Patent ID: 8042281

Claim:
A method for operating a separator having a rotatable bowl and a rotatable conveyor for treating a slurry to separate solids from liquids and for further drying of the solids, the method comprising the steps of: operating the separator at a first operating condition in which the rotational speed of the conveyor is maintained greater than the rotational speed of the bowl; introducing feed into the bowl during the first operating condition so that a layer of solids builds on a sidewall of the bowl to produce a modulation torque; slowing rotation of the conveyor until the rotational speed of the bowl and the conveyor is the same; maintaining the rotational speed of the bowl and the conveyor at the same speed while supply pressurized gas to an interior portion of the bowl and establishing first and second seals to provide increased pressure within the interior portion of the bowl for enhanced drying of solids within the interior portion of the bowl; increasing the speed of the conveyor to establish a differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor; and maintaining the differential speed for a predetermined number of revolutions to remove dried solids.