Centrifuge with automatic sampling and control and method thereof

1. A centrifuge for centrifuging a slurry, comprising:

a bowl driven by a bowl drive motor;

a screw conveyor driven by a screw conveyor drive motor;

a pump driven by a pump motor;

a bowl variable frequency drive unit (VFD) operatively arranged to drive the bowl drive motor;

a conveyor VFD operatively arranged to drive the screw conveyor drive motor;

a pump VFD operatively arranged to drive the pump drive motor;

a first analysis assembly connected to a first section of pipe connecting the pump and the bowl; and,

at least one computer electrically connected to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD, the pump VFD, and the first analysis assembly, wherein:

the first analysis assembly is configured to:

automatically sample a slurry pumped through the first section of pipe; and,

automatically transmit first data, characterizing the slurry, to the at least one computer; and,

the at least one computer is configured to:

calculate respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD using the first data;

transmit respective control signals to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD to operate the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD according to the respective control schemes;

receive a first input quantifying a torque load on the conveyor motor;

vary a first differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor until the torque load increases by a first degree at a second differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor;

calculate a third differential speed based on the second differential speed; and,

operate the bowl and conveyor motors to maintain the third differential speed.

2. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the first analysis assembly is configured to:

measure at least one parameter of the slurry selected from the group consisting of feed density, viscosity, turbidity, solids content, particle distribution and flow rate; and,

transmit the first data including a measurement of the at least one parameter.

3. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

calculate respective speeds for the bowl drive motor, the screw conveyor drive motor and the pump motor as part of the respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD; and,

transmit respective controls signals including the respective speeds as part of the respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD.

4. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the first analysis assembly is configured to:

sample the slurry without intervention by an operator of the centrifuge; and,

transmit the first data without intervention by an operator of the centrifuge.

5. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer:

includes a display device; and,

is configured to:

analyze the first data to determine a recommended level for liquid in the bowl; and,

transmit a signal, for display on the display device, including the recommended level.

6. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

receive a first input identifying respective speeds for the bowl and conveyor, a desired torque load for the conveyor motor, and a maximum flow rate for the pump;

regulate pump speed to maintain an actual torque load for the conveyor motor at the desired torque load; or,

when unable to maintain an actual torque load for the conveyor motor at the desired torque load, regulate pump speed to maintain the maximum flow rate.

7. The centrifuge of claim 6 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

determine that the actual torque load is greater than the desired torque load; and,

regulate the pump speed to control a flow rate of the slurry to reduce the actual torque load to be equal to or less than the desired torque load.

8. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

determine that the torque load is greater than a desired torque level; and,

operate the bowl and conveyor motors to increase the third differential speed.

9. The centrifuge of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second analysis assembly configured to:

automatically sample a liquid effluent discharged from the bowl; and,

automatically transmit second data, characterizing the liquid effluent, to the at least one computer, wherein:

the at least one computer is configured to calculate the respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD using the first and second data.

10. A centrifuge for centrifuging a slurry, comprising:

a bowl driven by a bowl drive motor;

a screw conveyor driven by a screw conveyor drive motor;

a pump driven by a pump motor;

a bowl variable frequency drive unit (VFD) operatively arranged to drive the bowl drive motor;

a conveyor VFD operatively arranged to drive the screw conveyor drive motor;

a pump VFD operatively arranged to drive the pump drive motor;

a first analysis assembly; and,

at least one computer electrically connected to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD, the pump VFD, and the first analysis assembly, wherein:

the first analysis assembly is configured to:

automatically sample a liquid effluent discharged from the centrifuge; and,

automatically transmit first data, characterizing the liquid effluent, to the at least one computer; and,

the at least one computer is configured to:

calculate respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD using the first data;

transmit respective control signals to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD to operate the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD according to the respective control schemes;

receive a first input quantifying a torque load on the conveyor motor;

vary a first differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor until the torque load increases by a first degree at a second differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor;

calculate a third differential speed based on the second differential speed; and,

operate the bowl and conveyor motors to maintain the third differential speed.

11. The centrifuge of claim 10 , wherein the first analysis assembly is configured to:

measure at least one parameter of the liquid effluent selected from the group consisting of feed density, viscosity, turbidity, solids content, particle distribution and flow rate; and,

transmit the first data including a measurement of the at least one parameter.

12. The centrifuge of claim 10 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

calculate respective speeds for the bowl drive motor, the screw conveyor drive motor and the pump motor as part of the respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD; and,

transmit respective controls signals including the respective speeds as part of the respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD.

13. The centrifuge of claim 10 , wherein the first analysis assembly is configured to:

sample the liquid effluent without intervention by an operator of the centrifuge; and,

transmit the first data without intervention by an operator of the centrifuge.

14. The centrifuge of claim 10 , wherein the at least one computer:

includes a display device; and,

is configured to:

analyze the first data to determine a recommended level for liquid in the bowl; and,

transmit a signal, for display on the display device, including the recommended level.

