Centrifugal separator and method of actuating centrifugal separator

Abstract

To ensure supply of sufficient power to a load inside a rotor or on the rotor with a simple method.SOLUTION: A centrifugal separator includes a rotatable rotor (1) and an assembly (2) that remains stationary during operation. The rotatable rotor (1) is rotatably attached to the inside of the assembly or on the assembly remaining stationary, by one or more bearing devices (3). The rotatable rotor (1) includes: a rotatable drum (10); a drive element for rotating the drum; and one or more electric loads (50) arranged on the rotor or inside the rotor. In the centrifugal separator, at least one battery (51) for supplying power to at least one or a plurality of loads is further arranged on the rotor or inside the rotor. The load includes a data memory (506) inside the rotor or on the rotor. At least one actuator (502) is disposed as at least one load.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention relates to a centrifuge according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for operating a centrifuge according to the preamble of claim 24. [Background technology]

[0002] A centrifuge such as the centrifuge according to the invention generally has a rotor that rotates or can rotate during operation. This rotor consists of at least one rotatable drum in which the suspension to be processed is separated into different phases. However, the rotor may also include other elements, such as a drive spindle. The rotor also has at least one or more electrical consumers (loads in the electrical sense), such as actuators or energy demand sensors or initiators, which therefore rotate together with the other element or elements of the rotor that rotate during operation.

[0003] In EP 3415239 it is proposed that the rotatable rotor of the generator assembly is fully immersed in a magnetic field and generates a continuous current which is rectified and smoothed by a capacitor for use by actuators and sensors.

[0004] Similarly, European Patent Publication No. 3533522 proposes to construct a transformer in which the primary coil is attached to the stationary side of the transformer core and the secondary coil is attached to the rotating side.

[0005] It is also known from U.S. Patent No. 6,011,490 to generate a local magnetic field using a stator magnet on the separator frame, which repeatedly passes through coils on the separator drum. The induced current is rectified, smoothed, and limited by a voltage regulator. In this way, the induced current can be used by a load such as a sensor in the drum.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 5,529,566 proposes placing the rotor of a generator on a decanter shaft and rotating it in the magnetic field of a permanent magnet. The resulting continuous current is regulated for use by loads such as sensors and signal transmitters.

[0007] The object of the invention is to ensure in a simple manner an adequate supply of power to a load in or on a rotor.

[0008] Furthermore, according to a solution which can be considered not only as a further development but also as an independent invention, it is also possible to exchange information in a simple manner with an electrical load from outside the rotating system. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to the present invention, this object is solved by the subject matter of claims 1 and 24. The inventions of claims 19 to 23 are also created. According to a further development, which is also an independent invention, it is also possible to exchange information with the load in a simple manner at a location external to the rotor. The present invention solves this further object by the subject matter of claim 5.

[0010] According to claim 1, the centrifuge comprises a rotatable rotor and an assembly that is stationary during operation, the rotatable rotor being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly by one or more bearing devices, the rotatable rotor having a rotatable drum, an element for rotating the drum, and one or more electrical loads arranged on or within the rotor, and at least one battery arranged on or within the rotor for supplying power to the at least one load or loads. The batteries can be connected to the respective loads directly or via intermediate elements. The drive element can be a drive spindle or another element suitable for this purpose. The at least one load is an actuator. Further loads may be provided, in particular further actuators or other loads.

[0011] Batteries, which can rotate with the rotor, can be used to easily provide power on or within the rotor to power loads on or within the rotor. In this context, batteries can also be used in idle states, i.e., when the rotor is stationary, to continue to supply energy to the loads.

[0012] Thus, because the battery rotates with the rotor when the rotor rotates, buffered energy is available even when the drum is stationary. This offers several advantages that have surprisingly been overlooked in previous developments for supplying loads within the rotatable rotor of a centrifuge. This is because one overlooked drawback of the known centrifuges mentioned at the outset is that power is available to the actuators and, incidentally, to one or more sensors and / or other loads, such as data communication and / or data processing, only when the rotor is spinning or rotating. On the other hand, when the drum is stationary, power cannot be supplied to the actuators, sensors, and data communication and data processing. This problem is solved in a simple manner by the invention.

