Oil skimmer

Oil spill skimmers can be self-propelled, used from shore, or operated from vessels, with the best choice being dependent on the specifics for the job at hand.

Examples include as a part of oil removal in vehicle wash water, fuel storage sites and workshops.

Some factors to consider are: The use of skimmers in industrial applications is often required to remove oils, grease and fats prior to further treatment for environmental discharge compliance.

By removing the top layer of oils, water stagnation, smell and unsightly surface scum can be reduced.

Surfactants such as detergents, cleaners, caustics and fine suspended solids can impare the ability of oil to adhere to the oleophilic material.

Wiper blades remove the oil from the rotating belt depositing it into a collection trough where it is moved to a storage location either via gravity or a pumping system.

Wiper blades remove the oil from the drums depositing it into the collection trough where it is pumped to a storage location.

A metal disc, belt or drum is used in applications where an polymeric material is inappropriate, such as in a hot alkaline aqueous parts washer.

[3] The skimmer is generally turned off whenever there is no oil to skim thus minimizing the amount of water collected.

To overcome this limitation most weir type skimmers contain an automatic water drain on the oil collection tank.

This makes weir skimmers popular if high oil recovery rates and large coverage areas are required.

Weir type skimmers do not rely on oil adherence or coalescence and therefore are not affected by detergents, chemicals and other surfactants in the water.

They are not affected by fine suspended solids in the water which can impede adherence and therefore the operation of other types of skimmer.