Inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid guide for separators which can be rendered (GAS) inert

Abstract

The invention relates to a container system for the separate guidance of control fluid and exhaust gas for a separator which can be rendered (gas) inert, having: a control fluid container (10) for receiving control fluid discharged from the separator which can be rendered (gas) inert, having a control fluid feed (11) for feeding control fluid from the separator which can be rendered (gas) inert into the control fluid container (10) and a control fluid outlet (12) for discharging control fluid from the control fluid container (10); an exhaust gas container (20), which can be filled with a fluid, for receiving exhaust gases discharged from the separator which can be rendered (gas) inert, having an exhaust gas feed (21) with an immersion pipe (24) for feeding exhaust gas from the separator which can be rendered (gas) inert into the exhaust gas container (20); wherein the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid container (10) and the discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas container (20) are designed to be siphon-less.

Description

[0001] Inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid routing for (gas) inertizable separators

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a container system for the separate routing of control fluid and exhaust gas of a (gas)inertizable separator according to the subject matter of claim 1, to a gas-inertizable separator system with separate routing of inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid according to the subject matter of claim 9, and to a method for operating a gas-inertizable separator system according to the subject matter of claim 10.

[0004] When media with a low flash point (e.g., below 75°C) and / or a flash point below the processing temperature are processed in centrifuges, the flash point can be exceeded during processing within the centrifuge. In this case, a hazardous explosive atmosphere can form. To process such media, explosion protection must be ensured within the centrifuge. Explosion protection within the centrifuge is often achieved through inerting. This prevents the formation of an explosive atmosphere inside the centrifuge.

[0005] To inert a centrifuge, an inerting unit is required. This unit monitors and controls the supply of an inert gas (e.g., nitrogen) to the centrifuge and the maintenance of the necessary pressures within the centrifuge to ensure an inert atmosphere. This monitoring places certain demands on the measurement technology.

[0006] A distinction is made between initial inerting and inerting during operation. For initial inerting, before the product to be processed is introduced, the cyclone, drum, and gearbox of the centrifuge are directly purged with inert gas to replace the oxygen-containing air in the centrifuge with the inert gas and thus reduce the oxygen content to a safe, non-critical level. However, due to the unfavorable flow conditions within the drum, long purging times result until complete replacement with inert gas.

[0007] Maintaining an inert atmosphere within the separator and reducing overpressure is achieved through various immersions in so-called exhaust gas and / or control fluid reservoirs. The numerous necessary immersions, some at varying depths, can lead to confusion or forgetting of connections. The piping system is also complex.

[0008] Fig. 1a shows a schematic view of a conventional immersion tank 100 for inert gas, exhaust gas, and control fluid from the prior art. The immersion tank 100 has an internal volume that is filled with a fluid, in particular a liquid, in this case water, up to a predetermined fill level. The immersion tank 100 has a control fluid inlet 101. The immersion tank also has a first and second exhaust gas inlet 102 and 103, which are implemented in the immersion tank 100 in the form of dips or dip tubes, respectively, as well as an exhaust gas outlet 104. The exhaust gases that are directed into the immersion tank 100 through the exhaust gas inlets 102 and 103 are typically oxygen and product gases, as well as inert gas from the separator. The exhaust gases fed into the immersion tank 100 through the first and second exhaust gas inlets 102, 103, as shown in Fig.The fluids, which are schematically represented by empty and filled circles, are directed via the exhaust gas outlet 104 into an exhaust system and / or to the open air. Product residues also enter the immersion tank 100 via the control fluid inlet 101.

[0009] To prevent an increase in the fill level in the immersion tank 100 and consequently a pressure increase in the separator, the immersion tank 100 has a make-up fluid drain 105. The make-up fluid drain 105 is equipped with a siphon 106, the inlet pipe connection of which determines the predetermined fill level of the immersion tank 100. The height difference between the inlet end of the siphon 106 and the outlet ends of the immersion sections of the control fluid inlet 101 and the exhaust gas inlets 102, 103 determines the respective back pressure of the associated inlets or inlets. A mix-up of the connections when connecting to a separator can lead to the back pressures required at the separator for the respective inlets being incorrectly set. Another disadvantage of the construction shown in Fig. aa is that the piping of the submersible tank 100 is relatively complex.Furthermore, a separator to be used with the submersible tank 100 must be positioned higher than the control fluid inlet 101 to ensure a gradient from the separator to the submersible tank 100, which guarantees the free flow of the control fluid from the separator.

