SEPARATOR INSERT AND SEPARATOR

Abstract

A separator insert for a separator includes a housing that is stationary during operation and is a container that is closed apart from multiple openings. These openings include a supply opening for an in-flowing suspension in a first axial boundary wall of the housing, two outlets for flowable phases of differing densities in an outer casing of the housing, and a recirculation inlet in a second axial boundary wall of the housing. A rotor within the housing can rotate about an axis of rotation and has a drum, which has multiple openings. A separator is arranged in the drum. At least two rotor units for magnetic bearing units are arranged at two axially spaced-apart points on the rotor with the drum, with which the rotor with the drum can be held in a suspended state, can be rotationally mounted and can be made to rotate within the housing during operation.

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. A separator insert for a separator configured to separate a flowable suspension into at least at light and a heavy phase of different density in a centrifugal field, the separator insert comprising: a) a housing, which is stationary during operation, wherein the housing is a container that is closed except for a supply opening in a first axial boundary wall of the housing and configured to receive an inflowing suspension; two outlets in an outer casing of the housing and configured to output the light and heavy phases; and a recirculation inlet in a second axial boundary wall of the housing; b) a rotor, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, arranged within the housing, wherein the rotor comprises a drum, which has multiple openings comprising one or more first and one or more second openings of configured as free radial outlets for the light and the heavy phase into the housing; and two further opening at two axial ends of the drum into each of which a feed pipe extends, wherein the feed pipe does not touch the drum; c) a separator arranged in the drum; and d) at least two rotor units arranged at two axially spaced-apart points on the rotor, wherein the at least two rotor units are respectively part of a corresponding magnetic bearing device, and wherein the at least two rotor units are configured to hold the rotor in a suspended state, to rotatably mount the rotor, and to rotate the rotor within the housing during operation of the separator.

28. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the separator insert is a pre-assembled, exchangeable unit configured for insertion into a frame of the separator.

29. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the housing and the drum are made entirely or predominantly of plastic or a plastic composite material.

30. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the at least two rotor units are arranged at the two axial ends of the drum, and each of the feed pipes passes axially through one of the at least two rotor units.

31. The separator insert of claim 30, wherein one or both of the magnetic bearing devices are configured to rotate and adjust a speed of the drum, and one or both of the magnetic bearing devices are configured to act in a radially and axially bearing manner and to maintain the rotor suspended in the drum at a distance from the drum during operation of the separator.

32. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein each of the two outlets is associated with a respective trapping ring chamber of the housing.

33. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the two outlets are arranged radially or tangentially on the housing.

34. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the supply opening is formed by first one of the feed pipes, which is non-rotatable, which projects with one end out of the housing to a first side with vertical alignment of the axis of rotation upwards, and outwards, and which extends through the first axial boundary wall and through one of the magnetic bearing devices axially into the drum, but does not touch the drum.

35. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein a first one of the feed pipes passes through the housing concentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotor, then extends axially further within the housing into the drum and ends there with its other end, which is a free outlet end, in front of or in a distributor, wherein the distributor is arranged in the drum and rotates with the drum, and wherein the distributor is configured to conduct the suspension into the centrifugal chamber.

36. The separator insert of claim 32, wherein the drum has at least two sections of different diameter, and wherein, in order to discharge the output the light and heavy phases of differing density from the drum in the sections of different diameter, at least one or more outlets are provided in each case in an outer casing of the drum, wherein the at least one or more outlets each have one or more nozzle-like openings in the outer casing of the drum outer casing forming the at least one or more outlets into the respective trapping ring chambers.

37. The separator insert of claim 32, wherein a respective one of the two outlets for the respective light or heavy phase is formed at a lowest point of the respective trapping ring chamber.

38. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein a discharge line with a pump is configured to convey the light or heavy phase emerging from one of the two outlets away from the housing, and wherein a branch line opens into the recirculation inlet to form a recirculation line configured to return the light or the heavy phase to the drum.

39. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the pump is configured to recirculate the light or heavy phase into the drum.

40. The separator insert of claim 35, wherein the recirculation inlet comprises a second one of the feed pipes passing through a second axial boundary wall of the housing and opening into a second distributor in the drum, wherein the second distributor does not rotate with the drum.

41. The separator insert of claim 27, further comprising: a controllable regulating valve configured to shut off, open completely, or open partially the recirculation inlet.

