Separation device for a venting system of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

The invention relates to a separation device (10) for a venting system (102) of an internal combustion engine (100), comprising a discharge line system (12) including one or more gas discharge lines (14a-14c) for discharging a particle-containing gas mixture discharged from a flow region (104) of an internal combustion engine (100), a primary separator (18) for separating particles from the gas mixture, and a secondary separator (20), arranged downstream of the primary separator (18) in the flow direction of the gas mixture, for separating particles from the gas mixture.

Description

[0001] Münster, December 18, 2025

[0002] Our reference number: HE1211-02WO

[0003] Official file number: New registration

[0004] Applicant: Stallion SE

[0005] Nienkamp 55-85

[0006] 48147 Münster

[0007] Separator device for a ventilation system of an internal combustion engine

[0008] The invention relates to a separator device for a ventilation system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a discharge line system with one or more gas discharge lines for removing a gas mixture containing particles that is discharged from a flow area of ​​an internal combustion engine, a primary separator for separating particles from the gas mixture and a secondary separator arranged downstream of the primary separator in the flow direction of the gas mixture for separating particles from the gas mixture.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention relates to an internal combustion engine with an intake tract, a flow area and a venting system comprising a separator device, wherein the separator device is connected to the intake tract and the flow area.

[0010] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for venting an internal combustion engine using a venting system, comprising the steps of: removing a gas mixture containing particles, which is discharged from a flow area of ​​the internal combustion engine, by means of a discharge line system of the separator device comprising one or more gas discharge lines; separating particles from the gas mixture by means of a primary separator of the separator device; and separating particles from the gas mixture by means of a secondary separator arranged downstream of the primary separator in the flow direction of the gas mixture. In an internal combustion engine with turbocharging, the recirculation of a gas mixture containing particles, which is discharged from the crankcase of the internal combustion engine, into the intake tract of the internal combustion engine can lead to damage to the turbocharger, in particular through coking of the particles in the gas mixture.To reduce the particle load of the gas mixture before it is returned to the intake tract, the crankcase ventilation system of internal combustion engines usually has a separator device through which particles are separated from the gas mixture.

[0011] Especially under high engine loads, the separation efficiency of the separator located in the crankcase ventilation system may be insufficient and / or the separation properties of the separator located in the crankcase ventilation system may be unsuitable. This is because high engine loads not only result in an increased quantity of particles, but also in a different particle size distribution. Typically, smaller particles are produced under high engine loads.

[0012] Since the separators used are typically designed for a limited particle size range, not all particle sizes can be effectively removed. Therefore, under high loads, this leads to an increased influx of particles into the intake tract and consequently to an increased risk of damage to the turbocharger.

[0013] While the use of multiple separation stages or a more efficient separator can reduce the particle input into the intake tract at high engine loads, such solutions unnecessarily impair the recirculation of the gas mixture into the intake tract at many operating points, especially at low engine loads, due to the increased flow resistance.

[0014] The object underlying the invention is therefore to enable demand-based particle separation in the crankcase ventilation system of an internal combustion engine, in particular with regard to particle quantity and / or particle size.

[0015] The problem underlying the invention is solved by a separation device of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the discharge line system of the separation device according to the invention has at least one bypass line, via which at least a part of the gas mixture can be routed past the primary separator and / or the secondary separator depending on the operating state of the combustion engine.

[0016] The inclusion of at least one bypass line enables demand-based particle separation in the ventilation system. Depending on the operating conditions of the combustion engine, the gas mixture can, for example, be routed only through the primary separator or the secondary separator. Under high engine loads, the gas mixture can first be routed through the primary separator and then through the secondary separator. The primary and secondary separators form a two-stage separation system, whereby the primary and / or secondary separator can be bypassed via the bypass line.

[0017] The primary separator and the secondary separator are preferably different separators, in particular different separator types. The primary separator is, for example, a coarse separator for comparatively large particles. The primary separator is preferably an active separator that, in addition to good separation efficiency, also minimizes the differential pressure of the entire venting system. The primary separator can, for example, be a disc separator, in particular an electrically driven disc separator, or an impactor, in particular an impact fleece impactor. The secondary separator is, for example, a fine separator for comparatively small particles. The secondary separator can, for example, be a fiber separator.

