Automatic filtrate-air separating vessel

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid-air or LA separating vessel (3), characterized in that it comprises: - a main vacuum chamber (13) having an inlet (4) for letting the LA mixture into the chamber, an outlet (6) for the liquid L, arranged at a lower level than the LA inlet, and a vacuum tube (5) connecting the main chamber to a main vacuum pump (14), arranged at a higher level than the LA inlet, - an auxiliary chamber (8), arranged lower down than the main chamber, into which there enters the liquid L exiting via the outlet for the liquid L of the main chamber and comprising an outlet (9) for discharging the liquid L; and - communication means (15, 16, 17) for bringing the auxiliary chamber alternatively into communication with a vacuum pump, which can in particular be the main vacuum pump, and with the ambient atmosphere or means for creating an overpressure.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Automatic air-filter separator balloon

[0001] The present invention relates to a solid liquid filtration installation (SL) comprising suction means, for suctioning the liquid, and a liquid air separation installation (LA), for separating the suctioned liquid (L) and air (A) from each other and comprising a separator vessel LA, as well as to a liquid air separation installation (LA) of this kind.

[0002] A typical SL filtration system, for example as described in FR 2544219 A1, comprises a filter onto which a suspension of a solid-liquid mixture, or SL, is deposited. A vacuum box is positioned beneath the filter to create a vacuum, drawing the liquid from the suspension through the filter and leaving only the solid, in the form of a cake, on the opposite side. The resulting mixture of liquid L and air A is then sent to a separation system containing a separation vessel, where the filtrate, or liquid L, is separated from the air A.

[0003] An installation of this kind from earlier art is shown in Figure 2.

[0004] When a high negative pressure is required, for example, on the order of -200 to -300, or even -500 millibars, to filter increasingly smaller particles, the liquid-air separation (LA) system necessitates pipes extending over a considerable length beneath the separator vessel. This length is commonly referred to as the barometric head, which varies exponentially with the applied negative pressure. For example, at a negative pressure of -100 millibars, this barometric head reaches approximately seven meters, as shown in Figure 2.

[0005] Such a high barometric pressure results in particularly high installation costs, especially in terms of building and civil engineering. Furthermore, the applied pressure drop fluctuates significantly during the filtration system's operational life.

[0006] Other types of LA separator balloons are known, notably CN107854866A, which use the centrifugal force of a vortex to remove liquid impurities from a gas to be purified.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a filtrate, or liquid, and air (LA) separation system, comprising a separator vessel, which can be installed at a reduced height for a given vacuum level, in particular at a height of less than five meters, especially less than three meters for a vacuum level exceeding 200 millibars in absolute value, for example, for a vacuum level of less than 500 millibars, or which allows, for the same installation height, the implementation of a higher vacuum level. Furthermore, it allows for a more stable and constant vacuum level throughout the production process.

[0008] The present invention also aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an installation for separating the filtrate, or liquid, and air (LA), comprising a separator vessel, which can be monitored during the industrial separation process, in particular by comprising means for monitoring and collecting parameters relating to the process, such as the flow rate of separated liquid or the level of vacuum applied by the pump, and possibly control means for controlling the means acting on these parameters, in particular automatically.

[0009] The present invention also relates to a liquid-solid filtration installation, or LS, comprising such a liquid-air separation installation, or LA, as well as to a separator vessel of an LA separation installation.

[0010] In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid-solid filtration installation, or LS, comprising such a liquid-air separation installation, or LA, and means for monitoring and collecting parameters relating to the separation process, such as the flow rate of separated liquid or the level of vacuum applied by the pump, and possibly control means for controlling the means acting on these parameters, in particular automatically.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, a separator balloon LA is characterized in that it comprises: - a main vacuum chamber having an inlet LA for the entry of the mixture LA into the chamber, an outlet for the liquid L, disposed at a level lower than the inlet LA, and a vacuum line connecting the main chamber to a main vacuum pump, disposed at a level higher than the inlet LA, - an auxiliary chamber, positioned lower than the main chamber, into which liquid L enters by gravity from the liquid L outlet of the main chamber and which includes a liquid L discharge outlet; and - means of communication to connect the auxiliary enclosure alternately with a vacuum pump, in particular with the main vacuum pump, and with the ambient atmosphere or means of creating overpressure.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention, which in itself constitutes an invention independently of the first aspect above, but which can be combined with it in a favorable manner, a separator balloon is as defined in claim 1, improvements and favorable embodiments being defined in subclaims 2 to 10.

