0001 The invention relates to a screw for a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method of extracting oil by means of a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge. 0002 A method which has been particularly effective for the extraction of olive oil is known from European Patent Document EP 0 557 758. In this process, a two-phase separation is carried out in which the oil is separated directly from the solids/water mixture. 0003 The efficiency of this known method is very good per se. 0004 Nevertheless, it is desirable to again lower the residual oil content in the rape in order to increase the economic efficiency of the oil extraction. 0005 It is an object of the invention to solve this problem constructively as well as with respect to the process. 0006 The invention achieves this object, on the one hand, by a particularly advantageous screw whose characteristics are indicated in claim 1. It also achieves this object by a particularly advantageous process for extracting oil whose characteristics are indicated in claim 35. 0007 According to claim 1, a screw is provided for a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge which has additional space (blade translator) segments in the delivery path in sections between adjacent spirals. In addition, the screw blade is preferably provided with recesses which are constructed such that the centrifuged material can flow through between adjacent spirals. 0008 With respect to the method of extracting oil, it was also found to be particularly advantageous for the oil, as a liquid phase, in turn, to be separated directly in a two-phase separating step from a second mixed phase consisting of water and solids, in which case the seeds or reduced fruit, such as olives or avocados, are first guided into a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge through a separating zone with one or several screw spirals, in which the screw blade is preferably constructed without any recesses, in the delivery path area between the screw spirals, preferably no blade segments being constructed in the delivery path. Subsequently, a passing takes place in the separating zone through another screw area in which the recesses are constructed in the screw blade and blade segments stand in the delivery path. Then the solids and the water are conveyed past a retarding plate from the separating zone into the conical section of the screw. 0009 By means of the screw according to the invention, the three-phase oil extraction, which is still occasionally used, can also be improved. In this case, the oil is separated as a liquid phase in a three-phase separating cut (step translator) from a second phaseessentially consisting of waterand a third phaseessentially consisting of solids, 0010 the reduced fruit, such as olives or avocados or seeds being first guided in a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge through a separating zone with one or several screw spirals in which the screw blade is preferably constructed without recesses, preferably no blade segments being constructed in the delivery path in the delivery path area between the screw spirals, 0011 then, a passing through a screw area taking place in the separating zone, in which screw area the recesses are constructed in the screw blade and the blade segments are constructed in the delivery path, 0012 then the three phases being guided/delivered out of the centrifuge. 0013 By means of the screw according to the invention, the economic efficiency of the oil extraction can be increased considerably. In this regard, reference is particularly made to the tests explained in detail in the description of the figures whose results are indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5. A special advantage of the invention is the fact that the screw can also be retrofitted without any problem into existing centrifuges. The screw according to the invention is particularly suitable for an application in a process for extracting oil from fruit and seeds and for a better draining of water and/or separating of oil from mashes of organic materials (such a seed mash, fruit flesh mash, animal tissue, such as fish, egg, ( typing mistake) (fatty tissue cells translator). 0014 Within the scope of the invention, it was found to be particularly advantageous to provide a combination of recesses and blade segments, the blade segments and the recesses preferably being constructed such in the axial direction that the recesses each form ducts extending in the axial direction (and/or at an angle or in a zigzag-type manner with respect to the center axis y), in which ducts the blade segments stand. 0015 It is also particularly advantageous for the blade segments and the recesses to be constructed only in the cylindrical section of the screw body and for a retarding disk to be provided in the conical section of the screw, particularly in the case of the two-phase separation. 