WO2018137793A1

WO2018137793A1 - Centrifuge arrangement, and expansion process for treating a mixture

Info

Publication number: WO2018137793A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/071188
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernst Schaltegger; Nikolaus Foidl
Original assignee: Ferrum Ag
Priority date: 2017-01-27
Filing date: 2017-08-23
Publication date: 2018-08-02
Also published as: WO2018137794A1; WO2018137792A3; WO2018137792A2; WO2018137795A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a centrifuge arrangement (1) for carrying out an expansion process, comprising a centrifuge (2) having a drum (23) that comprises an inlet opening (21) and an outlet opening (22). A gas pressure can be generated in the drum (23) and the drum (23), in the operating state, can be rotated about a drum axis (T) such that a mixture under rotary pressure can be made to settle on an inner face of the drum (23). Furthermore, an ejection element (3, 301, 302) is arranged in the drum (23). A vessel pressure that is low compared to the rotary pressure can be generated in an expansion vessel (4). The outlet opening (22) of the drum (23) is arranged at a receiving opening (41) of the expansion vessel (4), and the mixture settled under rotary pressure can be discharged from the drum (23) into the expansion vessel (4) by means of the ejection element (3, 301, 302) via the outlet opening (22) and the receiving opening (41), such that the mixture can be explosively expanded under the lower vessel pressure of the expansion vessel (4). The invention also relates to an expansion process for treating a mixture in a centrifuge arrangement (1).

Description

Ferrum AG, Industriestrasse 11/13, 5503 Schafisheim, Switzerland

Centrifuge assembly, relaxation process for treating a

mixture

The invention relates to a centrifuge arrangement according to the preamble of independent claim 1 and to a relaxation method for treating a mixture according to the preamble of independent claim 14.

For processing mixtures, centrifuge assemblies and / or centrifuges are widely used in a variety of embodiments and are used in a variety of fields. So come

For example, for the drying of high purity pharmaceutical products discontinuous centrifuges, preferably peeler centrifuges, used in which after separation of a mixture into a solid cake and a liquid phase of the solid cake peeled off by means of a peeling device of the drum wall and by suitable means, e.g. via a slide, to the outside of the drum is discharged. In other discontinuous systems, but preferably not only in centrifuges on a laboratory scale, it may be that no automatic peeling device is provided, but the centrifuge is stopped after separation of the mixture and the deposited solid cake is removed manually from the drum.

In particular, when continuously large amounts of a mixture to be separated, are working continuously

Helical centrifuges or pusher centrifuges advantageously used. Depending on the requirements, the pusher centrifuges can be one-stage or multi-stage pusher centrifuges, as well as double-pusher centrifuges. All of these types of centrifuge have long been well known to those skilled in the art and are described in detail in, for example, the standard work "Industrial Centrifuges" by Prof. W. Stahl, DRM PRESS. Furthermore, in the near future, the production and production of

Raw materials from mixtures, in particular biomass or

Biomass mixtures, for example, the saccharification or extraction of biomass derivatives for the chemical industry from lignocelluloses, be an integral part of industrial raw material extraction.

For example, the production of bioethanol or biogas contributes

Biomass is essential to the security of future energy supply as it forms an alternative to fossil fuels. As with other renewable energy sources, the production of bioethanol or biogas and its use in the transport and energy industries has environmental benefits over crude oil based fuels, as the

Reduces pollutant emissions and the greenhouse effect is not further increased.

Before further processing into a raw material, hydrolysis may be necessary, in particular for the biomass, preferably for the cellulose fraction of the biomass, in order to convert it into glucose. This step, which can be carried out with the aid of acid and / or enzymatic catalysts, presents a problem because of the chemical stability of the cellulose chain and the protection of the plant tissue by lignin. Due to the structure of the mixture, in particular the biomass, preferably the lignocelluloses, For example, if the carbohydrates of the biomass are not directly accessible to hydrolytic enzymes, one or more pretreatments are necessary to improve the hydrolysis yield. In particular, in order to achieve a highly efficient chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of the individual fractions, first of all must be separated by thermo-mechanical stress of the fiber composite of the biomass for subsequent use to provide great penetration and surface area to chemicals or enzymes. The purpose of the pretreatment is therefore to facilitate the penetration and spread of the enzymes and microorganisms.

Of the known pretreatments, hydrothermal processes appear to be among the most effective for improving the accessibility of mixtures. A steam explosion process is a thermal-mechanical chemical process in which the presence of heat (as vapor), mechanical forces (shear) and chemical processes (hydrolysis) are combined. The result is the change of the mixture,

in particular the microfiber pack inside the cell wall and the

Tearing the fiber, thereby causing an improvement in the accessibility of the mixture, for example, the cellulose for hydrolytic enzymes. The optimum conditions of temperature and the reaction time depend on the nature of the mixture. Steam explosive devices have the purpose of saturating mixtures, in particular mechanically pre-shredded biomass, with high-pressure steam under pressure into the smallest interstices, in order then to relax the high-pressure mixture in a collecting vessel via a valve, wherein in particular a gas resulting from the pressure difference is preferred Steam, explosively relaxed, preferably the gas within the cell structure of the biomass explosively relaxes, thereby tearing the cell composite from the inside.