[0013] Since the auxiliary chamber is thus alternately under negative pressure with the vacuum pump and under positive pressure with the ambient atmosphere or with the means of creating positive pressure, it can be successively filled and emptied of filtrate without having to provide for barometric height.

[0014] According to a favorable embodiment, the communication means include a drawer distributor which, in a first configuration, connects an inlet tube of the auxiliary enclosure with an outlet tube of the main enclosure, the main enclosure remaining in communication with the vacuum pump via the vacuum tube, and, in a second configuration, connects the inlet tube of the auxiliary enclosure with the ambient atmosphere and closes the outlet tube of the main enclosure.

[0015] According to a favorable embodiment, the outlet for liquid L of the main enclosure includes a non-return valve opening into the auxiliary enclosure.

[0016] According to a favorable embodiment, the liquid outlet L of the auxiliary enclosure includes a non-return valve.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the communication means comprise a three-way valve, in particular a three-way L-shaped ball valve, a first port being connected to the atmosphere or to a pressure boosting system, the second port being connected to an inlet pipe of the auxiliary chamber, and the third port to a pipe in communication with a vacuum pump, in particular the main vacuum pump, the three-way valve passing alternately between two positions: a first position, in which the second and third ports are connected together while the first port is closed, and a second position, in which the first and second ports are connected together while the third port is closed, so that, in the first position, the auxiliary chamber is subjected to the vacuum created by the vacuum pump, and in the second position,It is subjected to atmospheric pressure or to overpressure created by a pressure-boosting system.

[0018] Preferably, particularly in combination with the embodiment comprising a three-way valve, a first valve, particularly with a pneumatic actuator, is disposed between the outlet for liquid L of the main enclosure and a liquid inlet pipe L in the auxiliary enclosure and a second valve, particularly with a pneumatic actuator, is disposed at the discharge outlet of the auxiliary enclosure, the piloting of the valves, particularly the pneumatic actuators, being synchronized so that in the first position of the three-way valve, the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and in the second position of the three-way valve, the first valve is closed and the second valve is open.

[0019] According to a particularly favorable improvement, two first and second auxiliary chambers are provided, the main chamber having two outlets for the liquid, one through which the liquid enters the first auxiliary chamber and the other through which the liquid enters the second auxiliary chamber, the two auxiliary chambers having respective first and second discharge outlets, the communication means, in a first position, connecting one of the auxiliary chambers with a vacuum pump, which may in particular be the main vacuum pump, and the other auxiliary enclosure with the ambient atmosphere or means of creating an overpressure, and in a second position, connecting the other of the auxiliary enclosures with a vacuum pump, which may in particular be the main vacuum pump, and said auxiliary enclosure with the ambient atmosphere or means of creating an overpressure.

[0020] By switching alternately from one position to the other, the flow rate of the separator balloon can be increased, with one chamber filling up while the other empties.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the communication means include a drawer distributor which, in a first configuration, connects a respective inlet tube of each auxiliary enclosure with an outlet tube of the main enclosure, the main enclosure remaining in communication with the vacuum pump via the vacuum tube, and, in a second configuration, connects the respective inlet tube of each auxiliary enclosure with the ambient atmosphere and closes the outlet tube of the main enclosure.

