Europaisches Patentamt

European Patent Office © Publication number: 0 241 128

Office europeen des brevets A1

© EUROPEAN PATENT A P P L I C A T I O N

© Application number: 87301849.3 © Int. CI.4: B04B 1 / 0 0

© Date of filing: 03.03.87

© Priority: 12.03.86 SE 8601154 © Applicant: ALFA-LAVAL SEPARATION AB

Box 500
© Date of publication of application: S-147 00 Tumba(SE)
14.10.87 Bulletin 87/42
© Inventor: Krook, Goran
© Designated Contracting States: Linnegatan 15
CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE S-1 14-47-Stockholm(SE)

© Representative: Lerwill, John et ai

A.A. Thornton & Co. Northumberland House
303-306 High Holborn
London, WC1V 7LE(GB)

© Centrifugal separator with recirculation of separated sludge.

© A centrifugal separator has for returning sepa-

rated sludge to the separation chamber of the rotor a
recirculation circuit (27, 28, 33, 39, 41, 43, 32, 30,
29) which is completely free of flow restricting noz-
zles. The amount of separated sludge allowed to
leave the centrifugal separator through the outlet
conduit (39) without being recirculated is determined
by setting valves (22, 40) in the stationary outlet
conduits (21 , 39) for the separated sludge and clari-
fied liquid, respectively.

30

a.

