CENTRIFUGE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A CENTRIFUGE

Abstract

A centrifuge includes a rotatable rotor and an assembly that is stationary during operation. The rotatable rotor is rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly by one or more mounting devices. The rotatable rotor has a rotatable drum and a drive element for rotating the drum as well as one or more electrical loads located on or in the rotor. The centrifuge includes at least one battery is also located on or in the rotor in order to supply the at least one load or the plurality of loads with electrical power. The load can include a data memory in the rotor or on the rotor. At least one actuator is provided as the at least one load.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A centrifuge, comprising: a rotatable rotor; and an assembly that is stationary during operation of the centrifuge, wherein the rotatable rotor is rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly by one or more bearing devices, wherein the rotatable rotor comprises a rotatable drum, a drive element for rotating the drum, and one or more electrical loads arranged on or in the rotatable rotor, and wherein the centrifuge further comprises at least one battery electrically coupled to supply the one or more electrical loads with electrical power, wherein the at least one battery is arranged on or in the rotatable rotor, and wherein the one or more electrical loads include at least one actuator.

25. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the at least one battery is a rechargeable battery.

26. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the at least one battery is a non-rechargeable battery.

27. The centrifuge of claim 24, further comprising: a disc pack arranged in the rotatable drum, wherein the disc pack has a stack of separating discs.

28. The centrifuge of claim 24, the one or more electrical loads include a data memory in the rotatable rotor or on the rotatable rotor.

29. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the one or more electrical loads are arranged in or one the rotatable rotor and comprise a sensor, an actuator, an initiator, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a transmitting and receiving unit, or a control unit.

30. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the at least one battery is a rechargeable battery, the centrifuge further comprising: an electrical power generating arrangement, which is configured such that electrical power is provided in the rotatable rotor, and a charging circuit configured to charge the rechargeable battery.

31. The centrifuge of claim 30, wherein the electrical power generating arrangement is configured to generate electrical power only during part of revolutions of the rotatable rotor.

32. The centrifuge of claim 30, wherein the electrical power generating arrangement is configured to generate electrical power during the complete revolutions of the rotatable rotor.

33. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the rotor further comprises a data memory or a control device, wherein the data memory or the control device is one of the one or more electrical loads.

34. The centrifuge of claim 29, wherein the one or more electrical loads include the sensor.

35. The centrifuge of claim 29, wherein the one or more electrical loads include the actuator, wherein the actuator is a solenoid valve or an electrically actuatable control valve.

36. The centrifuge of claim 29, wherein the one or more electrical loads include the actuator, wherein the actuator is a solenoid valve or an electrically actuatable control valve configured to open or close solids discharge openings of the rotatable drum or to change a cross-section of one or more solids discharge openings of the rotatable drum.

37. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the rotatable drum comprises an inlet and at least two different outlets.

38. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the rotatable drum has a vertical axis of rotation.

39. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the rotatable drum has single or double conical configuration on an inside or an outside.

40. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the centrifuge is configured as a disc separator or as a solid drum screw centrifuge.

41. The centrifuge of claim 29, wherein the one or more electrical loads include the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, or the transmitting and receiving unit, and wherein the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, or the transmitting and receiving unit are arranged on or in the rotatable rotor.

42. The centrifuge of claim 41, wherein the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, or the transmitting and receiving unit comprises an antenna projecting from the rotatable rotor and is configured for wireless communications.

43. The centrifuge of claim 42, further comprising: a corresponding transmitting unit, receiving unit, or transmitting and receiving unit arranged on the stationary assembly and configured for wireless communication.

44. The centrifuge of claim 43, wherein the corresponding transmitting unit, receiving unit, or transmitting and receiving unit is connected to a control device that controls the centrifuge.

45. The centrifuge of claim 24, further comprising: solids discharge nozzles, wherein the one or more electrical loads include an electrically controllable device that varies a nozzle cross-section of the solids discharge nozzles, wherein the electrically controllable device is an electrically adjustable nozzle needle that is movable into a passage cross-section of the solid discharge nozzles, wherein a remaining passage cross-section of the solid discharge nozzles can be varied, or an impact body that is pushed electrically adjustably in front of nozzle opening of the solids discharge nozzles to form a gap with variable gap width.