[0010] Fig. 1b shows a schematic representation of another prior art solution for the routing of inert gas, exhaust gas, and control fluid in an inertable separator. In the solution proposed in Fig. 1b, two separate containers are used instead of a common submersible tank for the control fluid and exhaust gases: a control fluid tank 110 and an exhaust gas tank 120. Otherwise, the container system in Fig. 1b with control fluid tank 110 and exhaust gas tank 120 has the same connections and functionalities as the submersible tank 100 shown in Fig. 1a.

[0011] Specifically, the control fluid reservoir 110 has a control fluid inlet 111 with a dip tube, as well as an exhaust gas outlet 113 and a control fluid drain 112 with a siphon 114. The exhaust gas reservoir 120 has a first and second exhaust gas inlet 121, 122 with a dip tube, as well as an exhaust gas outlet 123 and a make-up fluid drain 125 with a siphon 124.

[0012] By using a tank system with separate exhaust gas routing from the control fluid, contamination of the control fluid with exhaust gases and product residues from the separator can be avoided. However, the tank system shown in Fig. 1b has the same disadvantages as the solution shown in Fig. 1a. In particular, both solutions suffer from the problem that the siphons can be emptied by pressure fluctuations in the separator due to complete or partial emptying, or due to unfavorable pipe routing. This can lead to exhaust gas or (contaminated) inert gas escaping into the environment. To detect the undetected release of these gases, level monitoring of the siphons is required, which increases the design complexity and cost of the tank system.

[0013] In light of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide a solution for the routing of inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluids for separators, which addresses the problems known from the prior art.

[0014] The above problem is solved by a container system for the separate routing of control fluid and exhaust gas of a (gas)inertizable separator according to the subject matter of claim 1, by a gas-inertizable separator system with separate routing of inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid according to the subject matter of claim 9, and by a method for operating a gas-inertizable separator system according to the subject matter of claim 10. The dependent claims specify preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0015] Specifically, the problem is solved by a container system for the separate routing of control fluid and exhaust gas from a (gas)inertizable separator. The container system includes a control fluid reservoir for receiving control fluid discharged from the (gas)inertizable separator. This reservoir has a control fluid inlet for supplying control fluid from the (gas)inertizable separator and a control fluid outlet for discharging control fluid from the reservoir. The container system also includes an exhaust gas reservoir, which can be filled with a fluid, for receiving exhaust gases discharged from the (gas)inertizable separator. This exhaust gas reservoir has an exhaust gas inlet with a dip tube for supplying exhaust gas from the (gas)inertizable separator into the exhaust gas reservoir.In the container system according to the invention, the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid container and the discharge of make-up fluid, in particular make-up water, from the exhaust gas container are designed without a siphon. The term (gas)inertizable separator is to be understood as a gas-inertizable separator and / or an inertizable separator.

[0016] Gas inerting can be achieved using a gas and / or a gas mixture and / or a fluid and / or a fluid mixture and / or a gas-fluid mixture. Nitrogen, for example, can be used as an inert gas.

[0017] A significant advantage of the invention lies in the fact that neither the control fluid reservoir nor the exhaust gas reservoir has a siphon in the fluid discharge from the reservoirs. A siphon, in common usage, is understood to be a multiply curved pipe that is always partially filled with liquid to prevent gas exchange between its two ends. Designing the reservoirs without a siphon avoids the problems that arise from unintentional siphon emptying. In particular, it prevents the unintentional escape of inert fluid or exhaust gas from the reservoirs and, respectively, from the separator into the environment. Furthermore, the siphon-free design of the discharges, especially from the control fluid reservoir, allows for a reduction in the overall height of the reservoirs. The pressure in the separator can be adjusted via the immersion in the exhaust gas reservoir and the pressure equalization port of the control fluid reservoir.The exhaust gas tank's dip tube also serves to maintain pressure in the separator.

[0018] The use of a tank system with separate tanks for control fluid and exhaust gases also offers the advantages

[0019] - that the exhaust gas container is not contaminated with product residues carried by the control fluid.

