The present invention provides a method for citrus fruit processing comprising the steps of introducing liquid citrus fruit material to be processed via an inlet to a centrifugal separator being mechanically hermetically sealed at the inlet and at the liquid outlets; separating the citrus fruit material in the separator to obtain at least a liquid heavy phase and a liquid light phase, wherein the density of the liquid heavy phase is higher than the density of the liquid light phase; discharging the liquid heavy phase via a liquid heavy phase outlet and the liquid light phase via a liquid light phase outlet of the separator; measuring at least one parameter of the discharged liquid heavy phase and/or liquid light phase, wherein the parameter is related to a concentration of the heavy phase in the liquid light phase, or vice versa; and adjusting the counter pressure of the liquid heavy phase outlet with respect to the liquid light phase outlet, or vice versa, based on the measurement in step d) so as to control the concentration of the heavy phase in the liquid light phase, or vice versa, discharged from the separator. The present invention further provides a system for performing the method.

The present invention provides a method for citrus fruit processing comprising the steps of introducing liquid citrus fruit material to be processed via an inlet to a centrifugal separator being mechanically hermetically sealed at the inlet and at the liquid outlets; separating the citrus fruit material in the separator to obtain at least a liquid heavy phase and a liquid light phase, wherein the density of the liquid heavy phase is higher than the density of the liquid light phase; discharging the liquid heavy phase via a liquid heavy phase outlet and the liquid light phase via a liquid light phase outlet of the separator; measuring at least one parameter of the discharged liquid heavy phase and/or liquid light phase, wherein the parameter is related to a concentration of the heavy phase in the liquid light phase, or vice versa; and adjusting the counter pressure of the liquid heavy phase outlet with respect to the liquid light phase outlet, or vice versa, based on the measurement in step d) so as to control the concentration of the heavy phase in the liquid light phase, or vice versa, discharged from the separator. The present invention further provides a system for performing the method.

Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.

A method for clarifying a flowable starting product of solids using a self-emptying centrifuge in continuous operation in a centrifugal field in the rotating drum. A continuous draining of at least one clarified liquid phase occurs and solids emptying occurs repeatedly via outlet openings that are intermittently opened and closed. The emptying of solids from the drum of the centrifuge is initiated, the speed of the drum of the centrifuge is reduced, the solids are emptied from the solids collection chamber of the drum after lowering the speed of the drum, and the emptying of the solids from the drum is ended.

A method for clarifying a flowable starting product of solids using a self-emptying centrifuge in continuous operation in a centrifugal field in the rotating drum. A continuous draining of at least one clarified liquid phase occurs and solids emptying occurs repeatedly via outlet openings that are intermittently opened and closed. The emptying of solids from the drum of the centrifuge is initiated, the speed of the drum of the centrifuge is reduced, the solids are emptied from the solids collection chamber of the drum after lowering the speed of the drum, and the emptying of the solids from the drum is ended.

A separator includes a first piston and a second piston both mounted within a drum assembly volume. The first piston is moveable between a first piston open position and a first piston closed position. In the first piston open position drum ejection passages of the drum assembly are open to the drum assembly volume, while in the first piston closed position the first piston blocks the drum ejection passages so that they are closed to the drum assembly volume. A number of intermediate ejection paths are formed in the separator, each extending from an intermediate ejection path inlet at an intermediate region of the drum assembly volume to an intermediate ejection path outlet. The second piston is moveable to alternately open or close the intermediate ejection paths to the drum assembly volume.

A separator includes a first piston and a second piston both mounted within a drum assembly volume. The first piston is moveable between a first piston open position and a first piston closed position. In the first piston open position drum ejection passages of the drum assembly are open to the drum assembly volume, while in the first piston closed position the first piston blocks the drum ejection passages so that they are closed to the drum assembly volume. A number of intermediate ejection paths are formed in the separator, each extending from an intermediate ejection path inlet at an intermediate region of the drum assembly volume to an intermediate ejection path outlet. The second piston is moveable to alternately open or close the intermediate ejection paths to the drum assembly volume.

A centrifugal separator for separating a liquid heavy phase and light phase from a liquid feed mixture includes a drive member and a rotating part. The rotating part includes a centrifuge rotor enclosing a separation space and a sludge space. The centrifugal separator includes an inlet for receiving the liquid feed mixture into the centrifuge rotor, a first outlet for the liquid heavy phase and a second outlet for the liquid light phase. The centrifugal separator includes a conduit system for recirculating separated liquid heavy phase discharged from a first outlet to the sludge space within the centrifuge rotor without mixing the recirculated separated liquid heavy phase with the liquid feed mixture. Sludge outlets, other than the first and second outlets, discharge sludge separated from said liquid feed mixture. A method for separating a liquid heavy phase and a liquid light phase from a liquid feed mixture is also disclosed.

A centrifugal separator for separating a liquid heavy phase and light phase from a liquid feed mixture includes a drive member and a rotating part. The rotating part includes a centrifuge rotor enclosing a separation space and a sludge space. The centrifugal separator includes an inlet for receiving the liquid feed mixture into the centrifuge rotor, a first outlet for the liquid heavy phase and a second outlet for the liquid light phase. The centrifugal separator includes a conduit system for recirculating separated liquid heavy phase discharged from a first outlet to the sludge space within the centrifuge rotor without mixing the recirculated separated liquid heavy phase with the liquid feed mixture. Sludge outlets, other than the first and second outlets, discharge sludge separated from said liquid feed mixture. A method for separating a liquid heavy phase and a liquid light phase from a liquid feed mixture is also disclosed.

Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.