46. The centrifuge of claim 24, wherein the rotatable drum has a hydraulically actuatable piston slide valve configured to open and close one or more solids discharge openings of the rotatable drum, wherein hydraulic fluid is dischargeable from a control chamber on or under the hydraulically actuatable piston slide valve by one or more electromechanical valves as one of the one or more electrical loads, wherein the electromechanical valves are arranged on or in the rotating drum to open the hydraulically actuatable piston slide valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0046] Advantageous variants are explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, which is not to be understood as limiting or as the only conceivable exemplary design. In particular, it is not necessary to combine all the features of the following description in all the exemplary embodiments, wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1: shows a schematic sectional view of a centrifuge which can be operated according to a method according to the invention; and

[0048] FIG. 2: shows a charging circuit for a rotor of a centrifuge according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a centrifuge with a rotatable rotor 1 and an assembly 2 that is stationary during operation. The rotatable rotor 1 and the non-rotatable assembly 2 are shown only schematically. The rotatable rotor 1 is rotatably mounted in or on the stationary assembly 2 by means of one or more bearing devices 3, wherein these bearing devices 3 can be designed in any manner per se, such as roller bearings or plain bearings and/or magnetic bearings. In order to set the rotor 1 in rotation, a drive device 4 acts on it, which can be designed, for example, as an electric motor, which can transmit a torque to the rotor 1 directly or via a gear unit (not shown).

[0050] The rotatable rotor 1 has a rotatable drum 10. It may further comprise as a drive element, for example, a drive spindle 11 for rotating the drum 10, as well as one or more further elements.

[0051] The non-rotatable assembly 2 has a machine frame 20, as well as a hood 21 for covering the drum 10. Furthermore, it may comprise further elements such as a solids trap 22, as well as possibly further elements such as one or more lines, damping elements, a lubricant treatment unit, etc. Such elements are shown here only schematically or are not shown, since those skilled in the art are familiar with them and can therefore advantageously design them without further information.

[0052] The drum 10 has an inlet 101, a distributor 102, optionally a disc pack 103 consisting of separating discs 104, at least one first outlet 105 for a liquid phase and optionally at least one second outlet 106 for a solid phase. Optionally, a further outlet (not shown here) can be provided, for example, for discharging a further liquid phase.

[0053] The drum 10 can be designed for continuous operation. It can preferably have a vertical axis of rotation. However, it is also conceivable to align the axis of rotation differently.

[0054] The first outlet 105 can be designed as a peeling disc or gripper. However, it can also be of any other design, such as an open drain or a hermetically sealed drain.

[0055] The second outlet 106 may be configured for continuous solids discharge and have continuously open solids discharge openings, particularly nozzles 109, for solids discharge.

[0056] These one or more nozzles can be designed in such a way that their outlet or passage cross-section can be changed electrically. This could be realized, for example, by an electrically adjustable nozzle needle, which is moved into the passage cross-section and thereby changes the remaining passage cross-section, or by an impact body, which is pushed electrically adjustably in front of the nozzle opening and thereby creates a gap with variable gap width.

[0057] The electrical power for this is preferably provided from the battery described, and the control signals are sent by radio from the machine control system to a corresponding receiver and control electronics for the required actuators.

[0058] The drum 10 can be of single or double conical design (inside and/or outside). It is then advantageous to arrange the second outlet 106 in the area of the largest diameter of the drum. In this case, several of the solids discharge openings can be formed in the drum in a circumferentially distributed manner in order to form the second outlet 106.

[0059] However, the second outlet 106 may also include intermittently openable or closable solids discharge openings 107.

[0060] In this case, the solids discharge openings 107 are assigned at least one closing valve 108 which can be opened and closed electrically. Preferably, each of the solids discharge openings 107 is assigned one of the closing valves 108, with which the solids discharge openings 107 can be opened and closed discontinuously. Thus, these valves form one of the loads.

[0061] In the event that the solids discharge openings 107 are closed and opened by a conventional hydraulic piston slide valve (not shown here), the hydraulic fluid required for this purpose, usually control water, can be fed under the piston slide valve for closing by means of electromechanical valves located in the rotating drum and can also be discharged from there for opening.

[0062] Here, too, the electrical power is provided by the battery described above, and the control signals are sent by radio from the machine controller to a corresponding receiver and control electronics for the required actuators.