[0020] - that the risk of confusing the connections of the container system is reduced, since the connections are divided between two distinguishable containers,

[0021] - that the separator does not need to be elevated to ensure the flow of the control fluid due to the comparatively low height of the control fluid container,

[0022] - that deposits caused by product residues carried by the control fluid are easily removed from the control fluid reservoir (for example, by means of a spray ball installed in the control fluid reservoir). Preferably, the control fluid reservoir and the exhaust gas reservoir have no connections other than those described herein.

[0023] Within the scope of this disclosure, the term "exhaust gas" encompasses both oxygen and product gases, as well as inert gas that is discharged after inerting and / or during operation of the separator. Thus, "exhaust gas" refers to any gas mixture that is discharged from the separator during operation. The term "control fluid" refers to any control fluid used for the (hydraulic) control of separator components, in particular piston valves for closing and opening solids discharge openings in a centrifugal drum of the separator. The control fluid can be, for example, a control liquid, in particular control water. The exhaust gas reservoir can be filled with a fluid, preferably water. The fluid level in the exhaust gas reservoir is preferably adjusted such that the dip tube extends into the fluid and its lower, open end is below the fluid level.The back pressure for the supply from the separator can be adjusted by the height difference between the fluid level and the lower end of the dip tube. Exhaust gases that are routed from the separator via the dip tube into the exhaust gas tank partially dissolve in the fluid contained within the tank. This fluid can also be referred to as pressure equalization fluid, post-treatment fluid, or post-treatment water.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the control fluid outlet is connected to a controllable control fluid pump for removing control fluid from the control fluid reservoir. This allows the control fluid level in the reservoir to be adjusted. It is further preferred that the exhaust gas reservoir has an outlet for removing fluid, preferably connected to a controllable pump. This enables precise adjustment of the fluid level in the exhaust gas reservoir and thus adjustment of the back pressures at the exhaust gas reservoir connections.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control fluid outlet and the outlet (of the exhaust gas reservoir) are connected via respective controllable valves to a controllable pump for the controlled discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir and / or fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir. With this embodiment, only one common pump is required for the controlled adjustment of the levels in the reservoirs.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the control fluid outlet is connected to a controllable valve for the pressureless discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir. Furthermore, preferably, the outlet (of the exhaust gas reservoir) is connected to a controllable valve for the pressureless discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir. According to these embodiments, the level adjustment in the reservoirs can be carried out without pressure; therefore, no active components are required for level adjustment.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, the control fluid outlet and the outlet (of the exhaust gas reservoir) are connected to a controllable multi-way valve, in particular a three-way valve, for the pressureless discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir and / or fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir. With this embodiment, only one valve is required for adjusting the fill levels in both reservoirs.

[0028] It is further preferred that the control fluid reservoir has a pressure equalization port for connection to a pressure equalization line of the separator for the supply and / or discharge of gas, and / or that the exhaust gas reservoir has a connection for exhaust gas discharge. This ensures simple pressure equalization in the separator and the discharge of excess exhaust gases from the separator.

[0029] The object of the invention is further achieved by a gas-inertizable separator system with separate inert gas, exhaust gas, and control fluid circuits, comprising a gas-inertizable separator with a product inlet for supplying a mixture of substances to be separated, an exhaust gas outlet for removing exhaust gas from the separator, and a control fluid outlet for removing control fluid; an inerting unit for providing inert gas for inerting the separator; and a container system of the type described above. The inerting unit is in fluid communication with the product inlet of the separator for supplying inert gas to the separator, wherein the exhaust gas outlet of the separator is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas inlet of the exhaust gas container, and wherein the control fluid outlet of the separator is in fluid communication with the control fluid inlet of the control fluid container.

[0030] The gas-inertizable separator system according to the invention, with separate inert gas, exhaust gas, and control fluid discharge, offers the same advantages as described above with regard to the container system according to the invention. All described features and embodiments of the container system according to the invention can be transferred to the gas-inertizable separator according to the invention with separate inert gas, exhaust gas, and control fluid routing by configuring the container system accordingly.

[0031] The separator, or gas-inertizable separator system, preferably has a pressure equalization port to prevent pressure losses due to the discharge of the control fluid. Preferably, the pressure equalization port of the separator is connected to the pressure equalization port of the control fluid reservoir. The gas pressure in the control fluid reservoir can be adjusted due to the design of this pressure equalization port. This preferably compensates for pressure fluctuations caused by the supply and discharge of control fluid in the control fluid reservoir.