[0013] According to the invention, the load is provided, for example, with a corresponding rotor configuration. The actuator can therefore be operated or moved as a load even when the drum is stationary and / or data and / or signals from the sensors and feedback signals from the actuator can be transmitted when corresponding transmitting and / or receiving units are provided on the rotor. This can be advantageous for various reasons, for example, according to the variant where temperature measurements are performed in a refrigerated (room) drum for perishable products, when the maximum temperature of the drum must not be exceeded before the product to be processed is loaded into the drum. Another example is fill level measurement, which is also useful for stationary drums.

[0014] Another advantage offered by the battery associated with the rotor and elements rotating therewith is that it can be used directly or incidentally with other electrical elements to provide relatively high power, for example to operate one or more actuators configured as one or more closing valves, in particular solenoid valves or control valves of the drum.

[0015] A further development starting from the preamble of claim 1 can be considered as an independent invention, in which the load of the rotation system comprises one or more actuators, which are configured to change and / or open / close the cross section of a device such as an opening or a line, in particular a solids discharge opening or a discharge line on a drum, with the aid of electrical power. This invention can also be combined with one or more of the dependent claims.

[0016] According to an advantageous variant of the invention described above, a disc pack having a stack of separating discs is arranged in a drum, which preferably has an external and / or internal single or double conical configuration. It is particularly advantageous, especially on centrifuges, in particular separators, equipped with such drums, to electrically activate one or more actuators, in particular one or more valves, by means of which the solids discharge opening can be opened or closed, in particular in the region of the maximum radius of the drum, i.e. both during operation of the drum when it is rotating and when it is stationary and not rotating.

[0017] The actuator may in particular be configured as one or more electrically controllable valves. In this way, it is easy to open and close openings or lines, in particular solids discharge openings or discharge lines on the drum, with the aid of electrical power.

[0018] According to a preferred configuration, the battery or one of the batteries is configured as a rechargeable battery. However, it is also conceivable that the battery or one of the batteries is configured as a non-rechargeable battery, which must be replaced from time to time when the rotor is stationary. According to a further development, it is advantageously provided that the load consists of a data memory on the rotor or on the rotor, which can however be considered an independent invention. This is because, according to this particularly advantageous variant of the invention, data relating to the operation of the centrifuge, in particular the operating behavior of the centrifuge, can be stored directly on or in the rotor and, if necessary, read out and transmitted, for example wirelessly, to an area outside the rotor, for example to a stationary control device. Alternatively, it is also possible to store and / or evaluate these data directly on the rotor, if this is done or if suitable computer facilities for this purpose are available there.

[0019] According to a further advantageous variant of the invention, it is provided that the load consists of one or more of the following devices: sensors, actuators and / or indicators and / or transmitting and / or receiving units and / or control units and / or control units in or on the rotor.

[0020] The bearings of the rotor may be configured as mechanically acting bearings, for example as rolling bearings, or as magnetically acting bearings. If their operation requires energy, they are supplied with energy from the battery as one of the loads, but may optionally be supplied by other means as well.

[0021] The rotor may include a drum and may further include a rotatable drive spindle non-rotatably coupled to the drum and rotated by a drive motor, however, the drum may also be driven or rotated contactlessly (e.g., by a magnetic coupling or a revitrically acting drive system).

[0022] Furthermore, the centrifuge has a device for generating electric power, which is configured so that the electric power is supplied on or in the rotor, and a charging circuit for charging the rechargeable battery is provided on or in the rotor. In this way, the battery can be charged or recharged directly while the centrifuge is in operation. Such devices are known in a wide variety of configurations, for example from the prior art mentioned at the outset, and reference is made in this respect. Such a configuration can be used via the charging circuit to charge the battery as long as the rotor is rotating.