42. The separator insert of claim 27, further comprising: at least one measuring device configured to determine a parameter of the light phase or the heavy phase.

43. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the separator is a stack of separator disks in the drum.

44. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein all of components of the separator insert are assembled into the pre-assembled unit, wherein all of product-contacting elements of the separator insert are made of plastic or other non-magnetic material.

45. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the feed pipes and the two outlets project outwardly from the housing as nozzles that are connected to the housing in a sealed manner or are formed integrally with the housing.

46. The separator insert of claim 27, wherein the housing is hermetically sealed except for openings with the feed pipes and the two outlets.

47. A separator configured to separate a flowable suspension into at least at light and a heavy phase of different density in a centrifugal field, the separator comprising: a frame; and a separator insert exchangeably arranged on the frame, wherein the separator insert comprises a) a housing, which is stationary during operation, wherein the housing is a container that is closed except for a supply opening in a first axial boundary wall of the housing and configured to receive an inflowing suspension; two outlets in an outer casing of the housing and configured to output the light and heavy phases; and a recirculation inlet in a second axial boundary wall of the housing; b) a rotor, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, arranged within the housing, wherein the rotor comprises a drum, which has multiple openings comprising one or more first and one or more second openings of configured as free radial outlets for the light and the heavy phase into the housing; and two further opening at two axial ends of the drum into each of which a feed pipe extends, wherein the feed pipe does not touch the drum; c) a separator arranged in the drum; and d) at least two rotor units arranged at two axially spaced-apart points on the rotor, wherein the at least two rotor units are respectively part of a corresponding magnetic bearing device, and wherein the at least two rotor units are configured to hold the rotor in a suspended state, to rotatably mount the rotor, and to rotate the rotor within the housing during operation of the separator.

48. The separator of claim 47, wherein the separator include spaced-apart receptacles with stator units of the bearing devices, between which the separator insert is insertable in a rotationally fixed and exchangeable manner.

49. The separator of claim 48, wherein a relative distance of the spaced-apart receptacles with the stator units of the bearing devices is adjustable in order to exchange the separator insert.

50. The separator of claim 49, wherein the separator insert is fastenable to the frame in a form-fitted or force-fitted rotationally fixed manner.

51. The separator of claim 49, wherein the housing, the spaced-apart receptacles, and the stator units, comprise corresponding form-fitting means for retaining the housing in a rotationally fixed manner on the receptacle or receptacles.

52. The separator of claim 47, further comprising: at least one measuring device configured to determine a parameter of the light phase or the heavy phase; at least one control device configured to control or regulate an amount of recirculation of the light or the heavy phase based on parameters determined by the measuring device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0049] In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, wherein further advantageous variants and designs are also discussed. It should be emphasized that the exemplary embodiments discussed below are not intended to describe the invention conclusively, but that variants and equivalents not shown are also feasible and are covered by the claims, wherein:

[0050] FIG. 1: shows a schematic, sectional view of an exchangeable separator insert of a separator together with a schematic view of a feed and discharge system and a control unit of the separator or the separator insert;

[0051] FIG. 2: shows a schematic representation of a separator with a reusable frame and an exchangeable separator insert in the manner of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 3: shows a perspective view of the exchangeable separator insert of FIGS. 1 and 2 with hose sections arranged thereon;

[0053] FIG. 4: shows a perspective view of the separator of FIG. 2 with the separator insert removed;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a separator with a reusable frame I and with an exchangeable separator insert II for centrifugal separation of a product—a suspension S—into different dense phases HP, LP.

[0055] The separator insert II is preferably designed as a prefabricated unit. In particular, the separator insert II is designed as a disposable separator insert that can be exchanged or replaced as a whole and is designed as a pre-assembled unit, which is made entirely or predominantly of plastic or plastic composite materials.

[0056] The separator insert is shown separately as an example in FIGS. 1 and 3. It can be disposed of after processing a product batch and replaced with a new separator insert II.

[0057] Such a separator can be useful and advantageous in the processing of products where it can be ruled out with a very high degree of certainty that impurities will be introduced into the product—a flowable suspension or its phases—during centrifugal processing, or where cleaning and disinfection of the separator would be very costly or not possible at all.

