At a chemical plant, several wastewater streams flow into an underground collection basin. Waste lubricating oil, grease and chemical sludge float on the liquid surface. After a FRIESS oil skimmer with an oil-collecting tube replaced the existing belt skimmer, the entire surface could be covered continuously, significantly reducing maintenance costs.
The FRIESS oil skimmer with an oil-collecting tube replaced the belt skimmer previously in use.
At the chemical plant, various wastewater streams are collected in a small tank measuring 1.5 m × 1.5 m and installed below ground level. A pump transfers the wastewater from the underground collection basin to the wastewater treatment plant.
Various oils and greases float on the tank surface. In addition to waste lubricating oil, the water contains chemical products manufactured by the company. A belt skimmer with a stainless-steel belt was used to remove the oil, grease and chemical sludge. Because of its high annual maintenance cost (€3,068) and limited capacity, the maintenance department looked for a better solution.
A FRIESS S100 oil skimmer with an oil-collecting tube replaced the belt skimmer. The oil-collecting tube removes floating oil, grease and chemical sludge from across the entire surface. The separated material then flows through an open drain channel into a second tank, where the oil, grease and sludge are collected.
Even highly viscous products can be separated with the skimmer. These products occasionally block the open channel, but the channel is easy to clean and, unlike a pipe, cannot become inaccessible through internal clogging.
The skimmer is powered by an ATEX-certified motor and constructed from stainless steel to withstand the various chemicals in the wastewater. All seals are chemically resistant, allowing the maintenance team to clean the unit with a high-pressure cleaner. During the past 12 months, the FRIESS skimmer has operated reliably without maintenance.
Compared with the previous belt-skimmer system, the FRIESS oil-water separation system operates more precisely. Instead of covering only one quarter of the tank surface, the FRIESS skimmer sweeps the entire surface and removes oil from the full basin. Annual maintenance costs fell from €3,068 for the former belt-skimmer system to €0 for the FRIESS skimmer.