[0023] In this context, the device may be considered to be configured to generate power only during a portion of the rotation period of the rotor, or the device may be considered to be configured to generate power during a complete rotation of the rotor. By using a battery as an energy storage device, sufficient energy can be provided for times when energy generation is not relied upon.

[0024] This is because the invention uses an electrochemically operated battery to charge an energy reservoir in which energy is stored that can be released again even for a very short period of time.

[0025] Thus, according to one variant of the invention, energy is generated or transmitted only in a locally limited magnetic field (one or more segments). The current generated is converted to be used to charge a battery located in or on the rotor, and the energy is available both when the drum is rotating and when it is stationary.

[0026] Alternatively, in the context of another invention, it is conceivable to generate power outside the rotating system and transfer it to the rotating system via a conductive connection to a battery. Thus, a slip-ring transformer can transmit power from outside the rotating system to the rotating system. Power transmission using ball bearings as current transformers is also practical and easily achievable.

[0027] The invention also makes it possible in a simple manner to supply power to loads in the drum whose required power is temporarily or momentarily higher than the instantaneous power that can be generated during operation of the drum with the device. The use of batteries as an energy supply in the rotor can therefore bring about a wide range of advantages.

[0028] More energy can be drawn from the battery for short periods of time than in the prior art where only currently generated energy is available, which is highly advantageous for short-term operation of valves, for example, where there is a high but pulsed energy requirement (e.g., on-off valves for solids discharge). The energy of this pulse is determined primarily by the size of the battery and less by the charging current.

[0029] Additionally, data and documents permanently belonging to the drum, for example the history of the drum, can be stored in this data memory with the aid of a memory contained in the drum. This could be, for example, data from strain gauges recording the possibility that the load limit of the drum material has been exceeded, or data from the operating time of the drum which can be used to determine maintenance intervals, or data from unacceptably high accelerations due to the product being processed exceeding its allowable speed or maximum allowable density.In this way, similar to data loggers or black boxes, important data can be collected and recorded directly during the life of the drum.

[0030] The sensors described for the data logger, such as temperature sensors, acceleration sensors, strain gauges, limit switches, and vibration sensors, are attached directly to the drum and exchange the recorded measurements with the evaluation electronics via cable or wirelessly. The measurements, processed by the evaluation electronics, are then stored as data in a memory unit within the drum. All electrical loads are powered by the battery, for example inductively, by wire, or without wires. In this way, operational data of the mechanically highly loaded drum is always available throughout the drum's entire life cycle and can provide information about any unacceptable loads.

[0031] A particularly advantageous application of the present invention is the provision of one or more sensors for pressure, level, temperature, turbidity, and conductivity within the rotor. The sensors can provide data to an internal or external data memory, where, through evaluation by a specialist system and corresponding optimization software, the data can be used to significantly improve the machine's process-technical characteristics. This data can then be sent to a control unit external to the rotor, directly affecting process parameters such as the centrifuge's feed flow rate, drum speed, or discharge frequency.

[0032] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the invention, it is also conceivable that sensors are provided for interrogating mechanical conditions (e.g., limit switches of piston slide valves) to draw conclusions regarding the proper functioning of the mechanical system.

[0033] Additionally, sensor systems operate in or on the rotor to measure structure borne sound, vibration, or cavitation. It is also conceivable to provide ultrasonic actuators, which can, for example, mechanically excite the separating discs or the entire disc pack in such a way that deposits are detached from the disc surface or do not adhere in the first place.

[0034] As well as features that may be considered as independent inventions, in accordance with advantageous conditions of one or more further developments of claims 1 to 12, it is provided that at least one transmitting and / or receiving unit for wireless transmission and / or reception of data is further formed on the rotor, which makes it possible to communicate in a simple manner with one or more electrical loads of the rotor. According to the subject matter of claim 13, data and signals are or can be exchanged contactlessly between the rotor and the environment, in particular the control system of the centrifuge, for example by radio or light (e.g. an optical rotary transductor).