[0063] In this way, a flowable product to be processed can flow into the drum 10 where phase separation occurs in the centrifugal field, and the separated phases can be discharged separately from the drum 10 by various outlets 105, 106.

[0064] The drum 10 may be designed for liquid-solid separation—as shown—or (not shown) for liquid-liquid separation or for liquid-liquid-solid separation.

[0065] The drum 10 may further be designed for continuous operation. In the context of the invention, however, it can also be designed for batch operation, for example by being designed as a chamber separator which must be opened from time to time to remove the solids accumulating on the outside of the drum.

[0066] In a preferred design, the centrifuge can be designed as a disc separator. Such an example is shown in FIG. 1. However, in particular individual or all features of the following description relating to the electronics and in particular the power supply of loads on the rotor as well as data transmission can also be implemented on centrifuges of other designs.

[0067] The centrifuge further comprises an electronic assembly 5. This electronic assembly comprises elements associated with the stationary assembly 2 and elements associated with the rotor 1.

[0068] One or more loads 50 for consuming electrical power (i.e., one or more loads) are arranged in or on the rotor 1, which thus rotate with the rotor during operation.

[0069] These loads 50 may include, for example, one or more of the following devices: a sensor 501, an actuator 502, and/or an initiator 503, and/or a transmitting and/or receiving unit 504, and/or a control unit in or on the rotor, and/or a data memory 506 in or on the rotor.

[0070] Here, by way of example, the closing valves 108 are designed in the form of solenoid valves that require electrical power to actuate them. They thus also form a load 50 in the form of an actuator 502. In addition, one or more sensors 501 are arranged on the rotor 1, in particular on or in the drum 10.

[0071] In order to supply the loads 50 with energy, a battery 51 is arranged on or in the rotor 1. A battery in the sense of the invention is a storage device for electrical power on an electrochemical basis. The battery 51 can be designed as a rechargeable battery, i.e., as an accumulator, in short power pack or secondary battery. However, it can also be designed as a non-rechargeable battery, called a primary battery for short.

[0072] The battery 51 may be used to power one or more loads 50.

[0073] A non-rechargeable battery 51, which thus has to be changed from time to time when the rotor 1 is stationary and operation is interrupted, can be used in particular to supply one or more loads 50 with a low energy requirement, such as to supply a transmitting and/or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1, in particular a radio transmitter, especially one using a radio standard with a relatively low energy requirement.

[0074] A rechargeable battery 51, on the other hand, can also be used to supply one or more loads with a higher power requirement, such as for actuating one or more solenoid valves, in particular designed as closing valves 108. The battery can also be used to electrically actuate the mechanism for changing the outlet or passage cross-section of a nozzle 109.

[0075] For fast-switching electrovalves, which can also open and close the required cross-sections at solids discharge openings, “several 10 watts” of power are required for actuation. If several, e.g., 10 to 20, valves are now distributed on the drum circumference, “some 100 watts” or more are required for tenths of seconds and constant voltage. It is possible to provide this power for modern batteries such as NiMh batteries or lithium-ion batteries. These could also be installed decentrally at the respective load/valve in order to then be centrally controlled.

[0076] If the battery 51 is formed as a rechargeable battery 51, it may be provided that an arrangement 52 for inductively generating electrical power is formed directly on the separator for at least charging the rechargeable battery 51. A charging circuit 523 may be formed between the arrangement 52 and the battery 51 to rectify the energy or induced voltage generated by the arrangement 52 and to provide it suitably to the terminals of the battery 51 for charging the battery 51.

[0077] The arrangement 52 may be formed in various ways. It may comprise one or more first elements not rotating with the rotor, such as one or more magnets 521 associated with the stationary assembly 2 and one or more inductors (coils) 522 associated with the rotatable rotor 1, wherein the arrangement is such that in operation, i.e., when the drum is rotated, current is induced in the coil or coils 522 as the coils rotate past the magnet or magnets 521, so that electrical power is generated directly in the rotating system or rotor 1.

[0078] According to a first possible design, this energy generated in the rotating system or rotor 1 can be generated continuously during the complete revolutions of the rotor or only—in relation to the circumference—in certain areas, i.e., when the respective coil 522 moves past the magnet 521 during its revolution. This can be influenced by the corresponding circumferential distribution and a corresponding dimensioning of the number of magnets 521 and coils 522. In this way, the coils 521 themselves also form part of the rotor 1 and rotate with it during operation.

