Method and apparatus for controlling the concentration factor of a discharge

Claim 2

In a centrifugal separator comprising: a. a rotatably mounted drum comprising a drum housing defining a separating chamber for effecting the separation by delivery of a concentrate to the outer portion of the separating chamber, b. principal discharge nozzles mounted on the drum for continuous discharge of concentrate from the outer portion of the separating chamber, disposed a shorter distance from the axis of rotation than the outer periphery of the separating chamber, c. diversion passages communicating the outer periphery of the separating chamber with the principal discharge nozzles for delivery of concentrate from the outer periphery of the separating chamber to the discharge nozzles, the improvement which comprises: d. auxiliary discharge nozzles at the outer periphery of the separating chamber leading radially outward for discharge of concentrate from the separating chamber at the outer periphery thereof, e. a valve for each auxiliary discharge nozzle for closing and opening thereof in accordance with the need for discharge of concentrate in excess of that discharged from the principal discharge nozzles, f. sensing means operatively associated with said principal and auxiliary discharge nozzles for sensing discharge therefrom, g. control means operatively associated with said sensing means and said valve controlling the operation of the auxiliary discharge nozzles for opening and closing said valve in accordance with said need.

Claim 3

Separator according to claim 1, and hydraulic control means for the auxiliary discharge nozzles.

Claim 4

Separator according to claim 1, said valves each having a valve housing, and a valve body member having a valve plug thereon for closing of the valve, each valve body member being slidably mounted in its valve housing so that centrifugal force tends to move the valve plug to the closed position.

Claim 5

Separator according to claim 3, and hydraulic control means for the auxiliary discharge nozzles for application of hydraulic force in opposition to the centrifugal force tending to close the valve.

Claim 6

Separator according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a composition meter effective to sense the composition of concentrate discharged from the separator and effective to actuate the control means for operation thereof in dependency on the composition of the concentrate.

Claim 7

Separator according to claim 4, wherein said sensing means include a composition meter effective to sense the composition of concentrate discharged from the separator and effective to actuate the control means for operation thereof in dependency on the composition of the concentrate.

Claim 8

Separator according to claim 1, and means defining outwardly converging conical recesses in the drum housing, said diversion passages leading to the principal discharge nozzles and said auxiliary discharge nozzles, both communicating with the outer portion of the conical recesses for receiving concentrate therefrom.

Claim 9

Separator according to claim 7, said valves being positioned and supported in the conical recesses.

Claim 10

Separator according to claim 6, and means defining outwardly converging conical recesses in the drum housing, said diversion passages leading to the principal discharge nozzles and said auxiliary discharge nozzles, both communicating with the outer portion of the conical recesses for receiving concentrate therefrom.

Claim 11

Separator according to claim 9, said valves being positioned and supported in the conical recesses.

Claim 12

Process of separating solids from a suspension a. in a centrifuge having a rotatably mounted drum comprising a drum housing defining a separating chamber for effecting the separation by delivery of a concentrate to the outer portion of the separating chamber, b. principal discharge nozzles mounted on the drum for continuous discharge of concentrate from the outer portion of the separating chamber, disposed a shorter distance from the axis of rotation than the outer periphery of the separating chamber, c. diversion passages communicating the outer periphery of the separating chamber with the principal discharge nozzles for delivery of concentrate from the outer periphery of the separating chamber to the discharge nozzles, d. auxiliary discharge nozzles at the outer periphery of the separating chamber leading radially outward for discharge of concentrate from the separating at the outer periphery thereof, e. a valve for each auxiliary discharge nozzle for closing and opening thereof in accordance with the need for discharge of concentrate in excess of that discharged from the principal discharge nozzles, f. sensing means operatively associated with said principal and auxiliary discharge nozzles for sensing discharge therefrom, g. control means operatively associated with said sensing means and said valve controlling the operation of the auxiliary discharge nozzles for opening and closing said valve in accordance with said need, which comprises: centrifuging the suspension in the centrifuge, continuously withdrawing concentrate from the outer portion of the centrifuge chamber via said principal discharge nozzle and periodically withdrawing concentrate from the outer portion of the centrifuge chamber via said auxiliary discharge nozzles thereby controlling the concentration factor for the separation.

Claim 13

Process of separating solids from a suspension a. in a centrifuge having a rotatably mounted drum comprising a drum housing defining a separating chamber for effecting the separation by delivery of a concentrate to the outer portion of the separating chamber, b. principal discharge nozzles mounted on the drum for continuous discharge of concentrate from the outer portion of the separating chamber, disposed a shorter distance from the axis of rotation than the outer periphery of the separating chamber, c. diversion passages communicating the outer periphery of the separating chamber with the principal discharge nozzles for delivery of concentrate from the outer periphery of the separating chamber to the discharge nozzles, d. auxiliary discharge nozzles at the outer periphery of the separating chamber leading radially outward for discharge of concentrate from the separating at the outer periphery thereof, e. a valve for each auxiliary discharge nozzle for closing and opening thereof in accordance with the need for discharge of concentrate in excess of that discharged from the principal discharge nozzles, f. sensing means operatively associated with said principal and auxiliary discharge nozzles for sensing discharge therefrom, g. control means operatively associated with said sensing means and said valve controlling the operation of the auxiliary discharge nozzles for opening and closing said valve in accordance with said need, which comprises: centrifuging the suspension in the centrifuge, continuously withdrawing concentrate from the outer portion of the centrifuge chamber via said principal discharge nozzle and periodically withdrawing concentrate from the outer portion of the centrifuge chamber via said auxiliary discharge nozzles thereby controlling the concentration factor for the separation.