Oil Coalescing Separator (OCS)
The Oil Coalescing Separator (OCS) is designed to remove free non-emulsified oils, diesel, gasoline, and fuels from a waste stream, resulting in an effluent quality of 10 mg/l or less of contaminants 20 microns and larger. The OCS operation is based on closely spaced oleophilic (oil-attracting) media that promote the impact and formation of larger oil particles. As the oil droplets increase in size their rise rate to the water surface also increases.
The influent water enters the separator and flows through a tightly stacked bundle of media. The media expands the surface area of the separator giving the oil more room on which to combine (coalesce). As the oil droplets accumulate on the media and coalesce they develop into larger droplets that flow up the surface of the media, detach and rise to the water surface. Surface oil is decanted by gravity into a segregated oil reservoir where it can be removed from the tank. Heavier solids (solids having a specific gravity higher than that of water) will slide down the surface of the media into the sludge chamber at the bottom of the tank for periodic removal. Virtually oil-free water travels under an oil reservoir baffle, over an adjustable weir, and into a clean water effluent chamber. The water is gravity discharged from this chamber.
