OIL SEPARATORS

PRINCLIPES OF OIL SEPARATION:

Oil can be contained in water in many ways and removal will always be a concern. When in an emulsified state it exists as a colloidal suspension and in a free state it is present in micro drops.

Oil Separators come in many forms and have varying names given by the oil industry as many designs were from the Australian Petroleum Industry hence the API separator. The simple design allow for water containing oil droplets to have a sufficient surface area and time for the hydrostatic elevation of the droplets to occur within a time frame calculated. This was called a rise rate and with this design to achieve flow rates of a considerable volume a large surface area was required.

Later came the CPI separator form the Netherlands from Royal Shell Petroleum. This now common term is used to identify a small oil separator with a reasonable volume through-put. The CPI is termed coalescing plate interceptors because it encourages coalescence of oil droplets to improve the rise rate and performance as the effective droplet sizes are increased. We use a pack of specially designed packing to promote the coalescing effect whilst also providing adequate packing surface area and retention time for the standard 20 micron droplets to be removed.

Pumps used for this type of oil separator are always non emulsifying continuos flow pumps, as this minimises any undue changes in inlet velocity.

To determine the most suitable size of an oil separation unit, measure the catchment area and multiply this value by a storm event as set out by the EPA in your State for augments sake a 1 in 100 year storm is normally a standard that will apply.

This will give a figure of some 10mm over the area within that standard time from to allow for the first allowable time frame to capture the oils emanating from the area.

This will determine the volume of water containing the oil to be processed through the unit and this will size the unit accordingly.

Typical sites with oil separators include :

Our Oil separators are available in a range of capacities from 1000L per hour upwards.

Back to Equipment main page