COMMINUTION APPARATUS FOR COMMINUTING A SOLIDS-CONTAINING MEDIUM AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMMINUTION APPARATUS

Abstract

A comminution apparatus for comminuting a solids-containing medium includes a rotatably mounted drive shaft, which can be coupled to a drive apparatus to drive a cutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus having a first cutting element, comprising a cutting edge, and a second cutting element, comprising a second cutting edge, wherein the first cutting element and the second cutting element are movable relative to one another in such a way that the relative movement brings about a shearing action between the cutting edge and the second cutting edge. The first cutting element is connected fixedly in terms of torque to the drive shaft and is movable on a first movement path relative to the second cutting element. The comminution apparatus is adapted for operation in a first operating mode and a second operating mode different from the first operating mode to comminute the solids-containing medium.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A comminution apparatus for comminuting a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance, the comminution apparatus comprising: a rotatably mounted drive shaft, which can be coupled to a drive apparatus to drive a cutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus having: a first cutting element, comprising at least one first cutting edge; and a second cutting element, comprising at least one second cutting edge; wherein the first cutting element and the second cutting element are movable relative to one another such that a relative movement of the first cutting element and of the second cutting element brings about a shearing action between the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge; and wherein the first cutting element is connected fixedly in terms of torque to the drive shaft and is movable on a first movement path relative to the second cutting element; and wherein the comminution apparatus is adapted for operation in a first operating mode and at least in a second operating mode different from the first operating mode to comminute the solids-containing medium, wherein the comminution apparatus can be set between the first operating mode and the at least second operating mode by means of a control apparatus to comminute the solids-containing medium.

27. A comminution apparatus for comminuting a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance, the comminution apparatus comprising: a rotatably mounted drive shaft, which can be coupled to a drive apparatus to drive the comminution apparatus; and a cutting apparatus having: a first cutting element, comprising at least one first cutting edge; and a second cutting element, comprising at least one second cutting edge; wherein the first cutting element and the second cutting element are movable relative to one another in such a way that the relative movement brings about a shearing action between the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge; and wherein the at least first cutting element is connected fixedly in terms of torque to the drive shaft and is movable on a first movement path relative to the second cutting element; and wherein the at least first cutting element and the second cutting element are movable in translation relative to one another on a second movement path; wherein a detection apparatus is provided and designed to measure a contact pressure of the first cutting element against the second cutting element and/or to detect an arrangement of the first cutting element and the second cutting element relative to one another; and wherein an adjusting apparatus is provided and designed to displace the first cutting element and the second cutting element relative to one another on a second movement path to set the distance between cutting edges, until a desired contact pressure and/or distance between the first cutting element and the second cutting element is set.

28. A comminution apparatus for comminuting a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance, the comminution apparatus comprising: a rotatably mounted drive shaft, which can be coupled to a drive apparatus to drive the comminution apparatus; and a cutting apparatus having: a first cutting element, comprising at least one first cutting edge; and a second cutting element, comprising at least one second cutting edge; wherein the first cutting element and the second cutting element are movable relative to one another such that the relative movement brings about a shearing action between the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge; and wherein the at least first cutting element is connected fixedly in terms of torque to the drive shaft and is movable on a first movement path relative to the second cutting element; and wherein the cutting apparatus is disposed within a comminution hollow chamber between an opening outlet, through which the comminuted solids-containing medium can flow out of the comminution hollow chamber, and an opening inlet, through which the solids-containing medium that is to be comminuted can flow into the comminution hollow chamber; wherein the comminution apparatus has a sealing arrangement comprising a sealing fluid pump apparatus, which has a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and a sealing chamber which is connected to the pump outlet, is adjacent to the comminution hollow chamber, has a fluid pressure applied to it via the pump outlet, which fluid pressure results from the fluid pressure difference generated by the sealing fluid pump apparatus, and by means of this fluid pressure seals off the comminution hollow chamber against the egress of solids-containing medium from the comminution hollow chamber along the drive shaft.

29. The comminution apparatus according to claim 28, wherein a sealing chamber pressure within the sealing chamber is greater than the hollow chamber pressure within the comminution hollow chamber, and wherein the sealing chamber pressure is at least 0.5 bar greater than the hollow chamber pressure.

30. The comminution apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the comminution apparatus is adapted for operation in a first operating mode and at least in a second operating mode different from the first operating mode, wherein the comminution apparatus can be set between the first operating mode and the at least second operating mode.