0016 Although, according to the prior art, solid-bowl screw-type centrifuges are known, in the case of which recesses are provided in the screw blade, thus, for example, from German Patent Document DE 41 32 693 A1, according to the invention, the providing of such recesses is not sufficient for a significant increase of the efficiency. On the contrary, a particularly advantageous increase of the efficiency can only be achieved in that, in addition to the recesses, particularly in the center of the forward path between adjacent screw spirals, the additional blade segments are set up. 0017 Although it is also known to construct blade-segment-type screw spirals, thus, for example, from International Patent Document WO 97/23295, these blade segments extend into the conical section, which is disadvantageous according to the invention. In addition, they are distributed on the circumference of the screw body in its entire area which was also found to be disadvantageous. In addition, it is not that additional blade segments are set up in the delivery path between the screw spirals, but the blade segments themselves form the screw spirals. Also by means of this screw, no satisfactory economic efficiency can be achieved when extracting olive oil. 0018 It is particularly advantageous for the additional blade segments in the delivery path to be constructed such that they extend into the area of the solids or into the solids area, in which case, however, an exterior area of, for example, 25 mm is preferably not reached by the blade segments, because relatively completely de-oiled solids and permanently discharged solids are already present in this area. 0019 Measuring results indicate that the screw according to the invention leaves approximately 1 to 1.5% less oil in the discharged solids sludge. During an olive oil extraction campaign, this corresponds to a financial advantage of approximately DM 300,000.00 to 500,000.00 per machine. 0020 It is particularly advantageous for the kneading screw to operate in the area of the moist orujo (Spanish for rape or marc of grapes and olivestranslator) because here a special separation of oil can be achieved by means of the additional blade segments. 0021 By means of the invention, a solids mash can be fed into the drum preferably by way of a rectangular tube. The rectangular tube must be so long that the entering mass to be centrifuged is charged through the oil layer while being protected in order not to mix the latter back subsequently. 0022 In the filled machine, the separating zone occurs rather close to the screw body (at a distance of 10, 20 . . . , to 40 to 50 mm). The fresh oil, as a clean phase, can be recognized only 20 to 30 mm outside the screw body. A clean separating line exists here. 0023 The charged solids, as part of the fed suspension, will therefore fill the machine to such an extent that the latter is filled to the oil separating zone (approximately 10, 20 . . . to maximally 40 to 50 mm outside the screw body) with solids suspensions. The reason is that, as a rule, only so little water is in the orujo mass that no water or only an extremely small layer of free water is formed between the oil and the solids suspension. In this case, the solids are dryer on the outside than on the inside or, in other words, the fraction of dry substance on the drum side is much higher than the fraction of dry substance toward the interior. 0024 In the area of the recesses and blade segments, the solids suspension, just like the oil and the emulsion situated in-between, experiences three axial speeds particularly in the kneading area of the blade segments, from the screw body to the radial end. 0025 Thus, a normal speed exists in the area of the residual wall pieces. In contrast, in the area of the recesses, the axial speed is essentially zero. However, the speed in the area of the actual blade segments in the delivery path may amount to five times the normal speed. As a result, the elastoviscous sludge is deformed, particularly compressed and relaxed, in the area of the standing solids layer. 0026 In the area of the leading blade segments, the solids are additionally axially compressed. In the area of the recesses, they are then relaxed. This has the effect of pressure increases and relaxations. The setting-free of the oil essentially takes place in the relaxation area and is therefore more effective than without the additional relaxation zones. 0027 In its rearward area, the screw body preferably has a cylindrical section and, in its adjoining forward section, a section which tapers essentially conically in a uniform or non-uniformfor example, stepped manner, the recesses and blade segments being constructed only in the area of the cylindrical section. 0028 In the cylindrical section, the screw body preferably first has at least one screw spiral which is constructed without recesses as well as without blade segments and which is followed by additional screw spirals which are provided with the recesses and blade segments. 0029 It is also conceivable that optional oil drainage ducts are constructed preferably in the first screw spiral. 0030 The recesses preferably have a residual section of the screw blade on the circumference of the screw body. 0031 Relative to one or several screw spirals, the blade segments are preferably uniformly or non-uniformly distributed on the circumference of the screw body. 0032 The area of the recesses preferably amounts to approximately 25-60%, particularly 40-50% of the screw spiral area. 0033 The recesses in the screw blades are preferably constructed such that they radially project at least beyond the area of the solids zone (for example, 70-95%, preferably 70-100% of the screw blade height). 0034 Particularly the height of the blade segments is approximately 0-30% lower than the height of the screw blade. 0035 The blade segments are preferably constructed as rectangular metal plates. Trapezoidal, rounded elements and/or elements shaped to be tapering or widening from the screw body to the outside are also conceivable. 0036 Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are contained in the remaining subclaims.

