Oil skimmers are a vital part of many industrial processes. They help reduce operating costs, enhance machinery longevity, and improve your environmental profile. Oil skimmers can deliver a range of benefits by reducing bacteria growth and keeping filters clean, but they also remove tramp oils from coolant, among other functions. In this article, we’ll discover how oil skimmers work, and how they can improve industrial operations considerably.
What are Tramp Oils?
The term ‘tramp oils’ effectively describes any contaminated oil that finds its way into machinery coolant. In the manufacturing industry, particularly, machinery requires a reliable supply of clean coolant. This provides smooth operation and reduces unnecessary wear and tear on components. However, when hydrocarbon-based substances such as oil get into the coolant, this is known as tramp oil.
Tramp oils in your coolant can lead to machinery damage, unsafe working environments, and a breeding ground for bacteria. If oil makes its way into machining processes, it can cause equipment to overheat, and the burning oil creates unpleasant and unhealthy smoke for workers.
What is An Oil Skimmer?
Oil skimmers come in many shapes and sizes, and we’ll discuss these in more detail below. But essentially, an oil skimmer helps to remove oil from another liquid. Typically, an oil skimmer removes tramp oils from coolant, but they also remove oil from water and other liquids.
Importantly, oil skimmers allow oil and other contaminants to be completely removed from the industrial process and disposed of correctly, offering more benefits down the track.
Different Types of Oil Skimmers
There are numerous types of oil skimmers available, each with its own ideal use cases. Here are the most common types of oil skimmers.
- Belt oil skimmers: A continuously moving belt on a pulley system is partially submerged in the target liquid. As the belt moves through the liquid, it collects the unwanted oil, and a scraper mechanism wipes contaminants into a sump or other disposal tank. These are the most common and usually most effective types, but it can depend on your specific needs.
- Drum oil skimmers: Quite similar to a belt oil skimmer, a revolving drum picks up oil from the target liquid, which is scraped into a sump and disposal tank.
- Disk skimmers: The lower edge of a revolving disc is partially submerged in the target liquid, collecting oil where scrapers remove it. Disk skimmers are most useful when the target liquid level remains constant.
- Rope oil skimmers: A rope rotates on a continuous path in the target liquid. As the rope collects oil, it is squeezed through rollers and removed.
- Tube oil skimmers: Uses a tube that attracts oil, rather than a belt, drum, disk or rope. The tube rolls in the target liquid, collecting oil, and is then pushed through a set of scrapers to remove the oil.
The Benefits of Using Oil Skimmers
Here are some of the many reasons you should use oil skimmers in your industrial operations.
Keep Filters Clean
Most industrial processes use filtration to remove oil from water and contaminants from coolants or prepare wastewater for disposal. All of these systems use filters that can be clogged easily by oil and other contaminants. Removing oil from the liquids passing through your filters limits the risk of blockages and decreases your machinery maintenance requirements. Filter replacement generally means downtime, so the less frequently you need to change filters, the more productive your operation will be.
Prevent Bacteria Buildup
When tramp oils are allowed to settle in coolant, they create a haven for bacteria. The oil almost acts as a shield, preventing oxygen from reaching the coolant, resulting in perfect conditions for anaerobic bacteria to develop. This bacteria can often emit a foul odour like rotten eggs if it generates hydrogen sulphide gas. But worse, anybody coming into contact with the bacteria-laden coolant is at risk of dermatitis. Needless to say, bacteria isn’t good for any industrial process, especially in the food industry.
Reduce Operating Costs
Oil skimmers reduce your operating costs in a number of ways. Firstly, you can reuse the coolant if you keep it clean with industrial filtration processes. Removing oils also makes coolant and wastewater disposal cheaper. Oils mixed with coolant can cause machinery to overheat, leading to numerous repair and maintenance costs that can be avoided by using an oil skimmer. Also, your equipment can operate at maximum efficiency, which improves production and your bottom line.
Easier Wastewater Treatment
While there are specific guidelines for the disposal of wastewater, using an oil skimmer in your processes can help. Oil skimmers help to remove oil from water and dispose of it correctly, allowing the safe disposal of contaminant-free wastewater. Even if your wastewater goes through other filtration processes, it can only be beneficial to have oils removed sooner rather than later.
Enhance your Environmental Practices
Needless to say, a company’s environmental profile is important these days. There are numerous environmental rules and regulations that industries must comply with. Oil skimmers promote more environmentally friendly practices by safely removing oil from other liquids. In short, they play a part in complying with industry standards and improving your public image.
Need Help to find the Right Oil Skimmer?
Interfil is one of Australia’s leading suppliers of industrial filtration products. From oil skimmers to large-scale wastewater treatment system, we’ve got the expertise and products to improve your operations. Our team of experienced professionals can help you increase productivity and reduce operating costs regardless of your industry. Contact us today to find out how we can help.
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