[0035] It is provided that a corresponding transmitting and / or receiving unit for wireless transmission and / or reception of data is formed on the stationary assembly, and further provided that the corresponding transmitting and / or receiving unit is connected to a control device for controlling the centrifuge.

[0036] Control signals for the actuators or data or signals from the sensors are then preferably communicated between the drum and a receiver within the frame of the centrifuge, for example wirelessly or optionally in a contactless or wireless manner. From there, data and signal communication is provided to the centrifuge control device, where the data and signals are generated or evaluated. It is also conceivable to transmit the data and signals directly to a data cloud, so that the data / signals can be processed independently of location.

[0037] According to a further advantageous embodiment, which can be considered a further independent invention, there is provided a centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor and an assembly that is stationary in operation, the rotatable rotor being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly by one or more bearing means, the rotatable rotor comprising a rotatable drum, a drive element for rotating the drum, and one or more electrical loads arranged on or in the rotor, the electrical loads comprising one or more actuators configured to act by electrical power on one or more openings and / or lines, in particular on the solids discharge opening and / or on the inlet or outlet lines on the drum, in particular to change their cross section and / or open or close the flow. In this way, one or more electrically controllable actuators can bring about a change of state in one or more lines or openings in a simple manner, thus influencing the state of the centrifugation.

[0038] According to another variant, which may also be considered as a separate invention, the present invention provides a centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor and an assembly that is stationary during operation, the rotatable rotor being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly by one or more bearing means, the rotatable rotor comprising a rotatable drum and a drive element for rotating the drum, the drum further comprising a fluid pressure operated piston slide valve for opening and closing one or more solids discharge openings.

[0039] In this case, hydraulic fluid, in particular control water, is discharged from the control chamber, in particular downwards, at a piston slide valve by means of one or more electromechanical valves arranged on or above the rotating drum, which actuate, in particular open, the piston slide valve, thus discharging the hydraulic fluid. The valves form one or more loads. Such valves can be very well and precisely controlled. Electrical power is supplied to the valves within the drum.

[0040] Furthermore, although the present invention can be considered an independent invention, according to a further variant, the present invention provides a centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor and an assembly that is stationary in operation, the rotatable rotor being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly by one or more bearing means, the rotatable rotor comprising a rotatable drum and a drive element for rotating the drum, and one or more electrical loads arranged on or in the rotor, the drum being provided with a solids discharge opening, and an electrically controllable device for varying the nozzle cross-section of the solids discharge nozzle being provided as the load.

[0041] The device for changing the nozzle cross section of the solids discharge nozzle is preferably configured as an electrically adjustable nozzle needle that is moved into the passage cross section, thereby changing the remaining passage cross section. However, the device can also be configured as an impact body that is electrically adjustably pushed in front of the nozzle opening so that a gap with a variable gap width is formed. In this way, even during operation, the cross section of the solids discharge nozzle can be easily changed in a way that would not be possible otherwise.

[0042] Finally, the invention provides a method for operating a centrifuge according to one claim referring to a centrifuge, in which the rotor is transferred from a first non-rotating state to a rotating state to separate a product fed into the drum into different phases in a centrifugal zone in the drum of the rotor, and a load arranged in or on the rotor is supplied with power from a battery arranged in the rotor both in the operating state in which the rotor is rotating and in the state in which the rotor is stationary. This method provides, inter alia, the advantages described with respect to the device of the independent claim, in particular claim 1.

[0043] It should be noted that the independent claims set forth combinations of features which may be advantageously combined individually, but which may also be combined with the features of one or more other alternative independent claims. Furthermore, each independent claim may also be advantageously combined with the features of all dependent claims. Further advantageous configurations of the invention can be found in the remaining dependent claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] Advantageous variations will be described in more detail below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should not be understood as limiting or as the only possible exemplary configurations, and in particular, the features of the following description need not be combined in all the exemplary embodiments. [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a centrifuge that can be operated according to the method of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 shows a charging circuit for a rotor of a centrifuge according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] 1 shows a centrifuge with a rotatable rotor 1 and a stationary assembly 2 during operation. The rotatable rotor 1 and the non-rotatable assembly 2 are shown only diagrammatically. The rotatable rotor 1 is rotatably mounted to the stationary assembly 2 by one or more bearing devices 3, which may be configured in any way, for example as roll bearings or plain bearings and / or magnetic bearings. To set the rotor 1 in rotation, a drive device 4 acts on the rotor, for example configured as an electric motor, and may for example send a torque to the rotor 1 directly or via a gear unit (not shown).

