Centrifugal Separator Cleaning In Place System Using Eductor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning in place (CIP) systems for centrifugal separators are dependent on external pressure sources or require expensive separate electric pumps, making them cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
The CIP system utilizes the flow of fluid from the centrifugal separator outlet pump to drive the pumping of cleaning fluid from a container to the separator inlet via an eductor, eliminating the need for external pressure sources and separate electric pumps, and includes a constant pressure valve to regulate pressure and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate electric centrifugal pump is mounted to the container for pumping cleaning fluid, then the cleaning fluid can be pumped towards the inlet of a centrifugal separator, but the CIP system becomes heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The CIP system uses the outlet pump of the centrifugal separator to provide the driving force for cleaning fluid circulation. The outlet pump serves dual purposes: product discharge and cleaning fluid circulation drive, eliminating the need for a separate electric pump and reducing system weight
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet pump is made multi-functional by using it for both product discharge during normal operation and as the driving pump for cleaning fluid circulation during CIP operation, thereby eliminating the need for additional pumping equipment
2Ease of operation
If compressed air is supplied to the closed container from a pressure source to pump cleaning liquid, then cleaning liquid can be pumped towards the inlet of a centrifugal separator, but the procedure of cleaning is dependent on the availability of such a pressure source
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own outlet pump to generate the necessary pressure and flow for cleaning fluid circulation, making the CIP system self-sufficient and independent of external compressed air sources or additional pressure equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The dependency on external compressed air pressure sources is removed by extracting the pumping function from external sources and integrating it into the separator's own outlet pump, making the system self-contained
3Ease of operation
If a separate electric centrifugal pump is mounted to the container, then cleaning fluid can be pumped towards the inlet of a centrifugal separator, but the CIP system becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet pump serves multiple functions including product discharge and cleaning fluid circulation, eliminating the need for additional expensive pumping equipment and reducing overall system manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning fluid circulation function is merged with the existing outlet pump operation, combining multiple functions into a single piece of equipment and reducing the total number of components required
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for a lightweight, cost-efficient, and easy-to-handle CIP system that can operate independently of external pressure sources, reducing manufacturing costs and improving handling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
uses the Venturi effect of a converging-diverging nozzle to convert pressure energy of the motive fluid to velocity energy which creates a low pressure zone. The low pressure zone draws in fluid from the pumping inlet
Implementation Method 2
After passing a throat of the eductor between the converging and the diverging section, the fluid expands and the velocity is reduced which results in recompressing the fluid by converting velocity energy back into pressure energy
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning in place system for a centrifugal separator and a method of cleaning a centrifugal separator are disclosed. The centrifugal separator includes a rotor having a separation space, a separator inlet and a first separator outlet. The first separator outlet includes an outlet pump configured to provide a flow of fluid from the first separator outlet. The cleaning in place system further includes a container for cleaning fluid, a cleaning fluid pump for providing cleaning fluid from the container to the separator inlet, such as an eductor. The cleaning in place system is configured to receive a flow of fluid from the first separator outlet and that the cleaning fluid pump is configured to pump cleaning fluid from the container to the separator inlet by means of the received flow of fluid.