[0022] Preferably, the volume of the auxiliary enclosure or each auxiliary enclosure is smaller than the volume of the main enclosure, in particular at least twice as small, for example 2 to 5 times smaller, which makes it even better to stabilize the vacuum depression in the main enclosure throughout the production.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a LA separation installation comprising a separation tank according to the invention and at least one vacuum pump arranged to create a vacuum in the main chamber of the separation tank.

[0024] In particular, the LA separation installation creates a depression of at least 200 millibars, specifically between 200 and 500 millibars, and has a height of less than 5 meters, specifically less than three meters.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a liquid-solid filtration installation LS comprising a filter LS, at least one vacuum pump creating a vacuum to draw the liquid L through the filter while the solid remains on top of the filter in the form of a cake, the aspirated liquid-air mixture passing in a separator tank according to the invention, the liquid exiting the auxiliary enclosure or each auxiliary enclosure being received in a reservoir from which it is taken for subsequent use, the depression created by the vacuum pump being at least 200 millibars, in particular between 200 and 500 millibars, and the difference between the height of the point of taking in the reservoir for subsequent use installation and the height of the filter is less than 9 meters, in particular less than 5 meters, even more preferably less than 4 meters.

[0026] The present invention also relates to a method of deaerating a filtrate from a solid-liquid filter by vacuum, in which, successively in time, the filtrate is deaerated by vacuum in a first chamber, the deaerated filtrate is sent by gravity into a second chamber under vacuum; the second chamber is brought to atmospheric pressure; and the deaerated filtrate is evacuated from the second chamber.

[0027] Furthermore, in an installation according to the invention, particularly one implementing the process of the invention, it is possible to monitor the filtration and separation process, notably by providing an automated control and / or monitoring system, as well as a system for collecting data relating to the industrial process. Specifically, in the installation according to the invention, it is possible to increase or decrease the vacuum created by the pump and / or the valve timing based on the observed flow rate.

[0028] By way of example only, embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a plan view of a liquid-solid filtration installation LS according to an embodiment of the invention, the installation shown comprising an automatic separator tank of the invention, the maximum altimetry levels being indicated;

[0030] Figure 2 is a view of a prior art LS filtration system; the system shown includes an automatic separator tank of the invention, the maximum elevations being indicated, the system shown including a standard separator balloon of the prior art, the minimum barometric height and altimetry being indicated;

[0031] Figure 3 is a plan and cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a separator balloon according to the invention which can be used in the installation of Figure 1, the separator balloon being said to be "simple";

[0032] Figure 4 is a plan and cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a separator tank that can be used in the installation of Figure 1, the separator tank being said to be "double";

[0033] Figure 5 is a plan and cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a separator tank according to the invention that can be used in the installation of Figure 1, this embodiment comprising automation for a simple separator tank, the automation allowing control, monitoring and data collection for the proper functioning of the installation; and

[0034] Figure 6 is a summary table of the operating diagram of the separator tank in Figure 5, with the automatic opening and closing sequences of the valves being ensured by an automated system.

[0035] Figure 1 shows a filtration installation according to the invention. The installation includes a filter 1 which can for example be as described in FR2544219A1 in the form of an endless belt on which the liquid-solid suspension to be filtered is deposited, a vacuum being formed, using a vacuum pump 14, under the upper section of the endless belt to draw the liquid through the mesh and send it in the form of a liquid-air mixture (LA) into a collector 2 connected to a separator 3.

[0036] In the separator 3, in which the vacuum created by the vacuum pump 14 exists, a separation of air A and liquid L is carried out. Liquid L is then discharged into a lower reservoir 11, and a sampling system 12 then collects the deaerated liquid for its use and / or further treatment.

[0037] The separator 3 is shown in a first embodiment in Figure 3. The 3 has an inlet port 4 to which the manifold 2 is connected for introducing the air-filtrate mixture, or liquid, to be separated into the chamber 13 of the separator 3. The 3 also has an inlet port 5 of outlet through which the air separated from the filtrate is sucked by the vacuum pump 14, this orifice 5 being located at a height greater than the height at which the inlet orifice 4 is located and in particular the outlet 5 of the separated air being located in the upper part of the enclosure 13 of the balloon 3.

