Centrifugal separation system and method of operating a centrifugal separator
AssigneeAlfa Laval Corporate AB
InventorPer-Gustaf LARSSON
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifugal separator includes a rotor, and a control system. The control system includes a first and a second pressure sensor arranged at first and second radial positions in a separation space of the rotor. The first and second pressure sensors are positioned to be submerged in process liquid during operation of the centrifugal separator. A control unit of the control system is configured to determine a parameter of the process liquid within the separation space during operation of the centrifugal separator based on measurements from the first and second pressure sensors.
Claims16
A centrifugal separation system comprising:
- a centrifugal separator configured for separating a liquid feed mixture into a light phase and a heavy phase;
- and
- a control system,
- wherein a process liquid comprises one or more of the liquid feed mixture, the light phase, and the heavy phase,
- wherein the centrifugal separator comprises:
- a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation;
- a separation space;
- an inlet leading into the separation space;
- a light phase outlet leading from the separation space;
- a heavy phase outlet leading from the separation space;
- and
- a stack of separation disks arranged inside the separation space,
- wherein the control system comprises:
- a first sensor for providing temperature measurements, the first sensor being arranged at a first radial position in the separation space;
- and
- a control unit;
- a second sensor for providing temperature measurements, the second sensor being arranged at a second radial position in the separation space,
- wherein the first radial position is radially outside the second radial position,
- wherein the first and second sensors are positioned to be submerged in the process liquid during operation of the centrifugal separator, and
- wherein the control unit is configured to determine a density of one or more of the constituents of the liquid feed mixture within the separation space during operation of the centrifugal separator based on measurements from the first and second sensors.
A method of operating a centrifugal separator configured for separating a liquid feed mixture into a light phase and a heavy phase,
- wherein a process liquid comprises one or more of a liquid feed mixture, a light phase, and a heavy phase,
- wherein the centrifugal separator comprises:
- a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation;
- a separation space;
- an inlet leading into the separation space;
- a light phase outlet leading from the separation space;
- a heavy phase outlet leading from the separation space;
- a stack of separation disks arranged inside the separation space;
- a first sensor for providing temperature measurements, the first sensor being arranged at a first radial position in the separation space;
- and
- a second sensor for providing temperature measurements, the second sensor being arranged at a second radial position in the separation space,
- wherein the first radial position is radially outside the second radial position, and
- wherein the method comprises steps of:
- rotating the rotor;
- conducting the liquid feed mixture into the separation space via the inlet;
- submerging the first and second sensors in the process liquid;
- measuring a first temperature with the first sensor;
- measuring a second temperature with the second sensor;
- and
- determining a density of one or more of the constituents of the liquid feed mixture based on the first and second temperatures.
The method according to claim 17, wherein the centrifugal separator further comprises nozzles arranged at an outer periphery of the rotor,
- wherein the flow controller comprises a slidable bowl bottom configured to open and close the nozzles, and
- wherein the step of controlling the flow controller comprises a step controlling the sliding bowl bottom to open and close the nozzles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.