Author: Zack Snyder

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Westlake Environmental Oil Water Separator (OWS) is a most efficient tool for removing non-emulsified (free and dispersed) oils and grease from a wastewater stream that may also contain up to 300 ppm of solids. The coalescing media is configured to allow the oils to rise to the surface and cascade into an isolated oil chamber, while the solids settle into the sludge chamber to be isolated from the flow.

The model OWS will coalesce and concentrate 20 micron and larger free fats, oils and grease from water to produce a clean water effluent of 10 ppm or less free oil. The concentrated oil will have less than 5% water. The separators can be installed above, flush or below grade and can operate by gravity or pumped feed, depending on the application.

OPERATION

The wastewater enters the OWS influent chamber via a non-clog, energy dissipating baffle that distributes the flow across the width of the coalescing pack. The separation chamber has a Westlake Media Bundle that is filled with oleophilic media that insures collision of the oil droplets, which become larger and quickly float to the water surface. As the oil layer reaches a given height on the water surface, it decants into an integral oil reservoir. The bundle is also designed such that solids will separate and settle into the sludge collection chamber. Clean water flows under a baffle and over an adjustable 304 stainless steel weir into the effluent chamber. Liquid level in the separator is determined by the height of the adjustable weir. The clean water exits the effluent chamber through an outlet flange. Sectionalized, gasketed covers are provided to allow easy access to the separator internals.

Contact Westlake Environmental for more information at 616-610-1450 or at sales@westlakeenv.com.

Westlake Environmental specializes in control panels, NEMA 4, NEMA 4X, explosion proof NEMA 7.  Upper photo is a NEMA 4X electric panel in 304 stainless steel material for a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) system.  The lower photo is a NEMA 4X pneumatic panel in fiberglass, for the same DAF system.   

Customer has ordered two additional pump skids due to lengthy lead times.  Each skid includes:

1. Air Diaphragm Pump, 1” in size, compatible with users waste stream.
2. Pumps are mounted to 304 stainless steel skids, liftable via forklift.
3. Air assemblies include a ball valve, filter/regulator, needle, and solenoid valves.
4. Air source and piping are all that are needed for quick installation.

Customer washes down their locomotives to remove grease and grit, which are taken out of the waste stream using an Oil Water Separator (OWS), followed by a Chemical Addition System (CAS) and a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit.  You can see the part of the Oil Water Separator to the right of the CAS tank.  System is in the installation process and includes:

1. OWS tank to remove oils and grease, with automation to control a sludge and oil pump.
2. CAS tank adjusts the pH of the water and establishes a large floc particle prior to the DAF.
3. DAF tank to remove solids and further remove oils via a floating process.
4. All tanks are in 304 stainless steel material with covers to contain vapors.
5. Complete system provided.
6. Start-up service included.

System effectively removes oils from the waste stream prior to city discharge.  System includes:

1. Equalization tank
2. Oil Water Separator with hi-temperature coalescing media.
3. Effluent holding tank.
4. All tanks are made in 304 stainless steel material.
5. Installation supervision provided.

Clarifier removes solids from the waste stream prior to city discharge.  System includes:

1. Integral polymer addition/mixing tank
2. Inclined Plate Clarifier in A-36 carbon steel material.
3. Removable inclined plate pack
4. Inspection hatch, 21” diameter

Effluent holding tank, 1,000-gallon capacity.  Tank is in 304 stainless steel material.

Another Emulsion Cracking System complete and ready to ship.  This is the ninth (9^th) ECS tank shipping to the same customer.  Customer has plants worldwide.  Tank includes:

1. Mixers
2. Chemical pumps
3. pH probes in the initial and final chambers to automatically control the chemical pumps.
4. System is fully automated, requiring little user interface.
5. Start-up service included.

Customer uses an Equalization tank to temporarily store their water prior to processing it.  Tank is made in 304 stainless steel material due to elevated water temperature and has a 2,000 gallon capacity.

pH adjustment tank through the fabrication, sandblast/primer process.  Finish product is the far-right picture.  This is one of twelve tanks custom built for the same customer.  Customer has production facilities throughout the world.