Method of controlling centrifugal separator and centrifugal separator
AssigneeAlfa Laval Corporate AB
InventorStaffan Königsson
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Abstract
A centrifugal separator and a method of controlling a centrifugal separator are disclosed. The centrifugal separator includes a rotor delimiting therein a separation space, an inlet for liquid feed mixture, a first outlet for heavy phase, a second outlet for light phase, and at least one channel extending towards a central portion of the rotor. The method includes separating liquid feed mixture into at least the heavy phase and the light phase in the separation space, and determining at the first outlet that a pressure build-up period has passed, and thereafter determining that an abrupt pressure change takes place at the first outlet, and controlling the centrifugal separator in response to the abrupt pressure change.
Claims25
A method of controlling a centrifugal separator configured to separate a heavy phase and a light phase from a liquid feed mixture, the centrifugal separator comprising:
- a rotor delimiting therein a separation space,
- an inlet for the liquid feed mixture leading into the separation space,
- a first outlet for the heavy phase having a first outlet valve,
- a second outlet for the light phase, and
- at least one channel extending from at least one radially outer portion of the separation space towards a central portion of the rotor,
- wherein the first outlet is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one channel, and
- wherein the method comprises steps of:
- rotating the rotor,
- commencing supply of the liquid feed mixture into the separation space via the inlet,
- separating the liquid feed mixture into at least the heavy phase and the light phase in the separation space, and
- determining that a pressure build-up period has passed, and thereafter
- determining that a rate of pressure change takes place at the first outlet, and
- controlling the centrifugal separator in response to the rate of pressure change exceeding a predetermined value,
- wherein controlling the centrifugal separator in response to the rate of pressure change comprises increasing an extent of opening of the first outlet valve.
A centrifugal separator configured to separate a heavy phase and a light phase from a liquid feed mixture, the centrifugal separator comprising:
- a rotor delimiting therein a separation space,
- an inlet for the liquid feed mixture leading into the separation space,
- a first outlet for the heavy phase having a first outlet valve,
- a second outlet for the light phase, and
- at least one channel extending from at least one radially outer portion of the separation space towards a central portion of the rotor,
- wherein the first outlet is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one channel,
- wherein the centrifugal separator comprises a control unit and a pressure sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged to sense a pressure in the first outlet, and
- wherein the control unit is configured for:
- determining commencement of supply of the liquid feed mixture into the separation space,
- determining a rate of pressure change above a predetermined value in a pressure in the first outlet, and
- controlling the centrifugal separator in response to the rate of pressure change exceeding the predetermined value,
- wherein controlling the centrifugal separator in response to the rate of pressure change comprises increasing an extent of opening of the first outlet valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.