Tap a new oil well

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS and TRICANTERS

for oil sludge treatment

Treatment of oily waste water

The processing of crude oil in

The first step is static separa-

the API separator are consoli-

refineries and petrochemical

tion in API* separators. The oil

dated and further processed

plants creates oil emulsive

concentrates on the surface

as oil sludge. The FLOTTWEG

waste water. Processing this

whereas the solids sink to the

TRICANTER is especially

waste water means separating

bottom as sludge. Between

designed for the continuous

it into its main components

these two components a water

separation of three-phase

of oil, water, and solids. The

phase is built up which then

mixtures and is able to sepa-

objective is to recover as much

goes to the waste water treat-

rate the three components oil,

oil as possible and to dispose

ment facility. The floating layer

water, and solids in a single

of the other components in an

of the surface and the sludge

step. The manner of oil sludge

efficient way.

coming from the underflow of

pre-treatment is crucial for

oily
waste
water

flotation

floating
layer

acid / lye
API
separator

aeration tank
effluent

water

pH

sewage sludge
water

sludge

pretreatment

FLOTTWEG
HTSDECANTER

FLOTTWEG
TRICANTER

effluent

oil
sludge

solids

solids

oil

Oil and sewage sludge treatment with FLOTTWEG CENTRIFUGES

separation efficiency using the

solids can then be further pro-

used in municipal and indus-

FLOTTWEG TRICANTER .

cessed together with the oil

trial sewage plants for this

Heating treatment reduces the

sludge. The real waste water

purpose.

viscosity of the oil; additionally

treatment is done in a mechan-

it is possible to add surfactants

ical-biological sewage plant.

*API = American Petroleum

in order to improve the separa-

Waste water treatment gener-

Institute

tion. Fine solids particles can

ates sewage sludge which

be separated more efficiently

should be as dry as possible in

by adding polymer flocculation

order to reduce the costs of

aids or precipitation agents.

transport, disposal, or incine-

The water coming from the

ration. The FLOTTWEG HTS

API separator goes first to a

DECANTER is specially

flotation plant where the solids

designed for the high-dewater-

are separated. The separated

ing of sewage sludge and is

Benefits of oil and sewage sludge

treatment using the FLOTTWEG
DECANTER and TRICANTER

Significant reduction of

The solids waste separated

hydrocarbon emissions into

by the FLOTTWEG

the environment.

DECANTER equates to only

10 % of the original volume.

Approximately 80 to 90 % of

The solids can be delivered to

the oil is recovered. The oil

an incinerator or disposed of.

24,2
0,2
0,1

can be recycled in the

refinery or processed and

oil
after
separation

21,4

0,7

Automatic and continuous

utilized for lubrication

operation even at varying

purposes.

compositions of the sludge.

water
after
separation

69,4
71,1

0,4
4,7
2,1
1,5
4,2

100
oil sludge
before
separation

solids
after
separation

100

solids

water

oil

Oil sludge treatment: Composition before and after separation

(data based on 100 kg oil sludge)

Cost-efficiency
The recovered oil can be
reused as valuable oil.

90 % reduction in volume

Significant reduction of all

Low personnel costs due to

dramatically reduces trans-

costs for waste treatment as

continuous and automatic

portation and disposal costs.

only 10% of the original

operation.

quantity has to be handled.

Low specific energy

demand.

3
= registered trademark
in various countries

Oil recovery from lagoons

and sedimentation ponds

In the past, it was common to

ponds. Even today, huge

FLOTTWEG can provide

dump oily residuals from

lagoons and ponds can be

equipment or complete

refineries, petrochemical

found in many places around

systems to effectively process

plants, and other industries

the world where these residuals

the residues and recover

into large sedimentation

have been settling for decades.

valuable oil.

waste-water
collecting tank

oil lagoon
waste oil
pump

steam

control
panel

water phase
to biological
treatment plant

pump

variable
impeller
system

variable
bowl
drive

FLOTTWEG
TRICANTER

variable
scroll
drive

direct
steam
injection
steam

waste oil collecting tanks

overflow
heat

50-500 m3 ex3

50-500 m

changer

steam

solids
diverter

heat
exchanger

pre
filter

solids
transport

feed
pump

circulation
pump
3
30-100 m /h

water and
flocculant

pump
12345
99999

automatic
preparation
of chemicals

flocculant
pump

dilution water

clean oil
collecting tank

clean oil
counter

oil to
refinery

System for processing oil sludge from lagoons and sedimentation ponds

Part of the FLOTTWEG oil

that floats on the surface of the

extracted oil sludge is then

recovery system is an oil-

pond or lagoon. If the suctioned

processed like slop oil. The

suction unit that enables the

portion contains high contents

slop oil is heated, surfactant

extraction of oil sludge from a

of paraffins and asphaltum, the

and flocculant are added, and

defined depth below the

oil sludge is fluidized in the

finally, oil, water, and solids are

ponds surface. The suction

suction pipe using steam

separated via a FLOTTWEG

pump is mounted on a pontoon

operated heater coils. The

TRICANTER.