[0032] The gas-inertizable separator according to the invention can be either a 2-phase separator or a 3-phase separator. The separator is particularly preferably designed as a disc separator.

[0033] The object of the invention is further achieved by a method for operating a gas-inertizable separator system with separate inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid routing according to the type described above, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0034] • Feeding of a mixture of substances to be separated into the separator via the product inlet;

[0035] • Supply of inert gas from the inerting unit to the separator to maintain an inert gas atmosphere during separator operation; the gas pressure in the separator is adjustable via the exhaust gas reservoir. The advantages described with regard to the container system and the separator according to the invention also apply to the method according to the invention. The siphon-free design of the container system prevents unintentional gas leakage due to a siphon malfunction. Furthermore, the gas pressure in the separator, which corresponds to the back pressure of the corresponding connection of the exhaust gas reservoir, can be freely adjusted via the exhaust gas reservoir. Specifically, the gas pressure in the separator is adjustable by the fluid level in the exhaust gas reservoir.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises initial inerting of the separator prior to the introduction of the mixture to be separated by introducing inert gas from the inerting unit into the separator. This embodiment ensures rapid and reliable initial inerting of the separator.

[0037] It is further preferred that the introduction of inert gas during initial inerting is carried out at least partially through the product inlet of the separator. This can significantly reduce the time required for initial inerting of the separator, since the inert gas is supplied via the same inlet through which the product to be processed is introduced into the separator during operation, thus achieving faster purging of the separator's separation chamber with inert gas. To achieve the advantage of faster initial inerting, the introduction of inert gas during initial inerting need not be exclusively through the separator's product inlet – inert gas can also be introduced into the separator through other purge gas connections.

[0038] The invention will now be described with regard to further features and advantages using exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail with reference to the figures.

[0039] Fig. 1a is a schematic sectional view of a conventional prior art container for exhaust gas and control fluid with a siphon outlet for make-up fluid and control fluid;

[0040] Fig. 1b shows a schematic sectional view of a conventional container system with separate containers for exhaust gas and control fluid from the prior art, each with a siphon for the make-up fluid and control fluid;

[0041] Fig. 2a shows a schematic view of a container system for conveying inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid according to an embodiment of the present invention with siphon-free discharge of control fluid and refill fluid;

[0042] Fig. 2b-d Variants of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2a according to the invention with alternative discharge of control fluid or refill fluid from the containers;

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the container system from Fig. 2a-d, which is connected to a separator for the inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid routing.

[0044] Fig. 2a shows a schematic representation of a container system for conveying inert gas, exhaust gas, and control fluid according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container system comprises a control fluid container 10 and an exhaust gas container 20. The control fluid container 10 serves to hold control fluid that is discharged from a (gas) inertizable separator (not shown in Fig. 2a). To introduce control fluid from the separator into the control fluid container 10, the container has a control fluid inlet 11. Control fluid, in particular control water, can be discharged from the control fluid container 10 via a control fluid outlet 12. The flow direction of the control fluid is schematically represented by arrows. The fill level of the control fluid in the control fluid container 10 is schematically shown in Fig. 2a.The control fluid reservoir 10 also has a pressure equalization port 14, which serves to connect to a corresponding port of a (not shown) separator.

[0045] The container system further comprises an exhaust gas reservoir 20 filled with fluid (preferably water) for receiving exhaust gases discharged from a (gas) inertable separator (not shown). The exhaust gas reservoir 20 has an exhaust gas inlet 21 for supplying the exhaust gases. The exhaust gas inlet 21 is designed as a submersible inlet and is connected to a submersible tube 24 that extends vertically within the internal volume of the exhaust gas reservoir 20. A back pressure at the exhaust gas inlet 21, which the exhaust gas must overcome when entering the exhaust gas reservoir 20, can be set by adjusting the fluid level in the exhaust gas reservoir 20 (more precisely: by adjusting the height difference between the lower opening of the submersible tube 24 and the fluid level). This back pressure allows the exhaust gas to be controlled by adjusting the fluid level in the exhaust gas reservoir 20.

