Oil separators remove oil from fluids using materials that the oil sticks to more than the fluid. They can pre-treat fluids to reduce cleaning costs. There are six types: belt, disc, drum, mop, big tube, and floating suction. Each type has advantages and limitations.
Oil separators are equipment that removes oil floating on the surface of a fluid. These generally work because they are made of materials that the oil is more likely to stick to than the fluid it floats on. At the same time, the fluid has very little attraction to the equipment.
Oil separators are usually all that is needed to remove oil from a liquid. In some cases, however, they can be used to pre-treat a fluid. In this case, they remove as much oil as possible before more expensive and time-consuming measures are employed. Pretreating the fluid in this manner reduces the overall cost of cleaning the fluid.
There are several types of oil separators, although all models depend on the laws of gravity and surface tension to function. The six main types are belt, disc, drum or barrel, mop, big tube or mini tube, and floating suction oil separators.
Belt separators use a stainless steel belt. This belt is lowered into the liquid that needs to be cleaned. The tape then passes through special wiper blades, which remove oil from both sides of the liquid as it passes.
Disc oil skimmers use a disc that is rotated through the liquid. The oil is removed from the liquid and placed in a suitable collection container inside the skimmer. This type is not a good choice for shallow liquids or places where the liquid level fluctuates, because it is most effective when the entire disc is submerged.
Drum or barrel oil separators are like the disc version, but use a rotating drum instead of a disc. They also tend to be more durable and are capable of displacing more water than disc skimmers. Fluctuating liquid levels, however, are still problematic for drum or barrel skimmers.
Mop skimmers use a special type of string to collect oil. The rope dips into the liquid, removing the liquid and oil. The rope is squeezed with pressure rollers as it enters the drive unit. When used with high viscosity oils, the ropes in these devices tend to dull and lose their effectiveness. Also, replacement mops can be quite expensive.
Large tube oil skimmers use a plastic tube, which runs over the surface of the liquid and sucks up the oil. They can only be used for areas with a large surface area. For smaller surfaces, the mini tube versions are a better choice. They work the same way, but use smaller tubes.
Floating intake skimmers come in a variety of shapes, but each type includes a floating intake. These are best to use with thicker layers of oil.
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