Abstract: A centrifugal separator (10) includes a housing (12), which extends along a central axis (14) and has a separating chamber wall (24) for delimiting a separating chamber (26) that is fed by an inlet channel (44) for polyphasic fluid. A central immersion tube (50) is provided for discharging a first fluid phase and an outlet channel (54) is provided for discharging a second fluid phase. An expansion chamber (30), which widens radially outward with respect to the separating chamber and is radially outwardly delimited by an expansion chamber wall (30), is provided between the separating chamber and the outlet channel, The separating chamber conically widens from the inlet channel, as seen along the central axis, toward the expansion chamber.

Abstract: A method for extracting hydrocarbon compounds, especially crude oil, from underground oil sands deposits, including the following steps: at least two parallel boring sections are created in the oil sands deposits; at least some areas of the boring sections are filled with an explosive material; the explosive material is ignited in order to enlarge the boring sections; the combustible material is ignited in at least one of the boring sections in order to convert the hydrocarbon compounds in the oil sands deposit into a liquid and/or gaseous state; the hydrocarbon compounds in a liquid and/or gaseous state are collected; and auxiliary substances such as water and atmospheric oxygen are optionally introduced and removed for desired material conversions for the refining of hydrocarbons.