31. The comminution apparatus according to claim 26, wherein: the comminution of the solids-containing medium during operation of the comminution apparatus in the first operating mode and at least in the second operating mode different from the first operating mode depends on one or more of the following operating parameters: a rotational speed of the first cutting element; a contact pressure between the first cutting element and the second cutting element; a cutting edge distance between the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge; a volumetric flow rate of the solids-containing medium through the cutting apparatus; a hollow chamber inlet pressure upstream of the cutting apparatus in the region of an opening inlet; a hollow chamber outlet pressure downstream of the cutting apparatus in the region of an opening outlet; and/or a hollow chamber differential pressure, which corresponds to the difference between the hollow chamber inlet pressure and the hollow chamber outlet pressure; wherein the first operating mode and the at least second operating mode differ in terms of a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter of the at least one operating parameter.

32. The comminution apparatus according to claim 31, wherein: a first selection of the operating parameters from the at least one operating parameter in the first operating mode comprises or can comprise target characteristics which are smaller than the target characteristics of the corresponding operating parameters in the at least second operating mode; a second selection of the operating parameters from the at least one operating parameter in the first operating mode comprises or can comprise target characteristics which are larger than the target characteristics of the corresponding operating parameters in the at least second operating mode; and/or a third selection of the operating parameters from the at least one operating parameter in the first operating mode comprises or can comprise target characteristics which correspond to the target characteristics of the corresponding operating parameters in the at least second operating mode.

33. The comminution apparatus according to claim 26, having an adjusting apparatus, which is designed to displace the at least first cutting element and the at least second cutting element relative to one another on a second movement path to set the distance between cutting edges, and/or is designed to transfer a force along the second movement path to set the contact pressure.

34. The comminution apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the adjusting apparatus is or comprises an electrically actuable adjusting apparatus, a hydraulically actuable adjusting apparatus, and/or a mechanically actuable adjusting apparatus.

35. The comminution apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the electrically actuable adjusting apparatus is or comprises an electric linear drive.

36. The comminution apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the second cutting element is a perforated disc and a plurality of second cutting edges are formed by openings in walls delimiting the perforated disc.

37. The comminution apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first cutting element comprises a blade which is disposed rotatably along the first movement path, wherein the blade is preferably disposed rotatably on a surface of the perforated disc.

38. The comminution apparatus according to claim 26, having an opening inlet, through which the solids-containing medium that is to be comminuted can enter the comminution apparatus during operation, and an opening outlet, through which the comminuted solids-containing medium can leave the comminution apparatus during operation, wherein a comminution hollow chamber fluidically connects the opening outlet, which is downstream in the conveying direction of the solids-containing medium, to the opening inlet.

39. The comminution apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the cutting apparatus is disposed within the comminution hollow chamber between the opening outlet and the opening inlet.

40. The comminution apparatus according to claim 26, having a pumping apparatus for delivering the solids-containing medium through the cutting apparatus at the volumetric flow rate.

41. The comminution apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the pumping apparatus is or comprises an adjustable pump for setting the volumetric flow rate of the solids-containing medium.

42. The comminution apparatus according to claim 31, having a detection apparatus, which is designed to measure actual characteristics of the operating parameters and/or to measure the distance between cutting edges; wherein the detection apparatus comprises: a rotational speed sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the drive shaft and/or of the first cutting element; a pressure loss sensor for measuring a pressure loss; a fill level monitoring sensor for measuring the fill level of the solids-containing medium in the comminution apparatus; a vibration sensor for detecting vibration of the comminution apparatus; a volumetric flow rate sensor for measuring the volumetric flow rate of the solids-containing medium; a pressure sensor for measuring the contact pressure; one or more hollow chamber pressure sensors for measuring a hollow chamber pressure in the comminution hollow chamber; and/or a distance sensor for measuring the distance between cutting edges.

43. The comminution apparatus according to claim 31, having: an input apparatus adapted for selection and/or input of the operating mode and/or the target characteristics of the operating parameters for the respective operating mode; the drive apparatus operably coupled fixedly in terms of torque to the drive shaft and/or the cutting apparatus to drive the cutting apparatus; the control apparatus, which can be or is coupled to the adjusting apparatus, the drive apparatus, the pumping apparatus, the detection apparatus, and/or the input apparatus in signalling terms, and which is adapted to: record the actual characteristics of the operating parameters; compare the actual characteristics of the operating parameters with the target characteristics of the operating parameters; set the target characteristic of the operating parameters depending on the operating mode; and/or set the characteristics of the operating parameters depending on the comparison between the actual characteristics of the operating parameters and the target characteristics of the operating parameters.

