuren 1a , 1b , 2 , 3 and 4 as shown. Preferably, 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 centrifugal drum 1. 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, as shown in the Figuren 1a , 1b , 2 , 3 and 4 shown and can be opened or closed with a single piston valve 10.

[0052] Each solid discharge opening 11a, 11b is connected to a channel 18a, 18b, which passes through a wall of the centrifugal drum 1 and through which the solid S is discharged radially outwards from the centrifugal drum 1.

[0053] If the piston valve 10 is in the closed position due to a completely filled locking chamber 14 ( Fig. 1a , right half of the image) the first set of solid discharge openings 11a and the second set of solid discharge openings 11b are closed by the piston valve 10.

[0054] If the piston valve 10 is in the open position due to a completely emptied locking chamber 14 ( Figur 1a , left half of the image) the first set of solid discharge openings 11a and the second set of solid discharge openings 11b are released and opened by the piston valve.

[0055] If the closing chamber 14 is only partially emptied, the piston valve 10 is in a middle position and only releases the first set of solid discharge openings 11a located at the top (see Fig. 1b and Fig. 2 ).

[0056] In order to position the piston slide 10 in such a "central position", it is necessary to open the closing chamber valve 20 (see Fig. 1a ) to be able to open and close in a targeted manner for a defined period of time in order to drain the closing fluid.

[0057] 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 centrifugal drum 1.

[0058] The at least one closing chamber valve 20 therefore preferably operates as an electric valve, such as a solenoid valve or piezoelectric valve, which can be opened and closed by electrical control pulses from the control unit 13. This control pulse could, for example, be transmitted wirelessly to a receiver on the valve within the rotating system (not shown). The electrical energy required for this can be transferred to the rotating centrifugal drum 1, for example, by means of a system operating on the inductive principle. Alternatively, an energy storage device, such as a battery, can also be provided in the centrifugal drum 1. The closing chamber valve 20 can also operate according to another suitable principle.

[0059] Thus, if necessary, part of the closing fluid quantity 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 and the desired central position of the piston valve 10 is reached.

[0060] In Fig. 1a , Fig. 1b and Fig. 2 The solid discharge opening 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings and the solid discharge opening 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings are shown axially directly superimposed, which is not necessary and is also not advantageous for reasons of strength.

[0061] 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 can also be positioned at an angle to each other on the circumference of the centrifugal drum 1, as shown in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0062] 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 differ, as shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0063] The channels 18a, 18b of the individual solids discharge openings 11a, 11b (which are located in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b each showing a horizontal course) are arranged vertically in a fan shape, so 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 (see Fig. 2 ). Any two of the channels 18a, b, which lie correspondingly one above the other in the circumferential direction, can thus run at an angle to each other.

[0064] To avoid an imbalance of the centrifugal drum 1, it is advantageous if the first set of solid discharge openings 11a and the second set of solid discharge openings 11b are each rotationally symmetrical. However, it is also conceivable that only the combination of the first set of solid discharge openings 11a and the second set of solid discharge openings 11b results in rotational symmetry.

[0065] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the solid discharge openings 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings 11a or of the solid discharge openings 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings 11b can be identical. However, it is also conceivable that the cross-sectional areas of the solid discharge openings 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings 11a and the cross-sectional areas of the solid discharge openings 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings 11b are dimensioned differently. For example, the respective cross-section of the solid discharge openings 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings 11b can be larger than the respective cross-section of the solid discharge openings 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings 11a.

[0066] In this way, small quantities of solid S can be emptied from the centrifugal drum 1 per unit of time when the piston valve 10 is in its neutral position, whereas significantly larger quantities of solid S can be emptied from the centrifugal drum 1 per unit of time when the piston valve 10 is fully lowered. The amount of solid S emptied per unit of time is therefore not linear to the stroke of the piston valve 10.

[0067] It is also conceivable that the sum of the opening cross-sections of the solid discharge openings 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings and the sum of the opening cross-sections of the solid discharge openings 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings are dimensioned differently.

[0068] The cross-section of the respective solid discharge openings 11a, 11b can be circular, oblong or slotted, oval or elliptical, triangular, rectangular or polygonal.

[0069] The open piston valve 10 only rises back into the closed position when closing fluid is again introduced into the closing chamber 14 via the closing fluid valve 15. Analogous to the lowering of the piston valve 10 into the central position, the piston valve 10 can also be raised into the central position, since the stroke of the piston valve 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.

[0070] Alternatively or additionally, the piston valve 10 can also be positioned in an intermediate position in which the respective cross-section of the solid discharge openings 11a of the first set of solid discharge openings 11a or the respective cross-section of the solid discharge openings 11b of the second set of solid discharge openings 11b is only partially open or closed. "Partially" means that the piston valve 10 opens the first set of solid discharge openings 11a or the second set of solid discharge openings 11b, for example, halfway, i.e., not completely.

