A method is provided for controlling separation of solid and liquid phases in a centrifugal basket of a centrifugal. The method includes the steps of monitoring at least associated values of the rotational speed of the centrifugal basket and a purging of the liquid phase from the centrifugal basket, wherein the purging of the liquid phase from the centrifugal basket is monitored using an accelerometer, determining a safe temporal range within which temporal range a wash water can be safely applied to the content of the centrifugal basket, and applying a wash water to the content of the centrifugal basket during at least a portion of the safe temporal range. A computer program product and a centrifugal system are provided for carrying out the method.

The present invention relates to an integrated apparatus for monitoring the separation of the solid and liquid phases in a centrifugal by measuring at least one parameter of a filling material inside a centrifugal, the integrated apparatus comprising at least one light source for illuminating at least part of a surface of the filling material, and a light detector arrangement being a adapted to receive light reflected from the filling material. The present invention also relates to an associated method for monitoring and controlling separation of solid and liquid phases in a centrifugal.

A loading apparatus and system is adapted to load unprocessed sample containers in a centrifuge and provide improved balance thereof. The apparatus has a staging platform containing at least two bucket inserts, a weight scale operable to determine a combined weight of each of the bucket inserts, a centrifuge configured to receive the bucket inserts as pairs, a robot operable to insert an unprocessed sample container into the bucket inserts, and a controller operable to command the robot to carry out placement of the unprocessed sample container into a highest priority empty receptacle of a lowest combined weight bucket insert. Methods of operating the system are provided.

A separator (1) for removing contaminants from a liquid, the separator comprising a rotatably mounted chamber (2) arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation, and the separator further comprising an inlet (23) for liquid to enter the chamber and an outlet (33) for liquid to leave the chamber, and wherein the inlet is at a greater radial position from the axis of rotation as compared to the outlet, and further wherein the flow of liquid into the chamber arranged to cause the chamber to rotate, and a thickness of contaminant sludge cake (30) caused to accumulate on an inner wall of the chamber.

A system for processing solid and liquid waste includes a first shale shaker, a second shale shaker, a submersible pump, a centrifugal pump, a first collection tank, a second collection tank, a mud cleaner assembly, a variable frequency drive (VFD) centrifugal solid-liquid separator, and a water clarifying assembly. The first shale shaker is in fluid communication with the second shale shaker through the submersible pump. The second shale shaker is in fluid communication with the centrifugal pump through the first collection tank. The centrifugal pump is in fluid communication with the mud cleaner assembly. The mud cleaner assembly is in fluid communication with the VFD centrifugal solid-liquid separator through the water clarifying assembly. Resultantly, the system discharges a flow of usable water through the VFD centrifugal solid-liquid separator as an initial load of solid and liquid waste is inputted into the first shale shaker.

A centrifugal separator for separating a fluid mixture into components, including a non-rotating part, a rotor which is attached to a shaft which is rotatably supported in the non-rotating part around a rotational axis, which rotor forms within itself a separation space delimited by a rotor wall. The separator includes an inlet extending into the rotor for supply of a fluid mixture to be separated in the separation space, at least one sensor measuring unbalance conditions in the frame; a level determining arrangement including two or more space defining elements of arbitrary form arranged on the interior surface of, or close to, the rotor wall, where each space defining element defines a space which communicates with the separation space or another of the space defining elements through at least one inlet opening arranged at a certain radius from the rotational axis and not outside that radius and where that certain radii of the space defining elements are different. Methods for determining when a predetermined amount of heavy phase fluid (purification) or sludge (clarification) has been separated are also disclosed. The separator and methods make it possible to determine when the level of separated heavy phase fluid or sludge is high enough for emptying or discharge of the separator.

A system for automatically processing a biological specimen is provided that includes an elevator comprising a plurality of shelves configured to receive a plurality of sample trays. The trays may comprise a plurality of sample containers containing a sample and having a plurality of respective caps engaged therewith. The trays may further include a plurality of centrifuge tube racks each containing a plurality of centrifuge tubes. The system may include a first transport mechanism, a second transport mechanism and a third transport mechanism. The system may include a chain-of-custody device configured to read identifiers on each of the containers. The system may also include a pipetting device configured to remove a portion from the sample containers and dispense the sample into the centrifuge tubes.

A rotor is mounted in a stationary casing of a centrifugal separator. An electrical rotation sensor with a first electric coil mounted on the rotor and a second electric coil, connectable to a power source and mounted on the casing, is provided. A processor associated with the second coil detects voltage oscillation induced in the second coil when the rotor rotates to calculate and display rotor speed. The first coil is connected in a circuit including electrodes exposed to the interior of the rotor at a predetermined position. The voltage across the second coil changes when the electrodes are contacted by accumulated material in the interior of the rotor. This change is detected to provide an indication that cleaning of the rotor is required. A permanent magnet is mounted on the rotor and causes automatic charging of the battery via the stator coil when the rotor rotates.

A centrifuge for separating, in a massecuite, a quantity of sugar crystals from a syrup, the centrifuge including at least: a centrifuge basket into which the massecuite is intended to be introduced, and which has a peripheral wall; a measurement device including at least one light source designed to illuminate the peripheral wall over at least 90% of its height; and a photodetection system designed to detect light reflected by the peripheral wall over at least 90% of its height and to deliver photodetection measurements which are representative of the massecuite accumulating on the peripheral wall or of the peripheral wall itself; and a processing unit connected to the measurement device and designed to continuously process the photodetection measurements in real time.