(erox Copy Centre

 1 0 241 128
centrifugal separator with re-circuiation of separated sludge
mis invention is concerned with centnfugal
separators. More particularly it relates to a centri-
fugal separator comprising: a rotor including a sep-
aration chamber, a central inlet for a mixture of
components to be separated, with a first central
outlet for separated light component and a second
central outjet for separated heavy component; first
stationary means forming an inlet channel for sup-
plying the mixture to the rotor inlet; second station-
ary means forming an outlet channel for receiving
separated light component from the first central
outlet; third stationary means forming an outlet
channel for receiving separated heavy component
from the second central outlet; a central inlet cham-
ber in the rotor arranged to receive the mixture
entering through the central inlet; first channels in
the rotor connecting the central inlet chamber with
the separation chamber; second channels in the
rotor connecting the radially innermost parts of the
separation chamber, with the first central outlet;
third channels in the rotor connecting the radially
outermost parts of the separation chamber with the
second central outlet; and means for recirculating
to the separation chamber part of the separated
heavy component conducted from the separation
chamber through said third channels.
Such centrifugal separators are used when the
content of the heavy component, referred to
hereinafter as the "sludge", in a mixture varies
heavily or is constantly tow, whereas it is desired to
obtain a separated sludge with a constant predeter-
mined concentration.
In a centrifugal separator known from U.S.-PS
4,278,200, the rotor has sludge outlets in the form
of radially extending so-called concentrate pipes, in
which narrow nozzles are arranged. After its pas-
sage through the concentrate pipes the sludge is
collected in a central chamber in the rotor and from
which chamber it is discharged by means of a
stationary paring member. Part of the discharged
sludge is returned to the rotor, while the rest is
carried off. Special sensing means may be used
for automatic control of the amount of sludge re-
turned to the rotor.
When determining the required number of noz-
zles and the through-flow area of each nozzle in a
centrifuge rotor of this construction, consideration
must be given to several different factors. Thus,
noticeable factors are, among others, the particle
size and separability of the incoming sludge, the
sludge content of the incoming mixture, and the
desired concentration of the sludge leaving the
centrifuge rotor. It often proves difficult to optimize
the centrifuge rotor design such that an exactly
desired concentration is obtained for the sludge
2
leaving the rotor. For instance, it is frequently de-
sired that a very high sludge concentration should
be obtained, which often cannot be fulfilled, how-
ever, due to the risk of the outlet nozzles clogging.
5 Part of the difficulty in optimizing the centrifuge
rotor design resides in the fact that the necessary
flow restricting property of the nozzles limits the
freedom of choice as to the desired degree of
sludge re circulation. [Depending upon the sep-
70 arability of the sludge, a certain minimum flow
velocity has to be maintained in the concentrate
pipes extending from the radially outermost parts
of the separation chamber to the central chamber.
For the above reasons it will be obvious that
is the known centrifuge rotor has to be provided with
special nozzles for each new application and, fur-
thermore, there is a very small margin available for
control of the sludge recirculation when a high
sludge concentration is required.
20 A particular problem in connection with the
known centrifuge rotors, especially at a low content
of sludge in the mixture supplied to the rotor, is
that the same sludge particles have to be sub-
jected to repeated recirculation and thus pass
25 through the nozzles several times. The repeated
pressure changes to which the sludge is subjected
during these passages may have an adverse effect
on certain sensitive sludge particles.
The object of the present invention is to pro-
30 vide an improved centrifugal separator allowing
narrow nozzles in the recirculation circuits to be
avoided and enabling the flow velocity of the recir-
culation flow to be independent of a chosen setting
for the desired concentration of the sludge leaving
35 the rotor.
In accordance with the invention there is pro-
vided a centrifugal separator as initially described
hereinabove, characterised in that:
sealing means are so arranged at connections of
«j said first, second and third stationary means to the
central inlet and the first and second outlets of the
rotor, respectively, that during operation, the sup-
plied mixture and discharged separated compo-
nents are kept out of contact with each other and
f5 with the atmosphere surrounding the rotor;
pumping means is provided for supplying said mix-
ture of components to the separation chamber and
to maintain a hydrauiically rigid connection, in the
operation of the rotor, from said central inlet
>o through the separation chamber to the first and
second central outlets;
means adjustable during operation of the rotor is
provided for selecting the relation between the
flows of separated light and heavy components
through said outlet channels, respectively; and
 3 0 241 128
said recirculating means forms a closed return path
for said recirculated: part of the separated heavy
component whereby said recirculated part is kept