44. A method for controlling a comminution apparatus, in particular a comminution apparatus according to claim 26, to comminute a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance, the method comprising the following step: starting the comminution apparatus; and comprising the following steps: selecting an operating mode from a list of operating modes, wherein the list of operating modes includes the first operating mode and the at least a second operating mode different from the first operating mode; and comminuting the solids-containing medium by means of the comminution apparatus depending on the selected operating mode.

45. The method according to claim 44, comprising the following step: determining a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter for the first operating mode and/or for the at least one second operating mode, wherein the first operating mode and the at least one second operating mode differ in terms of a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter.

46. The method according to claim 45, comprising the following steps: setting a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter of the at least one operating parameter depending on the selected operating mode; and operating the comminution apparatus depending on the target characteristic of the at least one operating parameter.

47. The method according to claim 45, comprising the following step(s): recording an actual characteristic of the at least one operating parameter; comparing the recorded actual characteristic with the target characteristic of the at least one operating parameter; and/or adapting the characteristic of the at least one operating parameter until the target characteristic of the at least one operating parameter is reached.

48. The method for controlling the comminution apparatus according to claim 26, to comminute a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance, the method comprising the following steps: minimizing a contact pressure by means of an adjusting apparatus until a lifting-off of the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge from one another is detected; and holding the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge in a position from one another in which the contact pressure is minimal.

49. The method for controlling a comminution apparatus, in particular a comminution apparatus according to claim 26, to seal off the comminution apparatus during the comminution of a solids-containing medium, the method comprising the following steps: determining a hollow chamber pressure within a comminution hollow chamber by means of a pressure sensor; and setting a sealing chamber pressure within the sealing chamber above the hollow chamber pressure by at least 0.5 bar above the hollow chamber pressure by use of a sealing fluid pump apparatus.

50. A control apparatus for controlling the comminution apparatus a comminution apparatus according to claim 27, to comminute a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance, wherein the control apparatus is adapted to: starting the comminution apparatus; and comprising the following steps: selecting an operating mode from a list of operating modes, wherein the list of operating modes includes the first operating mode and the at least a second operating mode different from the first operating mode; and comminuting the solids-containing medium by means of the comminution apparatus depending on the selected operating mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0096] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the appended Figures, in which:

[0097] FIG. 1 shows an isometric sectional view of a comminution apparatus in a preferred embodiment;

[0098] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the comminution apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0099] FIG. 2a shows an illustration of a detail of the sealing arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2;

[0100] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the comminution apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0101] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the elements coupled in signalling terms of the comminution apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0102] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for controlling a comminution apparatus in a preferred embodiment;

[0103] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for controlling a comminution apparatus in another preferred embodiment; and

[0104] FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for sealing off the comminution apparatus during the comminution of a solids-containing medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0105] FIG. 1 shows an isometric sectional view of a comminution apparatus 1 in a preferred embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a side view and FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the comminution apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0106] The comminution apparatus 1 illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is designed for comminuting a solids-containing medium. Depending on the use case, the comminution performance of the comminution apparatus 1 can be varied. To this end, a user can set a preferred operating mode on the comminution apparatus 1 by means of a control apparatus 80, with the result that the desired comminution performance is set and at the same time the wear is minimized, or the service life of the comminution apparatus 1 is maximized. In a first operating mode, for example, the comminution performance, but also the wear of the comminution apparatus 1, can be relatively low. In a second operating mode, for example and by contrast, a maximum comminution performance may be sought which is associated with comparatively higher wear of the comminution apparatus 1.

[0107] The comminution performance and similarly also the wear of the comminution apparatus 1 depend on operating parameters, or target characteristics of the operating parameters, with which the comminution apparatus 1 is operated. It should be understood that the various operating modes, or the first and the at least one second operating mode, differ at least in terms of a target characteristic of an operating parameter. The operation of the comminution apparatus, or comminution performance of the comminution apparatus 1, can depend on multiple operating parameters. Essential operating parameters, a change in the characteristic of which leads to a modified comminution performance of the comminution apparatus 1, are a rotational speed of a first cutting element 21, and/or a contact pressure between a first and a second cutting element 21, 22, and/or a distance between the cutting edges of the first and the second cutting element 21, 22, and/or a volumetric flow rate of the solids-containing medium M1, M2.