[0046] The rotatable rotor 1 comprises a rotatable drum 10. Further drive elements may be provided, for example a drive spindle 11 for rotating the drum 10, as well as one or more further elements.

[0047] The non-rotatable assembly 2 has a mechanical frame 20 as well as a hood 21 for covering the drum 10. Furthermore, further elements such as a solids trap 22, as well as one or more lines, an adsorption element, a lubrication treatment unit, etc. Such elements are shown diagrammatically or not shown here, because a person skilled in the art is familiar with such elements and can therefore advantageously configure them without further information.

[0048] The drum 10 comprises an inlet 101, a distributor 102, and optionally a disc pack 103 consisting of separated discs 104, at least one first outlet 105 for the liquid phase, and optionally at least one second outlet 106 for the solid phase. Optionally, further outlets (not shown) may be provided, for example to discharge further liquid phase.

[0049] The drum 10 is configured for continuous operation. Preferably, the drum 10 has a vertical axis of rotation, although it is contemplated that the axis of rotation may be otherwise arranged. The first outlet 105 may be configured as a peeling disk or a gripper, but may also have other configurations, such as an open drain or a closed drain. The second outlet 106 may be configured for continuous solids discharge and may have a continuous solids discharge opening, in particular a nozzle 109, through which the solids are discharged.

[0050] One or more of these nozzles are configured such that the cross section of the outlet or passage can be electrically varied, which can be achieved, for example, by an electrically adjustable nozzle needle that moves into the passage cross section and thereby varies the remaining passage cross section, or by an impact body that is electrically adjustably pressed in front of the nozzle opening, thereby creating a gap with a variable gap width.

[0051] Power for this is preferably provided by the batteries described, and control signals are sent wirelessly from the machine control system to corresponding receivers and control electronics for the required actuators. The drum 10 can be of single or double conical configuration (inner and / or outer). It is then advantageous to arrange the second outlet 106 in the region of the largest diameter of the drum. In this case, several solids discharge openings are formed in the drum in a circumferentially distributed manner to form the second outlet 106.

[0052] However, the second outlet 106 may also include a solids discharge opening 107 that can be intermittently opened and closed. In this case, at least one electrically openable shut-off valve 108 is assigned to the solids discharge openings 107. Preferably, each solids discharge opening 107 is assigned to one of the shut-off valves 108, by means of which the solids discharge openings 107 are discontinuously opened and closed. These valves therefore form one of the loads.

[0053] If the solids discharge opening 107 is closed and opened by a conventional hydraulic piston slide valve (not shown here), the fluid required for this purpose, usually control water, can be supplied below the piston slide valve for closing and also discharged therefrom for opening by an electromechanical valve located in the rotating drum. Again, power is provided by the battery as described above, and control signals are sent wirelessly from the mechanical controller to corresponding receivers and control electronics for the required actuators.

[0054] In this manner, the flowable product being processed can flow into the drum 10 where phase separation occurs in the centrifugal region, and the separated phases are separately discharged from the drum 10 by various outlets 105, 106. Drum 10 may be configured for liquid-solid separation as shown - or (not shown) for liquid-liquid separation or liquid-liquid-solid separation.

[0055] Drum 10 may also be configured for continuous operation, however, in the context of the present invention, it may also be configured for batch operation, for example, by being configured as a chamber separator that must be opened from time to time to remove solids that accumulate on the outside of the drum.

[0056] In a preferred configuration, the centrifuge may be configured as a disc separator, an example of which is shown in Figure 1. However, individual or all of the features of the following description, particularly those relating to the electronics, particularly the power supply to the loads on the rotor, and data transmission, may also be implemented in centrifuges of other designs.

