Separator, separator system and methods of their operation

The present disclosure provides a method of operating a separator (1,1a, 1b) for separating particles from a particle-laden airflow. The method comprises receiving, in the controller (18), a separation unit status signal from the separation unit status sensor (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d), deriving, in the controller (18), separator status data based on the separation unit status signal, communicating, via the communication device (19), the separator status data to the external unit (1a, 1b, 26), receiving, via the communication device (19), incoming control data from the external unit (1a, 1b, 26), determining, in the controller (18), based on the separator status data and based on the incoming control data, whether to initiate separating unit maintenance, and selectively initiating separating unit maintenance based on said determination. The disclosure also provides a separator for implementing the method and a system comprising two or more such separators.