Separator

A self-emptying separator for centrifugally separating a free-flowing product into at least one liquid phase and at least one solids phase, wherein the self-emptying separator comprises:

• a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and comprising
• a separation chamber in which a disc stack is arranged,
• a solids emptying openings;
• an emptying mechanism, which has a piston valve, is configured to open and close the solids emptying openings discontinuously;
• and
• a control arrangement configured to control the emptying mechanism, wherein the control arrangement comprises a control chamber for a fluid and a valve arrangement having at least one valve in communication with the control chamber to actuate the piston valve
• wherein the self-emptying separator is configured so that the fluid, which is the free-flowing product, is fed from a distributor or the separation chamber of the centrifugal drum to the separation chamber via a supply channel in the drum,
• wherein the at least one valve is
• a centrifugal valve configured to close by centrifugal force against a spring force at an operating speed of the centrifugal drum and to open by the spring force at a lower speed of the centrifugal drum than the operating speed, or
• an electromagnetically controllable valve.