[0058] The frame I has a console I-1. This can—but does not have to—be mounted on a carriage I-2 with rollers I-3. Receptacles I-4 and I-5 can be arranged on the console I-1, which serve to receive and hold the separator insert II also during operation. Preferably, a first axial end of the separator insert II projects from below into the upper receptacle I-4 and a lower end of the separator insert II projects from above into the other receptacle I-5.

[0059] In the respective receptacles I-4 and I-5, respective stator units 4a, 5a of two drive and magnetic bearing devices 4 and 5 can be arranged. The control and power electronics for this can be arranged in the frame I, e.g., in the console I-1.

[0060] Here, these receptacles I-4 and I-5 protrude laterally from the console I-1 of the frame I. They can be arranged on the console I-1 in a height-adjustable manner.

[0061] Corresponding form-fitting means 41a, 41b can be formed on the receptacles I-4 and I-5 and on a housing 1 of the separator insert II, which does not rotate during operation, in order to be able to insert the separator insert II into the stator units 4a, 5a in a rotationally fixed manner. The upper and lower stator units 4a, 5a can each have axes in alignment with one another.

[0062] For changing the separator insert II, it can be provided that the two receptacles I-4 and I-5 with the stator units 4a, 5a, are arranged on the console I-1 so that they can move axially—and here also vertically by way of example—relative to one another, in particular displaceably.

[0063] In this case, for example, it can be advantageously provided that the receptacles I-4 and I-5 with the stator units 4a, 5a on the frame I can be moved axially apart and towards each other again in order to change the separator insert II, i.e., in order to be able to remove the old separator insert II from the frame I and exchange it for a new one. For this purpose, it can be further provided that the relative distance of the receptacles I-4 and I-5 with the stator units 4a, 5a of the bearing devices 4, 5 can be adjusted in order to be able to change the separator insert II.

[0064] It can further be provided that the separator insert II can be attached to the frame I in a form-fitted and/or force-fitted manner in a rotationally fixed manner. According to a particularly simple variant, the housing 1 and the stator units 4a, 5a can have corresponding form-fitting means such as projections (e.g., pins) and recesses (e.g. bores) for this purpose, in order to hold the housing 1 in a rotationally fixed manner on the stator units and thus on the frame II. The corresponding form-fitting means can also be formed directly on the frame II.

[0065] In the following, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of a preferred separator insert II is described in more detail, together with the structure of the drive and bearing system of the separator, the control system of the separator and the feed and discharge system of the separator.

[0066] According to FIG. 1, the separator insert II of the separator has a housing 1 and a rotor 2 inserted into the housing 1 and rotatable relative to the housing 1 during operation.

[0067] The rotor 2 has an axis of rotation D. This can be aligned vertically.

[0068] The rotor 2 of the separator insert II also has a rotatable drum 3. The rotor 2 is rotatably mounted at two locations axially spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of rotation by means of respective magnetic bearing devices 4, 5. Preferably, it is so mounted at its two axial ends. In this case, the separator insert has rotor units 4b, 5b of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5. In contrast, stator units 4a, 5a of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 are arranged on the frame I-1.

[0069] The magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 preferably act radially and axially and preferably hold the rotor 2 in suspension in the housing 1 at a distance from the latter.

[0070] In this context, the rotor units 4b, 5b may be formed essentially in the manner of inner rings of magnets, in particular permanent magnets, and the reusable stator units 4a, 5a may be formed essentially in the manner of outer rings for axial and radial bearing of the rotor 2 (e.g., at the top) or alternatively for rotary drive (e.g., at the bottom).

[0071] Thus, the rotor units 4b and/or 5b, as part of the separator drive, also constitute part of the rotating system or rotor. In other words, the rotor of the drive is thus a part of the drum of the centrifugal separator.

[0072] One or both of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 is/are thus preferably also used in addition as a drive device for rotating the rotor 2 with the drum 3 in the housing 1. In this case, the respective magnetic bearing device forms a combined magnetic bearing and drive device. The magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 can be designed as axial and/or radial bearings which support the drum 3 at its ends during operation in an overall cooperating axial and radial manner and hold it suspended and rotate it overall during operation.

[0073] The magnetic bearing devices 4 and 5 can have the same or largely the same basic design. In particular, only one of the two magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 can also be used as a drive device in a supplementary manner. Corresponding components of the magnetic bearings 4, 5 are thus formed in each case on the separator insert II—on its rotor 2—and other corresponding parts on the frame I. One or both stator units 4a, 5a can also be electrically connected to control and power electronics for driving the electromagnetic components of the magnetic bearing devices.