[0057] The centrifuge further comprises an electronic assembly 5, which comprises elements associated with the stationary assembly 2 and elements associated with the rotor 1. One or more loads 50 (ie, one or more loads) for consuming power are disposed in or on the rotor 1 so that the loads 50 rotate with the rotor during operation.

[0058] These loads 50 may include, for example, sensors 501, actuators 502, and / or initiators 503, and / or transmitting and / or receiving units 504, and / or control units in or on the rotor and / or data memories 506 in or on the rotor.

[0059] Here, by way of example, the closing valves 108 are configured in the form of solenoid valves that require electrical power to operate, and therefore also form a load 50 in the form of an actuator 502. Furthermore, one or more sensors 501 are arranged on the rotor 1, in particular on or in the drum 10. To supply energy to the load 50, a battery 51 is arranged in or on the rotor 1. A battery in the sense of the present invention is a device for storing electrical power on an electrochemical basis. The battery 51 can be configured as a rechargeable battery, i.e. as an accumulator, in a short-circuit power pack or a secondary battery, but can also be configured as a non-rechargeable battery, called a primary battery for short-circuits.

[0060] The battery 51 is used to power one or more loads 50 . The non-rechargeable battery 51, which must be changed from time to time when the rotor 1 is stationary and operation is suspended, can in particular be used to supply the low energy required by one or more loads 50 and to supply the relatively low energy required by the transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1, in particular a radio transmitter, in particular a radio transmitter using a radio wave standard.

[0061] On the other hand, the rechargeable battery 51 is used to supply the required high energy to one or more loads, in particular to operate one or more solenoid valves configured as closing valves 108. The battery can also be used to electrically operate a mechanism for changing the outlet or passage cross section of the nozzle 109.

[0062] Furthermore, high-speed switching solenoid valves capable of opening and closing the cross-section required for the solids discharge opening require power of several tens of watts for operation. For example, several tens of watt valves, 10 to 20 watts each, are distributed around the periphery of the drum, and require approximately 100 watts or more for operation over a fraction of a second and at a constant voltage. This power can be supplied by modern batteries, such as NiMh batteries or lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can also be installed separately for each load / valve for centralized control.

[0063] If the battery 51 is formed as a rechargeable battery 51, a device 52 for inductively generating power may be provided formed directly on the separator for charging at least the rechargeable battery 51. A charging circuit 523 is formed between the device 52 and the battery 51 to rectify the energy generated or the voltage induced by the device 52 and provide said voltage appropriately to the terminals of the battery 51 to charge the battery 51.

[0064] The device 52 can be formed in various ways: The device 52 can comprise one or more first elements that do not rotate with the rotor, such as one or more magnets 521 associated with the stationary assembly 2 and one or more inductors (coils) 522 associated with the rotatable rotor 1, such that during operation, i.e., when the drum rotates, a current is induced in the coils 522 as they rotate past the magnets 521, generating electrical power directly within the rotating system or rotor 1.

[0065] According to a first possible configuration, this energy generated in the rotating system or rotor 1 can be generated continuously during a complete rotation of the rotor, or in a specific area - relative to the periphery - i.e. only when each coil 522 moves past the magnets 521 during rotation. This is influenced by a corresponding circumferential distribution and a corresponding dimensioning of the number of magnets 521 and coils 522. In this way, the coils 522 themselves also form part of the rotor 1 and rotate together with it during operation.

[0066] One or more loads 50 can be connected to the battery directly or through intermediate elements to form a circuit (not shown). The device 52 can be located in a position suitable for an inductor (coil) 522 attached to the drum to pass close to a fixed magnet 521. The device 52 can be at the bottom or top of the drum, but can also be at the periphery of the drum, in the area of ​​the drive spindle, or in the area of ​​the inlet or outlet.

