Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

Chapter 4 Oil/Water Separator

Introduction: Oil/water separators are necessary aboard vessels to prevent the discharge of oil overboard when pumping out bilges, de-ballasting, when cleaning oil tanks, or any oil-contaminated space The international legislation of IMO relating to oil pollution has limited the requirement to fit the separators. It is becoming more and more stringent in the limits set for oil discharge. Inshore discharge of oil can cause damage to fish and bird life and mass pollution of beaches. The legal maximum oil particle discharge quantity is 100 parts per million (PPM) of water. Oil/water separators using the gravity system can only achieve 100 parts per million and must therefore be used in conjunction with some form of filter. Depending upon the size of ship a discharge purity of 100 or 15 parts per million will be required. Where 100 parts per million purity is required the oil/water separator may be used alone.

4.1.

Oil/water separator; System Description Figure (4.1) shows an oil/water separator. It consists of a vertical pressure vessel containing a number of inverted conical plates. The complete unit is first filled with clean water. The oily water mixture is then pumped through the separator inlet pipe in the upper half of the unit (into the coarse separating compartment), and is directed downwards to the conical plates. Hence some oil, as a result of its lower density, will separate and rise into the oil collection space. The remaining oil/water mixture now flows down into the fine separating compartment and moves slowly between the conical plates. The water leaves the conical plate pack via a central pipe which is connected to a flange at the base of the separator. More oil will separate out on to the underside of these plates and travel outwards until it is free to rise into the oil collecting space. The almost oil-free water passes into the central pipe and leaves the separator unit. Two test cocks are provided to observe the depth of oil collected in the separator dome. When oil is seen at the lower test cock, the oil drain valve must be opened. An automatically controlled valve releases the separated oil to a storage tank. Air is released from the unit by a vent valve. Steam or electric heating coils are provided in the upper and sometimes the lower parts of the separator, depending upon the type of oil to be separated. The purity at this point will be 100 PPM or less. Where greater purity is required, the almost oil-free water passes to a filter unit.

Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Clean water run-off connection Outlet Oil accumulation space Riser pipes Inlet connection

Fig. (4.1): Sectional view of oil/water separator

Where greater purity is required, the almost oil-free water passes to a filter unit. A complete oil/water separator and filter unit for 15 parts per million purity is shown in Figure (4.2). The water flows in turn through two filter stages and the oil removed passes to oil collecting spaces. The first-stage filter removes vertical impurities present and promotes some fine separation. The second-stage filter uses coalesced inserts to achieve the final de-oiling. Coalescence is the breakdown of surface tension between oil droplets in an oil/water mixture which causes them to join and increase in size. The oil from the collecting spaces is drained away manually, as required, usually about once a week. The filter inserts will require changing, the period of useful life depending upon the operating conditions.

Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

Fig. (4.2): A complete oil/water separator and filter unit

Visual and audible oil overload indicators may also be fitted. The latest legislative requirements are, where 100 parts per million purity is required, a monitoring unit which continuously records, and, where 15 parts per million purity is necessary, an alarm unit to provide warning of levels of discharge in excess of 15 parts per million. It has to be noted that before initial operation, the separator must be filled with clean water. To a large extent the conical plates are self-cleaning but periodically the top of the vessel should be removed and the plates examined for sludge build up and corrosion. It is important that the separator is not run at over capacity, to avoid deterioration of the effluent quality.

Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

Fig. (4.3): Monitor oily water using direct light

4.2.

Fuel and lubricating oil treatment: Both fuel oils and lubricating oils require treatment before passing to the engine. This will involve storage and heating, To ensure good combustion in diesel engines and reduce wear and corrosion in this type of engines and turbines it may be necessary to remove impurities from fuel and lubricating oils. These include ash, various salts and water present in fuel oil and carbon-aceous matter, materials, acids and water present in used lubricating oil. The main methods used at sea are centrifuging, filtration and coalescing. Of these three methods centrifuging is the most widely method used. Separation is speeded up by the use of a centrifuge and can be arranged as continuous process.

Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

4.2.1. Centrifuging A bowl centrifuge is shown in Fig. (4.4). It consists of an electric motor drive to a vertical shaft on the top of which is mounted the bowl assembly. An outer framework surrounds the assembly and carries the various feed and discharge connections. The bowl can be a solid assembly which retains the separated sludge. The dirty oil is admitted into the centre of the bowl, passes up through a stack of discs and out through the top. The bowl contains a stack of conical discs up to 150 and are separated from are another by a small gap. The action of centrifugal force causes the lighter components (the clean oil) to flow inwards and the water and impurities flow outwards.
Feed Light Phase Heavy Phase

Fig. (4.4): A Bowl centrifuge

Where a centrifuge is arranged to separate two liquids, it is known as a 'purifier', see Fig. (4.5). Where a centrifuge is arranged to separate impurities and small amounts of water from oil it is known as a 'clarifier', see Fig. (4.6). Table (1) illustrates a comparison between Purifying and Clarifying processes

Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

Table (1): Comparison between Purifying and Clarifying processes

Purifying

Clarifying

- Separation of two liquids such as oil - Separation of impurities and small and water. amounts or no water from oil. - There is cylindrical interface between the two liquids.

- No interference is formed.

- It is necessary to use a dam ring or gravity discs at the outlet of the - No gravity disc is necessary. centrifuge.

Fig. (4.5): Purifying bowl arrangement

Fig. (4.6): Clarifying bowl arrangement

1- Feed

2- purified

3- separated water

4- sludge

4.2.2. Non-continuous operation Certain designs of centrifuges are arranged for a short period of operation and are then shut down for cleaning. After cleaning and removal of the sludge from the bowl, the machine is returned to service. Two different designs are used for this method of operation; A) The narrow-bowl machine: It has to be cleaned after a shorter running period and requires dismantling in order to clean the bowl.
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Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

B) The wide-bowl machine: It can be cleaned in place. The complication of the stack of conical discs must be cleaned. 4.2.3. Continuous operation Modern wide-bowl centrifuge designs enable continuous operation over a considerable period of time. This is achieved by an ejection process which is limited timed to discharge the sludge at regular intervals. The sludge deposits build up on the bowl periphery as separation continues, and the ejection process is timed to clear these deposits before they begin, to affect the separation process. To start the ejection process the oil feed to the centrifuge is first shut off and the oil remaining in the bowl is removed by admitting flushing water into the hydraulic system in the bottom of the bowl to open a number of spring-loaded valves. This 'operating' water causes the opening of discharge ports in the bowl periphery. The sludge is discharged through these ports by centrifugal force, as shown in Figure (4.7). Closing 'operating' water to close the discharge ports, the oil feed reopened, and separation continues.

Fig. (4.7): Sludge discharge

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Marine Auxiliary Machinery

Prof. Dr. Mosaad Mosleh

4.3.

Maintenance 1. The bowl and the disc stack will require periodical cleaning. 2. Care should be taken in stripping down the bowl, using only the special tools provided. 3. The centrifuge is a perfectly balanced piece of equipment, rotating at high speeds: all parts should therefore be handled and treated with care.