[0108] It is preferably provided that a first selection of the operating parameters from the at least one operating parameter in the first operating mode comprises target characteristics which are smaller than the target characteristics of the corresponding operating parameters in the at least one second operating mode. It is also possible for a second selection of the operating parameters from the at least one operating parameter in the first operating mode to comprise target characteristics which are larger than the target characteristics of the corresponding operating parameters in the at least one second operating mode. Furthermore, it is preferably possible for a third selection of the operating parameters from the at least one operating parameter in the first operating mode to comprise target characteristics which correspond to the target characteristics of the corresponding operating parameters in the at least second operating mode.

[0109] To comminute the solids-containing medium, the comminution apparatus 1 has a drive shaft 10, which is coupled fixedly in terms of torque to a drive apparatus 40 comprising an electric motor. In this respect, the drive shaft 10 is mounted rotatably and is mechanically coupled to a cutting apparatus 20 to comminute the solids-containing medium. In this preferred embodiment, the drive apparatus 40 has a frequency converter, so that the rotational speed of the drive apparatus 40 and thus of the drive shaft 10 or of the cutting apparatus 20 can be set depending on a set or selected operating mode.

[0110] The cutting apparatus 20 is disposed in a comminution hollow chamber 4 of the comminution apparatus 1 between an opening inlet 2 and an opening outlet 3. During operation of the comminution apparatus 1, the solids-containing medium M1 that is to be comminuted is fed to the comminution hollow chamber 4 through the opening inlet 2. The cutting apparatus 20 comminutes the solids-containing medium M1 fed to the comminution hollow chamber 4, the medium then being discharged from the comminution hollow chamber 4 through the downstream outlet opening 3 in the form of comminuted solids-containing medium M2. To deliver the solids-containing medium M1, M2 at a volumetric flow rate, it is preferably provided to dispose a pumping apparatus 50 downstream of the opening outlet. It should be understood that the pumping apparatus 50 has an adjustable design, with the result that the volumetric flow rate at which the solids-containing medium M1, M2 is delivered through the comminution apparatus 1 can be set, in order to also enable a settable comminution performance in this respect.

[0111] To comminute the solids-containing medium M1, the cutting apparatus 20 has multiple first cutting elements 21 and a second cutting element 22. The first cutting elements 21 are in the form of blades and preferably have two cutting edges. The second cutting element 22 is in the form of a perforated disc and comprises more than two cutting edges, which are formed by the openings in walls delimiting the perforated disc. As a result of a relative movement of the first and second cutting edges relative to one another, solids in the solids-containing medium M1 are comminuted by a shearing movement of the cutting elements 21, 22 relative to one another. The shearing movement between the first cutting elements 21 and the second cutting element 22 is achieved in that the first cutting elements 21 are movable relative to the second cutting element 22. Specifically, the first cutting elements 21 and the second cutting element 22 are movable relative to one another during operation of the comminution apparatus 1 in such a way that the first cutting elements 21 are guided on a circular first movement path on a surface of the perforated disc with respect to the second cutting element 22. In this preferred embodiment of the comminution apparatus 1, it is provided that the second cutting element 22 is stationary within the comminution hollow chamber 4, while the first cutting elements 21 are mechanically coupled fixedly in terms of torque to the drive shaft 10 and can be rotated in the comminution hollow chamber 4.

[0112] In this preferred embodiment of the comminution apparatus 1, the first cutting elements 21 are mounted so as to be displaceable not only in rotation but also in translation with respect to the second cutting element 22. To this end, the comminution apparatus 1 has an adjusting apparatus 30, by means of which the first cutting elements 21 can be displaced in translation with respect to the second cutting element 22. The adjusting apparatus 30 makes it possible to set a distance between cutting edges of, and/or a contact pressure between, the first cutting elements 21 and the second cutting element 22. In the preferred embodiment of the comminution apparatus 1, the adjusting apparatus 30 has an electric cylinder as electric linear drive. The electric cylinder in particular means it is not necessary for a compressed-air connection. Furthermore, the user themselves no longer has to perform the setting operation. The adjusting apparatus 30 makes it possible for the first cutting elements 21 to be displaced with respect to the second cutting element 22 on a second movement path during operation depending on the selected operating mode, with the result that a desired distance between cutting edges and/or a desired contact pressure can be set. It should be understood that the second movement path extends orthogonally in relation to the first movement path, wherein the second movement path corresponds to a path for a linear movement which runs substantially parallel to, in particular coaxially with, an axis of rotation of the drive shaft 10.