out of contact with the atmosphere surrounding the
rotor.
With a separator embodying the invention a
desired' concentration of the sludge leaving the
rotor may readily be set and changed if desired,
by merely adjusting the relation between the flows
of separated sludge and separated liquid freed
from sludge, respectively, discharged through the
said outlet channels. Furthermore, the recirculation
of sludge may be set as desired according to need
and may be allowed to increase or decrease during
the operation of the rotor without having any influ-
ence on the set concentration of the sludge that is
discharged. Throttles in the recirculation circuit are
not needed and should not be present.
Within the scope of the invention the recir-
culated sludge may be returned to the separation
chamber through different ways, for instance to-
gether with the mixture of components supplied by
said pump means.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a
further pumping means is connected to either the
recirculation channel or the outlet channel for re-
turning part of the sludge flowing through the outlet
channel. Hereby, the recirculated sludge may be
supplied downstream of a stationary pump means
connected to the rotor inlet.
Said recirculating means preferably comprises
a stationary part forming a recirculation channel
and connected to said outlet channel for separated
heavy component, and a part rotatable with the
rotor and forming in the rotor recirculation channels
separate from the central inlet chamber and the
channels connected to it. By this arrangement dis-
tribution of the recirculated sludge in the newly
supplied mixture and, thus, having to be separated
again is avoided. Sealing means can be arranged
to ensure such a connection of the stationary part
to the rotatable part of the recirculating means that
the recirculated sludge is kept out of contact with
the atmosphere surrounding the rotor as well as
with the supplied mixture and separated light com-
ponent.
The said sludge recirculation channels in the
'otor preferably open at the radially outermost parts
Df the separation chamber at positions situated
aetween the above mentioned third channels
ihrough which sludge is flowing towards the rotor
:entre. This makes it possible, during the operation
Df the rotor, to maintain a constant flow of sludge
along the outermost parts of the separation cham-
aer, so that sludge cushions cannot be formed in
:hese parts. Furthermore, cleaning of the separa-
4
tion chamber after finished operation is facilitated,
since cleaning liquid may be forced through the
said channels via the radially outermost parts of the
separation chamber.
5 The invention will be further described with
reference to the accompanying drawing which
shows a preferred embodiment thereof.
In the drawing there is shown a rotor compris-
ing two parts 1 and 2, which are axially held
io together by means of a locking ring 3. The rotor is
supported by a vertical drive shaft 4.
Within the rotor there is formed a separation
chamber 5, in which a stack of conical separation
discs 6 rest on the lower part of a distributor 7. The
75 distributor has radial distribution wings 8 on its
underside and through the wings 8 rests on a
conical partition 9 positioned centrally in the rotor.
Within the distributor 7 there is formed a cen-
tral inlet chamber 10 which communicates through
20 the passages between the wings 8 with the separa-
tion chamber 5 in the region of the radially outer
edge of the lowermost separation disc.
The distributor 7 supports a central pipe 11
extending axially out of the rotor and forming an
25 inlet channel 12 in communication with the inlet
chamber 10. The pipe 11 is surrounded by a partly
tubular member 13, which is supported by the rotor
part 1 and is attached thereto by a locking ring 14.
Formed between the pipe 11 and the member 13
30 is an annular channel 15 which communicates di-
rectly with the central parts of the separation cham-
ber 5 and constitutes an outlet channel therefrom.
A stationary member 16 is arranged around the
pipe 11 and the member 13, and is provided with
35 an inlet 17 for a liquid mixture to be supplied to the
rotor and an outlet 18 for liquid having been sepa-
rated in the rotor. The inlet 17 communicates with
the inlet channel 12, whereas the outlet 18 commu-
nicates with the annular outlet channel 15. To the
40 inlet 17 there is connected an inlet conduit 19
including a pump 20, and to the outlet 18 there is
connected an outlet conduit 21 having an adjust-
able valve 22.
Located between the stationary member 16
45 and the inlet tube 11 is a first mechanical seal 23,
and located between the stationary member 16 and
the partly tubular member 13 is a second mechani-
cal seal 24, 25. The first mechanical seal 23 is of a
single kind with one stationary sealing ring and one
;o rotatable sealing ring, which sealing rings abut ax-
ially against each other. The second mechanical
seal 24, 25 is of a so-called double kind with two
pairs of such sealing rings. In a manner known per
se the double mechanical seal should be charged
55 with so-called sealing liquid in the space between
the two pairs of sealing rings. To simplify the
drawing no arrangement for supplying sealing liq-
uid has been shown.
3
 5 0 241 128
Hositjoneo between the conical partition 9 and
the lower rotor part 2 is a short cylindrical sleeve
26 which supports several pipes 27 evenly distrib-
uted around the rotor axis and extending radially
from the sleeve 26 to the radially outermost parts
of the separation chamber 5. Through bores in the
sleeve 26 the interior ducts of the pipes 27 com-