[0046] To adjust the fluid level in the exhaust gas reservoir 20, the reservoir has an inlet (not shown in the figures) and an outlet 22 through which fluid can be added to and removed from the exhaust gas reservoir 20 (the flow direction is indicated by an arrow). Finally, the exhaust gas reservoir 20 has a connection 25 for exhaust gas discharge, by means of which excess exhaust gas can be discharged from the interior volume above the fluid.

[0047] Various design features can be used for the controlled discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir 10 and for the controlled discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir 20. Discharge can be actively achieved using appropriate pumps. Alternatively, discharge can be achieved without pressure by providing a continuous gradient in the drain, allowing the fluid to flow. To control the discharge in the case of no pressure, valves can be used in the drain.

[0048] Figures 2a-2d show different variants for the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir 10 and of fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir 20. According to the embodiment in Figure 2a, the outlet of both reservoirs 10, 20 is connected to a respective controllable pump 13, 23, by means of which the discharge from the reservoirs 10, 20 can be actively controlled.

[0049] Fig. 2b shows a variant in which a common pump 33 is used for both containers 10, 20. In order to be able to control the outflow rate from the containers 10, 20 independently of each other, valves 31, 32 are arranged upstream of the pump 33, via which the outflow rate from the containers 10, 20 can be adjusted when the pump 33 is operating.

[0050] Fig. 2c shows an embodiment with pressureless discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir 10 and of fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir 20. Analogous to the embodiment in Fig. 2b, the control fluid outlet 12 of the control fluid reservoir 10 is connected to a valve 31, through which control fluid can be discharged when opened. Similarly, the outlet 22 of the exhaust gas reservoir 20 is connected to a valve 32.

[0051] Fig. 2d shows an embodiment for pressureless discharge with a multi-way valve that is used jointly by both containers 10 and 20. Specifically, both the control fluid outlet 12 of the control fluid container 10 and the outlet 22 of the exhaust gas container 20 are connected to a multi-way valve 34, via which the discharge from the containers 10 and 20 can be controlled.

[0052] It goes without saying that the embodiments shown in Figs. 2a-d can be combined as desired. For example, the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir 10 can be carried out without pressure by, for example, laying the drain line with a gradient and using the valve 31 shown in Fig. 2c for drain control, while the exhaust gas reservoir 20 is provided with an active drain using the pump 23 shown in Fig. 2a. Conversely, a discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir 10 using the pump 13 shown in Fig. 2a can be combined with a pressureless discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir 20 using the valve 32 shown in Fig. 2c.

[0053] The embodiments shown in Figs. 2a-d all feature a controllable solution for the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir 10 and for the discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas reservoir 20, which is designed without a siphon. This allows the overall height of the reservoirs 10 and 20, in particular that of the control fluid reservoir 10, to be reduced, and avoids the disadvantages associated with the use of siphons – especially the unintentional emptying of a siphon during separator operation, which allows for uncontrolled gas exchange between the reservoir interiors and the environment.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the container system depicted in Figs. 2a-d in conjunction with a (gas)inertizable separator. The container system, comprising the control fluid reservoir 10 and the exhaust gas reservoir 20, together with an inerting unit 40 and a (gas)inertizable separator 50, forms a (gas)inertizable separator system, which is described in more detail below. The separator 50 has a separation chamber 60 where mixtures of substances to be processed can be separated into different phases. The separator 50 can, for example, be designed as a disc separator with an openable drum 61, as shown in Fig. 3. For drive, the separator 50 has a drive 55, the rotational energy of which is transmitted via belts (not shown) in a gearbox housing 57 to a drum spindle of the separator 50.

[0055] The separator 50 has a product inlet 51 through which a mixture of materials to be processed is fed into the separation chamber 60 during operation of the separator 50. To discharge solids separated from the mixture of materials to be processed in the drum 61, the drum 61 is opened hydraulically by the introduction of control fluid to allow material discharge. Figure 3 shows the drum 61 in the open state. The control fluid introduced to open the drum 61 can be discharged from the centrifuge 60 via a control fluid port 53.

[0056] The separator 50 also has a pressure equalization port 54 to prevent pressure losses due to the discharge of the control fluid. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the pressure equalization port 54 of the separator 50 is connected to the pressure equalization port 14 of the control fluid reservoir 10 to adjust the gas pressure in the control fluid reservoir 10. This compensates for pressure fluctuations caused by the supply and discharge of control fluid in the control fluid reservoir 10.