[0018] The particles can be liquid particles and / or solid particles. For example, the particles can be lubricant particles, especially oil particles. The flow area from which the gas mixture containing the particles is discharged can be, for example, the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. In this case, the gas mixture is discharged from the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the flow area can also be a cylinder head cover or a gear train of the internal combustion engine. In this case, the gas mixture is discharged from the cylinder head cover or the gear train. The ventilation system can be a crankcase ventilation system. In addition to the crankcase, the gas mixture can also be routed through other components of the internal combustion engine.

[0019] The operating condition that determines whether at least a portion of the gas mixture can bypass the primary separator and / or the secondary separator can be related to the load condition and / or the engine speed. Therefore, at least a portion of the gas mixture can be bypassed via the bypass line, depending on the engine load condition and / or the engine speed. The gas mixture bypassed by the primary separator may have previously exited the combustion engine's flow path. The gas mixture bypassed by the secondary separator may have previously exited the primary separator.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the separation device according to the invention, the discharge line system includes a primary separator bypass line through which at least a portion of the gas mixture flowing from the combustion engine's flow path can be routed around the primary separator, depending on the combustion engine's operating state. Alternatively or additionally, the discharge line system includes a secondary separator bypass line through which at least a portion of the gas mixture flowing from the primary separator can be routed around the secondary separator, depending on the combustion engine's operating state. By means of the primary separator bypass line and the secondary separator bypass line, the gas mixture can be routed through the primary separator and / or the secondary separator as needed.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the separator according to the invention has at least one bypass shut-off valve by which the bypass line can be partially or completely shut off. The separator can have a bypass shut-off valve by which the primary separator bypass line can be partially or completely shut off. Alternatively or additionally, the separator can have a bypass shut-off valve by which the secondary separator bypass line can be partially or completely shut off. The bypass shut-off valve is preferably arranged along the bypass line. By partially shutting off the bypass line, the flow resistance in the bypass line is increased, resulting in an increase in differential pressure due to the bypass shut-off valve.As a result of the increased flow resistance in the bypass line, the proportion and volume flow of the gas mixture passing through the primary or secondary separator increases, while the proportion and volume flow of the gas mixture routed around the primary or secondary separator via the bypass line decreases. Since the proportion of the gas mixture passing through the primary or secondary separator increases with an increase in flow resistance in the bypass line, the proportion of the gas mixture bypassing the primary or secondary separator and the proportion passing through the primary or secondary separator are controlled by the open or closed state of the bypass check valve.Thus, the primary separator or the secondary separator can be temporarily switched on via the bypass shut-off valve if necessary, or the proportion of the gas mixture passed through the primary separator or the secondary separator can be increased via the bypass shut-off valve if necessary.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the separation device according to the invention, the bypass check valve is designed as an automatic valve, which is configured to partially or completely block the bypass line without active control via a control signal. The automatic valve is preferably an automatic control valve. No control of the bypass check valve via a control device is required. Alternatively, the bypass check valve can be designed as a controllable valve, which is configured to partially or completely block the bypass line depending on a control signal from a control device.In this case, the separator device can have one or more sensors, for example pressure sensors, flow sensors, current sensors, temperature sensors and / or speed sensors, which can be used to detect operating parameters of the separator device and / or the venting system and / or the combustion engine, so that the bypass shut-off valve can be controlled depending on one or more sensor-detected operating parameters.

[0023] In another preferred embodiment of the separator device according to the invention, the bypass check valve is designed as a pressure valve, which is configured to partially or completely block the bypass line depending on the gas pressure prevailing upstream and / or downstream of the bypass check valve. The pressure valve is preferably a pressure regulating valve. The gas pressure prevailing downstream of the bypass check valve preferably corresponds essentially to the gas pressure in the intake manifold. The gas pressure in the intake manifold decreases with increasing engine load. The bypass check valve can be configured to partially or completely block the bypass line when the gas pressure in the intake manifold falls below a limit value.In this case, the bypass of the gas mixture flowing from the primary separator to the secondary separator is reduced or prevented, so that the secondary separator is activated at high engine loads or the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator is increased at high engine loads. Preferably, the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator increases with increasing engine load. The gas pressure prevailing upstream of the bypass valve preferably corresponds substantially to the gas pressure in the crankcase. The bypass valve preferably ensures that a negative pressure prevails in the crankcase. In another preferred embodiment, the separation device according to the invention has one or more supplementary separators for separating particles from the gas mixture.Alternatively or additionally, the separation device has one or more supplementary separator bypass lines through which at least a portion of the gas mixture can be routed around the one or more supplementary separators. Alternatively or additionally, the separation device has one or more supplementary shut-off valves through which the one or more supplementary separator bypass lines can be partially or completely shut off. The one or more supplementary separators can be designed, for example, as disc separators, impactors, or fiber separators.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment, the separator according to the invention has at least one safety valve by which a gas discharge line section connected to an outlet of the secondary separator can be partially or completely blocked. The safety valve ensures that a predetermined negative pressure is not undershot in the crankcase, even if a lower pressure level prevails in the intake manifold. Such conditions can occur, for example, if the intake filter in the intake manifold itself generates a very high differential pressure due to icing.

