Separation Device for Separating Impurities from Fluid to be Cleaned, Load Determination Apparatus for a Separation Device, and Method for Determining an Impurity Load State

A load determination apparatus for a separation device for separation of impurities from a fluid to be cleaned, the load determination apparatus comprising:

• at least one transmitter configured to emit electromagnetic waves;
• at least one receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic waves emitted by the at least one transmitter;
• at least one evaluation device, wherein the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver are connected to the at least one evaluation device;
• wherein the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver are configured to be arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of at least one collecting region for impurities of at least one separation body of the separation device, wherein the at least one separation body at least in sections thereof is at least partially transmissive for the electromagnetic waves emitted by the at least one transmitter;
• wherein the at least one evaluation device is configured to determine an impurity load state of at least one part of the at least one collecting region for impurities based on the electromagnetic waves emitted by the at least one transmitter and received by the at least one receiver.

A method for determining an impurity load state of at least one part of at least one collecting region for impurities of at least one separation body of at least one separation device for separation of impurities from a fluid to be cleaned, the method comprising:

• sending electromagnetic waves by at least one transmitter through the at least one part of the at least one collecting region for impurities;
• receiving the electromagnetic waves passing through the at least one part of the at least one collecting region for impurities by at least one receiver arranged at an opposite side of the at least one separation body opposite the at least one transmitter in relation to the at least one collecting region;
• and
• determining by at least one evaluation device an impurity load state of the at least one part of the at least one collecting region for impurities based on the electromagnetic waves received by the at least one receiver.