[0038] In the lower part of the chamber 13 of the balloon 3 there is a tube 6 for the outlet of the separated liquid filtrate, i.e. deaerated, the outlet tube 6 being closed by a non-return valve 7.

[0039] The outlet pipe 6 opens into an auxiliary chamber 8, where the filtrate or deaerated liquid is received, like an airlock, before being discharged from the auxiliary chamber 8 through a discharge pipe 9 closed by a non-return valve 10. The filtrate or deaerated liquid exiting the discharge pipe 9 then falls into the lower reservoir 11, located below the separator flask 3. The filtrate or deaerated liquid is then collected for further processing by a sampling system 12.

[0040] In chamber 13 of the separator balloon 3 there is a depression (called vacuum) created by the vacuum pump 14.

[0041] The separator balloon 3 also includes a 15-drawer distributor having four drawers respectively T1-T2-T3-T4.

[0042] Drawer T1 is connected to a bypass tube 17, which communicates with the interior of enclosure 13, at its upper end. The bypass tube 17 opens into the main enclosure. Drawer T2 is connected by an auxiliary tube 16 to the auxiliary enclosure 8. The auxiliary tube 16 has an upper opening connected to drawer T2 and a lower opening into the auxiliary enclosure 8. Drawer T3 is open to the atmosphere, or possibly to a system for creating overpressure. Drawer T4 is blocked.

[0043] A control system 100 allows the movement of drawers T1 to T4 to be controlled. The control system 100 alternately switches the distributor 15 between two configurations, namely a first configuration in which the two drawers T1 and T2 communicate with each other, while drawer T3 is in communication only with the atmosphere or the system of overpressure, and a second configuration, in which the two drawers T2 and T3 communicate with each other and the drawer T1 is obstructed.

[0044] In the first configuration, the same vacuum exists in the auxiliary chamber 8 as that created in the main chamber 13 by the pump 14. In this configuration, the filtrate or deaerated liquid falls by gravity into the auxiliary chamber 8 through the outlet pipe 6, the vacuum (the vacuum created by the pump 4) existing in both chambers 13 and 8. Given this vacuum existing in the auxiliary chamber 8, the filtrate or deaerated liquid cannot be evacuated through the outlet pipe 9.

[0045] In the second configuration, the auxiliary chamber 8 is brought to atmospheric pressure or to a higher pressure created by a pressure-boosting system 20, due to the alignment of the two drawers T2 and T3. In this configuration, the deaerated filtrate can no longer exit the main chamber 13 through the outlet pipe 6. Instead, the deaerated filtrate exits the auxiliary chamber 8 by gravity through the discharge pipe 9, into the lower reservoir 11.

[0046] The control system 100 switches the spool valve between configurations based on the filter flow rate, following a cycle that depends on the filter, the type of suspension being filtered, the negative pressure created, and the various geometric parameters of the installation. The cycle stages can be triggered by level detectors located within the chambers.

[0047] As can be seen, unlike previous installations, for example the one shown in Figure 2, it is no longer necessary to have a significant barometric height between the filter and the sampling device 12.

[0048] Thus, for example, the difference between the height of the sampling point in the tank 11 by the system 12 and the height of the filter 1 is 3.8 meters, and this is independent of the vacuum applied by the vacuum pump 14.

[0049] Conversely, in the prior art device of Figure 2, the difference between the height of the sampling point by system 12 and the height of filter 1 is 9.8 meters, and this for a depression not exceeding 200 millibars.

[0050] According to an improvement shown in Figure 4, instead of a single auxiliary enclosure 8, two auxiliary enclosures 8-1 and 8-2 are provided, which makes it possible to increase the filling rate of the reservoir 11.

[0051] In this embodiment of Figure 4, the separator balloon 3' includes the same drawer distributor 15 as in Figure 3, having four drawers respectively T1-T2-T3-T4.