municate with channels 28 which extend radially
towards the rotor centre.
Further pipes 29 extending radially inwardly
from the radially outermost parts of the separation
chamber are supported by the conical partition 9.
Through bores in the partition 9 the interior ducts
of the pipes 29 communicate with channels 30
which extend radially towards the rotor centre.
The vertical drive shaft 4 has a central bore
through which extends a pipe 31. This pipe forms a
central channel 32 and has on its outside several
axial grooves forming longitudinal channels 33 be-
tween the pipe 31 and the surrounding drive shaft
4.
At the rotor centre the upper end of the central
channel 32 in the pipe 31 communicates with the
radial channels 30, and the longitudinal channels
33 communicate with the radial channels 28.
To simplify the drawing no arrangement for
driving and journalling of the drive shaft 4 has been
shown. At its lowermost end the drive shaft is
surrounded by a stationary member 34. Between
this member and the drive shaft 4 and the pipe 31,
respectively, there are two mechanical seals 35
and 36. The first mechanical seal 35 comprises
one stationary sealing ring, which is supported by
the member 34, and one rotatable sealing ring
supported by the drive shaft 4. The other mechani-
cal seal 36 comprises one stationary sealing ring,
which is supported by the member 34, and one
rotatable sealing ring supported by the pipe 31 . If
desired, the seal 35 may be of the double kind, like
the seal 24, 25.
The stationary member 34 has one inlet 37
communicating with the channel 32 in the pipe 31,
and one outlet 38 communicating with the channels
33 between the pipe 31 and the drive shaft 4. The
outlet 38 is connected to an outlet conduit 39,
which includes an adjustable valve 40. Connected
to the outlet conduit 39 between the outlet 38 and
the valve 40 is a branch conduit 41 which is
connected to the inlet of a pump 42. The outlet of
the pump 42 is connected through a conduit 43 to
the inlet 37 of the member 34.
A liquid mixture comprising sludge is supplied
to the rotor by means of the pump 20. The mixture
enters through the channel 12 into the central re-
ceiving chamber 10 of the rotor and flows between
the distribution wings 8 to the separation chamber
5.
6
In the separation chamber 5 the sludge is
separated from the mixture and collects in the
radially outermost parts thereof. Clarified liquid
flows radially inwardly and leaves the separation
5 chamber through the channel 15, the outlet 18 and
the conduit 21.
The separated sludge and a small amount of
remaining liquid is pressed by the overpressure of
the pump 20 radially inward through the pipes 27
w and then through the channels 28 and 33 to the
outlet 38. At the outlet conduit 39, part of the
sludge leaves through the valve 40, while the rest
of the sludge by means of the pump 42 is returned
to the separation chamber 5 through the conduits
is 41 and 43, the channels 32 and 30 and the pipes
29.
Depending upon the content of sludge in the
supplied mixture and the desired concentration of
the separated sludge which is to leave through the
20 outlet conduit 39, the valves 22 and 40 are set in a
way such that a certain desired relation is obtained
between the flows through these valves. The valves
22 and 40 thus form adjustable throttles in the
conduits 21 and 39, respectively, and are con-
25 nected in a hydraulically rigid manner with each
other and with the inlet pump 20 through the sepa-
ration chamber 5.
The pump 42 which may have a controllable
speed is adjusted with respect to its capacity such
30 that a desired degree of sludge recirculation is
obtained. The amount of sludge recirculated is
determined above all by the flow velocity in the
pipes 27. This velocity has to be sufficiently large
so that the sludge particles which move radially
35 inwardly in the pipes 27 are not prevented from
doing so by the centrifugal forces and instead be
separated out of the small amount of conveying
liquid in which they are suspended.
If the content of sludge in the supplied mixture
40 is expected to vary during operation, means are
preferably provided for changing automatically the
setting of at least one of the valves 22 and 40.
Such means may comprise sensing members of
various kinds arranged for controlling of the setting
45 of at least one of the valves 22, 40. The sensing
members may be present in one of the conduits
19, .21 and 39. In the inlet conduit 19 a change of
the sludge content of the supplied mixture may be
directly sensed. In the outlet conduit 21 a sensor
so can sense if the content of remaining sludge in the
clarified liquid increases or decreases. In the outlet
conduit 39 a sensor can sense if the concentration
of the separated sludge increases or decreases. In
all of these cases a sensed change would cause an
55 adjustment of the setting of one or both of the
valves 22 and 40. In this way the concentration of
 7 0 241 128
tne separated sludge may be maintained substan-
tially constant and the amount of sludge having
accumulated in the centrifuge rotor may be main-
tained substantially unchanged..
Claims
1. A centrifugal separator comprising:
a rotor including a separation chamber (5), a cen-
tral inlet (12) for a mixture of components to be
separated, a first central outlet (15) for separated
light component and: a second central outlet (33)
for separated heavy component;
first stationary means forming an inlet channel (19)
for supplying the mixture to the rotor inlet;
second stationary means forming an outlet channel