[0079] The one or more loads 50 may be coupled to the battery directly or through intermediary components and form a circuit therewith (not shown). The arrangement 52 may be located at positions suitable for inductors (coils) 522 attached to the drum to pass close to the stationary magnet 521. This may be at the bottom or top of the drum, but also at the outer circumference of the drum, or in the area of the drive spindle or in the area of the inlet or outlet.

[0080] Each load 50 can be assigned a respective transmitting and/or receiving unit 504, or several of the loads 501, 502, 503 can be assigned a common transmitting and/or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1. In FIG. 1, transmitting and/or receiving units 504 are schematically represented by a kind of fan-like signal symbol. They may be arranged directly on the sensors 501 or may be formed together with them as a structural unit. Preferably, they each comprise an antenna, in particular an antenna projecting outwardly from the drum 10 or attached to the outside of the drum.

[0081] In FIG. 1, sensors 501 are shown purely schematically. The way they are shown exemplifies a type of function of the respective sensor 501, such as that of a filling level measurement (upper right sensor 501), a temperature sensor (upper left sensor 501) or a strain sensor (sensor on the far left).

[0082] The transmitting and/or receiving unit(s) 504 of the rotor may be designed to transmit data or signals and/or to receive data or signals. They may use any standard per se for this purpose, such as Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC) or light signals (light in the visible range). Preferably, the transmitting and/or receiving unit 504 is formed as a transmitting and/or receiving unit that uses a radio standard with a low power requirement.

[0083] Outside the rotor, a corresponding transmitting and/or receiving unit 505 is arranged in particular on the stationary assembly 2. The transmitting and/or receiving unit 505 on the stationary assembly 2 can also be designed to receive data or signals and/or to transmit data and/or signals. Preferably, the transmitting and/or receiving unit 504 is formed as a transmitting and/or receiving unit that operates with a radio standard with a low power requirement.

[0084] The transmitting and/or receiving unit 505 is preferably connected to a control device 53 of the separator.

[0085] The data and/or signal transmission between the transmitting and/or receiving units 504, 505 may be in one direction only or in two directions.

[0086] Thus, it is conceivable that only data about the operating state of the rotor 10 or in the rotor—detected, for example, by one or more of the sensors 501—are transmitted from the transmitting and/or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1 to the transmitting and/or receiving unit 505, so that these can be evaluated, for example, with the control device 53.

[0087] However, it is also conceivable that conversely, for example, data and/or signals are transmitted from the transmitting and/or receiving unit 505 of the assembly 2 to the transmitting and/or receiving unit 504 of the rotor 1 in order to control an actuator 502, for example.

[0088] In addition, combinations and variants of these transmission types are conceivable.

[0089] The battery 51 may be located in the drum at various locations. For example, the battery can be placed in a receptacle in or on the lower part of the drum or in the upper part of the drum.

[0090] The transmitting and/or receiving unit(s) 504 of the rotor are preferably arranged such that their antenna(s) protrude outwardly from the rotor, for example in a conical region of the upper part of the drum.

[0091] According to FIG. 1, buffered energy is also available when the drum is stationary. Thus, even when the drum is stationary, actuators 501 such as the valves 108 can be moved and/or data and/or signals from sensors and feedback signals from the actuators can be transmitted wirelessly.

[0092] 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

[0093] Rotatable rotor 1 [0094] Drum 10 [0095] Drive spindle 11 [0096] Inlet 101 [0097] Distributor 102 [0098] Disc pack 103 [0099] Separating disc 104 [0100] First outlet 105 [0101] Second outlet 106 [0102] Solids discharge openings 107 [0103] Closing valves 108 [0104] Nozzle 109 [0105] Stationary assembly 2 [0106] Machine frame 20 [0107] Hood 21 [0108] Solids trap 22 [0109] Bearing device 3 [0110] Drive device 4 [0111] Electronic assembly 5 [0112] Load 50 [0113] Sensor 501 [0114] Actuator 502 [0115] Initiator 503 [0116] Transmitting and/or receiving unit 504, 505 [0117] Data memory 506 [0118] Battery 51 [0119] Arrangement 52 [0120] Magnets 521 [0121] Inductors (coils) 522 [0122] Charging circuit 523 [0123] Control device 53