[0113] The electric cylinder 32 is preferably coupled to the adjusting element 31. In particular, it may be preferable to provide a hydraulic adjusting unit 33, for example a hydraulic ram, which couples the electric cylinder 32 to the adjusting element 31. For example, the electric cylinder 32 presses on the hydraulic adjusting unit 33 with a desired, in particular established, adjusting force. To this end, it is provided, for example, that the hydraulic adjusting unit 33 has a master cylinder 33.1 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder and a slave cylinder 33.2 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder which are fluidically coupled to one another, for example by a hydraulics hose. In the present preferred embodiment, the electric cylinder 32 is mechanically coupled to the master cylinder 33.1, with the result that a displacement of the electric cylinder brings about a displacement of the master cylinder 33.1. The displacement of the master cylinder 33.1 in turn brings about a displacement of the slave cylinder 33.2 owing to the hydraulic coupling. The slave cylinder 33.2 is in turn mechanically coupled to the adjusting element 31, with the result that a displacement of the slave cylinder 33.2 brings about a displacement of the adjusting element. The adjusting apparatus 30 thus causes the buildup of a defined pressure, which acts on the adjusting element 31 and thus brings about a defined adjustment of the first cutting element 21 with respect to the second cutting element 22, or a defined contact pressure between the corresponding cutting elements. To this end, the adjusting element 31 is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in the drive shaft 10. The axially displaceable mounting of the adjusting element 31 with respect to the drive shaft 10 is sealed off in relation to the comminution hollow chamber 4.

[0114] For the purposes of sealing off, the comminution apparatus 1 has a sealing arrangement 90 comprising a sealing fluid pump apparatus 92, which has a pump inlet 92a and a pump outlet 92b, and a sealing chamber 91, which is connected to the pump outlet 92b, is adjacent to the comminution hollow chamber 4, has a fluid pressure applied to it via the pump outlet 92b, which fluid pressure results from the fluid pressure difference generated by the sealing fluid pump apparatus 92, and by means of this fluid pressure seals off the comminution hollow chamber 4 against the egress of solids-containing medium from the comminution hollow chamber 4 along the drive shaft 10. Preferably, the sealing chamber pressure is set depending on the hollow chamber pressure in the comminution hollow chamber 4. In this preferred embodiment, it is provided that the sealing chamber 91 pressure is at least 0.5 bar greater than the hollow chamber pressure. The pump inlet 92a may be fluidically connected to a fluid tank 93.

[0115] FIG. 2a is a schematic illustration of the sealing arrangement 90 shown in FIG. 2. This illustration demonstrates that the pump outlet 92b is fluidically connected to the sealing chamber 91 via a corresponding hydraulics line. The pump inlet 92a of the sealing fluid pump apparatus 92 is fluidically connected to the fluid tank 93 via a corresponding hydraulics line. In order to generate the desired fluid pressure for the desired sealing-off, the sealing fluid pump apparatus 92 delivers a correspondingly required amount of fluid from the fluid tank 93 to the sealing chamber 91.

[0116] To monitor the actual state or actual characteristics of operating parameters of the comminution apparatus 1, the comminution apparatus 1 has a detection apparatus 60. The detection apparatus 60 is designed, for instance with a view to the adjustability of the first cutting elements 21 with respect to the second cutting element 22, to measure a contact pressure of the first cutting element 21 against the second cutting element 22 and/or to detect an arrangement of the first cutting element 21 and the second cutting element 22 relative to one another. In particular, the detection apparatus 60 is designed to detect a lifting-off of the first cutting element 21 and the second cutting element 22 from one another. Therefore, the detection apparatus 60 is designed to measure an actual characteristic of the operating parameter of contact pressure, and/or an actual characteristic of the operating parameter of distance between cutting edges. To this end, the detection apparatus 60 may comprise a pressure sensor (not illustrated) for measuring the contact pressure and/or one or more hollow chamber pressure sensors 62 for measuring a hollow chamber pressure in the comminution hollow chamber 4 and/or a distance sensor (not illustrated) for measuring the distance between cutting edges.

[0117] Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment it is provided that the comminution apparatus 1 comprises further sensors for measuring actual characteristics of the comminution apparatus 1. These include, inter alia, a rotational speed sensor, which is designed to measure the rotational speed of the drive shaft 10 and/or of the first cutting elements 21, and/or a volumetric flow rate sensor, which is designed to measure the volumetric flow rate of the solids-containing medium that is to be comminuted and/or has been comminuted.