[0074] The respective magnetic bearing device 4, 5 can, for example, operate according to a combined electromagnetic and permanent-magnetic principle.

[0075] Preferably, at least the lower axially acting magnetic bearing device 5 serves to keep the rotor 2 axially suspended within the housing 1 by levitation. It can have one or more first permanent magnets, for example on the underside of the rotor, and further have electromagnets on a receptacle on the frame which coaxially surround the permanent magnet or magnets. The drive of the rotor can be achieved electromagnetically. However, a drive via rotating permanent magnets can also be realized.

[0076] Such bearing and drive devices are used, for example, by the company Levitronix for driving centrifugal pumps (EP2 273 124 B1). They can also be used within the scope of this specification. For example, a first Levitronix motor “Bottom” can be used as a drive, which at the same time magnetically supports the drum radially and axially. In addition, a second Levitronix motor—for example identical in construction except for the control in operation—can be provided, which as the magnetic bearing 4 can radially and axially support the rotor 2 at the head.

[0077] The rotor speed can be variably adjusted with the aid of a control device 37 or a separate control device for the magnetic bearings 4, 5. Likewise, the direction of rotation of the rotor 2 can be specified and changed with the control device.

[0078] During operation, the rotor 2 rotates, thus being held axially in suspension and radially centered. Preferably, the rotor 2 is operated with the drum 3 at a speed of between 1,000, preferably 5,000 to 10,000, and possibly also up to 20,000 revolutions per minute. The centrifugal forces generated as a result of the rotation lead to the separation of a suspension to be processed into different flowable phases LP, HP of different density, as already described above, and to their discharge, as described in more detail below. The product batch is processed in continuous operation, which means that the phases separated from the suspension are completely discharged from the drum again during operation.

[0079] This makes it very possible to create a separator insert and housing for a separator that can be designed for single use, which in turn is of particular interest and advantage for the processing of pharmaceutical products such as fermentation broths or the like, because, after operation for processing, a corresponding product batch in preferably continuous operation during the processing of the product batch, no cleaning of the drum needs to be carried out, since the entire separator insert can be replaced. Optionally, individual elements such as magnets can be suitably recycled (see also DE 10 2017 128 027 A1).

[0080] The housing 1 is preferably made of a plastic or plastic composite material. The housing 1 can be cylindrical and have a cylindrical outer casing, at the ends of which two radially extending boundary walls 6, 7 (cover and base) are formed.

[0081] The drum 3 is used for centrifugal separation of a flowable suspension S in a centrifugal field into at least two phases LP, HP of different density, which may be, for example, a lighter liquid phase and a heavy solid phase or a heavy liquid phase.

[0082] In a preferred design, the rotor 2 and its drum 3 have a vertical axis of rotation D. However, the housing 1 and the rotor 2 could also be oriented differently in space. The following description refers to the vertical orientation shown. In case of a different orientation in space, the alignments change along with the new orientation. In addition, one or both outlets—still to be discussed—may optionally be arranged differently.

[0083] The rotor 2 of the separator with the drum is also preferably made of a plastic or plastic composite material.

[0084] The drum 3 is preferably cylindrical and/or conical, at least in sections. The same applies to the other elements in the rotor 2 and on the housing 1 (except for elements of the magnetic bearing devices 4, 5).

[0085] The housing 1 is designed in the manner of a container, which is advantageously hermetically closed except for a few openings/opening areas (to be discussed). These openings are a supply opening 8 in the first—here upper—axial boundary wall 6, a recirculation inlet 9 in the second—here lower—axial boundary wall 7, and two outlets 10, 11 in a circumferential outer casing and a circumferential outer wall of the housing 1, respectively.

[0086] The drum 3 also has openings that are functionally associated with the openings of the housing.

[0087] First and second openings of the drum 3 (which may be provided on the drum 3 in a circumferentially distributed manner, thus several first and second openings may be provided on the drum 3 in each case) serve as radial outlets 21, 22. Feed pipes 12, 32 extend into two further openings 12a, 32a at the two axial ends of the drum 3 in each case in a manner to be explained.