(21) for receiving separated light component from
the first central outlet;
third stationary means forming an outlet channel
(39) for receiving separated heavy component from
the second central outlet;
a central inlet chamber (10) in the rotor arranged to
receive the mixture entering through the central
inlet;
first channels in the rotor connecting the central
inlet chamber (10) with the separation chamber (5);
second channels in the rotor connecting the radi-
ally innermost parts of the separation chamber (5)
with the first central outlet (15);
third channels (27, 28) in the rotor connecting the
radially outermost parts of the separation chamber
(5) with the second central outlet (33); and
means (41-43) for recirculating to the separation
chamber part of the separated heavy component
conducted from the separation chamber through
said third channels,
characterised in that-
sealing means (23 - 25, 35) are so arranged at
connections of said first, second and third station-
ary means to the central inlet (12) and the first and
second outlets (15, 33) of the rotor, respectively,
that during operation, the supplied mixture and di-
scharged separated components are kept out of
contact with each other and with the atmosphere
surrounding the rotor;
Dumping means (20) is provided for supplying said
nixture of components to the separation chamber
[5) and to maintain a hydraulically rigid connection,
n the operation of the rotor, from said central inlet
;12) through the separation chamber (5) to the first
and second central outlets (15, 33);
neans (22, 40) adjustable during operation of the
otor is provided for selecting the relation between
he flows of separated light and heavy components
hrough said outlet channels (21 , 39), respectively;
and
said recirculating means (41 - 43) forms a closed
8
return path for said recirculated part of the sepa-
rated heavy component, whereby said recirculated
part is kept out of contact with the atmosphere
surrounding the rotor.
5 2. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1,
wherein said recirculating means comprises a sta-
tionary part forming a recirculation channel (41,
43) connected to said outlet channel (39) for sepa-
rated heavy component, and further pumping
10 means (42) connected to either recirculation chan-
nel (41 , 43) on the outlet channel (39) for returning
part of the separated heavy component flowing
through the outlet channel (39).
3. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1
75 or 2, wherein said recirculating means comprises a
part rotatable with the rotor and forming in the rotor
recirculation channels (29, 30, 32) separated from
the central inlet chamber (10) and the channels
connected thereto, the recirculation channels open-
20 ing in the rotor at the radially outermost parts -of
the separation chamber (5) at positions located
between said third channels (27, 28) in the periph-
eral direction of the rotor.
4. A centrifugal separator according to any one
25 of claims 1 to 3, wherein said recirculating means
has one stationary part forming a recirculation
channel (41, 43) connected to said outlet channel
(39) for separated heavy component, and one part
rotatable with the rotor and forming in the rotor
30 recirculation channels (29, 30, 32) separated from
the central inlet chamber (10) and from the chan-
nels connected thereto, sealing means (36) is so
arranged at a connection of said stationary part to
said rotatable part of the recirculating means, that
35 returned separated heavy component is kept out of
contact with atmosphere surrounding the rotor as
well as the mixture supplied and the separated light
component.
5. A centrifugal separator according to any one
w of claims 1 to 4, wherein sensing means is ar-
ranged to sense a substance concentration in one
of the supplied mixture and separated components,
said adjustable means (22; 40) is coupled to the
sensing means and is so arranged to adjust auto-
%5 matically, according to the sensed concentration,
the relation between the flows through the outlet
channels (21, 39) for separated light and heavy
component, respectively, that a substantially con-
stant concentration of the separated heavy compo-
;o nent leaving the rotor is obtained.
6. A centrifugal separator according to any one
of claims 1 to 5, wherein said recirculating means
(41 - 43) for returning part of the separated heavy
component to the separation chamber is arranged
>5 for setting of a given return flow of heavy compo-
nent, independently of the setting of said adjusting
means (22, 40).
 1-9*5-»
•0■>
0 241 128
 European Patent . Application number
EUROPEAN SEARCH R E P O R T
Office 87301849.3

DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Citation of document with indication, where appropriate, Relevant CLASSIFICATION OF THE
Category of relevant passages to claim APPLICATION (Int. CI.*)

US, A, 3 20k 868 (R. W. HONEYCHURCH)' B Ok B 1 / 0 0

US, A, k 278 200 (H. GUNNEWIG)

TECHNICAL FIELDS
SEARCHED (Int. CI.*)

B 04 B

The present search report has been drawn up for all claims
Place of search Date of completion of the search Examiner
STOCKHOLM 09-06-1987 HALL A.
CATEGORY OF CITED DOCUMENTS T: theory or principle underlying the invention
E: earlier patent document, but published on, or
X : particularly relevant if taken alone after the filing date
Y : particularly relevant if combined with another D: document cited in the application
document of the same category L: document cited for other reasons
A : technological background
O : non-written disclosure &: member of the same patent family, corresponding
P : intermediate document document