The system removes the floating oils from the top of the water surface and directs the water continuously into the oil water separator.
“Our washing operation used to dump 3,000 to 5,000 gallons of process water down the sewer each day because it was contaminated with petroleum oil and wax. Not only did we lose this water in the middle of the worst drought in history but the heat energy it contained as well. We also risked plugging up the city sewer system.
The system removes the floating oils from the top of the water surface and directs the water continuously into the oil water separator. The unit produces water so clean that we can use it in our boilers and cooling towers. Zero water is now sent down the sewer.”
The Solids and Oil Water Separation Systems (SOWS) are horizontal gravity flow treatment systems designed to separate settleable solids, suspended solids, and free and dispersed oil.
New SOWS Systems Remove Both Free & Dispersed Oil AND Settable & Suspended Solids!
Introducing the new Best Available Technology (BAT) for the treatment of produced water and flow-back water. The Solids and Oil Water Separation Systems (SOWS) are horizontal gravity flow treatment systems designed to separate settleable solids, suspended solids, and free and dispersed oil.
This system is a significant improvement to the currently used CPI Separators which can only separate free oil and settleable solids – allowing a considerable amount of dispersed oil, suspended solids, and stable emulsions to pass through the system.
Applications:
Onshore and Offshore Drilling Operations
Oil Refineries
Produced Water
Waste Oil Processing Facilities
Benefits:
No moving parts
Low maintenance
Heavy duty carbon or stainless construction
The SOWS System has 5 stages of separation.
Solids Oil Water Separation
Stage 1, Inlet Area – The water mixture flows into the inlet quiescent area where the velocity of the water slows. The free oil (150 micron in size or greater) separates and rises to the surface where it is removed by a pipe skimmer.
Stage 2, Clarifier/Solids Intercept Section – The settleable solids flow downward and are captured in the clarifier/ solids intercept section.
Stage 3, Inclined Plate Section – The suspended solids and dispersed oil flow upward through the inclined plates section. Most of the suspended solids will slide down these plates into the hopper.
Stage 4, Separation Compartment – The remaining suspended solids and dispersed oil flow into the separation compartment where the coalescing plates remove 99% of the free oil droplets 30 micron or greater. This oil rises to the surface where an oil skimmer decants it to an oil storage tank. The coalescing plates then capture the remaining suspended solids.
Stage 5, Clean Water Compartment – The flow of water will go over the overflow weir into the clean water compartment where oil absorption polishing bags trap any trace oils before the water is discharged.
By removing 99.9% of the free oil and settable solids, our oil/water separators systems will extend the life of the cleaning baths and improve the quality of the process waters.
Many industrial processes use large amounts of water for a variety of reasons including cooling and cleaning. To assure continuous production, this water has to be clean and free of contaminants such as oil and particles.
The cost of chemicals and downtime to re-charge the spent baths can be expensive. By removing 99.9% of the free oil and settable solids, our oil/water separators systems will extend the life of the cleaning baths and improve the quality of the process waters.
Available in a range of dimensions and flow rates, these separators can be constructed of stainless steel or carbon steel that is coated for corrosion protection. All of our systems are constructed of heavy-duty components for maximum life and performance. They can be integrated into existing process lines and customized with hoppers or oil storage compartments and a variety of skimming, monitoring, and pumping packages.
Our stormwater oil water separators will remove solids and all free and dispersed non-emulsified oil droplets 20 micron or greater in size and produce an effluent discharge of less than 5 PPM.
The first phase of a rainstorm can be deceiving. The peaceful melody of the droplets can quickly disperse over parking lots, fueling depots, and washing areas that all contain pollutants, such as oil and grease. Because impervious surfaces do not allow rain to infiltrate into the ground, storm water runoff is generated. Surface runoff or storm water runoff then becomes a major threat to our nation and our clean water supply.
In order to protect our clean water supply these waters have to be treated before being discharged from storm sewers to surface waters. Our WB-QB oil water separators will remove solids and all free and dispersed non-emulsified oil droplets 20 micron or greater in size and produce an effluent discharge of less than 5 PPM.
Most municipalities have storm water departments that are made to protect water resources and reduce impacts from storm water runoff. They also are responsible for the compliance of requirements for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
Our efficient, below ground separators meet pretreatment SPCC and NPDES permits for local communities.
Our proprietary design incorporates patented revolutionary non-plugging poly-propylene coalescing plates. Our coalescing media exceeds all known American performance standards including UL 2215, and has been tested in accordance with European Union Standard CEN EN858-1, which requires a discharge limit of less than 5 PPM. Our separator tanks are manufactured to UL 58 and UL 1746 Standards. Construction can be either single wall or double wall with a corrosion protection system. Sizes are available up to 4000 GPM flow rate.
Operation Maintenance
All models can be serviced from grade level
No confined spaces
Plates easily removed, washed down and put back in place
Solids can be pumped out through large access opening from grade level
Options Available
Grit chamber for solids removal prior to coalescing compartment
Effluent pump out chamber after coalescing compartment
Oil stop valve to retain lighter liquids from leaving separator
In some locations such as power plants or older factories, there may be a need to install a larger oil water separator in a constrained space. There may be room for the separator, but the entrance to the separator area may be a maze of twisted steps and narrow hallways. If this is the case, we have the ability to custom engineer an oil water separator that can be built in place, piece-by-piece.
