Centrifugal separator for cleaning gas generated by an internal combustion engine and a method for operating the same

A method for draining oil separated from combustion gases from a centrifugal separator, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a centrifugal separator in gaseous communication with an internal combustion engine, said centrifugal separator having:
• a housing defining an interior separation chamber;
• a centrifugal rotor rotatably coupled to said housing and extending into said separation chamber;
• drive means for causing rotation of said centrifugal rotor;
• a drainage chamber positioned adjacent said separation chamber;
• said separation chamber and said drainage chamber being delimited by a partition wall;
• means defining a flow path through which oil, separated from gases generated by said internal combustion engine and collecting on said partition wall can travel from said separation chamber to said drainage chamber;
• and
• a pump wheel coupled to a shaft portion defined by said rotor and extending radially outwardly therefrom;
• said pump wheel being positioned in said drainage chamber and rotatable with said rotor;
• upon operation of said internal combustion engine, causing said drive means to rotate said rotor of said centrifugal separator;
• introducing gas generated by said internal combustion engine into said separation chamber, said gas including entrained material such as oil therein;
• said centrifugal separator operating to separate said entrained material from said gas so that said oil collects in said separation chamber on a surface defined by said partition wall where, via gravity and said means defining a flow path, said oil drains from said separation chamber into said drainage chamber and into contact with said pump wheel;
• imparting, via the rotation of said pump wheel, centrifugal force to said oil thereby causing said oil to be thrown from said pump wheel into said drainage chamber;
• and wherein
• said rotating pump wheel minimizes the potential for the ingress of oil from said drainage chamber into said separation chamber due to the tendency of oil contacting said pump wheel to be thrown, via centrifugal force generated thereby, back into said drainage chamber.