[0025] The separator device according to the invention is further advantageously developed in that the discharge line system has a connection section in which the bypass line opens into a gas discharge line section connected to an outlet of the secondary separator. In the connection section, the gas mixture from the bypass line is combined with the gas mixture coming from the secondary separator. The combined gas mixture can then be introduced into the intake tract.

[0026] Furthermore, a separator device according to the invention is preferred in which the safety valve is arranged between the secondary separator and the connection area and / or upstream of the connection area in the direction of gas mixture flow. Alternatively, the safety valve is arranged downstream of the connection area in the direction of gas mixture flow. By arranging the safety valve between the secondary separator and the connection area, upstream of the connection area in the direction of gas mixture flow, or downstream of the connection area in the direction of gas mixture flow, it can be ensured that a predetermined vacuum is not undershot in the crankcase, even if a lower pressure level prevails in the intake manifold.

[0027] Furthermore, a separation device is advantageous in which the safety valve is arranged between the primary and secondary separators and / or downstream of the primary separator and / or upstream of the secondary separator in the direction of gas mixture flow. Alternatively, the safety valve can be arranged upstream of the primary separator in the direction of gas mixture flow. If the safety valve is arranged between the primary and secondary separators, it can be positioned upstream or downstream of the bypass branch in the direction of gas mixture flow.

[0028] The safety valve can be located in the line parallel to the bypass line, with the bypass shut-off valve installed therein. Alternatively, the safety valve can be located in the unbranched part of the discharge line system, i.e., upstream or downstream of the bypass line.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment, the separation device according to the invention has one or more particle return lines for returning the particles separated from the gas mixture by the primary separator and the secondary separator to the internal combustion engine, in particular to the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. The particles separated from the gas mixture by the primary separator can be routed separately from the particles separated from the gas mixture by the secondary separator back into the crankcase of the internal combustion engine via the one or more particle return lines. Alternatively, the particles separated from the gas mixture by the primary separator and the particles separated from the gas mixture by the secondary separator are combined via the one or more particle return lines and routed together back into the crankcase of the internal combustion engine.

[0030] The separator device according to the invention is further advantageously developed in that the primary separator is located in a first separator housing and the secondary separator is located in a second separator housing. The first separator housing and the second separator housing can be directly connected to each other. The first separator housing and the second separator housing can be spaced apart from each other and / or connected to each other via one or more lines. The bypass check valve can be arranged in the first separator housing or the second separator housing. The bypass line can run partially or completely within the first separator housing and / or partially or completely within the second separator housing.

[0031] In a further preferred embodiment of the separator device according to the invention, the primary separator and the secondary separator are located in a common separator housing. In this case, the bypass check valve can be located in the common separator housing. The bypass line can run partially or completely within the common separator housing.

[0032] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by an internal combustion engine of the type mentioned above, in particular having a turbocharger, wherein the separator device of the internal combustion engine according to the invention is designed according to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the internal combustion engine according to the invention, reference is therefore first made to the advantages and modifications of the separator device according to the invention.

[0033] The flow path to which the separator is connected can be the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. In this case, the gas mixture is thus discharged from the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the flow path can be a cylinder head cover or a gear train of the internal combustion engine.

[0034] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein, within the framework of the method according to the invention, at least a portion of the gas mixture is routed past the primary separator and / or the secondary separator by means of at least one bypass line of the discharge line system, depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The method is preferably used to vent a crankcase of an internal combustion engine by means of a venting system according to one of the embodiments described above. The gas mixture routed past the primary separator may first flow out of the flow area of ​​the internal combustion engine. The gas mixture routed past the secondary separator may first flow out of the primary separator.