[0088] The supply opening 8 is advantageously formed by a non-rotatable feed pipe 12, which projects outwardly from the housing 1 at the top with one end and which extends through the upper boundary wall 6 into the drum 3, but does not touch the drum 3. At the outer circumference, the feed pipe 12 is inserted into the housing 1 in a sealed manner—e.g., by welding or bonding—or, optionally, is made in one piece with the housing as a plastic injection-molded part. It is preferably also made of plastic.

[0089] The feed pipe 12 passes concentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotor 2 through the housing 1 and the one magnetic bearing 4, then extends axially further inside the housing 1 into the opening 12a of the rotatable drum 3 and ends there in the drum 3 with its other end—a free outlet end.

[0090] Thus, the opening 12—the feed pipe—of the housing is functionally associated with the opening 12a of the drum.

[0091] The feed pipe 12 opens into the drum 3 in a distributor 13, which can rotate with the drum 3. The distributor 13 has a tubular distributor shank 14 and a distributor foot 15. One or more distributor channels 16 are formed in the distributor foot 15. A separator disk stack, consisting here of conical separator disks 17, can be placed on the distributor 13. The distributor 13 and the separator disks 17 are preferably also made of plastic.

[0092] The drum 3 has sections of different diameters so that the discharge of the different dense phases can take place on different diameters.

[0093] In a preferred—but not mandatory—design, the drum 3 here has at least two cylindrical sections 18, 19 of different diameter. Adjacent to these, one or more conical transition areas can be formed on the drum 3. The drum 3 can also have a single or double conical design overall in its central axial region on the inside (not shown here). The discharge of the heavier phase HP then takes place in particular on the largest inner diameter.

[0094] As shown, the drum 3 may have a lower cylindrical section 20 of smaller diameter, on/in which the rotor unit 5b of the lower magnetic bearing is also formed, which merges into a conical section 20a, then here for example a cylindrical section 19 of larger diameter, then again a conical section 18a and then an upper cylindrical section 18 of smaller diameter, on which the rotor unit 4b of the upper magnetic bearing 4 is formed.

[0095] Two or more outlets 21, 22 are provided in the outer casing of the drum 3 in the sections 18, 19 of different diameters for discharging the phases of different density from the drum 3. These outlets 21, 22 can further preferably be formed as one or more openings, in particular nozzle-like openings, in the outer casing of the drum 3. They are thus designed as so-called “free” outlets.

[0096] Here, the first outlet 21 in section 18 of smaller diameter serves to discharge the lighter phase LP and the second outlet 22 in section 19 of larger—here “largest”—diameter serves to discharge the heavier phase HP.

[0097] The phases emerging from the drum 3 are collected in the housing 1 in axially offset trapping ring chambers 23, 24 of the housing 1. These trapping ring chambers 23, 24 are designed in such a way that the phase intercepted in them is guided to one of the outlets 10, 11 of the respective trapping ring chamber 23, 24. This can be achieved in that the respective outlet 10, 11 is located at the lowest point of the respective trapping ring chamber 23, 24. The trapping ring chambers 23, 24 are open radially inwards and are designed in such a way that liquid spraying out of the respective outlet 21 or 22 is essentially only sprayed into the associated trapping ring chamber 23, 24—which is at the same axial level—during centrifugal separation.

[0098] A further third chamber 25, which does not serve to discharge a phase, can optionally be formed below the second trapping ring chamber 24. This chamber 25 can optionally have a leakage drain (not shown here).

[0099] The first and second trapping ring chambers 23, 24 may be separated from each other by a first wall 26, which is conical in this case and extends conically inwardly as well as upwardly from the outer casing of the housing 1 and ends radially in front of the drum 3 at a distance therefrom.

[0100] The second trapping ring chamber 24 may also be bounded downwardly by a conical wall 27, which extends inwardly as well as upwardly in a conical manner from the outer casing of the housing 1 and terminates inwardly at a radial distance from the drum 3.

[0101] Preferably at the lowest point of the respective trapping ring chamber, the respective product phase LP and HP is discharged from the housing 1 through the respective outlet 10, 11. Nozzles can be provided on the outside of the housing 1 in the area of the respective outlet 10, 11 in order to be able to connect lines and the like easily. These can in turn be formed directly with the housing or be adhesively attached to it. The nozzles are preferably also made of plastic. The housing 1 can be composed of several plastic parts which are, for example, connected to one another in an adhesive or welded sealed manner.

[0102] It is further provided that one of the two product phases LP, HP, preferably the heavier product phase HP of the two derived product phases LP, HP, can be partially recirculated into the drum 3.