0037 In the following, embodiments are described in detail by means of the drawing. 0038 FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a screw according to the invention for a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge; 0039

FIG. 2

a is a top view of a section of a screw; 0040

FIG. 2

b is a sectional view along Line A-A of FIG. 2a; 0041 FIG. 3 is a view of a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge according to the invention; 0042 FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams comparing the residual oil contents in the rape during the extraction of olive oil by means of a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge in the two-phase separating process using screws according to the invention and using screws according to the prior art; and 0043

FIGS. 6

a, b are views of the speed profiles in a screw spiral in the area of the recesses and blade segments.

0044 The measurements indicated in the description relate to preferred embodiments. 0045 FIG. 1 illustrates a screw 1 for a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge, the screw having a screw body 3 as well as, in this case, a screw blade 5 which surrounds the screw body 3 several times and forms several screw spirals (x, x1, x2, etc.). 0046 A delivery path 7 for delivering/conveying a material to be centrifuged is formed between the screw spirals x, x1. 0047 In its area which is in the rear in FIG. 1, the screw body 3 has a cylindrical section 9 and, in its adjoining forward area in FIG. 1, the screw body 3 has a conically tapering section 11. 0048 In the transition area between the cylindrical section 9 and the conical section 11, a (retarder) disk 13 is placed here on the screw body 3. This was found to be successful particularly in the two-phase separation. It is not required in a three-phase separation into the oil, water and solids phases. 0049 The operation of this solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge, whose other essential components are indicated in FIG. 3, is as follows. 0050 The material S to be centrifuged is guided through the centrally arranged, adjustable inlet tube 14 into the inlet chamber 15 and from there through openings 17 into the drum space 19 with the screw 1 and the drum 21 surrounding the screw 1. Preferably, these inlet chambers 15 and openings 17 (or special distributors) in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are arranged at the rearward end of the cylindrical section 3. 0051 In the drum space 19, the material S to be centrifuged is accelerated to the rotational operating speed. Under the effect of the force of gravity, the solids particles will be deposited on the drum wall within a very short time. 0052 The screw 1 rotates at a slightly lower or higher speed than the drum 21 and delivers the centrifuged solids F toward the conical section 11 out of the drum 21 to the solids discharge 23. 0053 In contrast, the liquid L flows to the larger drum diameter at the rearward end of the drum 21 and is discharged there (overflow 25). 0054 From its second screw spiral (X1) to its fifth screw spiral (X4), the screw 1 of FIG. 1 has recesses 27 in the screw blade. 0055 In the embodiment of FIG. 1, these recesses 27 are constructed such that axial ducts K are formed in the axial direction which extend from the second to the fifth screw blade. An individual screw spiral with recesses 27 and blade segments 29 is also conceivable in a simplified construction. 0056 In contrast, additional blade segments 29 are arranged in the delivery path 7 formed between the screw spirals (X, . . . ) of the screw blade 5, which blase segments 29 are constructed here as metal strips which, in this case, have a trapezoidal shape which widens from the outer circumference of the screw body 3 toward the outside. 0057 Advantageously and in a simple as well as cost-effective manner, these blade segments 29 are constructed in that the blade sections or segments, which are cut off during the cutting-off of material for forming the recesses 27, are placed in the delivery path 7 and are welded in there. 0058 The cutting-off of the blade sections or segments can either take place such that the screw blade 5 is cut out to the circumference of the screw body 3. However, as an alternative, a residual section 30 of the screw blade 5 may also remain standing at the circumference of the screw body 3. If the cutting-out takes place essentially radially with respect to the drum and screw axis y, trapezoidal blade segments 29 are obtained. 0059 By means of such a combination of recesses 27 and intermediate blade segments 29 in the delivery path 7, the efficiency of some of the centrifugal separating processes can surprisingly clearly be increased. 0060 The screw construction with recesses 27 and 29 has been particularly successful in the field of olive oil extraction. A two-phase separation in which the oil is separated directly from a solids/water mixture, had been particularly successful in the extraction of olive oil. Such a process is described in European Patent Document EP 557 758. The efficiency of this already excellent process can clearly be increased again by means of the screw 1 of the invention. It was found to be particularly advantageous in this case to 0061 separate the oil as a liquid phase directly in a two-phase separating step from a second mixed phase of water and solids, 0062 in which case, the reduced fruit, such as olives and avocados, are first guided in a solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge through a separating zone with one or several screw spirals X, . . . , in which the screw blade 5 has no recesses 27 and in which no blade segments 29 are formed in the delivery path, 0063 then, in the separating zone, there is a passing through a second screw area in which the recesses 27 are constructed in the screw blade 5 and the blade segments 29 are constructed in the delivery path 7, 0064 then the solids and the water are conveyed past the retarding disk 13 out of the separating zone into the conical section of the screw 1. 0065 The advantages of this process are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. 0066 FIG. 4 shows comparisons of the improvement of the efficiency of the oil extraction as a function of the throughput. FIG. 5 also shows that, when extracting olive oil by means of a screw 1 according to the invention, the residual oil content in the rape could be lowered to 2% or even 2.5%. The economic efficiency of the oil extraction is therefore again considerably increased with respect to the already excellent result of the two-phase separation of a) oil and b) water/solids. The modification or exchange of the conventional screw into or for the screw according to the invention will therefore be beneficial within a short time. 0067