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a separator device according to the invention having a bypass shut-off valve;

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a separator device according to the invention comprising a bypass shut-off valve and a safety valve;

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a further separation device according to the invention comprising a bypass shut-off valve and a safety valve;

[0039] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a further separation device according to the invention comprising a bypass shut-off valve and a safety valve; Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a further separation device according to the invention comprising a bypass shut-off valve and a safety valve;

[0040] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a further separation device according to the invention comprising a bypass shut-off valve and a safety valve;

[0041] Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a further separation device according to the invention comprising a bypass shut-off valve and a safety valve;

[0042] Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a separator device according to the invention having a bypass shut-off valve; and

[0043] Fig. 9 shows the dependence of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator of a separation device according to the invention on the load condition of the internal combustion engine in a diagrammatic representation.

[0044] Fig. 1 shows an internal combustion engine 100 with a ventilation system 102 for venting the flow area 104, wherein the flow area 104 is located in the crankcase of the internal combustion engine 100. Consequently, the ventilation system 102 is a crankcase ventilation system.

[0045] The internal combustion engine 100 comprises an intake tract 106 with an air filter 108 and a turbocharger 110. The ventilation system 102 has a separator 10 which is connected to both the intake tract 106 and the flow area 104 in the crankcase.

[0046] The separator 10 serves to separate particles, specifically oil particles. The separator 10 has a discharge line system 12 for removing the gas mixture containing particles that is discharged from the crankcase of the internal combustion engine 100. The gas discharge line 14a is connected to an outlet of the crankcase and serves to direct the gas mixture to a primary separator 18. The gas mixture flowing out of the primary separator 18 can be directed via the gas discharge line 14b to a secondary separator 20 located downstream of the primary separator 18 in the direction of gas flow. The gas mixture exiting the secondary separator 20 can be returned to the intake manifold 106 of the internal combustion engine 10 via the gas discharge line 14c. The primary separator 18 and the secondary separator 20 serve to separate particles from the gas mixture.

[0047] The discharge line system 12 further comprises a bypass line 16, through which at least a portion of the gas mixture can be diverted past the secondary separator 20, depending on the operating state of the combustion engine 100. The bypass line 16 enables demand-based particle separation in the ventilation system 102.

[0048] The primary separator 18 and the secondary separator 20 form a two-stage separation system. The primary separator 18 is a coarse separator for relatively large particles, while the secondary separator 20 is a fine separator for relatively small particles. The primary separator 18 is an active separator, for example, a disc separator. The secondary separator 20 is, for example, a fiber separator.

[0049] A bypass shut-off valve 24 is arranged along the bypass line 16, allowing the bypass line 16 to be partially or completely shut off. Since the proportion of the gas mixture passing through the secondary separator 20 increases with an increase in flow resistance in the bypass line 16, the proportion of the gas mixture bypassing the secondary separator 20 and the proportion passing through the secondary separator 20 are controlled by the open or closed state of the bypass shut-off valve 24. Thus, the secondary separator 20 is temporarily activated via the bypass shut-off valve 24 as needed. The proportion of the gas mixture passing through the secondary separator 20 can therefore be increased via the bypass shut-off valve 24 as required.

[0050] The bypass check valve 24 is designed as a self-acting pressure valve, which is configured to partially or completely block the bypass line 16 without active control via a control signal. The bypass check valve 24 blocks the bypass line 16 depending on the gas pressure prevailing upstream and downstream of the bypass check valve 24. The bypass check valve is a pressure regulating valve.

[0051] The bypass line 16 opens into the gas discharge line section 14c, which is connected to the outlet of the secondary separator 20, in a connecting section 22. In the connecting section 22, the gas mixture from the bypass line 16 is combined with the gas mixture coming from the secondary separator 20 and from there returned to the intake manifold 106. The gas pressure prevailing downstream of the bypass shut-off valve 24 preferably corresponds substantially to the gas pressure in the intake manifold 106. The gas pressure in the intake manifold 106 decreases with increasing engine load. The bypass shut-off valve 24 is designed to partially or completely close the bypass line 16 when the gas pressure in the intake manifold 106 falls below a limit value.In this case, the bypass of the gas mixture flowing from the primary separator 18 to the secondary separator 20 is reduced or prevented, so that the secondary separator 20 is activated at high engine loads and the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator 20 is increased at high engine loads. Thus, the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator 20 increases with increasing engine load.