Known devices are either discontinuous plants, so batch plants, or continuous plants. A discontinuous apparatus for steam explosion treatment was patented in 1929 by Masonc for the manufacture of wooden boards (US Pat. No. 1,665,618). It combines a thermal treatment with steam and the mechanical degradation of the

Organization of biomasses or in particular lignocelluloses. In this method wood splinters are steamed in a vertical steel cylinder at a pressure of 3.5 MPa or more. After completion of the Treatment, the material is abruptly removed from the bottom of the cylinder. This process combines the effects of high pressures and temperatures and the final pressure drop on the lignocelluloses. The effect of this process is a combination of physical (separation and tearing of fibers) and chemical

(Degradation of the polymerization and breaking of the C-O-C bonds) changes.

Today there are very different devices for

Steam explosion treatment and relaxation process. From WO 96/09882 an apparatus and a method is known in which the mixture is preheated in a preheating reactor by means of recycled steam from a subsequent process step before it is pumped from the preheating reactor into one or more parallel reactors. The reactor filled with the mixture, in particular the biomass, is supplied with heating steam at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure and kept for the desired time. Thereafter, the reactor is relieved and steam is returned to the

Reheating tank directed to energy recovery. When the reactor pressure has dropped to the desired level (typically 2-4 bar), the steam return from the reactor to the preheat tank is turned off. The biomass is then at a low

Relief pressure blown to a flash tank (typically 1.2 bar).

The device disclosed in US 6,966,989 uses, unlike in WO 96/09882, no preheating tank but parallel reactors, which take over the function of the preheating tank. However, the operation is very similar to the device or method disclosed in WO 96/09882.

From WO 201 1/006854 A1, in turn, a device and a

Method of steam explosion known. The mixture is from Biomass in a Vorwärwärungsschhtt preheated in a preheating tank by means of a first and second pressure relief tank steam recirculated. Following the preheated mixture is a

Reactor fed, which is heated by the addition of steam and pressurized with a reactor pressure. Finally, the heated and under reactor pressure mixture from the reactor into the first

Pressure relief tank out, wherein between the reactor and the first pressure relief tank, a nozzle is arranged. Through the nozzle there is a rapid pressure relief of the mixture under the reactor pressure in the first pressure relief tank and the mixture is depressurized.

A major disadvantage of the known steam explosion and relaxation process or steam explosion process is their constructive and procedurally very complicated structure and the complex implementation of the method, since several reactor vessels with complex pressure generators are necessary. For example, continuous steam explosion apparatus and / or relaxation processes for treating mixtures require a pressure-tight supply to a reactor. In the reactor then again leads and pressure generator are necessary to bring the mixture to be treated with steam 15 to 20 minutes to the required reactor pressure and the required reactor temperature, then to another pressure lock with another

To convey conveyor to a discharge valve, where the mixture then at short intervals in a flash tank

is ejected. Thus, at least four pressure locks are provided which are closed and opened simultaneously in a semicontinuous manner within 15 to 20 minutes, and additionally three different conveying devices, for example transport screws, are necessary. There is also one

elaborate lock apparatus necessary to guarantee pressure tightness and additional equipment to ensure safe operation of

To ensure vapor pressure locks. In continuous devices In addition, a complex supply and removal of the mixture and the transport within the reactors with high-pressure-tight, rotating screws and bushings are added. Another disadvantage is that known discontinuous and continuous devices and processes have a high throughput time or exposure time of at least 15 minutes, in particular to ensure the steam saturation of the mixture, preferably the biomass on cell level, as well as the low flow rate of the mixture. The discontinuous devices for steam explosion and the relaxation process thereby still have longer throughput times or exposure times than the continuous devices and methods and are even more difficult to operate. Not to be underestimated and another major drawback is the complexity of the high susceptibility to failure and the high maintenance intensity of the devices for steam explosion and the relaxation process. Starting from this prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a centrifuge arrangement for carrying out a relaxation process and a relaxation process for the treatment of a mixture, which largely avoids the disadvantages known from the prior art, in particular a

To propose centrifuge assembly for performing a relaxation process and a relaxation process for the treatment of a mixture that are structurally and procedurally simple and / or have low flow rates of the mixture and / or have a higher flow rates of the mixture and / or can be controlled and controlled continuously and / or have a reduced energy consumption.

This object is achieved by a centrifuge assembly having the features of claim 1 and a relaxation process for treating a mixture having the features of claim 14. The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention, a centrifuge arrangement for carrying out a relaxation process is proposed. The centrifuge assembly comprises a centrifuge with a drum having an inlet opening and a

Includes outlet, wherein in the drum, a gas pressure can be formed. The drum is fed via the inlet opening a mixture. in the

Operating state, the drum is rotatable about a drum axis such that on an inner side of the drum, in particular an inner

Drum shell surface, which is deductible under a rotary pressure mixture. The drum can be with a drum shell, which may include in particular the drum shell surface, of the

Inlet opening to the outlet opening along the drum axis extend. In addition, an ejection element is arranged in the drum. Furthermore, the centrifuge assembly comprises a flash tank, wherein in the flash tank a lower compared to the rotary pressure

Tank pressure can be formed. In this case, the outlet opening of the drum is arranged on a receiving opening of the flash tank and the mixture deposited under the rotary pressure so with the ejection element via the outlet opening and the receiving opening in the

Discharge tank is drained from the drum that the mixture is under the lower tank pressure of the flash tank

can be relaxed explosively.