[0067] Each load 50 is assigned to a respective transmitting and / or receiving unit 504, or several of the loads 501, 502, 503 are assigned to a common transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1. In Figure 1, the transmitting and / or receiving units 504 are represented diagrammatically by a kind of fan-shaped signal symbol. The transmitting and / or receiving units may be arranged directly on the sensor 501 or may be formed together with the sensor 501 as a structural unit. Preferably, each of the transmitting and / or receiving units comprises an antenna, in particular an antenna that projects outward from the drum 10 or is attached to the outside of the drum.

[0068] 1, the sensors 501 are shown purely diagrammatically, the way they are shown exemplifying the respective functional type of sensor 501, such as a fill level measurement (top right sensor 501), a temperature sensor (top left sensor 501) or a strain sensor (leftmost sensor).

[0069] The transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 of the rotor is configured to transmit data or signals and / or receive data or signals. Any standard per se can be used for this purpose, such as Bluetooth™, Near Field Communication (NFC)™ or optical signals (light in the visible range). Preferably, the transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 is formed as a transmitting and / or receiving unit using a wireless standard that requires low power.

[0070] Outside the rotor, a corresponding transmitting and / or receiving unit 505 is arranged, in particular on the stationary assembly 2. The transmitting and / or receiving unit 505 of the stationary assembly 2 can also be configured to receive data or signals and / or to transmit data and / or signals. Preferably, the transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 is formed as a transmitting and / or receiving unit operating in accordance with a radio standard requiring low power.

[0071] The transmitting and / or receiving unit 505 is preferably connected to the separator's control device 53. The transmission of data and / or signals between the transmitting and / or receiving units 504, 505 may be unidirectional or bidirectional. It is therefore conceivable that only data relating to the rotor 1 or operating conditions within the rotor, detected for example by one or more of the sensors 501, are transmitted from the transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1 to the transmitting and / or receiving unit 505, so that they can be evaluated, for example, by the control device 53.

[0072] However, it is also conceivable that data and / or signals are transmitted in the opposite direction, for example from the transmitting and / or receiving unit 505 of the assembly 2 to the transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1 in order to control the actuator 502. Furthermore, combinations and variations of these transmission types are conceivable.

[0073] The battery 51 can be located in various positions within the drum. For example, the battery can be located in a receptacle in or on the bottom of the drum, or it can be located on the top of the drum. The rotor transmitting and / or receiving unit 504 is preferably positioned so that the antenna projects outward from the rotor, for example into the upper conical region of the drum.

[0074] 1, buffered energy is also available when the drum is stationary. Thus, even when the drum is stationary, actuators 501 such as valves 108 can be moved and / or data and / or signals from sensors and feedback signals from the actuators can be transmitted wirelessly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] List of codes Rotatable rotor 1 Drums 10 Drive spindle 11 entrance 101 distributor 102 Disk Pack 103 Separation disc 104 Exit 1: 105 Second Exit 106 Solids discharge opening 107 Shut-off valve 108 Nozzle 109 Stationary Assembly 2 Mechanical Frame 20 Food 21 Solids Trap 22 Bearing device 3 Driving Device 4 Electronic Assembly 5 Load 50 Sensor 501 Actuator 502 Initiative 503 Transmitting and / or receiving units 504, 505 Data Memory 506 Battery 51 equipment 52 Magnet 521 Inductor (coil) 522 Charging circuit 523 Control device 53

Claims

1. A centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor (1) and an assembly (2) that is stationary during operation, the rotatable rotor (1) being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly (2) by one or more bearing devices (3), the rotatable rotor (1) comprising a rotatable drum (10), a drive element for rotating the drum (10), and one or more electrical loads (50) disposed on or within the rotor (1), The centrifuge further comprises at least one battery (51) disposed on or within the rotor (10) for supplying power to at least one load or a plurality of loads (50), and at least one actuator (502) is provided as the at least one load (50).

2. 2. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the battery (51) or one of the batteries (51) is configured as a rechargeable battery.

3. 3. The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the battery (51) or one of the batteries (51) is configured as a non-rechargeable battery.