Benefits of oil recovery from

sedimentation ponds using
the FLOTTWEG TRICANTER

Approximately 90% of the

Automatic and continuous

existing oil is recovered.

operation even at varying

compositions of the

The residue volume is

TRICANTER feed.

oil
after
separation

31,6

reduced to only 10 to 20 %
of the original sludge quantity.

Elimination of environmental

The solids phase from the

and human health hazards

FLOTTWEG TRICANTER is

generated by the oil sedi-

either incinerated or dispo-

mentation ponds.

35,0
0,3
0,2
0,5

sed of.

water
after
separation
46,5
53,0

0,2

2,9

12,0

6,2

solids
after
separation

100
11,6

feed
before
separation

100

solids

water

oil

Treating oil sludge from lagoons and sedimentation ponds: Composition

before and after separation (data based on 100 kg oil sludge)

Cost-efficiency
The recovered oil can be
reused as crude oil.

Reduced costs for

- transportation

because only 10 to 20% of the

- disposal and

original volume remains for

- incineration

waste disposal.

5
= registered trademark
in various countries

Oil recovery from residuals

during tank cleaning

Crude oil is stored in tanks

hydrocarbons and inorganic

inspections, and maintenance

ranging in size from 5,000 cubic

impurities such as sand, rust,

and repair jobs, the tank has to

meters (1.3 mil gallons) to

and heavy metals, builds up on

be completely emptied and

130,000 cubic meters (34 mil

the bottom of the tanks,

cleaned.

gallons). Over time, a wax-like

thereby reducing the utilizable

layer consisting of heavy

tank volume. Prior to safety

20 - container
diesel
engine

flotating roof tank

hydraulic
pump

agitator with hydraulic drive

diesel-oil
tank

hydraulic
oil tank

variable
bowl
drive

80 m /h
hydraulic
drive

5-32 m3/h
FLOTTWEG
DECANTER

hydraulic
drive
solid
transfer pump

variable
scroll
drive

preheating (optional)

5 m3
centrate
container

solids

Tank cleaning

Tanks are cleaned with crude

tion after cleaning. These resi-

that can be fed to a sewage

oil, diesel oil, and water. Depend-

duals can be processed using

treatment plant, and to reduce

ing on the size of the tank, up

a FLOTTWEG TRICANTER to

the volume of the solids phase.

to 1,000 metric tons of residuals

recover the major part of the

Finally only 10 % of the original

remain for disposal or incinera-

oil, to deliver a water stream

quantity remains for incineration.

Benefits of using the FLOTTWEG

TRICANTER for processing
oil sludge from tank cleaning

90 to 95 % of the oil con-

The amount of solids sepa-

The solids phase is suitable

Automatic and continuous

tained in the residuals layer

rated by the FLOTTWEG

for disposal, it can be trans-

operation even at varying

is recovered.

TRICANTER is only 10 % of

ported or incinerated without

compositions of the

the original sludge volume.

high risk to the environment.

FLOTTWEG TRICANTER

feed.

Crude oil storage tanks

Cost-efficiency
The recovered oil can be
reused as valuable oil, thus

Dramatically reduced costs

for incineration.

Reduced costs for

transportation and disposal.

a major part of the cleaning

costs are repaid.

7
= registered trademark
in various countries

Special features of FLOTTWEG

DECANTERS and TRICANTERS
used for oil recovery from residuals
containing hydrocarbons
Experience

Short payback period

Wear protection

FLOTTWEG has been

Normally, FLOTTWEG

Optimum wear protection is

developing and manufacturing

DECANTERS and

crucial for the use of decanter

decanters for over 50 years

TRICANTERS, when used for

centrifuges for oil recovery

and is one of the worlds

oil recovery from residuals

from residuals containing

leading decanter manufacturers.

containing hydrocarbons, pay

hydrocarbons. All parts from

FLOTTWEG has more exper-

for themselves within one year

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS

ience and expertise than any

of operation.

exposed to wear are protected

other decanter manufacturer

by special tungsten carbide

when it comes to applying and

hardfacing. All wear bushings

using decanters for the purpose

and inserts are made of silicon

of oil recovery from residuals

carbide ceramic.

containing hydrocarbons.

FLOTTWEG TRICANTER SYSTEM for oil recovery in Romania

FLOTTWEG SIMP-DRIVE

ated from the feed stream. This

and flow rate resulting in

The FLOTTWEG SIMP-DRIVE

means the FLOTTWEG

optimum dry substance con-

automatically controls the

DECANTER/TRICANTER

internal scroll differential speed

adapts itself to varying feed

according to the torque gener-

conditions such as solids load

tent in the solids discharge.

