Cleaning in place system and a method of cleaning a centrifugal separator
10046337 ยท 2018-08-14
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
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.
Claims
1. A centrifugal separator system comprising: a centrifugal separator, the centrifugal separator comprising: a rotor arranged for rotation around a rotational axis and forming therein a separation space; a separator inlet extending into the separation space for a fluid; and a first separator outlet for fluid extending from the separation space; a container for cleaning fluid; a cleaning fluid pump for providing cleaning fluid from the container to the separator inlet; a conduit having a first end connected to the container and a second end connected to an inlet of the cleaning fluid pump; a first inlet line having a first end attached to an outlet of the cleaning fluid pump and a second end connected to the separator inlet; and a first outlet line extending from the first separator outlet, the first outlet line including a first branch having a first end connected to and supplying fluid to the inlet of the cleaning fluid pump and a second branch extending to and supplying fluid to the container.
2. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet pump configured to provide a flow of fluid from the first separator outlet.
3. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 1 wherein the first separator outlet extends from a radially inner portion of the separation space for discharge of a light phase of the fluid.
4. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 3, wherein the centrifugal separator further comprises a second separator outlet extending from a radially outer portion of the separation space for discharge of a heavy phase of the fluid.
5. A method of cleaning a centrifugal separator, the centrifugal separator comprising a rotor arranged for rotation around a rotational axis and forming therein a separation space, a separator inlet extending into the separation space for a fluid, and a first separator outlet for fluid extending from the separation space, said first separator outlet comprising an outlet pump configured to provide a flow of fluid from the first separator outlet, said method comprising the steps of: rotating the rotor at an operational speed; filling the separation space of the rotor with a fluid; generating a flow of fluid from the separation space through the first separator outlet by the outlet pump; providing cleaning fluid in a container; receiving the flow of fluid at a cleaning fluid pump through a first outlet line extending from the first separator outlet, the first outlet line supplying fluid to a first branch having a first end connected to an inlet of the cleaning fluid pump and supplying fluid to a second branch extending to the container; pumping the cleaning fluid from the container to the separator inlet through a conduit having a first end connected to the container and a second end connected to the inlet of the cleaning fluid pump and a first inlet line having a first end attached to an outlet of the cleaning fluid pump and a second end connected to the separator inlet by the received flow of fluid; and introducing the cleaning fluid into the separation space to clean at least parts of the separation space.
6. The method of cleaning a centrifugal separator according to claim 5, further comprising the step of bleeding off fluid from the first separator outlet when the pressure exceeds a threshold pressure.
7. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressure sensor on the first outlet line; and a valve on the first outlet line to bleed off fluid received from the first separator outlet when pressure exceeds a threshold pressure.
8. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 7, wherein any fluid bled off by the valve is sent to the container for cleaning fluid.
9. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 4, further comprising a valve arranged to regulate the pressure and/or flow of fluid from the second separator outlet.
10. A centrifugal separator system comprising: a centrifugal separator, the centrifugal separator comprising: a rotor arranged for rotation around a rotational axis and forming therein a separation space; a separator inlet extending into the separation space for a fluid; a first separator outlet for fluid extending from the separation space; and a second separator outlet for discharge of a heavy phase of the fluid; a container for cleaning fluid; a cleaning fluid pump for providing cleaning fluid from the container to the separator inlet; a conduit having a first end connected to the container and a second end connected to an inlet of the cleaning fluid pump; a first inlet line extending between an outlet of the cleaning fluid pump and the separator inlet; a first outlet line having a first end connected to the first separator outlet and a second end extending to the container and a branch connected to the cleaning fluid pump; a second outlet line extending between the second separator outlet and the container; a first valve on the first outlet line to regulate the pressure and/or flow of fluid from the first separator outlet independent of the second outlet line; and a second valve on the second outlet line to regulate the pressure and/or flow of fluid from the second separator outlet independent of the first outlet line.
11. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 10, wherein the first separator outlet extends from a radially inner portion of the separation space for discharge of a light phase of the fluid.
12. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 11, wherein the second separator outlet extends from a radially outer portion of the separation space.
13. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 10, further comprising an outlet pump at the first separator outlet configured to provide a flow of fluid from the first separator outlet.
14. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 2, wherein the outlet pump comprises a paring device.
15. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning fluid pump comprises an eductor.
16. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the cleaning fluid pump comprises a first inlet for the conduit and a second inlet for the first branch of the first outlet line.
17. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 5, wherein the inlet of the cleaning fluid pump comprises a first inlet for the conduit and a second inlet for the first branch of the first outlet line.
18. The centrifugal separator system according to claim 10, wherein the inlet of the cleaning fluid pump comprises a first inlet for the conduit and a second inlet for the branch of the first outlet line.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, in which
(2) The FIGURE shows a CIP system according to an embodiment of the invention, connected to a centrifugal separator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(3) With reference to the FIGURE, a cleaning in place (CIP) system 1 is shown, connected to a centrifugal separator 2 (shown in part). The separator comprises a rotor 3 arranged for rotation around a rotational axis (x) and forming within itself a separation space 4. A separator inlet 5 extends into the separation space for supplying a fluid to the separation space. A first separator outlet 6 extends from a radially inner portion of the separation space and comprises an outlet pump 7 in the form of a paring device, configured to provide a flow of fluid from the first separator outlet (light phase outlet). The separator further comprises a second separator outlet 8 extends from a radially outer portion of the separation space and comprises a second outlet pump 9 in the form of a paring device, configured to provide a flow of fluid from the second separator outlet (heavy phase outlet).
(4) The CIP system further comprises a container 10 for cleaning fluid and a cleaning fluid pump comprising an eductor 11. The eductor is provided with a motive fluid inlet 12 for receiving fluid from the first separator outlet, a pumping inlet 13 for receiving cleaning fluid to be pumped from the container, and a pump outlet 14 for motive and pumped fluid. The motive fluid inlet 12 is connected to the first separator outlet 6 and the pump outlet 14 is connected to the separator inlet 5. The pumping inlet 13 is connected to the lower portion of the container 10. Between the first separator outlet and the motive fluid inlet a constant pressure valve 15 is arranged, and any fluid bled off from this valve is arranged to be returned to the container 10. A pressure indicating device 16 is arranged to monitor the pressure at the motive fluid inlet 12. A temperature indicating device 17 is arranged to monitor the temperature of the fluid in the system, and preferably located at the pumping inlet 13. The system is also provided with a first valve 18 for controlling the flow of fluid from the container 10 to the pumping inlet 13, and a second valve 19 for emptying the container. The second outlet is provided with a regulating valve 20 arranged to be able to close this outlet. As an alternative the second outlet is provided with a flow-restrictive element, such as in the form of an orifice, and a shut-off valve.
(5) During operation, the rotor 3 of the centrifugal separator 1 is rotated at an operational speed. The container 10 is filled with a water, or another suitable fluid, and water is also manually introduced in the separation space 4 of the rotor via the inlet 5, until it start to come out of the second outlet 8 (heavy phase outlet). The second separator outlet is then closed by the valve 20. When the fluid in the separation space reaches the first separator outlet 6, a flow of fluid is generated from the first separator outlet by the outlet pump 7. The flow of fluid from the first separator outlet is received at the motive fluid inlet of the eductor. After passing the eductor, the fluid is returned to the separator inlet. When a pressure of about 2 bar has been built up in the system, the motive fluid will start to draw fluid from the container, via the pumping inlet 13 and out through the pump outlet 14. Cleaning fluid (CIP liquid) is then introduced in the container and is pumped by the eductor towards the separator inlet 5. At the separator inlet, the cleaning fluid is introduced into the separation space to clean it. The cleaning fluid is then recirculated to the motive fluid inlet of the eductor by means of the outlet pump of the first separator outlet, and a recirculating flow of cleaning fluid is maintained by the outlet pump of the separator. When the pressure exceeds a threshold of about 3 bar, the constant pressure regulating valve 15 will open and bleed of circulating fluid to the container. The pressure in the recirculating loop may be monitored by the pressure sensing device 16. The valve 20 on the second separator outlet 8 may then be partially opened to enable cleaning of this outlet.
(6) As an alternative to what is disclosed in