In the following, a mixture is generally to be understood as meaning that the mixture consists of at least two substances, it being possible for the mixture to be a homogeneous or heterogeneous mixture, and for the substances to be solid, liquid or gaseous. The

Mixture, in particular the mixture which can be supplied via the inlet opening, can be a liquid phase and / or a solid phase, wherein the

Solid phase in particular may also be a colloidal liquid, and / or a gas phase. The settable mixture which is under rotary pressure may be the solid phase or colloidal

Be liquid, and is also called solid cake in particular. However, the settable mixture which is under the rotary pressure may also comprise portions of the gas phase, which are liquid due to the rotary pressure, or portions of the liquid phase. However, a substantial proportion of the liquid phase may be separable from the settable mixture due to the rotational pressure. The relaxed mixture present in the expansion vessel essentially comprises fractions of the solid phase, in particular the solids cake, and / or a fraction of liquid phase and / or a fluid which may comprise fractions of the gas and / or liquid phase of the mixture. Preferably, the mixture can be a biomass, in particular a

Biomass mixture of different origin and composition. The mixture may also comprise a mineral or a rock or a rare earth. In this case, a biomass or a biomass mixture, for example from lignocelluloses, may preferably be chosen from a mixture

Timber or agricultural waste or raw materials from livestock and agriculture. The mixture may be mixed with a liquid and / or a solution. Essential to the invention is that the mixture of the drum can be supplied, the mixture due to the rotation of the centrifuge, in particular the drum, and in particular due to the high speed and the high centrifugal force acting on the inside of the drum, quickly to the rotary pressure can be brought, so that the mixture, preferably a biomass, particularly preferably a vapor-saturated biomass, on the inner wall of the drum of a fast, high and efficient

Pressure increase is exposed, which heats the mixture further. With the

The ejection element is the mixture which can be deposited on the inside of the drum under a high rotary pressure in a simple manner via the outlet opening of the drum and the receiving opening in the drum Relaxation tank with the low tank pressure can be guided out of the drum. Due to the rapid pressure change from the high rotational pressure in the centrifuge, in particular the drum, to the low container pressure in the flash tank, the settleable mixture is released explosively. In this case, the proportion of the gaseous phase in the settable mixture, in particular the fractions of the gaseous phase which are due to the rotary pressure in the liquid or solid phase, revert to the gas phase due to the lower vessel pressure, ie the settable mixture relaxes in a very short time Time and will

torn apart explosively. In particular, when the mixture is a biomass or a biomass mixture, for example lignocelluloses which are mixed with water or another solvent, the pressure change from high rotary pressure to low

Container pressure, the fiber composite and the cell walls of the mixture torn and torn apart.

In the following, a fluid can be understood as meaning a liquid and / or a gas and / or a mixture of a gas and a liquid and / or a drop, in particular a liquid drop, and / or a gas bubble and / or steam, in particular the fractions of the liquid Mixture, which are relaxed in the expansion tank. The mixture may thus comprise the fluid, in particular the fluid may comprise the gas phase of the mixture.

The rotational pressure is caused by the rotation of the centrifuge, in particular the drum, the centrifugal force acting on the inside of the drum. The rotational pressure, in particular a high rotational pressure, is to be understood below as meaning a rotational pressure having a rotational pressure range of 1 to 200 bar, preferably 1 to 100 bar, particularly preferably 10 to 100 bar. In the following, under a container pressure, the pressure in

Relaxation container to understand, which preferably results from the relaxed mixture, in particular from a relaxed fluid portion of the mixture. The container pressure can correspond to the air pressure, preferably the container pressure can be from 1 to 20 bar, preferably from 1 to 10 bar, particularly preferably from 1 to 5 bar.

Furthermore, a gas pressure is to be understood as meaning the pressure which results from the fluid portion of the mixture in the centrifuge, in particular in the drum. The gas pressure may correspond to the air pressure, the gas pressure may preferably be from 1 to 20 bar or 1 to 150 bar, preferably 1 to 10 bar or 1 to 75 bar, particularly preferably 1 to 5 bar.

The centrifuge may be a vertically or horizontally mounted centrifuge, a continuous or discontinuous centrifuge, in particular a peeler centrifuge, sliding centrifuge, single or multi-stage pusher centrifuge, double pusher centrifuge or vibrating centrifuge or a

Be slug centrifuge. The drum can be rotatable in a first direction of rotation. The drum may be rotatable at a drum speed of 1 to 10,000 revolutions per minute, preferably 500 to 10,000

Revolutions per minute, more preferably from 1000 to 4000

Revolutions per minute, in particular be rotatable at 2000 to 4000 revolutions per minute. The drum may be hollow cylindrical, preferably formed as a first hollow cylinder. However, the drum can also have a round and / or circular and / or elliptical cross section in a radial direction, that is to say orthogonal to the drum axis. In principle, the drum may also have a prism-like shape and / or be formed as a prism and in the radial direction have a triangular and / or rectangular and / or polygonal cross-section. The drum may be drivable with a first motor, in particular a frequency-controlled first motor, in order to be able to control with the drum the flow rate and the throughput time of the mixture. The drum can outside, so for example on an outside of the drum, against

Heat losses to be thermally insulated. The drum, at the point of discharge of the mixture into the flash tank, may be a weir,

in particular a variable weir, which makes it possible to control the layer thickness of the mixture on the inside of the drum. The drum, in particular the outlet opening of the drum, can be sealed, for example with an O-ring seal, on, preferably in, the receiving opening of the expansion tank. In addition, the drum may have a first abutment, which at the

Receiving opening of the expansion tank can be arranged. The ejection element may have a second counter bearing, which may be arranged on a further receiving opening of the expansion tank. The ejection element can also be sealed, for example with an O-ring seal, on, preferably in, the further receiving opening of the

Relaxation container may be arranged.