FLOTTWEG SYSTEMS

systems consisting of

tanks including pretreatment,

tested, and commissioned on

Especially for oil recovery from

FLOTTWEG DECANTER/

flocculants dosage, control

site by FLOTTWEG personnel.

residuals containing hydro-

TRICANTER, pumps, oil

unit, etc. FLOTTWEG SYSTEMS

carbons, FLOTTWEG provides

suction unit, intermediate

are completely piped, wired,

9
= registered trademark
in various countries

Explosion proof

Certifications

References/Credentials

All FLOTTWEG DECANTERS

FLOTTWEG is ISO 9001

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS and

and TRICANTERS for oil re-

certified and manufactures its

TRICANTERS are in use

covery from residuals containing

products in compliance to the

around the world in major

hydrocarbons are in compliance

current technical standards.

refineries and petrochemical

with the regulations ATEX 95

and recycling plants, where

(for Europe) and IEC for Class I,

crude oil is extracted or

Division 2 and Group D.

processed.

FLOTTWEG products are

10

Applicable to Russia: GOST

designed and manufactured

and GOSGORTECHNADSOR

in GERMANY!

FLOTTWEG DISC STACK CENTRIFUGES

for cleaning oil from
oil-sludge processing

A FLOTTWEG DISC STACK

The feed stream for the

coming from the FLOTTWEG

an eccentric-screw pump.

CENTRIFUGE (centrifugal

FLOTTWEG DISC STACK

TRICANTER is collected in a

Generally, a residual BSW

separator) can be used in

CENTRIFUGE can only contain

special tank where it is heated

water/solids content less

cases where a high purity

small amounts of residual

to 90 C before being delivered

than 100 PPM is achieved

of oil is required.

water and solids. The oil

to the disc stack centrifuge via

after separation.

oil sludge

water phase to
biological
treatment plant
water phase

demulsifying agent

liquid
product

heatable
reaction tank

heatable
reaction tank

FLOTTWEG
TRICANTER

*)
condensate

variable
bowl
drive

steam
variable
scroll
drive

water

FLOTTWEG
AC SEPARATOR

flocculant
automatic
preparation
of chemicals

*) variable impeller system

sludge

direct steam injection

oil phase
to be
purified

clean oil
for further
treatment

Plant for processing residuals containing hydrocarbons using the FLOTTWEG DISC STACK CENTRIFUGE

FLOTTWEG
DISC STACK
CENTRIFUGE
Oil pond with floating suction unit

11
= registered trademark
in various countries

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS and TRICANTERS

for oil recovery from residuals containing
hydrocarbons
For many years, FLOTTWEG

Oil recovery from oil sludge

Cost-efficiency

DECANTERS, TRICANTERS,

Industrial waste water

Sedimentation ponds and

Re-use of the recovered oil

Reduced costs of transpor-

and SYSTEMS have been in

operation at major refineries

lagoons

tation and disposal of the

Tank cleaning

and petrochemical plants all

separated solids phase.

over the world.

Technical data
Type

Z32-3

Materials
of construction
Dimensions
(L x W x H)

Z4E-4

Z5E-4

Z6E-3

Z6E-4

All product wetted parts are made of high grade stainless steel
such as 1.4463 (Duplex), 1.4571 (AISI 316 Ti), etc.
2 245 x 1 180 x
890 mm

2 980 x 1 000 x
1 200 mm

4 600 x 1 700 x
1 500 mm

4 527 x 1 705 x
1 500 mm

5 147 x 1 705 x
1 500 mm

3 700 lb
1 680 kg

5 620 lb
2 550 kg

14,400 lb
6 220 kg

17,600 lb
7 980 kg

20,400 lb
9 230 kg

Motor for
bowl drive

20 hp
15 kW

30 hp
22 kW

50 75 hp
37 55 kW

60 hp
45 kW

75 hp
55 kW

Motor for
scroll drive
(FLOTTWEG
SIMP-DRIVE)

7.5 hp
5.5 kW

20 hp
15 kW

20 30 hp
15 22 kW

30 hp
22 kW

30 hp
22 kW

Capacity*
based on feed

> 6 610 lb/h

> 3 000 kg/h

> 16,500 lb/h

> 7 500 kg/h

> 22,000 lb/h

> 10 000 kg/h

> 33,000 lb/h

> 15,000 kg/h

> 44,000 lb/h

> 20,000 kg/h

Gross weight*

Optional

Available also for installation in explosion hazard areas

Class I, Division 2, Group D or ATEX 95 (for Europe).
Hydraulic drive for bowl and scroll
The listed centrifuges are available as FLOTTWEG DECANTER for 2-phase separation and
FLOTTWEG TRICANTER for 3-phase separation

* The listed figures are to be understood as guidelines.

Actual capacity will depend on the individual characteristics of the feed product.

= registered trademark
in various countries

PR 0004 Q 10 3 07 / 09

Representative: