阅读说明：本技术 离心分离器的运行方法 (Method for operating a centrifugal separator ) 是由 M.勒尔弗 M.赖曼 S.罗伯特 于 2018-05-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及离心分离器(1)的运行方法,离心分离器配属于动力机和/或做功机,其中,离心分离器(1)具有至少一个可转动支承的转子(10),转子被配置为,通过受控于控制单元(3)的驱动机构(2)以转速可变的方式转动。根据本发明的方法的特征在于,所述转子(10)的转速与所述动力机的声学排放相关地和/或与所述做功机的声学排放相关地被控制。(The invention relates to a method for operating a centrifugal separator (1) associated with a power and/or power machine, wherein the centrifugal separator (1) has at least one rotatably mounted rotor (10) which is configured to be rotated in a variable rotational speed manner by a drive mechanism (2) controlled by a control unit (3). The method according to the invention is characterized in that the rotational speed of the rotor (10) is controlled in relation to the acoustic emissions of the power machine and/or in relation to the acoustic emissions of the work machine.)

1. Method for operating a centrifugal separator (1) which is assigned to a power and/or work machine, wherein the centrifugal separator (1) has at least one rotatably mounted rotor (10) which is configured to be rotated in a speed-variable manner by a drive mechanism (2) which is controlled by a control unit (3),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the rotational speed of the rotor (10) is controlled in relation to the acoustic emissions of the power machine and/or in relation to the acoustic emissions of the work machine.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the rotational speed of the rotor (10) is carried out in such a way that the rotor (10) is operated at such a maximum rotational speed that the centrifugal separator (1) is not perceptible to human hearing during the current acoustic discharge of the power or work machine.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the signal representative for the acoustic emission of the power or work machine and fed to the control unit (3) is determined by at least one operating parameter that has been stored or detected for the power or work machine for other purposes.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that the operating parameter determined by the signal fed to the control unit (3) is the current power machine working point in the stored power machine operating characteristic curve.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the at least one detected operating parameter determined from the signal fed to the control unit (3) is a speed measurement and/or a load value of the power machine.

6. A method according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the detected operating parameter determined from the signal fed to the control unit (3) is the work machine movement speed and/or the transmission gear occupied by the work machine transmission.

7. Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the operating parameter determined from the signal fed to the control unit (3) is a stored speed-dependent wind noise and/or rolling noise of the work machine.

8. Method according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the parameters determined from the signals fed to the control unit (3) are generated by a wiring system and/or a bus network of the power or work machine and fed to the control unit (3), the control unit (3) formed by an electronic unit integrated in the centrifugal separator (1) being responsible for the rotational speed control of the rotor (10) of the centrifugal separator (1) according to criteria of a characteristic value stored in the control unit (3) for the control signal.

9. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the signal supplied to the control unit (3) which is representative for the acoustic emission of the power or work machine is detected by means of one or more acoustic sensors (7).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that a microphone arranged in or at the power or work machine is used as an acoustic sensor (7) or as one of a plurality of acoustic sensors (7).

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an electric drive is used as drive (2) for the rotor (10), which is switched by the control unit (3) between an operating mode for driving the rotor (10), an operating mode for braking the rotor (10) and an off-state as a function of the signal supplied to the control unit (3).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that electrical energy is generated by means of the electrical drive (2) in its operating mode in which the rotor (10) is braked and is recovered in the electrical network of the power or working machine.

13. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a hydraulic drive is used as drive (2) for the rotor (10), which hydraulic drive is switched by the control unit (3) at least between a driven operating mode and an off state as a function of the signal supplied to the control unit (3).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the hydraulic drive (2) is switched by the control unit (3) to a braking mode of operation when a reduction of the rotational speed of the rotor (10) is required, depending on the criteria of the signal fed to the control unit (3).

15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that an independent braking device (12) assigned to the rotor (10) or to the rotor shaft (11) or to the drive mechanism (2) is activated by the control unit (3) when a reduction of the rotational speed of the rotor (10) is required.

16. Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the control unit (3) brings the rotor (10) to a standstill before or until the imminent, pre-informed stop of the power or work machine, depending on the criterion of the signal delivered to the control unit (3) by the machine controller (5) of the power or work machine before the stop.

17. Method according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a power machine formed by an internal combustion engine is used.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the control unit (3) activates the drive mechanism (2) of the rotor (10) for pre-venting the crankcase of the combustion engine before the start of the combustion engine, according to the criterion of a signal delivered to the control unit (3) by the control unit (5) of the combustion engine before an upcoming, pre-informed start of the combustion engine.

19. Method according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a working machine formed by a motor vehicle is used.