[0052] Drawer T1 is also connected to the same branch tube 17, which communicates with the interior of chamber 13 of balloon 3', at its upper part. Branch tube 17 opens into chamber 13. Drawer T2 is connected by a first auxiliary communication tube 16-1 to the auxiliary chamber 8-1. This auxiliary tube 16-1 has an upper opening connected to drawer T2 and a lower opening into the auxiliary chamber 8-1. Drawer T3 is open to the atmosphere, or possibly to a system for creating overpressure. Drawer T4 is not obstructed; on the contrary, it is connected by an auxiliary communication tube 16-2 to the auxiliary chamber 8-2. This auxiliary tube 16-2 has an upper opening connected to drawer T4 and a lower opening into the auxiliary chamber 8-2.

[0053] The control system 100 alternately switches the distributor 15 between two configurations, namely a first configuration, in which the two drawers T1 and T2 communicate together, while the two drawers T3 and T4 communicate together, and a second configuration, in which the two drawers T1 and T4 communicate together while the two drawers T2 and T3 communicate together.

[0054] In the first configuration, the auxiliary chamber 8-1 has the same negative pressure as that created in the main chamber 13 by the pump 14. In this configuration, the filtrate or deaerated liquid falls by gravity into the auxiliary chamber 8-1 through an outlet pipe 6-1, with a vacuum (the negative pressure created by the pump 4) existing in both chambers 13 and 8-1. Given this negative pressure in the auxiliary chamber 8-1, the filtrate or deaerated liquid cannot be discharged through the outlet pipe 9-1.

[0055] In the first configuration, the auxiliary chamber 8-2 is brought to atmospheric pressure or to a higher pressure created by a pressure-boosting system 20, due to the alignment of the two drawers T3 and T4. In this first configuration, the deaerated filtrate can no longer exit the main chamber 13 through the outlet pipe 6-2. Instead, the deaerated filtrate exits the auxiliary chamber 8-2 by gravity through the discharge pipe 9-2, into the lower reservoir 11.

[0056] In the second configuration, the auxiliary chamber 8-2 has the same negative pressure as that created in the main chamber 13 by pump 14. In this configuration, the filtrate or deaerated liquid falls by gravity into the auxiliary chamber 8-2 through the outlet pipe 6-2, with a vacuum (the negative pressure created by pump 4) existing in both chambers 13 and 8-2. Given this negative pressure in the auxiliary chamber 8-2, the filtrate or deaerated liquid cannot be discharged through the outlet pipe 9-2.

[0057] In the second configuration, the auxiliary chamber 8-1 is brought to atmospheric pressure or to a higher pressure created by a pressure-boosting system 20, due to the alignment of the two drawers T2 and T3. In this configuration, the deaerated filtrate can no longer exit the main chamber 13 through the outlet pipe 6-1. Instead, the deaerated filtrate exits the auxiliary chamber 8-1 by gravity through the discharge pipe 9-1, into the lower reservoir 11.

[0058] This arrangement allows the pace to accelerate, with one of the auxiliary speakers filling up while the other is being evacuated and vice versa.

[0059] A 200 automated system is connected to the control device 100, the vacuum pump 14 and the check valves 7 and 10. The 200 system receives information from the different elements to which it is connected and allows monitoring and collection of data relating to process parameters, which allows the process to be regulated in the best possible way, in particular by adjusting the control device 100 and the pump 14 according to the flow observed at the check valves 7 and 10.

[0060] Figure 5 shows another possible embodiment of the separator tank. Instead of the spool valve 15, a 3-way valve is used. A 15' L-shaped passage with a pneumatic actuator and check valves are replaced by simple ball valves, also each with its own pneumatic actuator. The pneumatic actuators are controlled by the control system 100 in two stages, with the 3-way valve alternately establishing communication in two configurations.