15. The centrifuge of claim 10 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

receive a first input identifying respective speeds for the bowl and conveyor, a desired torque load for the conveyor motor, and a maximum flow rate for the pump;

regulate pump speed to maintain an actual torque load for the conveyor motor at the desired torque load; or,

when unable to maintain an actual torque load for the conveyor motor at the desired torque load, regulate pump speed to maintain the maximum flow rate.

16. The centrifuge of claim 15 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

determine that the actual torque load is greater than the desired torque load; and,

regulate the pump speed to control a flow rate of the slurry to reduce the actual torque load to be equal to or less than the desired torque load.

17. The centrifuge of claim 10 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

determine that the torque load is greater than a desired torque level; and,

operate the bowl and conveyor motors to increase the third differential speed.

18. The centrifuge of claim 10 , further comprising:

a second analysis assembly, connected to a first section of pipe connecting the pump and the bowl, configured to:

automatically sample a slurry pumped through the first section of pipe; and,

automatically transmit second data, characterizing the slurry, to the at least one computer, wherein:

the at least one computer is configured to calculate the respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD using the first and second data.

19. A centrifuge for centrifuging a slurry, comprising:

a bowl driven by a bowl drive motor;

a screw conveyor driven by a screw conveyor drive motor;

a pump driven by a pump motor;

a bowl variable frequency drive unit (VFD) operatively arranged to drive the bowl drive motor;

a conveyor VFD operatively arranged to drive the screw conveyor drive motor;

a pump VFD operatively arranged to drive the pump drive motor;

a first analysis assembly connected to a section of pipe connecting the pump and the bowl;

a second analysis assembly; and,

at least one computer electrically connected to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD, the pump VFD, and the first and second analysis assemblies, wherein:

the first analysis assembly is configured to:

automatically sample a slurry pumped through the first section of pipe; and,

automatically transmit first data, characterizing the slurry, to the at least one computer;

the second analysis assembly is configured to:

automatically sample a liquid effluent discharged from the centrifuge; and,

automatically transmit first data, characterizing the liquid effluent, to the at least one computer; and,

the at least one computer is configured to:

calculate respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD using the first and second data; and,

transmit respective control signals to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD to operate the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD according to the respective control schemes;

receive a first input quantifying a torque load on the conveyor motor;

vary a first differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor until the torque load increases by a first degree at a second differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor;

calculate a third differential speed based on the second differential speed; and,

operate the bowl and conveyor motors to maintain the third differential speed.

20. The centrifuge of claim 19 , wherein the first or second analysis assembly is configured to sample the slurry or the liquid effluent, respectively, continuously.

21. The centrifuge of claim 20 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

analyze the first or second data;

calculate a first sampling schedule or a second sampling schedule, respectively, using the analysis of the first or second data, respectively; and,

operate the first or second analysis assembly to switch from continuously sampling the slurry to sampling the slurry according to the first or second sampling schedule, respectively.

22. The centrifuge of claim 19 , wherein the first or second analysis assembly is configured to sample the slurry or the liquid effluent, respectively, according to a first or second sampling schedule, respectively.

23. The centrifuge of claim 22 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

analyze the first or second data, respectively; and,

according to the analysis of the first or second data, switch the first or second analysis assembly, respectively, from sampling the slurry or the liquid effluent according to the first or second sampling schedule, respectively, to continuously sampling the slurry or the liquid effluent, respectively.

24. A method for centrifuging a slurry using a centrifuge including a bowl driven by a bowl drive motor, a screw conveyor driven by a screw conveyor drive motor, a pump driven by a pump motor, a bowl variable frequency drive unit (VFD) operatively arranged to drive the bowl drive motor, a conveyor VFD operatively arranged to drive the screw conveyor drive motor, a pump VFD operatively arranged to drive the pump drive motor, a first analysis assembly connected to a first section of pipe connecting the pump and the bowl, a second analysis assembly, and at least one computer electrically connected to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD, the pump VFD, and the first and second analysis assemblies, the method comprising:

automatically sampling, using the first analysis assembly, a slurry pumped through the first section of pipe;

automatically transmitting, using the first analysis assembly, first data, characterizing the slurry, to the at least one computer;

automatically sampling, using the second analysis assembly, a liquid effluent discharged from the centrifuge;

automatically transmitting, using the second analysis assembly, second data, characterizing the liquid effluent, to the at least one computer;

calculating, using the at least one computer, respective control schemes for the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD using the first and second data;

transmitting, using the at least one computer, respective control signals to the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD;

operating the bowl VFD, the conveyor VFD and the pump VFD according to the respective control schemes;

receiving, using the at least one computer, a first input quantifying a torque load on the conveyor motor;

varying, using the at least one computer, a first differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor until the torque load increases by a first degree at a second differential speed between the bowl and the conveyor;

calculating, using the at least one computer, a third differential speed based on the second differential speed; and,

operating, using the at least one computer, the bowl and conveyor motors to maintain the third differential speed.