4. 4. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein a disc pack comprising a stack of separating discs is arranged in the drum.

5. 5. A centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the load (50) comprises a data memory (506) in or on the rotor.

6. A centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor (1) and an assembly (2) that is stationary during operation, the rotatable rotor (1) being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly (2) by one or more bearing devices (3), the rotatable rotor (1) comprising a rotatable drum (10), a drive element for rotating the drum (10), and one or more electrical loads (50) located on or in the rotor (1) or in a centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The load (50) comprises one or more of a sensor (501), an actuator (502) and / or an initiator (503) and / or a transmitting and / or receiving unit (504) and / or a control unit in or on the rotor.

7. 7. A centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a device (52) for generating electrical power, the device being adapted to provide electrical power to the rotor (1), and a charging circuit being provided for charging the rechargeable battery (51).

8. 8. The centrifuge of claim 7, wherein the device (52) is configured to generate electrical power only during part of the rotation period of the rotor (1).

9. 8. The centrifuge of claim 7, wherein the device (52) is configured to generate electrical power during a complete rotation of the rotor (1).

10. 10. The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rotor (1) as a load further comprises a data memory (505) and / or a control device.

11. 11. The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising at least one sensor (501) as the load (50).

12. 12. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the actuator (502) is configured as a solenoid valve or an electrically operable control valve.

13. 13. The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (502) is configured as a solenoid valve or an electrically operable control valve configured to open and close a solids discharge opening (107) of the drum (10) and / or to vary the cross section of one or more solids discharge openings (107) of the drum (10).

14. 14. A centrifugal separator according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the drum (10) is provided with an inlet (101) and at least two separate outlets (105, 106).

15. 15. A centrifuge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drum has a vertical axis of rotation.

16. 16. A centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (10) is of inner and / or outer single or double conical construction.

17. 17. A centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 16, configured as a disc separator or a solids drum screw centrifuge.

18. 18. A centrifuge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one transmitting and / or receiving unit (504) for wireless transmission and / or data reception is formed on or in the rotor.

19. 19. The centrifuge of claim 18, wherein the at least one transmitting and / or receiving unit (505) for wireless transmission and / or data reception comprises an antenna protruding from the rotor (1).

20. 20. The centrifuge according to claim 18 or 19, wherein a corresponding transmitting and / or receiving unit (505) is formed on the stationary assembly (2) for wireless transmission and / or reception of data.

21. 21. A centrifuge according to claim 20, wherein the corresponding transmitting and / or receiving unit (505) is connected to a control device (53) for controlling the centrifuge.

22. 22. A centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor (1) and an assembly (2) that is stationary during operation, the rotatable rotor (1) being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly (2) by one or more bearing devices (3), the rotatable rotor (1) comprising a rotatable drum (10), a drive element for rotating the drum (10), and one or more electrical loads (50) located on or in the rotor (1) or in a centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 21, a solids discharge nozzle, the load including an electrically controllable device for varying the nozzle cross section of the solids discharge nozzle; A centrifuge, wherein the device is configured as an electrically adjustable nozzle needle that can be moved into the passage cross section, thereby changing the cross section of the remaining passage, or as an impact body that is electrically adjustably pushed in front of the nozzle opening, thereby forming a variable gap width.

23. 22. A centrifuge comprising a rotatable rotor (1) and an assembly (2) that is stationary during operation, the rotatable rotor (1) being rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly (2) by one or more bearing devices (3), the rotatable rotor (1) comprising a rotatable drum (10), a drive element for rotating the drum (10), and one or more electrical loads (50) located on or in the rotor (1) or in a centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 21, A centrifuge in which the drum has a hydraulically actuable piston slide valve for opening and closing one or more solids discharge openings, and hydraulic fluid, particularly control water, can be discharged from a control chamber above, particularly below, the piston slide valve by one or more electromechanical valves as loads, the electromechanical valves being arranged on or within the rotating drum and actuating, particularly opening, the piston slide valves.

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