[0057] To monitor the gas pressure in the separator 50, the separator 50 can have a pressure sensor 59 for detecting the gas pressure in the separator 50, in particular in the separation chamber 60. The pressure sensor can be operationally connected to a control unit (not shown) which is configured to adjust the gas pressure inside the separator 50, in particular in the separation chamber 60, by means of inert gas injection via the inerting unit 40, and / or by means of a pressure change in the control fluid reservoir 10 or exhaust gas reservoir 20 connected to the pressure equalization port 54. The pressure sensor 59 can also be provided at other positions on the separator 50, or several pressure sensors can be provided at different locations on the separator 50.

[0058] The separator 50 can further comprise a (solid) cyclone 56, which is connected to the solids discharge of the separator 50. The cyclone 56 has an exhaust port 52 for the discharge of exhaust gases. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the exhaust port 52 is connected to the exhaust gas inlet 21 of the exhaust gas reservoir 20. By adjusting the fluid level (preferably water) in the exhaust gas reservoir 20, the back pressure at the exhaust port 52, and thus the gas pressure in the separator 50, can be adjusted.

[0059] The inerting unit 40 is designed to supply inert gas for inerting the separator 50. Pure nitrogen, for example, can be used as the inert gas. The inerting unit 40 is in fluid communication with the separator 50 to supply inert gas to the separator 50. The supply of inert gas from the inerting unit 40 to the separator 50 is shown schematically with arrows in Fig. 3.

[0060] Inert gas can be supplied from the inerting unit 40 to the separator 50 via the product inlet 51 of the separator 50, through which a mixture of substances to be processed is also fed into the separator 50 during operation. Alternatively or additionally, the separator can have further inerting connections 58, which are, for example, in fluid connection with the separation chamber 60 and / or the interior of the gearbox housing 57, in order to supply the interior of the corresponding components of the centrifuge 50 with inert gas.

[0061] The separator system shown in Fig. 3 enables the operation of a gas-inertizable separator system according to the invention. In this process, a mixture of substances to be separated is fed into the separator 50 via the product inlet 51, preferably into the separation chamber 60 of the separator 50. During operation of the separator 50, particularly the drum 61, inert gas from the inerting unit 40 is introduced into the separator 50 via the product inlet 51 and / or via the inerting connections 58 to maintain an inert gas atmosphere inside the separator 50 during operation. The gas pressure inside the separator 50 can be measured using the pressure sensor 59. For this purpose, the pressure sensor 59 can also be located at other positions on the separator 50, or several pressure sensors can be provided at different locations on the separator 50.

[0062] Based on the measured pressure in the separator 50, the gas pressure inside the separator 50 can be adjusted. The gas pressure can be adjusted by additionally supplying inert gas from the inerting unit 40 via the product inlet 51 (preferably only during initial inerting) and / or the inerting connections 58.

[0063] Another adjustment option for the gas pressure inside the separator 50 is provided via the exhaust gas connection 52 of the separator 50, which is connected to the exhaust gas inlet 21 of the exhaust gas reservoir 20. The back pressure at the exhaust gas connection 52 of the separator 50, and thus the gas pressure inside the separator 50, can be adjusted via the exhaust gas reservoir 20 (i.e., via the fill level of the exhaust gas reservoir 20).

[0064] To ensure safe operation of the separator 50 even when exposed to media with a low flash point, the separator 50 can undergo initial inerting. In this process, before the mixture to be separated is fed into the separator 50, the interior of the separator 50, in particular the separation chamber 60, is flooded with inert gas. For this purpose, inert gas is introduced into the separator 50 from the inerting unit 40 before the mixture to be separated is fed in. The inert gas can be introduced via the product inlet 51 and / or via the inerting connections 58. The additional supply of inert gas via the product inlet 51 during initial inerting significantly reduces the initial inerting time.