The centrifuge arrangement, in particular the centrifuge or the drum can, for example by means of the ejection element, a relaxation means, in particular carbon dioxide (CO2) or other gases under

Normal conditions are gaseous, for example nitrogen, are supplied. The relaxant has the effect of being at one

corresponding high rotary pressure, for example from 30 to 200 bar, preferably 50 to 100 bar, more preferably 70 to 90 bar, so almost supercritical or supercritical pressure, the at least partially or completely supercritical relaxant penetrates the mixture, in particular the solid phase of the mixture, and then the at least partially or completely supercritical expansion agent under the lower container pressure of the flash tank bursts into a gas phase and the mixture can be relaxed by means of the expansion means. The additional advantage is that such a relaxation agent is even easier to recover than, for example, as water vapor. The advantages of the centrifuge arrangement according to the invention and of the relaxation process mentioned below are:

- low throughput times and / or short residence times of the

Mixture in the centrifuge assembly, in particular in the

Centrifuge, and / or

a high throughput and high processing capacity of the mixture compared to known devices and

Relaxation process, and / or

- Constructively simple designed centrifuge assembly and / or procedurally simple configured and / or low

Manufacture cost associated relaxation process, preferably steam explosion process, in particular continuous

Steam explosion process with a variety of mixtures, and / or

- High energy efficiency due to the recirculation of the fluids - The centrifuge arrangement has a significantly smaller

Device geometry with a high energy efficiency with low residence times compared to the known devices for steam explosion, especially with respect to the reactors.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ejection element in the form of a helical coil is formed with an ejection surface, preferably the ejection element is a screw conveyor, and the ejection element is rotatable in the operating state about an ejection axis, that the mixture with the ejection surface along the ejection axis is movable, or Ejection element is a push floor device and the

Push floor device is in the operating state so along the

Ausausossachse arranged to move back and forth, that the mixture with the push floor device, preferably with a thrust surface of the

Moving floor device, along the ejection axis is movable. The ejection element may preferably be arranged at a small distance from the inside of the drum in the drum. The ejection element can be at least partially disposed at the outlet opening of the drum. The ejection axis may preferably coincide with the drum axis, wherein the ejection axis can also assume a different position from the drum axis. The ejection element can, in particular the

Conveying screw, be rotatable in the first direction of rotation as the drum and rotatable at an output speed of 0 to 300 rpm difference to the drum speed, preferably 0 to 150 revolutions per

Minute, more preferably 0 to 50 revolutions per minute,

In particular 5 to 15 or 0 to 20 revolutions per minute difference to the drum speed be rotatable or rotatable. The ejection element may be drivable with a second motor, in particular a frequency-controlled second motor, in order to be able to use the ejection element to control the throughput quantity and the throughput time of the mixture. The

Ejection element, in particular when it is designed as a sliding floor device, in the operating state, either an oscillatory

Perform relative movement between the sliding floor device and the stationary in the axial direction of the drum and / or between one or more possibly existing further drums, so be reciprocated. The rotation and / or the oscillatory movement of the ejection element can preferably via a push rod or a

Conveyor shaft done. Advantageously, the mixture is so on a

structurally simple manner in the drum feasible and movable from the drum into the flash tank.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ejection element comprises a hollow shaft, wherein the hollow shaft preferably has an inlet opening and / or a

Outlet opening, particularly preferably the hollow shaft circumferentially one or more inlet openings and / or one or more

Has outlet openings. By means of the inlet openings in the hollow shaft, the fluid from the flash tank in the hollow shaft is traceable, and / or by means of the outlet openings of the hollow shaft in the drum traceable, preferably when the tank pressure is higher than the gas pressure. The push rod or a conveyor shaft may preferably be designed as a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft may have a hollow cylindrical shape, and preferably also be designed as a second hollow cylinder. However, the hollow shaft can also have a round and / or circular and / or elliptical cross section in a radial direction, that is to say orthogonal to the ejection axis. In principle, the hollow shaft may also have a prism-like shape and / or be formed as a prism and in the radial direction have a triangular and / or rectangular and / or polygonal cross-section. The settleable mixture, in particular the fractions of the gas phase, which is expanded in the expansion tank, can increase the tank pressure, so that the tank pressure can become higher than the gas pressure in the drum. Advantageously, the hollow shaft thus allows with the

Inlet opening and / or the outlet opening that the fluid from the

Relaxation tank in the centrifuge, in particular in the drum, traceable, whereby the energy consumption by the return of the fluid, in particular due to the large amounts of fluid, preferably water vapor, is substantially lower than in the known devices and methods. Furthermore, due to this measure, the fluid in the drum can be converted back into the liquid phase by means of the rotary pressure and / or recondensed and / or reused.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ejection element comprises a

Abwurfscheibe, with which the mixture from the drum in the

Discharge container is ejectable. The discharge disc allows a targeted distribution of the mixture to be relaxed in the

Flash tank.

