Rotary Skimmer, A Versatile Floating Oil Skimmer

The rotary skimmers are versatile floating oil skimmers. These skimmers are robust and efficient in recovering oil of varying viscosities. They are ideal for a wide range of oil recovery applications – industrial and oil spill response. In this article, we will learn about the design, working, and advantages of rotary skimmers.

Design

The design of the rotary skimmer is robust. It consists of a rotating medium, a scraper, an oil storage tank, and a pump. Each of the components has a unique role in oil recovery. These components are mounted on an assembly to achieve buoyancy, high performance, quick setup, and ease of operations. High-grade material of constriction is used such as SS316, SS304, AL 5052, and PP. 

The key design features of a rotary skimmer are:

• • Robust, compact, and modular design
• • Light-weight oil recovery medium
• • High recovery rate
• • Quick and easy to assemble
• • Easy to operate
• • Corrosion-resistant material for construction
• • High efficiency, low maintenance pump

Working

An assembly comprising a rotating medium, scraper/wiper, oil storage tank and a pump together separated oil from water. The rotating medium is used to recover oil from the surface of the water. Due to the difference in the surface tension and specific gravity of oil and water, the oil adheres to the surface of the medium. The oil attached to the rotating medium is then separated from its surface by a scraper/wiper. The oil scraped from the surface of the medium is collected in an oil storage tank. The oil storage tank can either be onshore or offshore. The working rotary skimmer is environment-friendly as it does not use any chemicals or change the properties of water and oil. 

Oil Recovery Mechanism: The rotating medium is the oil recovery mechanism also known as a recovery bank. The surface of the rotating medium is oleophilic. On rotation, the oleophilic medium physically lifts the oil from the surface of the water. The rotating oleophilic medium is either a drum, brush, mop, or disc. 

The oil recovery mechanism, based on the capacity can be a single-bank, dual-bank, or triple-bank rotary skimmer. In other words, the rotary skimmer can have one, two, or three recovery mechanisms on a single assembly to increase recovery capacity. Each of the mediums i.e. drum, disc, brush, mop, or multi-module has its advantages and disadvantages. The most suitable medium is opted for a specific application. These oleophilic mediums are commonly made of polymer or metal. Further, the drums and discs may have grooved surfaces for a better recovery rate than a smooth surface.

Cleaning: Before the rotating oleophilic medium re-enters the contaminated waters, the surface is required to be cleaned. The oil on the surface of the medium is cleaned with the help of a scrapper or a wiper once the medium reaches the wiper, away from the water. The scraper cleans the surface and the oil flows to a sump. 

Pumping & Storage: Pumping & storage are an important aspect of rotary skimmer. The pump efficiency substantially contributes to the performance of the rotary skimmer. The pumps must withstand high pressure and should be capable of handling high flow rates. Also, the storage capacity should match the flow rate. Hoses and nozzles, sizes, and types must match the pump and storage tank requirements. 

Advantages

Now that we understand the design and working of rotary skimmers, let’s have a look at the advantages:

Industrial

• • Recovered oil can be reused
• • Considerably reduces treatment costs
• • Helps comply with discharge norms
• • Reduces plant maintenance costs
• • Improves overall plant performance
• • Environment-friendly oil-water separation
• • High oil recovery rate
• • Versatile applications

Emergency Oil Spill

• • Compact, modular design
• • Continuous operations
• • Easy to deploy and operate
• • Versatile – can adapt to different oil recovery banks
• • Can recover a wide range of oils
• • Buoyancy adjustments are not required
• • Cost-effective
• • Eco-friendly
• • Operates in deep and shallow waters
• • Can be operated remotely

The rotary skimmer is a versatile floating oil skimmer. It can adapt to different and multi-module banks to recover specific viscosity oils. A modular, compact design enables easy deployment. Whereas, a simple working principle ensures ease of operations. The floating rotary skimmer can be operated manually or by remote control. The recovered oil can be pumped to a large storage tank using hoses. The rotary skimmer is a highly adaptable, efficient, eco-friendly, low-maintenance oil skimmer that finds application in industrial use and as emergency oil spill response equipment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 What industries benefit most from using rotary screens?

A. Industries such as textiles, printing, paper, wastewater treatment, and food processing benefit most from using rotary screens due to their efficiency in handling high-volume, continuous processes.

Q.2 Are brush oil skimmers suitable for all types of industries?

A. Yes, brush oil skimmers are suitable for all types of industries as they effectively remove oil from water surfaces, making them versatile for various applications.