[0061] The first configuration consists of putting under atmosphere, or MSA, and the second configuration consists of putting under vacuum, or MSEV, the control of the solenoid valves allowing the establishment of communications alternately as follows.

[0062] In the first configuration, the 15' three-way valve is in the MSEV position, valve C is open, and valve D is closed, evacuating both the main 13' chamber and the auxiliary 8' chamber, thus establishing pressure equilibrium. The auxiliary 16' tubing, which opens into the auxiliary 8' chamber, is connected to the vacuum pump via the bypass 17' tubing. By gravity, the deaerated filtrate flows from the main 13' chamber to the auxiliary 8' chamber through valve C.

[0063] In the second configuration, the 15' three-way valve is in the MSA position, valve C is closed, and valve D is open. The 13' main chamber remains under vacuum, but the 8' auxiliary chamber is now open to atmospheric pressure via the 16' auxiliary tubing extending from the valve and opening into the auxiliary chamber. By gravity, the deaerated filtrate then flows from the auxiliary chamber to the outside through the second valve D.

[0064] In this application, the expression "to put into communication" is a shorthand way of meaning to put into communication for fluids, including gases or liquids.

Claims

Demands

1. Liquid-air separator (LA) balloon (3; 3'), characterized in that it comprises: - a main vacuum chamber (13; 13') having an inlet (4) for the entry of the LA mixture into the chamber, at least one outlet (6; 6-1; 6-2; 6-1, 6-2) for the liquid L, disposed at a level lower than the LA inlet, and a tube (5; 5') vacuum connection linking the main chamber to a main vacuum pump (14), disposed at a level higher than the LA inlet, - at least one auxiliary enclosure (8; 8-1; 8-2; 8-1, 8-2; 8'), arranged lower than the main enclosure, into which the liquid L enters by gravity from at least one outlet for the liquid L from the main enclosure and having an outlet (9; 9-1; 9-2; 9-1, 9-2) for the respective evacuation of the liquid L; - at least one auxiliary tube (16; 16-1; 16-2; 16-1, 16-2; 16') opening through a respective lower orifice into at least one auxiliary enclosure, and - means (15, 17; 15', 17') of communication to connect a respective upper orifice of the at least one auxiliary tube (16; 16-1; 16-2; 16-1, 16-2; 16') alternately either with the main enclosure or with the ambient atmosphere or means of creating an overpressure.

2. Separator balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that the main enclosure (13) remains in communication with the vacuum pump in both communication means configurations.

3. Separator balloon according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication means comprise a spool-type distributor (15) and a bypass tube (17) opening into the main chamber (13), preferably at a level higher than the inlet (4), the distributor (15), in a first configuration, connecting the respective upper orifice of the at least one auxiliary tube (16) with the bypass tube (17), and, in a second configuration, connecting the respective upper orifice of the to less an auxiliary tube (16) with the ambient atmosphere and closes the bypass tube (17).

4. Separator balloon according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one outlet (6; 6-1; 6-2; 6-1, 6-2) for the liquid L from the main chamber comprises a respective non-return valve (7).

5. Separator balloon according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outlet (9; 9-1; 9-2; 9-1, 9-2) for evacuating liquid L from the auxiliary chamber comprises a respective non-return valve.

6. Separator balloon according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication means comprise a three-way valve (15'), a first channel being connected to the atmosphere or to a pressure boosting system, the second channel being connected to the upper orifice of the auxiliary tubing (16') opening into the auxiliary chamber, and the third channel to a bypass tube (17') in communication with a vacuum pump, in particular the main vacuum pump, the three-way valve passing alternately between two positions, a first position, in which the second and third channels are connected together while the first channel is closed, and a second position, in which the first and second channels are connected together while the third channel is closed, so that, in the first position, the auxiliary chamber is subjected to the vacuum created by the vacuum pump, and in the second position,It is subjected to atmospheric pressure or to overpressure created by a pressure-boosting system.

