Oil skimming usually beats ultra-filtration systems in many applications. More often than not, installing large, complicated systems to remedy oil problems will not provide ideal results. You can save costs by using a relatively inexpensive oil skimming system to handle the free-floating oil and then a smaller treatment system to handle the oil that has remained suspended in the wastewater.

Bigger isn’t always better and smaller isn’t always cheaper. Choosing a skimmer based on size speculation can be a costly mistake. Buying the smallest skimmer available because it is the cheapest or purchasing the biggest skimmer because you think it will work faster will not lead to successful skimming results.

What Size to Buy?

• Oil skimmers should be selected by the size of the area that needs to be skimmed, not just by the amount of oil needing to be removed.
• Choosing an oil skimmer that has the capacity to remove at least two times the capacity needed by the application should be the deciding factor.
• Oil skimmer capacities are based on optimum conditions and homogeneity of oil.
• Viscosity, temperature of the water, and other factors can affect the amount of oil picked up by an oil skimmer.
• It is impossible to accurately predict how fast your oil will be picked up.
• Therefore, as a rule of thumb, purchase an oil skimmer that is rated at least twice the capacity needed.

Make A Plan!

• Planning is important! Before spending money on a concrete pad and mounting arrangements, check where the oil actually collects in your process.
• Oil skimmers should be located opposite from the inflow and the tail pulley should be submerged two inches below the surface of the liquid in order to be as effective as possible.
• Using a tank that does not allow enough time for the oil to rise and float will not permit successful oil skimming.
• Always make sure your tank gives enough residence time for the oil to float.
  

To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com

HOW TO TELL WHAT SKIMMER YOU NEED FOR YOUR MACHINE COOLANT

Choosing a skimmer based on size speculation can be a costly mistake. Buying the smallest skimmer available because it is the cheapest or purchasing the biggest skimmer because you think it will work faster will not lead to successful skimming results.

Multiple options exist for the collection of tramp oils. Two of the most common are oil skimmers and coalescers. Both offer unique advantages and disadvantages in certain applications.

Coolant Coalescers

Coalescers focus on collecting oil into larger droplets. Using a filter medium, the oil is gathered into one place and combines into a larger oil droplet. heightening the differing densities of oil and water. The oil then floats to the top of the coalescer, allowing removal by other means. 

Coalescers have an advantage in specific coolant-related applications. Coalescers cover a bigger collection area than oil skimmers, speeding recovery and reducing need for moving the oil collection device.

Unlike skimmers, coalescers have no need for a collection container, preventing the potential for spillage. Abanaki's Oil Boss can also be hung from a metallic surface, preventing the floor space footprint of other coalescers and skimmers.

Oil Skimmers

Oil skimmers focus on removing tramp oils using oleophilic belts. These belts attract the tramp oils and drag them up to a trough where they are scraped off, removing them from the water or coolant. Different belts have different specialties, such as steel belts being suited for LNAPLs and tramp oils.  

Oil skimmers have an advantage in more varied conditions. Able to be used in high temperature applications where plastic coalescers might face pump failures, skimmers can withstand more extreme environments.

In addition, oil skimmers do not have to worry about pumps clogged by shavings or solid byproducts like coalescers might. Dirty oil can also go back into the sump in coalescers, while oil is completely removed by a skimmer.

Oil skimmers also have more applications than coalescers, such as environmental remediation. 

For more information about our line of coalescers and skimmers, take a look at our product catalog, or contact us via phone at (440) 543-7400 or via e-mail at skimmers@abanaki.com.

Recently John, an Abanaki sales rep, visited a customer that was in need of replacing some old components in its skimming operation. The facility uses the Model 8 oil skimmers on tanks that are 20 ft off of the ground. The skimmed hydrocarbons are drained in to an oil concentrator below. The oil concentrators at the facility are very old and don't preform like they have in previous years. John suggested the company replace the older oil concentrators with Abanaki's OC200.

Have you heard about Abanaki's newest product the PetroXtractor Active Membrane Skimmer? This pneumatic active skimmer pump is entirely automatic and is designed to recover light non aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) from underground water at depths of up to 130 feet. The PetroXtractor Active Membrane Skimmer is a combination of a pump and skimmer that fits inside a monitoring well, the only solution on the market to use a combination pump and skimmer technology. The unit features an advanced patented membrane that skims the light hydrocarbons and keeps water out of the recovered liquid, which lowers disposal costs. This selective membrane is designed to recover free floating hydrocarbons such as gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, and kerosene as well as other LNAPL from groundwater. Unlike other groundwater remediation products, the unit is capable of far lower operation and maintenance costs. Equipped with a start/stop design, the pumps will automatically shut off when there is no recovered liquid present. The automatic shutoff feature eliminates the need for continuous air supply, which helps to preserve the life of the pump and lowers energy costs. This skimmer will lower energy costs, lower hydrocarbon disposal costs, effectively remove free floating hydrocarbons from groundwater, and maintain a long service life with little maintenance required.