In an embodiment of the invention, a cavitation rotor is provided in the drum, the cavitation rotor preferably between the

Inlet opening of the drum and the ejection element is arranged, particularly preferably the Kavitationsrotor in the operating state by a Rotor axis is rotatable. The cavitation rotor is rotatable in a second direction of rotation. The first direction of rotation and the second direction of rotation may coincide, wherein preferably the second direction of rotation is opposite to the first direction of rotation. The drum axis, ejection axis and

Rotor axis may coincide or take a different position in space. The cavitation rotor can

be hollow cylindrical, preferably be designed as a third hollow cylinder. However, the cavitation rotor can also have a round and / or circular and / or elliptical cross section in a radial direction, that is to say orthogonal to the rotor axis. In principle, the cavitation rotor may also have a prism-like shape and / or be formed as a prism and have a triangular and / or rectangular and / or polygonal cross-section in the radial direction. The cavitation rotor may be drivable with a third motor, in particular a frequency-controlled third motor, in order to be able to control the throughput quantity and the throughput time of the mixture with the cavitation rotor. The first engine and the second engine and the third engine may be the same engine or different engines. The drive device may for the first, second and / or third motor, a direct clutch and / or a

Be pulleys. Advantageously, the mixture with the

In addition, the mixture is additionally in a very short time, so in 1 to 10 seconds, preferably 3 to 8 seconds, mixed and cavitated, i. mechanical forces act on the mixture and thus ensure better mixing of the mixture. Likewise, the mixture due to the rotation of the

Cavitation rotor in the opposite direction additionally mechanically treated and / or better mixed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cavitation rotor on an inner circumferential surface has a blind bore, preferably a radially directed blind bore, preferably a plurality of blind holes in a row, particularly preferably several rows of blind holes. The inner mantle surface of the

Cavitation rotor between two blind holes can be shaped such that the mixture is feasible to the blind holes, in particular is enforceable. The mixture can in radial direction to the rotor axis decreasing direction, ie in an interior of the cavitation rotor again

be ejected and / or movable. The blind holes can be arranged along the rotor axis, ie axially, and / or radially to the rotor axis, in a row, preferably in a plurality of rows of blind holes. The shape of the blind holes can be adjustable in dependence on a rotor diameter and a rotational speed of the cavitation rotor and an inclination of the blind holes to the rotor axis and the formation of the bore openings of the blind holes. The inner surface of the

Cavitation rotor between two blind holes may be formed as a needle tip, preferably with an at least partially in the radial direction to

Rotor axis tapered or tapered needle tip, so that the mixture with the needle tip to the blind holes is feasible, in particular is enforceable. Advantageously, the mixture can additionally be pretreated, in particular with the blind holes on the cavitation rotor. The mixture can also be mixed advantageously by means of the blind bore by the mixture is sucked into the blind bore and due to the negative pressure resulting bubbles in the blind holes permanently collapse in and thus cavitate. At the

Collapsing mechanical forces and / or shock waves with high temperature and / or high cavitation pressure generated and in the mixture, preferably in the biomass, particularly preferably in the

vapor saturated biomass with water and / or gas introduced. Another advantage is that the good penetration and mixing of the mixture, as already mentioned, takes place in fractions of a second.

In an embodiment of the invention, the drum with the drum speed of 1 to 10,000 revolutions per minute is rotatable or rotatable, preferably with 500 to 10,000 revolutions per minute, more preferably 1 to 4,000 revolutions per minute, especially 2,000 to 4,000

Revolutions per minute. Advantageously, the generate

Drum speeds in this area very high centrifugal forces, especially a very high rotational pressure, so that the introduced mixture can be brought very quickly to the rotational pressure and the mixture has only a short residence time in the drum. The height

Rotational pressure also makes it possible to further heat the mixture and / or to keep a portion of the gas phase of the mixture in the liquid phase.

In an embodiment of the invention, the centrifuge assembly comprises a sieve, preferably a hollow cylindrical sieve with one or more

Sieve openings or pores, and / or the sieve is arranged in the drum and the ejection element is arranged in the sieve. On an outer surface of the screen, a longitudinal groove and / or a transverse grooves may be provided.

Advantageously, such a standing under the rotation pressure

Liquid phase of the mixture, in particular an excess water to be traceable to the inlet opening or even to outside the centrifuge assembly and, for example, in a heating of the mixture in front of the centrifuge assembly, especially in front of the inlet opening, find use as energy-saving feedback.

The screen may be a filter cloth and / or a support fabric and / or a filter screen, in particular, the screen of polypropylene and / or metal and / or of a composite material and / or of a carbon

Composite material, preferably of a sintered material and / or ceramic and / or sintered metal. The filter cloth and / or the support fabric may be a textile filter cloth and / or a textile support fabric. The

Support fabric may be disposed between the filter cloth and the inner peripheral surface of the drum shell, thereby preventing the

Filter cloth is pulled into the drain hole due to the drum pressure and the drainage hole is blocked by the filter cloth. By the

Supportive tissue is thus ensured that the centrifuged liquid phase of the mixture can be reliably removed from the drum to the outside. The sieve, in particular the filter sieve, may comprise one or more pores and be another hollow cylinder. Advantageously, the settleable mixture, in particular the solid phase or the

Solid cake, thus be deductible on the screen.

In an embodiment of the invention, the relaxation tank is a

Discharge provided, so that the relaxed mixture with the discharge from the flash tank can be discharged. in the

Furthermore, the centrifuge arrangement may comprise a condenser, wherein the condenser is preferably arranged on the expansion tank, so that the expanded mixture, in particular the fluid, can be liquefied by means of condensation. The centrifuge assembly may also be another

Feed screw include, wherein the further screw conveyor is preferably arranged on the expansion tank, so that the relaxed mixture, in particular the relaxed solid cake, in or on or from the flash tank is feasible. The capacitor makes it possible

Advantageously, the fluid, in particular gases and vapors and

entrain entrained substances by means of condensation and thus allows to supply the fluid to a further fractionation or recycling. The further screw conveyor, which may also be an ejection element, can be arranged on the expansion tank, preferably on the

Be connected to expansion tank or in this

be arranged. The further screw conveyor makes it possible to carry away the expanded mixture from the centrifuge arrangement, in particular to supply further devices and / or methods, for example hot water leaching, chemical leaching or drying, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, the centrifuge assembly comprises a

Pump, preferably a high-pressure solids pump, wherein the pump Preferably at the inlet opening, particularly preferably outside the Tronnnnel is arranged, and / or the centrifuge arrangement a

Steam generator includes, wherein the steam generator preferably at the

Inlet opening, particularly preferably outside the drum is arranged. The pump may be a frequency-controlled pump and / or be controllable by a transmission. The pump has the advantage that the mixture, before it can be supplied to the centrifuge, in particular the drum and / or the cavitation rotor via the inlet opening of the drum, can additionally be brought to a pump pressure. The steam generator has the advantage that the mixture, before it can be supplied to the centrifuge, in particular the drum and / or the cavitation rotor via the inlet opening of the drum, additionally a gas, preferably a water vapor, can be supplied.