7. Separator balloon according to claim 6, characterized in that a first valve (C), in particular with a pneumatic actuator, is disposed between the outlet for the liquid L of the main chamber and a liquid inlet pipe L in the auxiliary chamber and a second valve (D), in particular with a pneumatic actuator, is disposed at the outlet of the auxiliary chamber, the piloting of the valves, in particular of the pneumatic actuators, being synchronized so that in the first position of the three-way valve, the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and in the second position of the three-way valve, the first valve (C) is closed and the second valve (D) is open.

8. A separator balloon according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two auxiliary first and second chambers (8-1, 8-2), the main chamber (13) having two outlets (6-1, 6-2) for the liquid, one through which the liquid enters the first auxiliary chamber and the other through which the liquid enters the second auxiliary chamber, the two auxiliary chambers having respective first and second discharge outlets (9-1, 9-2), two auxiliary tubes (16-1, 16-2) opening through respective lower orifices into a respective auxiliary chamber, the communication means (15, 17), in a first position, connecting the upper orifice of one (16-1; 16-2) of the two auxiliary tubes (16-1, 16-2) with the main chamber and the upper orifice of the other (16-2;16-1) of the two auxiliary tubes with the ambient atmosphere or means for creating an overpressure, and, in a second position, connecting the upper orifice of the other (16-2; 16-1) of the two auxiliary tubes with the main enclosure and the upper orifice of said one (16-1; 16-2) of the two auxiliary tubes with the ambient atmosphere or means for creating an overpressure.;

9. Separator balloon according to claim 8, characterized in that the communication means comprise a spool-type distributor (15) and a bypass tube (17) opening into the main chamber (13) which, in a first configuration, connects the upper orifice of one (16-1) of the two auxiliary tubes (16-1, 16-2) with the bypass tube (17) and the upper orifice of the other (16-2) of the two auxiliary tubes (16-1, 16-2) with the ambient atmosphere or overpressure generation means, and, in a second configuration, connects the upper orifice of the other (16-2) of the two auxiliary tubes (16-1, 16-2) with the bypass tube (17) and the upper orifice of said one (16-1) of the two tubes (16-1, 16-2) auxiliaries with the ambient atmosphere or means of creating overpressure.

10. Separating balloon according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume of the auxiliary chamber or of each auxiliary chamber is smaller than the volume of the chamber main, in particular at least twice as small, for example 2 to 5 times smaller.

11. LA separation installation comprising a separation tank according to one of the preceding claims and at least one vacuum pump (14) arranged to create a vacuum in the main enclosure of the separation tank.

12. Installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the vacuum pump creates a depression of at least 200 millibars, in particular between 200 and 500 millibars and has a height of less than 5 meters, in particular less than three meters.

13. Liquid-solid filtration installation LS comprising a filter LS (1), at least one vacuum pump creating a vacuum to draw the liquid L through the filter (1) while the solid remains on top of the filter in the form of a cake, the aspirated liquid-air mixture passing into a flask 3; 3') separator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the liquid exiting the auxiliary enclosure or each auxiliary enclosure being received into a reservoir from which it is drawn for further use, the vacuum created by the vacuum pump being at least 200 millibars, in particular between 200 and 500 millibars, and the difference between the height of the drawing point in the reservoir for further use and the height of the filter is less than 9 meters, in particular less than 5 meters, even more preferably less than 4 meters.

14. A method for deaerating a filtrate from a solid-liquid vacuum filter, wherein, successively in time, the filtrate is deaerated by vacuum in a first chamber (13; 13'), the deaerated filtrate is sent by gravity into at least a second chamber (8; 8-1; 8-2; 8-1, 8-2) under vacuum; at least a second chamber (8; 8-1; 8-2; 8-1, 8-2) is brought to atmospheric pressure; and the deaerated filtrate is evacuated from the second chamber (8; 8-1; 8-2; 8-1, 8-2).

15. Installation according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it comprises an automated system (200) for control and / or monitoring, as well as for collecting data relating to the industrial process.

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