Abstract: A centrifuge, comprising a distributor for introducing material to be centrifuged and a sieve system having a plurality of axially mutually offset membrane plates, the membrane plates being arranged radially with respect to the distributor and having at least two axially-spaced membrane disks. The sieve system is arranged such that a flow directions of material to be centrifuged emerging from the distributor and a flow direction of particles deposited on the membrane plates are identical. Alos included is centrifugal drum having a centrifugal compartment with the sieve system arranged therein and a piston slide valve for closing the centrifugal drum. The invention is also a method for cleaning the centrifuge, the steps comprising: opening a piston slide valve, thereby allowing a return flow of liquid through the sieeve system; and removeing one or more of substances baked to the sieve system and impurities from the sieve system.

Abstract: A disk centrifuge having an intake device which includes two mutually separated intakes which are concentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the centrifugal drum and lead from opposite ends into a common distributor in the centrifugal drum. In a process for operating the centrifuge, the intake pressure at the upper intake tube is adjusted to be lower than the discharge pressure at the liquid discharge without a separating disk.