The invention further relates to a relaxation process for treating a mixture in a centrifuge arrangement. The centrifuge assembly includes a centrifuge having a drum, the drum having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A gas pressure is formed in the drum and the drum is rotated about a drum axis so as to deposit a mixture under a rotary pressure on an inner side of the drum. In n the drum is an ejection element

arranged. The centrifuge assembly further comprises a

Expansion tank, wherein in the expansion tank a low container pressure compared to the rotary pressure is formed. In addition, the outlet opening of the drum is at a receiving opening of the

Arranged expansion vessel and deposited under the rotary pressure mixture so with the ejection element on the

Outlet opening and the receiving opening led into the expansion tank, that the mixture under the lower tank pressure of

Relaxation tank is released explosively. In an embodiment of the invention, the centrifuge arrangement according to the invention is used in the expansion process, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 13.

The relaxation process according to the invention has the above

described advantages of the inventive centrifuge arrangement.

Further advantageous measures and preferred process guides emerge from the dependent claims.

In the following, the invention is described both in apparatus and in

procedural terms explained with reference to embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the schematic

Drawing shows:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the inventive

Centrifuge arrangement, and

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the inventive

Centrifuge arrangement, and

3 shows a detail of the cavitation rotor with blind holes;

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the inventive centrifuge assembly 1 for performing a

Relax procedure. The centrifuge assembly 1 comprises a

Centrifuge 2 with a drum 23, which comprises an inlet opening 21 and an outlet opening 22, and has a hollow cylindrical shape, preferably formed as a first hollow cylinder. In the drum 23, a gas pressure can be formed and the drum 23 is rotatable in the operating state about a drum axis T in such a way in a first rotational direction that on an inner side of the drum 23, in particular an inner

Drum shell surface, a standing under a rotary pressure mixture is deductible. In the Tronnnnel 23, an ejection element 3 is arranged, wherein the ejection element is preferably at least partially disposed at the outlet opening 22. The centrifuge assembly 1 further comprises a

Expansion tank 4, wherein in the expansion tank 4, a lower container pressure can be formed compared to the rotary pressure. The

Outlet opening 22 of the drum 23 is arranged at a receiving opening 41 of the flash tank 4 and the sedimented mixture so discharged with the ejection element 3 via the outlet opening 22 and the receiving opening 41 in the flash tank 4 from the drum 2, that the mixture under the lower container pressure of the expansion tank 4 can be explosively relaxed. Thus, due to the rapid pressure change from the higher rotary pressure to the lower tank pressure, the mixture, in particular the settleable mixture, can be released explosively. The inventive stripping process for treating a mixture in a centrifuge arrangement 1 can be described as follows. The centrifuge assembly 1 comprises a centrifuge 2 with a drum 23, and the drum 23 an inlet opening 21 and a

Outlet opening 22. In the drum 23, a gas pressure is formed and the drum 23 is rotated about the drum axis T such that an inside of the drum 23 is under a rotary pressure

Mixture is discontinued. In addition, in the drum 23 a

Ejection element 3 is arranged. In addition, a flash tank 4 is provided, wherein in the expansion tank 4 a compared to

Rotational pressure low tank pressure is formed. In addition, the outlet opening 22 of the drum 23 is so arranged on a receiving opening 41 of the expansion tank 4 and the offset under the rotary pressure mixture so with the ejection element 3 on the

Outlet opening 22 and the receiving opening 41 in the expansion tank 4 that the mixture is explosively released under the lower tank pressure of the flash tank 4.

In the inventive expansion process for the treatment of a mixture in a centrifuge arrangement, in particular the

Centrifuge assembly 1 according to the invention can be used.

The drum 23, in particular the outlet opening 22 of the drum 23, is sealed, for example with an O-ring seal, on, preferably in, the receiving opening 41 of the expansion tank 4. In addition, the drum 23 has a first abutment (not shown) which is arranged on the receiving opening 41 of the expansion tank 4. The

The drum is rotatable at 1 to 10,000 revolutions per minute, preferably at 500 to 10 000 revolutions per minute, more preferably at 1000 to 4000 revolutions per minute, especially at 2000 to 4000

Revolutions per minute, rotatable. In addition, the drum can be thermally insulated against heat loss on the outside.