[0118] In particular in order to ensure reliable operation and low maintenance and upkeep costs, it is also provided that the detection apparatus 60, for example, has a pressure loss sensor for measuring a pressure loss in the comminution apparatus 1 and/or a fill level monitoring sensor 63 for measuring the fill level of the solids-containing medium in the comminution apparatus 1, and/or a vibration sensor 61 for detecting vibration of the comminution apparatus 1. These additional sensors make it possible to reliably detect for instance seal damage, dry running, or foreign bodies in the comminution apparatus 1, with the result that maintenance can be carried out on the comminution apparatus 1 in good time so that a high degree of consequential damage is minimized.

[0119] In this preferred embodiment, the control apparatus 80 of the comminution apparatus 1 has a memory unit on which the different operating modes for operating the comminution apparatus 1 with different comminution performances are stored. It is also provided that the operating modes of the comminution apparatus 1 can be set on the control apparatus 80. In particular, the target characteristics of the operating parameters can be established for the individual operating modes. To this end, it is provided that the comminution apparatus 1 has an input apparatus 70, which is designed for selection and input of the operating mode and of the target characteristics of the operating parameters for the respective operating mode. The input apparatus 70 is coupled in signalling terms to the control apparatus 80 for this purpose.

[0120] In order to correspondingly control or regulate the comminution apparatus 1 depending on the selected operating mode, it is also provided that the control apparatus is coupled in signalling terms to the adjusting apparatus 30, the drive apparatus 40, the pumping apparatus 50, and the detection apparatus 60—this is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4. In this respect, the control apparatus 80 is designed to measure the actual characteristics of the operating parameters, to compare the actual characteristics of the operating parameters with the target characteristics of the operating parameters, to set the target characteristics of the operating parameters depending on the operating mode, and to set the characteristics of the operating parameters depending on the comparison of the actual characteristics of the operating parameters with the target characteristics of the operating parameters. Correspondingly, the control apparatus 80 is also designed to carry out the steps of the method described below.

[0121] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a method 1000 for controlling a comminution apparatus 1 in a preferred embodiment to comminute a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance. The comminution apparatus 1 is, for example, designed as described above. The method 1000 firstly comprises a step of starting 1010 the comminution apparatus 1, so that in a next step an operating mode can be selected 1020 from a list of operating modes, wherein the list of operating modes comprises a first operating mode and at least one second operating mode different from the first operating mode. In a further step 1030, comminuting of the solids-containing medium by means of the comminution apparatus 1 depending on the selected operating mode is provided.

[0122] It may also be preferred for the method 1000 to comprise a step of determining 1040 a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter for the first operating mode and/or for the at least one second operating mode, wherein the first operating mode and the at least one second operating mode differ in terms of a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter. Furthermore, the method can preferably include the further steps of setting 1050 a target characteristic of at least one operating parameter of the at least one operating parameter depending on the selected operating mode, and operating 1060 the comminution apparatus 1 depending on the target characteristic of the at least one operating parameter. In particular, according to the method, what is provided is a step of measuring 1070 an actual characteristic of the at least one operating parameter, a step of comparing 1080 the measured actual characteristic with a target characteristic of the at least one operating parameter, and/or a step of adapting 1090 the characteristic of the at least one operating parameter until the target characteristic of the at least one operating parameter is reached.

[0123] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a further method 2000 for controlling a comminution apparatus 1 in a preferred embodiment to comminute a solids-containing medium with a variable comminution performance. The comminution apparatus 1 is, for example, designed as described above. The method 2000 comprises a step of minimizing 2010 a contact pressure by means of an adjusting apparatus 30 until the lifting-off of an at least one first cutting edge and an at least one second cutting edge from one another is detected, and holding 2020 the at least one first cutting edge and the at least one second cutting edge in a position from one another in which the contact pressure is minimal.

[0124] FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a further method 3000 for controlling a comminution apparatus 1 in a preferred embodiment to seal off the comminution apparatus 1 during the comminution of a solids-containing medium. The comminution apparatus 1 is, for example, designed as described above. The method 3000 comprises a step of determining 3010 a hollow chamber pressure within the comminution hollow chamber 4 by means of a pressure sensor, and a step of setting 3020 a sealing chamber pressure within the sealing chamber above the hollow chamber pressure, in particular at least 0.5 bar above the hollow chamber pressure, by means of a sealing fluid pump apparatus.