[0065] List of reference signs

[0066] 10 control fluid reservoirs

[0067] 11 Control fluid inlet

[0068] 12 Control fluid flow

[0069] 13 Pump

[0070] 14 Pressure equalization connection

[0071] 20 exhaust gas tanks

[0072] 21 Exhaust gas supply

[0073] 22 Procedure

[0074] 23 Pump

[0075] 24 Immersion tube connection for exhaust gas discharge, 32 Valve

[0076] pump

[0077] 3-way valve

[0078] Inerting unit

[0079] (Gas) inertizable separator product inlet

[0080] Exhaust connection, control fluid connection

[0081] Pressure equalization connection drive

[0082] cyclone

[0083] gearbox housing

[0084] Inerting connections pressure sensor

[0085] Separation space

[0086] Drum 0 Immersion tank 1 Control fluid inlet 2 First exhaust gas inlet 3 Second exhaust gas inlet 4 Exhaust gas outlet 5 Make-up fluid outlet 6 Siphon 0 Control fluid tank 1 Control fluid inlet 2 Control fluid outlet 3 Exhaust gas outlet 4 Siphon 0 Exhaust tank 1 First exhaust gas inlet Second exhaust gas inlet

[0087] Exhaust gas discharge

[0088] siphon

[0089] Dessert fluid drain

Claims

Inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid routing for (gas) inertizable separators Claims 1. Container system for the separate routing of control fluid and exhaust gas of a (gas) inertable separator, comprising • a control fluid reservoir (10) for receiving control fluid discharged from the (gas) inertizable separator, comprising a control fluid inlet (11) for supplying control fluid from the (gas) inertizable separator into the control fluid reservoir (10) and a control fluid outlet (12) for discharge of control fluid from the control fluid reservoir (10); • an exhaust gas container (20) that can be filled with a fluid for receiving exhaust gases discharged from the (gas)inertizable separator, comprising an exhaust gas supply (21) with a dip tube (24) for supplying exhaust gas from the (gas)inertizable separator into the exhaust gas container (20); wherein the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid container (10) and the discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas container (20) is designed without a siphon.

2. Container system according to claim 1, wherein the control fluid drain (12) is connected to a controllable pump (13) for the discharge of control fluid from the control fluid container (10).

3. Container system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust gas container (20) has a drain (22) which is preferably connected to a controllable pump (23) for the removal of fluid from the exhaust gas container (20).

4. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control fluid outlet (12) and the outlet (22) are connected via respective controllable valves (31, 32) to a controllable pump (33) for the controlled discharge of control fluid from the control fluid container (10) and / or fluid from the exhaust gas container (20).

5. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control fluid drain (12) is connected to a controllable valve (31) for pressureless discharge of control fluid (12) from the control fluid container (10).

6. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet (22) is connected to a controllable valve (32) for pressureless discharge of fluid from the exhaust gas container (20).

7. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control fluid outlet (12) and the outlet (22) are connected to a controllable multi-way valve (34), in particular a three-way valve, for the pressureless discharge of control fluid from the control fluid container (10) and / or fluid from the exhaust gas container (20).

8. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control fluid container (10) has a pressure equalization connection (14) for connection to a pressure equalization line of the separator for supplying and / or discharging gas, and / or wherein the exhaust gas container (20) has a connection for exhaust gas discharge (25).

9. Gas-inertizable separator system with separate inert gas, exhaust gas and control fluid routing, comprising • a gas-inertizable separator (50) with a product inlet (51) for feeding a mixture of substances to be separated, an exhaust gas connection (52) for removing exhaust gas from the separator (50), and a control fluid connection (53) for removing control fluid; • an inerting unit (40) for providing inert gas for inerting the separator (50); • a container system according to one of the preceding claims; wherein the inerting unit (40) is in fluid communication with the product inlet (51) of the separator (50) for supplying inerting gas to the separator (50), wherein the exhaust gas connection (52) of the separator (50) is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas inlet (21) of the exhaust gas container (20), and wherein the control fluid connection (53) of the separator (50) is in fluid communication with the control fluid inlet (11) of the control fluid container (10).

10. Method for operating a gas-inertizable separator system according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: • Feeding of a mixture of substances to be separated via the product inlet (51) into the separator (50); • Supply of inert gas from the inerting unit (40) into the separator (50) to maintain an inert gas atmosphere during operation of the separator (50); wherein the gas pressure in the separator (50) is adjustable by means of the exhaust gas container (20).

11. Method according to claim 10, comprising an initial inerting of the separator (50) prior to the introduction of the mixture to be separated by introducing inert gas from the inerting unit (40) into the separator (50).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the introduction of inert gas during the initial inerting is carried out at least through the product feed (51) of the separator (50).

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