The ejection element 3 is in the form of a helical coil with an ejection surface 31, preferably as a screw conveyor 3, 301, is formed. The ejection element 3 has a second abutment (not shown), which is arranged on a further receiving opening 43 of the expansion tank 4. The ejection element is also sealed, for example with a further O-ring seal, on, preferably in, the other

Receiving opening 43 of the expansion tank 4 is arranged. In addition, the ejection element 3 is in the operating state such a

Ejection axis A rotatable in the first direction of rotation, that the mixture with the ejection surface 31 along the ejection axis A is movable. The ejection element 3 can with an output speed of 0 to 300

Turning per minute differential rotation to the drum speed be rotatable, preferably 0 to 150 revolutions per minute, more preferably 0 to 50 revolutions per minute, in particular 5 to 15 or 0 to 20 Revolutions per minute differential rotation to the drum speed be rotatable or rotatable. The ejection element 3 also includes a

Abwurfscheibe 36, with the mixture of the drum 2 in the

Expansion tank 4 is ejected. Furthermore, this includes

Discharge element 3 a hollow shaft 33 which has a hollow cylindrical shape, and preferably at least one inlet opening 34 and / or at least one outlet opening 35 has. As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow shaft 33 has a plurality of inlet openings 34 and a plurality of outlet openings 35 on the circumference. Thereby, preferably when the container pressure is higher than the gas pressure, by means of the inlet openings 34 in the hollow shaft 33, a fluid from the flash tank 4 in the hollow shaft 33 and by means of the outlet opening 35 from the hollow shaft 33 are returned to the drum 2. Thus, the return flow of the fluid from the expansion tank 4 into the centrifuge 2, preferably the drum 23, is advantageously made possible.

In the drum 2, a cavitation rotor 5 is provided which a

has hollow cylindrical shape and is preferably designed as a third hollow cylinder. The cavitation rotor 5 is preferably between the

Inlet opening 21 of the drum 2 and the ejection element 3 is arranged, but may also be arranged at a different location in the drum 2. The cavitation rotor 5 is rotatable about the rotor axis R in the operating state. The cavitation rotor 5 is rotatable in a second direction of rotation, wherein the second direction of rotation is preferably opposite to the first direction of rotation. On an inner circumferential surface 51 of the Kavitationsrotors 5 are one or

provided a plurality of blind bore 52. The blind holes 52 are arranged along the rotor axis R, ie axially, and / or radially to the rotor axis R, in a row, preferably in a plurality of rows of blind holes. The inner mantle surface of the cavitation rotor between two blind bores is shaped such that it is conically or conically shaped, preferably in a direction increasing radially to the rotor axis R, that the mixture is in the direction of the Sackbohrungen feasible, in particular forced is, and in radial direction to the rotor axis decreasing direction, ie in an interior of the

Kavitationsrotors 5 again ausschleuderbar and / or is movable. The shape of the blind holes 52 depends on a rotor diameter and a

Rotational speed of the cavitation rotor 5 and the inclination of the

Blind holes 52 to the rotor axis R and the formation of the

Bore openings of the blind holes 52 from.

In the drum 2, a sieve 6 is arranged, preferably a

hollow cylindrical sieve 6 with a plurality of sieve openings, and in the sieve 6, the ejection element 3 is arranged. The screen 6 can be designed in particular as a porous inner cylinder. In addition, a longitudinal groove and / or a transverse groove may be provided on an outer surface of the screen 6 so that the separated liquid phase of the mixture and / or the recondensed fluid can be returned to the inlet opening 21. The separated liquid phase of the mixture and / or the recondensed fluid can be guided along the lateral surface of the drum 2 and selectively returned via a pressure-holding valve in order to heat during the heating of the insertable

Mixture as energy-saving recycling use to find.

At the expansion tank 4, a discharge device 44 is also provided, so that the expanded mixture with the discharge device 44 from the flash tank 4 can be discharged. The

Centrifuge assembly 1 may further include a condenser (not shown) and / or another auger (not shown). The condenser may preferably be arranged on the expansion tank 4, so that the expanded mixture is liquefiable and thus it can be fed to a further fractionation or recycling. The further screw conveyor may preferably be arranged on the expansion tank 4, preferably connected to this. The centrifuge assembly 1 may further comprise a pump (not shown), preferably a high pressure solids pump, the pump preferably at the inlet port 21, particularly preferably outside the drum 23, and / or a steam generator (not shown), wherein the steam generator is preferably arranged at the inlet opening 21, particularly preferably outside the drum 23. FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a second one

Embodiment of the inventive centrifuge arrangement shown. The figure 2 corresponds essentially to Figure 1, which is why only on the

Differences is received. The centrifuge 2 of the centrifuge assembly 1 can also be designed as a pusher centrifuge or as a double-acting centrifuge or as a multi-stage pusher centrifuge. As already to Fig. 1

described the drum 23 is arranged on the expansion tank 4 and the ejection element 3, which is arranged in the drum 23 is a

Push floor device 3, 302. The push floor device 3, 302 is in the operating state so along the ejection axis A back and forth arranged that the mixture with the push floor device 3, 302, preferably with a thrust surface 32 of the sliding floor device 3, 302, along the ejection axis A movable is. Again, this includes

Ejection element 3 a hollow shaft 33 which has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the hollow shaft 33 has a plurality of inlet openings 34 and a plurality of outlet openings 35 on the circumference. Thereby, preferably, when the tank pressure is higher than the gas pressure, the fluid by means of

Inlet openings 34 in the hollow shaft 33 from the flash tank 4 in the hollow shaft 33 and are returned by means of the outlet opening 35 from the hollow shaft 33 in the drum 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a blind bore of the

Cavitation rotor shown. As already described for FIG. 1, one or more blind bores 52 are provided on the inner circumferential surface 51 of the cavitation rotor 5 (see FIG. 1). The inner circumferential surface 51 of the

Cavitation rotor 5 between two blind holes is formed as a needle tip 53, preferably with an at least partially in the radial direction to Rotor axis R (see FIG. 1) conically or conically tapered needle tip 53, so that the mixture with the needle tip 53 to the blind holes 52 is feasible, in particular is enforceable.