FIGS. 6

a, b show the speed profiles in a screw spiral in the area of the recesses and blade segments. FIG. 6a shows that in the shadow of the blade segment, the speed of the particles increases from the inside toward the outside. At the upper edge of the blade segment, the maximal value is reached which, according to FIG. 6b, is again essentially constant at the upper blade segment edge. 0068 Different dimensions as well as alignments and arrangements of the recesses 27 and of the blade segments 29 were found to be particularly successful in practice. By the variation of these parameters, the mixing effects between the screw spirals can also be varied, which has a direct influence on the efficiency of the separating process. These parameters will be described in greater detail in the following with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 0069 First, the preferred position of the recesses and the segment will be described in detail. 0070 Advantageously, the screw 1in FIG. 1, viewed from the rearward inlet zone toward the front to the conical sectionfirst has several screw spirals x1, x, x1, in whose area the screw blade 5 is in each case constructed to be continuous or free of recesses. Preferably, at least one or two screw spirals x are constructed to be continuous. In this area, also no additional blade segments 29 are provided in the delivery path 7. 0071 This zone is followed by several screw spirals x2, . . . x5 which are provided with recesses 27 and in whose spaces or in whose delivery paths 7, the blade segments 29 are in each case constructed or erected (welded on). 0072 This zone extends maximally to the beginning of the conical section 11 of the screw 1. In the transition area from the cylindrical to the conical area, the retarding disk 13 is also arranged. In the conical area, the screw should be constructed to be free of recesses. Furthermore, no additional blade segments 29 should be arranged in the delivery path 7. 0073 Preferably, 2 to 6, particularly 3 to 5, very preferably 4 recesses 27 are constructed for each screw spiral. 0074 Correspondingly, it is recommended to provide for each screw spiral in the delivery path, also preferably 2 to 6, particularly 3 to 5, very preferably 4 blade segments 29. 0075 The blade segments 29 are preferably distributed uniformly on the circumference of the screw body 3. 0076 Relative to the center axis or the axis of symmetry y of the screw 1, the screw spirals x are each arranged at an angle or form an angle * with the center axis. The magnitude of the angle * (measured at the lower edge of the screw blade 5) is preferably between 60 and 85, particularly at 75 to 80. 0077 In contrast, the blade segments enclose an angle * with the axis of symmetry which is smaller than *. The angle * is preferably between 40 and 70, particularly from 50 to 55. In contrast, it is recommended to align, in the last screw spiral in front of the retarding disk 13, the blade segments 29 essentially parallel to the screw blade 5 (maximal differential angle between * and *, preferably approximately 10 to 11). 0078 The area of the recesses preferably amounts to approximately 50 of the screw spiral surface. 0079 In practice, it was further found to be advantageous to define the angle size * such that the width of the distance d (viewed in the axial extension of the edges) between the blade segment edge and the recess edge 27 is 0 to 5 mm, particularly 2 to 3 mm (at the upper segment edge). In the case of a trapezoidal shape of the blade segments, the size of the distances d of the screw body 3 varies toward the outside; according to FIG. 1, d becomes, for example, larger toward the outside. 0080 Furthermore, it is advantageous for the angle size (*) to be defined such that the width of the distance (a)viewed in the orthogonal extension of the edgesbetween the longitudinal edge of the blade and the edge 27 of the recess amounts to 0 to 28%, particularly to 15 to 25% of the distance of a pair of screw spiralspreferably viewed at the low end of the screw (inside), as a function of the shape. 0081 According to a variant of the invention, it is recommended to arrange the blade segment 29 such in the delivery path 7 that its center axis M (in the top view of FIG. 2a) is situated precisely in the center of the delivery path 7 as well as preferably also in the center of the connection line of the apothem of the recesses 27 (crossing point of the opposite recess edges). 0082 As an alternative, it is also possible to slightly shift the center point of the blade segments with respect to this ideal position. 0083 The height h of the blade segments (measured from the outer circumference of the screw body 3) is particularly decisive for the efficiency of the invention. 0084 Here, it was found to be particularly advantageous for the height h of the blade segments 29 to be selected such that they extend into the area of the solids zone. Correspondingly, the screw blades 5 should have recesses 27 which radially project at least above the area of the solids zone. 0085 This will be explained in the following. In the case of the centrifugal separation, the solids are deposited relatively far to the outside in the drum. If the blade segments (paddles) do not at least extend into this solids zone, their efficiency remains low. Especially the mixing effect of the recesses 27 and of the blade segments 29 in this area clearly increases the efficiency of the centrifugal separation during the extraction of oil. 0086 In practice, the height h is selected to be approximately lower than the screw blade height k. In addition, the screw blade encloses an angle * with the circumferential wall of the screw body 3 according to FIG. 2b. This angle * is preferably smaller than the angle * which the blade segment 29 encloses with the screw body 3.