[0103] In particular, it may be provided that this heavy phase HP is pumped away from the outlet 11 by a pump 28 through a line 29. This line 29 can be designed as a hose.

[0104] This line can be in the form of a hose, which can optionally also have a buffer tank or bag on the suction side of the pump.

[0105] It is provided that a branch line 30 branches off from line 29.

[0106] This branch line 30 can also be designed as a hose. Both the branch line 30 and/or the line 29 downstream (in the direction of flow) of the branch to the branch line 30 can have a controllable, in particular electrically controllable, regulating valve 31. A regulating valve may have an open and a closed position as well as intermediate positions (half-open, etc.).

[0107] The branch line 30 opens into the recirculation inlet 9, which can be formed at the second—in this case lower—end of the drum 3 and the housing 1 facing away from the inlet. In this way, a recirculation line is formed with which the heavy phase HP can be returned to the drum 3.

[0108] The recirculation inlet 9 comprises the second feed pipe 32, which extends analogously to the first feed pipe 12—but from below—through the second—here lower—radially extending boundary wall 7 into the drum 3 and ends there in a second distributor 33 and/or is connected thereto, the distributor channels 34 of which extend radially. The second feed pipe is also of non-rotating design and is connected to the housing 1 in a sealed manner.

[0109] Thus, two distributors 13, 33 are provided. It is preferred that the first distributor 13 rotates with the drum 3 during operation and that the second distributor 33 does not rotate with the drum during operation. The phase to be recirculated—in this case HP—is pumped back into the drum through this distributor.

[0110] The second distributor 33 can be designed as a kind of non-rotatable distributor disk, which can be aligned perpendicularly to the axis of rotation and can also have one or more superordinate radially extending distributor channels 34, with which the recycled phase HP is pumped radially outwardly into the drum 3 as it enters the drum, and there preferably in the circumferential and rotational direction of the drum. It can be expediently provided that the distributor channels 34 in the distributor 33 extend spirally with the direction of rotation in operation.

[0111] The distributor 33, which is disk-like in this case, projects radially into the drum to such an extent that it can be used to transfer the liquid into the rotating drum 3 in such a way that no liquid escapes axially through the lower opening 32a of the drum. Instead, the liquid flowing out of the distributor is accelerated in the drum by the latter—e.g., with ribs/channels not shown—to peripheral speed.

[0112] The lighter phase LP leaves the drum 3 on a radius ro. From there, it flows through the upper outlet 10 into the housing 1, circling in the catching clamp 23 due to its momentum.

[0113] The operation of the separator 21 is briefly described below.

[0114] First, the separator is provided with its reusable components. These include the frame I and the drive and stator units 4a, 5a of the magnetic bearing devices. This further includes a control unit 37.

[0115] Then a separator insert II is provided and mounted on the rack I.

[0116] This separator insert can preferably also have at least hoses and nozzles that can be connected to further lines (not shown here) as well as containers such as bags, tanks, pumps and the like.

[0117] Then, after connecting the pipes and hoses and the like, a suspension is fed into the rotating drum (supply opening 8) and separated there centrifugally into the light phase LP and the heavy phase HP.

[0118] The heavier phase HP of greater density flows radially outward in the drum 3 in the separation chamber. There, the phase HP leaves the drum at a radius ru. The lighter phase LP flows radially inward in the drum 3 in the separation chamber and rises upward through a channel 38 on a shaft of the distributor. There, the phase LP leaves the drum at a radius ro. The radius of the separation zone between the two phases within the disk stack can be adjusted by the ratio of ro to ru and the number and size of the openings, and the flow rates of the individual phases can thus be coordinated.

[0119] Both the light phase LP and the heavy phase HP are discharged freely from the drum 3 via openings as outlets 21, 22 during continuous operation.

[0120] Part of the heavy phase is returned to the drum 3 via the recirculation inlet 9 and the distributor 33. In this way, the concentration of the heavy phase can be easily influenced and the separation process optimized. In particular, by suitably controlling the regulating valve 31, part of the heavier phase HP can be returned to the drum 3 in this way. This results in an optimization of the separation process. A control device 37 is used for controlling.