Claims

claims:

1 . Centrifuge arrangement for carrying out a relaxation process, comprising a centrifuge (2) with a drum (23) having a

Inlet opening (21) and an outlet opening (22), wherein in the drum (23), a gas pressure can be formed, and the drum (23) in

Operating state about a drum axis (T) is rotatable so that on a inside of the drum (23) is a standing under a rotary pressure mixture is deductible,

and wherein an ejection element (3, 301, 302) is arranged in the drum (23),

characterized in that

in a flash tank (4), a low tank pressure can be formed in comparison with the rotary pressure, the outlet opening (22) of the drum (23) being located at a receiving opening (41) of the drum

Relaxation tank (4) is arranged and under the

Rotary pressure offset mixture so with the ejection element (3, 301, 302) via the outlet opening (22) and the receiving opening (41) in the flash tank (4) from the drum (23) can be discharged, that the mixture under the lower tank pressure of the flash tank (4) can be relaxed explosively.

2. centrifuge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ejection element (3, 301, 302) in the form of a helical coil with a

Ejection surface (31) is formed, preferably a screw conveyor (3, 301), and the ejection element (3, 301, 302) in the operating state is rotatable about an ejection axis (A) that the mixture with the ejection surface (31) along the Ejection axis (A) is movable, or the ejection element (3, 301, 302) is a push floor device (3, 302) and the push floor device (3, 302) in the operating state such along the ejection axis (A) is arranged back and forth, that the mixture with the push floor device (3, 302), preferably with a pushing surface (32) of the push floor device (3, 302), is movable along the ejection axis (A).

3. centrifuge assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the

Discharge element (3, 301, 302) comprises a hollow shaft (33), wherein the hollow shaft (33) preferably an inlet opening (34) and / or a

The outlet opening (35), particularly preferably the hollow shaft (33) has circumferentially one or more inlet openings (34) and / or one or more outlet openings (35).

4. centrifuge arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein by means of the inlet openings (34) in the hollow shaft (33), a fluid from the flash tank (4) in the hollow shaft (33) is traceable, and / or by means of the outlet openings (35) from the Hollow shaft (33) in the drum (23) is traceable, preferably when the tank pressure is higher than the gas pressure.

5. centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ejection element (3, 301, 302) comprises an ejection disc (36), with which the mixture of the drum (23) in the flash tank (4) is ejected.

6. centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the drum (23) a Kavitationsrotor (5) is provided, wherein the

Cavitation rotor (5) preferably between the inlet opening (21) of the drum (23) and the Ausstosselement (3, 301, 302) is arranged, particularly preferably the Kavitationsrotor (5) in the operating state about the rotor axis (R) is rotatable.

7. Zentnfugenanordnung according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (23) in a first rotational direction and / or the cavitation rotor (5) is rotatable in a second direction of rotation, preferably the second

Direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

8. centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavitation rotor (5) on an inner circumferential surface (51) a

Has blind bore (52), preferably a plurality of blind holes (52) in a row, more preferably a plurality of rows of blind holes (52).

9. Centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (23) is rotatable at 1 to 10,000 revolutions per minute, preferably at 500 to 10 000 revolutions per minute, more preferably at 1000 to 4000 revolutions per minute, in particular at 2000 to 4000 Revolutions per minute, is rotatable.

10. Centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims,

comprising a sieve (6), preferably a hohizylinderformigen sieve (6) with one or more sieve openings, and / or the sieve (6) in the

Drum (23) is arranged and the ejection element (3, 301, 302) in the sieve (6) is arranged.

1 1. Centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on an outer circumferential surface of the screen (6) is provided a longitudinal groove and / or a transverse grooves, so that an excess water to

Inlet opening (21) is traceable.

12. Centrifuge arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a discharge device (44) is provided on the expansion tank (4), so that the expanded mixture with the discharge device (44) the expansion tank (4) can be discharged and / or the

Centrifugal assembly (1) comprises a capacitor, wherein the

Condenser is preferably arranged on the expansion tank (4), so that the expanded mixture is liquefied by condensation, and / or the centrifuge assembly (1) comprises a further screw conveyor, the further screw conveyor preferably on

Relaxation tank (4) is arranged so that the relaxed

Mixture is feasible.

13. Centrifuge assembly according to one of the preceding claims,

comprising a pump, preferably a high-pressure solids pump, wherein the pump is preferably arranged at the inlet opening (21), and / or the centrifuge arrangement comprises a steam generator, wherein the steam generator is preferably arranged at the inlet opening.

14. Relaxation process for the treatment of a mixture in one

Centrifuge assembly, wherein the centrifuge assembly comprises a centrifuge (2) with a drum (23), and the drum (23) a

Inlet opening (21) and an outlet opening (22), wherein in the drum (23), a gas pressure is formed, and the drum (23) is rotated about a drum axis (T) that on an inner side of the drum (23) a is placed under a rotary pressure standing mixture, and wherein in the drum (23) an ejection element (3, 301, 302) is arranged,

characterized in that

in a flash tank (4), a low tank pressure is formed in comparison with the rotary pressure, the outlet opening (22) of the drum (23) being formed on a receiving opening (41) of the drum

Relaxation container (4) is arranged and under the

Rotation pressure offset mixture such with the ejection element (3, 301, 302) via the outlet opening (22) and the receiving opening (41) in the expansion tank (4) is guided, that the mixture under the lower tank pressure of the flash tank (4) is released explosively.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a centrifuge assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is used.