20. A method according to claim 19, characterised in that the centrifugal separator (1) for de-oiling crankcase ventilation gas or cleaning lubricating oil is used for an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle or a vehicle with an automatic engine start-stop device.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for operating a centrifugal separator, which is assigned to a power and/or work machine, wherein the centrifugal separator has at least one rotatably mounted rotor, which is configured to be rotated in a variable rotational speed manner by a drive mechanism controlled by a control unit.

Background

Such a process, described at the outset, is known from documents EP1537301B1 and EP1532353B 1. These documents describe methods for cleaning crankcase gas generated during operation of an internal combustion engine, which is used for driving a vehicle. In this case, a centrifuge with a centrifuge rotor is used, which is fastened to the vehicle for cleaning of crankcase gas, and an electric motor for rotating the centrifuge rotor, which for its operation can be connected to a power supply provided at the vehicle. The separation efficiency of the centrifuge is varied by changing the rotational speed of the electric motor and thus of the centrifuge rotor, while the internal combustion engine continues to run. The rotational speed of the electric motor in this case varies in particular as a function of data representative of the actual variation in the amount of crankcase gas generated by the internal combustion engine; or varies in accordance with a detected change in crankcase gas flow generated by the internal combustion engine as a result of producing crankcase gas; or in response to a detected change in crankcase gas pressure generated by the internal combustion engine as a result of the production of crankcase gas. It is thereby achieved that the centrifuge rotor is always driven as required with as little drive energy as possible, a good cleaning of the crankcase ventilation gas is ensured and no unnecessary, excessive drive energy is consumed for this purpose.

Modern centrifugal separators are usually operated at high rotational speeds of several tens of thousands of revolutions per minute, which, although giving good cleaning results, always result in large acoustic emissions, especially in high frequency regions, which are unpleasant for human hearing, which cause disturbances and burdens on people in the vicinity. These acoustic emissions are caused in particular by rotor imbalance, by rotor bearings and by rotor drive. The acoustic discharge of the centrifugal separator is particularly disturbing in the case of the absence of other accompanying acoustic discharges, which sometimes cover the noise of the centrifugal separator, and the fact that the centrifugal separator can also be heard for a long time due to the high initial rotational speed of the rotor and due to the relatively long time of inertial rotation and deceleration of the rotor that is caused thereby. Furthermore, when the rotor is freewheeling and decelerating, its rotational energy is lost without being used.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method of the type mentioned at the outset which avoids or at least greatly reduces the disturbance and the burden on people in the vicinity of the centrifugal separator at the power and/or working machine. Furthermore, the method should also be able to use the rotational energy of the rotor during freewheeling and deceleration.

According to the invention, the solution of the above object is achieved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that the rotational speed of the rotor is controlled in relation to the acoustic emissions of the power machine and/or in relation to the acoustic emissions of the power machine.

According to the invention, the main basis for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor of the centrifugal separator is the acoustic discharge of the power and/or work machine to which the centrifugal separator belongs, which ensures acoustically insignificant operation of the centrifugal separator in the noise-affected range of the power and/or work machine, which operation does not acoustically disturb persons staying in the vicinity of the centrifugal separator.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention provides that the rotational speed of the rotor is controlled in such a way that the rotor is operated at such a maximum rotational speed that the centrifugal separator is not always detectable to human hearing during the current acoustic discharge of the power or work machine. Thereby, the centrifugal separator acoustically disappears from the perception of a person in its surroundings, whereby disturbances and burdens, or disturbances as well, are excluded.

It is advantageously provided that the signal which is representative for the acoustic emission of the power or work machine and which is fed to the control unit is determined by at least one operating parameter which is stored or detected for the power or work machine already for other purposes. This has the advantage that no separate sensing mechanism for detecting the present acoustic emissions is required.

A further solution in this connection provides that the operating parameter determined by the signal fed to the control unit is the current power machine working point in the stored power machine operating characteristic curve. Since modern power machines, such as internal combustion engines, are usually operated by means of electronic data derived from stored power machine operating characteristic curves, which in each case also have a defined correlation with the acoustic emissions of the power machine, these characteristic curve data can be used to obtain or generate control data for the drive mechanism of the rotor of the centrifugal separator.

In a further embodiment of the method, it is provided that the at least one detected operating parameter determined from the signal supplied to the control unit is a rotational speed measurement and/or a load value of the power machine.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible that the detected operating parameter determined by the signal supplied to the control unit is a work machine movement speed and/or a transmission gear occupied by a work machine transmission.

Another alternative or additional possibility is that the operating parameter determined from the signal supplied to the control unit is a stored wind noise and/or rolling noise of the work machine, which is dependent on the speed.

It is also proposed for the method according to the invention that the parameters determined from the signals fed to the control unit are generated by a wiring system and/or a bus network of the power or work machine and fed to the control unit, the control unit formed by an electronic unit integrated in the centrifugal separator being responsible for the rotational speed control of the rotor of the centrifugal separator, the control taking place according to criteria of characteristic values stored in the control unit for the control signals. In this regard, it is advantageous to use wiring systems or bus networks provided on many power or work machines, which keep the hardware and software costs of the control unit at a low level.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is possible that the signal, which is representative for the acoustic emission of the power or work machine and is fed to the control unit, is detected by means of one or more acoustic sensors. In this way, the acoustic emissions actually present can be detected directly in the method, and the method can be implemented independently of the data itself used for the presence or detection for other purposes.

In this case, a microphone, for example a telephone device, which is arranged in or on the power or work machine, can be used as an acoustic sensor or as one of a plurality of acoustic sensors, if necessary.

Furthermore, an electric drive is preferably used as the drive for the rotor, which is switched by the control unit between an operating mode for driving the rotor, an operating mode for braking the rotor and an off state as a function of the signal supplied to the control unit. The rotor can be influenced in its rotational speed in any desired manner by means of an electric drive.

In this case, the method offers the advantageous possibility of generating electrical energy by means of the electric drive in its operating mode in which the rotor is braked and of recovering it in the electrical network of the power or working machine. This contributes to a particularly high energy efficiency during operation of the centrifugal separator.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a hydraulic drive is used as the drive for the rotor, which hydraulic drive is switched at least between a driven operating mode and an off state by the control unit as a function of the signal supplied to the control unit.

In addition, it can be provided that, depending on the criteria of the signal supplied to the control unit, the hydraulic drive is switched by the control unit to a braking operating mode when the rotational speed of the rotor needs to be reduced.

Alternatively to this and independently of the rotor drive, a separate braking device assigned to the rotor can be activated by the control unit when the rotational speed of the rotor needs to be reduced. The braking device is, for example, a mechanical braking device which, if necessary, by means of friction, acts to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor.

In order to achieve as rapid as possible, delay-free braking of the rotor when required in the method, it is proposed that the control unit brings the rotor into a standstill before or until the imminent, previously informed stop of the power or work machine, depending on the criterion of the signal delivered to the control unit by the machine controller of the power or work machine before the stop. The acoustic discharge of the centrifugal separator thereby remains inconspicuous and without disturbing effects to persons in the surroundings also at demanding operating moments.

Preferably, the method according to the invention is used in a power machine formed by an internal combustion engine, since in this case a particularly great benefit can be achieved, since it is often the case that during operation of the internal combustion engine a person stays in the vicinity of the centrifugal separator assigned to the internal combustion engine or a person must stay in this vicinity.

An additional advantageous application of the method according to the invention in connection with an internal combustion engine is that, prior to the start of the internal combustion engine, the control unit activates the drive mechanism of the rotor in order to pre-vent the crankcase of the internal combustion engine, in dependence on the criterion of a signal which is fed to the control unit by the control unit of the internal combustion engine prior to an imminent, pre-informed start of the internal combustion engine. This advantageously reduces the energy requirement of the starter that effects the starting of the internal combustion engine. The use of the method presented here is also advantageous in technical terms in combination with an effective crankcase ventilation system by means of an electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically driven blower or compressor or a controlled suction jet.

Another preferred and advantageous application of the method is in a work machine formed by a motor vehicle. A particularly great advantage is also achieved in this case, since during operation of the motor vehicle, the driver and possibly also the fellow passenger thereof must in any case stay in the vicinity of the centrifugal separator which is assigned to the motor vehicle and to the internal combustion engine provided in most motor vehicles.

By means of the method according to the invention, persons, such as persons in a motor vehicle, are effectively protected from disturbing noise of the centrifugal separator, but at the same time the function of the centrifugal separator is not significantly impaired, since the centrifugal separator itself also operates in a higher acoustic emission mode of operation in phases of higher ambient sound volume, without this being perceived by or disturbing to the surrounding persons.

Finally, a particularly advantageous application of the method according to the invention is that the centrifugal separator for deoiling crankcase ventilation gas or cleaning lubricating oil is used for an internal combustion engine of a hybrid motor vehicle or of a motor vehicle having an automatic engine start-stop device. In such motor vehicles, it is particularly often the case that the internal combustion engine is in a phase in which it does not generate acoustic emissions by itself. A centrifugal separator which operates in a conventional manner is therefore particularly clearly disruptive here, which is however reliably avoided by means of the method according to the invention.

Overall, a better undisturbed acoustic performance, a better durability with a longer service life and a reduced energy requirement of the centrifugal separator are achieved by the method according to the invention and its embodiments for the drive mechanism of the rotor of the centrifugal separator. In this case, a faster acceleration can be achieved and the control based on the rotor speed can quickly reach a critical speed range, in particular in the range of the rotor natural frequency, which allows a higher degree of unbalance of the rotor, which can be embodied, for example, in the form of a disk separator, and a higher maximum speed of rotation of the rotor.