[0052] The separation device 10 further comprises particle return lines 28, 30 for returning the particles separated from the gas mixture by means of the primary separator 18 and the secondary separator 20 to the crankcase of the internal combustion engine 100.

[0053] In the internal combustion engine 100 shown in Fig. 2, a safety valve 26 is additionally located in the exhaust line system 12. The gas exhaust line section 14c, which is connected to an outlet of the secondary separator 20, can be partially or completely blocked via the safety valve 26. The safety valve 26 ensures that a predetermined vacuum is not undershot in the crankcase, even if a lower pressure level prevails in the intake manifold 106.

[0054] The safety valve 26 is located between the secondary separator 20 and the connection area 22 and thus, in the direction of flow of the gas mixture, behind the secondary separator 20 and in front of the connection area 22.

[0055] In the internal combustion engine 100 shown in Fig. 3, the safety valve 26 is located downstream of the connection area 22 in the direction of gas mixture flow. This arrangement of the safety valve 26 also ensures that a predetermined vacuum is not undershot in the crankcase if a lower pressure level prevails in the intake tract 106.

[0056] In the combustion engine 100 shown in Fig. 4, the safety valve 26 is located between the primary separator 18 and the secondary separator 20, and thus, in the direction of gas mixture flow, downstream of the primary separator 18 and upstream of the secondary separator 20. The safety valve 26 is located downstream of the branch of the bypass line 16 in the direction of gas mixture flow.

[0057] In the combustion engine 100 shown in Fig. 5, the safety valve 26 is also located between the primary separator 18 and the secondary separator 20, and thus, in the direction of gas mixture flow, downstream of the primary separator 18 and upstream of the secondary separator 20. However, in this embodiment, the safety valve 26 is arranged upstream of the branch of the bypass line 16 in the direction of gas mixture flow.

[0058] In the internal combustion engine 100 shown in Fig. 6, the safety valve 26 is located upstream of the primary separator 18 in the direction of flow of the gas mixture. This arrangement of the safety valve 26 also ensures that a predetermined vacuum is not undershot in the crankcase, even if a lower pressure level prevails in the intake tract 106.

[0059] In the combustion engine 100 shown in Fig. 7, the exhaust system 12 has a bypass line 32 through which at least a portion of the gas mixture can be routed past the primary separator 18, depending on the operating state of the combustion engine 100. The separator device 10 includes a bypass shut-off valve 34, by which the bypass line 32 can be partially or completely shut off. The bypass valve 34 is an automatic valve designed to partially or completely shut off the bypass line 32 without active control via a control signal. The bypass shut-off valve 34 is a pressure valve designed to partially or completely shut off the bypass line 32 depending on the gas pressure prevailing upstream and downstream of the bypass shut-off valve 34. The bypass shut-off valve 34 is a pressure regulating valve.

[0060] Fig. 8 shows an internal combustion engine 100, whose separator 10 is designed similarly to the separator 10 shown in Fig. 1. Unlike the separator 10 shown in Fig. 1, the particles separated from the gas mixture by the primary separator 18 and the particles separated from the gas mixture by the secondary separator 20 are first combined and then conveyed together back into the crankcase of the internal combustion engine 100 via the particle return line 36.

[0061] Figure 9 shows the achievable engine torques M at the possible engine speeds U in relation to the proportions of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator 20 of a separation device 10. The diagram shows that the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator depends on the load condition of the internal combustion engine. The proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator increases with increasing engine load.

[0062] At a medium engine load, the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator 20 is still 30%. With increasing engine load, i.e., increasing engine torque M and / or increasing engine speed II, the proportion of the gas mixture flowing through the secondary separator 20 increases further and can exceed 95% or even reach 100% at very high engine loads. When 100% of the gas mixture flows through the secondary separator 20, the bypass line 16, through which the secondary separator 20 can be bypassed, is completely blocked by the bypass shut-off valve 24.