[0071] Precise dosing of the closing fluid quantity is easily achievable with the closing fluid valve 15 and the control unit 13.

[0072] 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 unit 13, evaluate it there, and actuate the closing fluid valve 15 or the closing chamber valve 20 depending on this evaluation. This ensures that the exact positioning of the piston valve is not only controlled but also regulated.

[0073] With the described separator, both the opening time of the solid discharge openings 11a, 11b and the opening cross-section (sum of the cross-sections of the solid discharge openings 11a, 11b released by the piston valve 10) can be adjusted. Bezugszeichen

[0074] 1 Centrifugal drum 2 Drum lower section 3 Drum upper section 4 Product inlet pipe 5 Distributor 6 Separation chamber 7 Disc pack 8 Solids collection chamber 9 Peeling disc 10 Piston valve 11, 11a, 11b Solids discharge opening 12 Control assembly 13 Control device 14 Closing chamber 15 Closing fluid valve 16 Closing chamber valve 17 Discharge channel 18a, 18b Channel 19 Opening fluid valve 20 Closing chamber valve D Rotary axis S Solid L Liquid phase P Product MA Drive motor SPAn drive spindle G Machine frame H Hood

Claims

1. Separator, in particular 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), which has a rotatable centrifuge drum (1) with a vertical rotation axis (D), which has a separation chamber (6), in which a disc stack (7) is preferably provided, and which has solids discharge openings (11) and an emptying mechanism with a single piston valve (10), which is designed to open and close the solids discharge openings (11) discontinuously, wherein a control assembly (12) is provided for the emptying mechanism, characterized 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), wherein the first set of solids discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solids discharge openings (11b) are arranged at two different axial heights on the circumference of the centrifuge drum (1) and thus are vertically spaced from each other, wherein the two sets of solids discharge openings are openable and closable with the single piston valve (10).

2. Separator according to claim 1, characterized in that the control assembly (12) for the emptying mechanism comprises a closing chamber (14) for a fluid and comprises a valve assembly having at least one closing chamber valve (20) which communicates with the closing chamber (14) in order to actuate the single piston valve (10) by discharging closing fluid.

3. Separator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control assembly (12) for the emptying mechanism acts on the valve assembly with the at least one closing chamber valve (20), which has an electromechanical or piezoelectric operating mechanism.

4. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston valve (10) is in a closed position due to a completely filled closing chamber (14) and closes the first set of solids discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solids discharge openings (11b).

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

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

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

8. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, c characterized in that the centrifuge drum (1) has a single and / or double conical design.

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

10. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 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 arranged axially directly one above the other.

11. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the solids discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solids discharge openings and the solids discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solids discharge openings are placed at an angle offset to one another in the circumferential direction on the circumference of the centrifuge drum (1).

12. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of solids discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solids discharge openings and the number of solids discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solids discharge openings are different.

13. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first set of solids discharge openings (11a) and the second set of solids discharge openings (11b) are each designed to be rotationally symmetrical.

14. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening cross-section of the solids discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solids discharge openings or of the solids discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solids discharge openings is in each case identically dimensioned.

15. Separator according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solids discharge openings and the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solids discharge openings are each dimensioned differently.

16. Separator according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the sum of the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solids discharge openings and the sum of the opening cross-sections of the solids discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solids discharge openings are each dimensioned differently from one another.

17. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the respective solids discharge openings (11b) of the second set of solids discharge openings (11b) is smaller than the cross-section of the respective solids discharge openings (11a) of the first set of solids discharge openings (11a).

18. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the respective solids discharge openings (11a, 11b) is circular, slot-shaped, oval or elliptical, triangular, rectangular or polygonal.

19. Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective solids discharge opening (11a, 11b) is adjoined by a respective channel (18a, 18b) which extends through a respective wall of the centrifuge drum (1) and through which the respective solids S are discharged radially outwards from the centrifuge drum (1).

20. Separator according to claim 19, characterized in that the channels (18a, 18b) of the individual solids discharge openings (11a, 11b) each have a horizontal course.

21. Separator according to claim 19, characterized in that the channels (18a, 18b) of the individual solids discharge openings (11a, 11b) are arranged in a fan shape, so that the inlets of the channels (18a, 18b) facing the piston valve (10) have a smaller vertical distance from one another than the outlets of the channels (18a, 18b) facing away from the piston valve (10).

22. Method for controlling the solids discharge of a separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one single piston valve (10) can be actuated 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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