Abstract: A self-draining separator for centrifugal separation of a suspension into a light liquid phase, a heavy solid phase, and a moderately heavy intermediate phase. The separator includes a rotatable centrifuging drum, a liquid discharge for the light liquid phase, a discontinuously active solid matter discharge opening for the heavy solid phase, to which a first actuatable discharge device is assigned, by way of which the solid matter discharge opening can be discontinuously opened and closed. The separator also includes a discontinuously active discharge opening for the intermediate phase, to which at least one second actuatable discharge device is assigned, by way of which the discharge opening for the intermediate phase can be discontinuously opened and closed again.