Patent ID: 7935042
Filing Date: 2011-05-03
Classification: B04B

Abstract:
1. A solids discharge assembly for a centrifugal separator, the assembly comprising: a piston movably disposed against an inner surface of a bowl of said separator, the piston comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion for contacting a driving fluid within the bowl and said lower portion for contacting a feed liquid in the bowl, the feed liquid being separated into centrate and solid components during operation of the separator, the piston also comprising a centrate valve that when open allows centrate to flow through the piston; a driving port operative for introducing the driving fluid into the bowl above the upper portion of the piston, wherein increased fluid pressure in the bowl above the upper portion of the piston relative to that below the lower portion of the piston causes the piston to move within the bowl; a valve in an upper end region of the separator, wherein the valve is operable to enable pressurization of the bowl above the upper portion of the piston, and wherein the valve is actuated in response to fluid pressure; and a feed port operative for introducing feed liquid into the bowl below the lower portion of the piston.