[0121] Optionally, the control of the regulating valve 31 can take place within the scope of a regulation, for which purpose a parameter—here of the heavy phase HP—is measured with the measuring device 35. This is indicated here by a type of connection 36 to the control device 37. With the measuring device 35, a parameter here of the second phase HP, e.g., its density, can be determined, wherein the regulating valve can then be opened and closed completely or partially in a controlled manner with the control device 37 on the basis of a regulating algorithm (dashed lines—connection 36).

[0122] In order to regulate, for example, the density of the separated heavy phase, a measurement, for example a density measurement (measuring device 35) of the heavy phase can be made at the outlet of the centrifuge. This measured value is sent to the control device 37 (dashed line) and compared with a setpoint value. If a predetermined setpoint, e.g., a density setpoint, has not yet been reached, part of the separated heavy phase HP can be returned to the separation chamber of the drum 3 via a regulating valve. With this process, it is possible to set the actual value of the density of the separated heavy phase HP greater than/equal to a predetermined setpoint. This regulation can be carried out, for example, with a PID controller.

[0123] Depending on the product, regulation could alternatively be based on other measured values, such as turbidity, conductivity, volume flow, pH value. It would also be conceivable to make an adjustment based on a volume or mass balance and thus set a desired solids concentration. Further regulations can be based on the flow rate or the feed quantity or the drum speed and/or combinations of these parameters.

[0124] In other applications, it may also be useful to use the measured values mentioned to influence the speed of the drum or the volume flow in the feed. If, for example, the measurement shows insufficient concentration of the heavy phase, the feed volume can be changed or the drum speed varied in a suitable way.

[0125] The measurements proposed for the heavy phase HP can alternatively or additionally also be carried out in the discharge for the light phase LP. If, for example, turbidity is detected in the light phase, this can be used as a control variable for an adjustment of the feed rate or a suitable adjustment of the drum speed can be used.

[0126] In principle, the position of the axis of rotation D is freely selectable in this embodiment, because the magnetic bearing arrangement consisting of the two magnetic bearing devices 4 and 5 permits this. The position of the axis of rotation D can be vertical or horizontal or can have any inclination. The free discharge of the light phase LP can be adjusted by design depending on the position of the rotation axis D. If pumping down of one of the phases HP, LP takes place, this is not absolutely necessary.

[0127] Cell separations in the pharmaceutical industry form one possible application of the separator according to the invention. The performance range is intended for processing of broths from fermenters in the range of 100 I-4000 I as well as for laboratory applications.

[0128] Other areas of industry in which separators are used would also be conceivable: Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, dairy technology, renewable raw materials, oil and gas, beverage technology, mineral oil, etc . . . .

[0129] In a variation of a separator insert II of FIG. 1 in a second embodiment variant, the form-fitting means 41a, 41b of the separator insert and the corresponding form-fitting means provided on the frame I can be provided on one side only between the frame I and the separator insert II, thereby also enabling axial and torsional locking of the separator insert II relative to the frame I. This reduces the complexity of the structure, among other things.

[0130] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0131] Frame I [0132] Console I-1 [0133] Carriage I-2 [0134] Rollers I-3 [0135] Receptacles I-4, I-5 [0136] Separator insert II [0137] Housing 1 [0138] Rotor 2 [0139] Drum 3 [0140] Magnetic bearing devices 4, 5 [0141] Stator units 4a, 5a [0142] Rotor unit 4b, 5b [0143] Radial boundary wall 6, 7 [0144] Supply opening 8 [0145] Recirculation inlet 9 [0146] Outlets 10, 11 [0147] Feed pipe 12 [0148] Opening 12a [0149] Distributor 13 [0150] Distributor shank 14 [0151] Distributor foot 15 [0152] Distributor channel 16 [0153] Separator disk 17 [0154] Cylindrical sections 18, 19, 20 [0155] Conical sections 18a, 20a [0156] Outlets 21, 22 [0157] Trapping ring chambers 23, 24 [0158] Chamber 25 [0159] Conical walls 26, 27 [0160] Pump 28 [0161] Line 29 [0162] Branch line 30 [0163] Regulating valve 31 [0164] Feed pipe 32 [0165] Opening 32a [0166] Distributor 33 [0167] Distributor channels 34 [0168] Measuring device 35 [0169] Connection 36 [0170] Control device 37 [0171] Channel 38 [0172] Form-fitting means 41a, 41b, 42 [0173] Rotation axis D [0174] Suspension S [0175] Phases LP, HP [0176] Radii ro, ru