[0063] 10 Separation device

[0064] 12 Drainage system

[0065] 14a-14c Gas discharge pipes

[0066] 16 Bypass line

[0067] 18 primary separators

[0068] 20 secondary separators

[0069] 22 Connection area

[0070] 24 Bypass shut-off valve

[0071] 26 Safety valve

[0072] 28 Particle recirculation line

[0073] 30 Particle return line

[0074] 32 Bypass line

[0075] 34 Bypass shut-off valve

[0076] 36 Particle return line

[0077] 100 internal combustion engine

[0078] 102 Ventilation system

[0079] 104 Flow area

[0080] 106 Intake tract

[0081] 108 Air filters

[0082] 110 turbochargers

[0083] M engine torque

[0084] U Motor speed

Claims

Claims 1. Separator device (10) for a ventilation system (102) of an internal combustion engine (100), with a discharge line system (12) comprising one or more gas discharge lines (14a-14c) for discharging a gas mixture containing particles that is discharged from a flow area (104) of an internal combustion engine (100); a primary separator (18) for separating particles from the gas mixture; and a secondary separator (20) arranged downstream of the primary separator (18) in the direction of flow of the gas mixture for separating particles from the gas mixture; characterized in that the discharge line system (12) has at least one bypass line (16, 32) via which at least a part of the gas mixture can be routed past the primary separator (18) and / or the secondary separator (20) depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine (100).

2. Separation device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge line system (12) a primary separator bypass line (16) through which at least a part of the gas mixture flowing out of the flow area (104) of the internal combustion engine (100) can be routed past the primary separator (18) depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine (100); and / or a secondary separator bypass line (32) through which at least a part of the gas mixture flowing out of the primary separator (18) can be routed past the secondary separator (20) depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine (100).

3. Separation device (10) according to claim 2, characterized by at least one bypass shut-off valve (24, 34) by which the bypass line (16, 32) can be partially or completely shut off.

4. Separation device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the bypass shut-off valve (24, 34) is designed as a self-acting valve which is configured to partially or completely block the bypass line (16, 32) without active control via a control signal.

5. Separation device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the bypass shut-off valve (24, 34) is designed as a pressure valve which is configured to partially or completely shut off the bypass line (16, 32) depending on a gas pressure prevailing before or / or after the bypass shut-off valve (24, 34).

6. Separation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by one or more supplementary separators for separating particles from the gas mixture; and / or one or more supplementary separator bypass lines, through which at least a portion of the gas mixture can be routed past the one or more supplementary separators; and / or one or more supplementary shut-off valves, via which one or more supplementary separator bypass lines can be partially or completely shut off.

7. Separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one safety valve (26) by which a gas discharge line section (14c) connected to an outlet of the secondary separator (20) can be partially or completely blocked.

8. Separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge line system (12) has a connection area (22) in which the bypass line (16, 32) opens into a gas discharge line section (14c) connected to an outlet of the secondary separator (20).

9. Separation device (10) according to claims 7 and 8, characterized by the fact that the safety valve (26) between the secondary separator (20) and the connection area (22) and / or in the direction of flow of the gas mixture upstream of the connection area (22); or in the direction of flow of the gas mixture downstream of the connection area (22).

10. Separation device (10) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the safety valve (26) between the primary separator (18) and the secondary separator (20) and / or in the flow direction of the gas mixture downstream of the primary separator (18) and / or upstream of the secondary separator (20); or is arranged in the direction of flow of the gas mixture upstream of the primary separator (18).

11. Separation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by one or more particle return lines (28, 30, 36) for returning the particles separated from the gas mixture by means of the primary separator (18) and the secondary separator (20) to the internal combustion engine (100), in particular to the crankcase of the internal combustion engine (100).

12. Separation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,- 21 - characterized in that the primary separator (18) is located in a first separator housing and the secondary separator (20) is located in a second separator housing.

13. Separation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the primary separator (18) and the secondary separator (20) are located in a common separator housing.

14. Internal combustion engine (100), with an intake tract (106); a flow area (104); and a venting system (102) comprising a separator device (10), wherein the separator device (10) is connected to the intake tract (106) and the flow area (104); characterized in that the separating device (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

15. Method for venting an internal combustion engine (100), in particular a crankcase of an internal combustion engine (100), by means of a venting system (102), in particular a venting system (102) with a separator device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps: Discharge of a gas mixture containing particles, which is discharged from a flow area (104) of the internal combustion engine (100), by means of a discharge line system (12) comprising one or more gas discharge lines (14a-14c) of the separator (10); Separation of particles from the gas mixture by means of a primary separator (18) of the separation device (10); and separation of particles from the gas mixture by means of a secondary separator (20) arranged downstream of the primary separator (18) in the direction of flow of the gas mixture; characterized by the step; - Bypassing at least part of the gas mixture at the primary separator (18) and / or at the secondary separator (20) depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine (100) by means of at least one bypass line (16, 32) of the discharge line system (12).

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