Drawings

In the following, embodiments of the invention are elucidated on the basis of the drawings.

The sole figure (fig. 1) shows in purely schematic representation a centrifugal separator with a rotor having a drive mechanism and a control unit controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with a criterion of a number of control parameters.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a centrifugal separator 1, which has a rotor 10, which is embodied as a disk separator, in a schematic manner below it. The rotor 10 is rotatably mounted in a separator housing, not shown here in particular, by means of a rotor shaft 11 and two rotor bearings 13. By means of a drive 2, such as an electric motor, which is connected to the rotor shaft 11, the rotor 10 can be rotated during operation of the centrifugal separator 1, so that droplets or particles of the second medium are separated from the first medium flowing through the rotor 10 by means of centrifugal force, as is known per se.

Furthermore, the embodiment of the centrifugal separator 1 shown here comprises a braking mechanism 12, which applies a braking force to the rotor shaft 11 and thus also to the rotor 10 by means of friction when needed. Alternatively, the brake mechanism 12 may also be an electric brake mechanism, which may have an energy recovery function.

The centrifugal separator 1 is assigned to a power or work machine, not shown in any further detail in the figures, for example, an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, and can be used in particular for deoiling crankcase ventilation gas of the internal combustion engine.

The centrifugal separator 1 is associated with an electrical control unit 3, which controls the drive mechanism 2 of the rotor 10 of the centrifugal separator 1 at variable rotational speeds by means of electrical signals and supply connections 20 and in accordance with the parameter criteria to be explained. In this case, via the electrical signal connection 20, the control unit 3 detects the current actual rotational speed of the drive 2 and thus of the rotor 10 and compares it with the current setpoint rotational speed calculated as a function of the parameters, in order to increase or decrease the actual rotational speed accordingly in the event of a deviation. In this case, the braking mechanism 12 is activated by the control unit 3 via a further electrical signal connection 30 when a reduction of the rotational speed of the rotor 10 is required.

The first parameter for controlling the rotational speed of the drive 2 of the rotor 10 in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures is the rotational speed of the associated internal combustion engine. This rotational speed is detected by an internal combustion engine rotational speed sensor 4 indicated in the upper part of fig. 1 and is transmitted as a measurement signal to the control unit 3 via a further electrical signal connection 40.

Another source of one or more further control parameters which are supplied to the control unit 3 is the engine control unit 5 of the associated internal combustion engine. In any case, an engine controller is provided on modern internal combustion engines, which detects or stores several operating parameters of the internal combustion engine and can be used in addition to this for controlling the drive mechanism 2. Suitable data or signals are transmitted from the engine controller 5 to the control unit 3 via the signal connection 50.

Another parameter for controlling the drive 2 is the speed of the associated vehicle, for example a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine. The speed of the vehicle is determined by means of the vehicle speed sensor 6 and is supplied as a measurement signal to the control unit 3 via a further signal connection 60.

Finally, in the present exemplary embodiment, an acoustic sensor 7 is also provided, which detects noise or noise levels around the centrifugal separator 1, for example in the interior of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with the centrifugal separator 1, and which supplies the measurement signals to the control unit 3 via a further signal connection 70.

By means of the control unit 3, the rotational speed of the rotor 10 is controlled in dependence on a signal fed to the control unit 3, which signal is representative for the acoustic emissions of the power machine and/or working machine. The control of the rotational speed of the rotor 10 is carried out in particular in such a way that the rotor 10 is operated at a maximum rotational speed at which the centrifugal separator 1 is always undetectable or at least non-interfering with the human hearing during the current acoustic discharge of the associated power and/or work machine.

By means of the drive mechanism 2 controlled by the control unit 3, it is possible to accelerate rapidly and to bring the currently desired rotational speed, which is dependent on the parameters processed in the control unit 3. Conversely, the rotor 10 can be braked rapidly if necessary and brought to a lower rotational speed or to a standstill by means of a brake mechanism 12 provided here and likewise controlled by the control unit 3.

In practice, it is also sufficient for the method to be carried out to supply the control unit 3 with fewer different signals than those shown in fig. 1. It is also possible, conversely, to control the drive mechanism 2 of the rotor 10 also with more signals than shown in the figures by means of the control unit 3.

List of reference numerals:

term of reference

1 centrifugal separator

10 rotor

11 rotor shaft

12 brake mechanism

13 rotor bearing

210 of the drive mechanism

202 and 3, and/or a supply connection

3 control unit

303 to 12 signal connection

4 internal combustion engine speed sensor

404 to 3 signal connection

5 Engine controller for internal Combustion Engine

505 to 3 signal connection

6 vehicle speed sensor

606 to 3 Signal connections

7 Acoustic sensor

707 to 3 signal connection