Our Built In Place Oil Water Separators are designed for those constrained locations that seem impossible. Wash Bay Solutions provides an advanced solution for this very need.
Applications include:
Power Plants
Refineries
Factories
Industrial plants
Available in a range of dimensions and flow rates, these separators can be constructed of stainless steel or carbon steel that corrosion protection applied at the factory.
To ensure each piece will be made to accommodate the facility, we will prepare detailed sub-assembly drawings for your approval prior to starting construction. Then, detailed construction drawings and instructions will be provided for onsite installation.
Like all of our separators, these constrained space oil/water separators will remove 99.9% of free and dispersed non-emulsified oil droplets in the waste stream.
Benefits
Removes free oil droplets as small as 20 microns
Reduces effluent free oil concentration to 10 ppm or less
High flow rates in a compact design
Low maintenance costs
Solids storage capability
All of our systems are constructed of heavy-duty components for maximum life and performance. They can be customized with hoppers or oil storage compartments and a variety of skimming, monitoring, and pumping packages.
Many industries have parts washing systems that are critical to their production. Often used on a continuous basis, they remove heavy oils, dry lubes and machining particles off production parts. Many of these wash systems require constant cleaning and filtration to not to re-contaminate the parts.
Our oil water separator systems will remove 99.9% of free and dispersed non-emulsified oil droplets in the wash water – greatly improving the quality of the cleaning water and extending the time before having to dump and re-charge. They will also help drop out particles from the wash water.
Featuring an image of one of our oil water separator designs.
Available in a range of dimensions and flow rates, our oil water separators can be can be integrated easily with the existing parts washing systems and customized with a variety of skimming, monitoring, and pumping packages. All of our systems are constructed of stainless steel and heavy-duty components for maximum life and performance.
Here is one of our oil water separators specifically designed for the vehicle washing industry to help remove dirt and oil.
Our oil water separators have been specially developed for treating wash water from commercial vehicle washing operations. Used in a variety of applications, our vehicle washing oil water separator systems will remove 99.9% of free and dispersed non-emulsified oil droplets in the wash water with discharge to the sewer or a treatment plant.
Applications:
Equipment Washing
Car Washing
Truck & Bus Washing
Forklift Wash Facilities
Aircraft Washing
Locomotive Washing
Marinas
Available in a range of dimensions and flow rates, our oil water separators can be can be customized with a variety of skimming, monitoring, and pumping packages. All of our systems are constructed of stainless steel or coated carbon steel and heavy-duty components for maximum life and performance. They can also be easily adapted to handle a range of input water variations including high salt content and acids.
The clarifier oil water separator used for the mining company in central Mexico.
Problem: A gold mine in central Mexico was modifying their vehicle maintenance facility and adding a wash bay for their heavy mining trucks and vehicles covered with solids, dirt, oil, and grease. The mining company contacted an engineering firm in Arizona who then contacted us for our wash bay expertise.
Solution: We worked with the engineering firm to help design the wash bay with the proper pad layout to accommodate the enormous vehicles, substantial wash water volumes and large amounts of solids. We also had to account for rainwater volumes since their wash bay was uncovered.
Our SPT-50 Clarifier Oil Water Separator System was a perfect fit since it was designed for treating wash water from industrial washing operations with large solids concentrations. It includes a stainless steel clarifier oil water separator that has both a clarifier section, which will remove all settable solids and an oil water separator section, which will remove all non-emulsified oil from the waste stream.
During construction of the wash pad and installation of the SPT-50, we continued to work with the engineering company so insure all tasks were completed properly. We provided all manuals and documentation in both Spanish and English so that as little information as possible was lost in translation. The client has reported that the SPT-50 has been working very well since installation.
Choosing the right oil water separator can seem daunting. Just as not all applications are alike, not all separators are made alike. Customers should understand a few important points to make sure they’re getting what they pay for.
It is a well known fact that oil and water do not mix. But separating the two before releasing the wastewater into sewers or open water areas is no easy feat. Because millions of gallons of oil wastewater have the potential to get into our water supply , wetlands and environment each year, the EPA and state agencies have implemented guidelines for keeping our environment free of oil contaminated wastewater. While the process of separating oil and dirt from wastewater is not simple or inexpensive, it guarantees all of us will have uncontaminated water supply and wetlands for decades to come.
How Problems Occur
Operating and washing heavy machinery will combine water with oil, grease and grime. Without treatment, this wastewater would release harmful contaminants into the environment.
Solutions
Case studies conducted by Wash Bay Solutions prove that much of the oils and dirt from contaminated wastewater can be removed before it is discharged to the sewer. One way this is done is by putting the wastewater through a specially-designed clarifier separator equipped with inclined plates to drop out the solids and advanced coalescing media to remove the oils. If the water needs to be re-used, it can be put through more filtration.
Result
Water without oil and dirt contamination can be reused or safely discharged. By using oil water separators on wastewater, we are using good “Green” business practices to both save money and be good stewards of the environment.
