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Solar-powered oil skimmer installation in an outdoor field.

petroxtractor-300x225.jpgA typical industrial oil skimmer will offer units in single or triple phase.  When you need more performance, Abanaki specialized motors run our Oil Grabber oil skimmer in most environments:

  • Explosion proof
  • Drip proof
  • Tropicalized
  • Dirty duty
  • Food service
  • Wash down duty
  • DC motors
  • ATEX/European motors

Do you need other options?  Here is a short list of some of the most popular choices:

  1. Solar Oil Skimming SystemPX-solar-UK-app-2-225x300.jpg
    The solar oil skimming option is ideal for locations that do not have access or have limited access to electricity. A 12V DC motor runs off a deep cycle battery that is recharged by the solar panel. Various 12V accessories are available as well.
  2. Transfer Package and Underground Oil Skimming System
    This option is for applications in which the oil storage tank is far from the point of oil removal or for below ground applications. This turnkey system consists of a small collection tank, a pump, small control panel and three float switches. The oil that the oil skimmer picks up is deposited to the collection tank. When the collection tank is full, the middle float switch signals the pump to turn on. The oil is then pumped to your storage tank or facility for permanent removal or storage.
  3. Controls/Accessories
    Abanaki offers a float switch and warning light combina
    Rosemont-3628-Tote-It-application-photo-21-234x300.jpgtion to monitor fluid level in the skimmed oil collection drum, which helps prevent overflow. Other electrical options include timers, heaters, and control panesl. Abanaki also offers poly shelters and discreet secure enclosures as well as a variety of mounting options for the oil skimmer.
  4. Concentrators
    Abanaki Oil Co
    ncentrators® provide a secondary separation step after oil skimming to virtually eliminate water from skimmed product. Units are available for easy installation on most Abanaki oil skimmers.
  1. Specialized mounting arrangements
    The Oil Grabbers have a variety of mounting arrangements design to make setup in even the most demanding applications a breeze.  These include floor mounts, wall mounts, flat mounts, channel mounts, guard rail mounts and boom mounts. 

We love a challenge, so if you need something not mentioned let us know and we will do our level best to give you a great solution.

As always, the Abanaki sales team is here, ready and waiting to help you choose the right oil skimmer for your application.

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Industrial tank filled with oily wastewater during skimmer operation.

Choosing an oil skimmer best suited for your application will maximize oil removal while minimizing initial outlay and oil skimming operation costs.

How much skimmer capacity do you need

Capacity should be based on the maximum amount of oil to be removed within the shortest available time. For instance, total oil influx may be 200 gallons in a 24-hour period, which averages about 8.3 gallons per hour. But if most of it comes during a single eight-hour plant shift, you will probably need a removal rate that is three times as high, especially if you are trying to prevent an unwanted discharge of contaminated water to a sewer system. As a rule-of-thumb, specify approximately twice the maximum capacity you anticipate needing for normal conditions.IMG_3079-300x225.jpg

What do the capacity ratings mean?
Oil skimmers usually have an oil removal rate expressed in gallons per hour. The rate varies with oil viscosity, so Abanaki rates skimmers using SAE 30 weight motor oil at 65°F (18°C). It is very important to ask the manufacturer what they are basing their capacities on and get an exact SAE weight or viscosity.  Beware of generalities like ‘a medium-weight oil.’

Will there be water in the skimmed oil?
All oil skimmers pick up some water with the oil they remove. Some designs, particularly suction skimmers, pick up more water than others. High water content increases oil recycling and disposal costs. Generally, the ratio of water-to-oil decreases with thicker films of floating oil and slower moving pick-up media. An Oil Concentrator® or decanter installed at the oil skimmer discharge port provides secondary oil/ water separation that can reduce water content to nearly zero.

CIMG0548-300x225.jpgHow much oil will be left in the tank?
An oil skimmer continues to remove oils as long as there are oils present. Depending on oil influx rate and the oil skimmer’s removal rate, residual oil in the water may be as low as a few parts per million. When residual oil reaches this level and further reduction is required, it may be more practical to use a secondary removal method following skimming, such as membrane filtration.

 

What do I sacrifice if I choose a portable oil skimmer?
20170425_123738.jpg Oil skimmer portability is a plus in some applications. For example, in plants, mobile equipment service shops, and at remediation sites, a portable oil skimmer can sometimes service multiple machines, sumps, or wells. Portable units usually have a lower removal capacity than stationary units.  Also, when you move an oil skimmer it can be dripping water or oil when you remove it, so having a few rags on hand is a good idea.

If you need any help choosing the right oil skimmer, our experts are ready to help.  Give us a call at (440)543-7400.

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An overhead view of wastewater inside a steel mill treatment tank.

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Choosing an oil skimmer best suited for your application will maximize oil removal while minimizing capital and operational costs. The impoundment capacity, shape, and location of a tank and water impoundment are major factors in choosing the right oil skimmer to lower your costs.

 

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  1. Size/Design:
    It is critical that oil in the water is given the opportunity to separate. Oil and water can emulsify when subjected to turbulence and other mechanical agitation. Avoid this by having water return to the tank below the liquid surface at as low a velocity as practical. Make sure your tank or sump provides quiet areas, weirs, and sufficient volume to allow adequate time for oil/water separation.
  2. Shape:
    Tanks without nooks and crannies for oil to get stuck in aIMG_3087-300x225.jpgre best. If you have an irregular shape, put the oil skimmer where the largest amount of oil accumulates. Consider a means of directing oil towards the oil skimmer such as a floating boom or baffle plate.
  3. Location/Installation:
    The physical location and characteristics of the tank and collection container are important and it is vital to ask the right questions such as:

    • Does skimmed oil need to be pumped from the oil skimmer to the container?
    • Will oil skimmer access for periodic maintenance be a problem?
    • How much mounting space is available?
    • Are tank or container modifications required?

CIMG0551-300x225.jpgIf you need any help choosing the right to put a skimmer, our experts are ready to help.  Give us a call at 1-440543-7400.

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Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 unit shown against a white background.

Oil Boss 2.0.jpg

Oil Boss 2-1_SBG.jpgThe new Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 oil skimmer provides cost-savings by removing oil contamination, prolonging the life of the coolant. The patent-pending Oil Boss 2.0 is designed for machines requiring a higher than normal amount of tramp oil removal.  This new high-capacity unit removes and discharges the tramp oil constantly.  The Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 operates unattended using a specially-designed discharge facilitator, automatically discharging the tramp oil as it is collected.  It eliminates the need for manual draining of the collected waste oil.

Get the datasheet for more information on the money-saving design.

Call an Abanaki sales representative today @440-743-7400 for more information about the Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 Oil Skimmer.

Related Video:

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Blog banner debunking the myth that belt oil skimmers only pick up free-floating oil in the immediate area.

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Fact:

Oil skimming makes use of the differences in specific gravity and surface tension between oil and water. These physical characteristics allow the belt to attract grease, oil, and other hydrocarbon liquids from the far side of the tank.

Oil Skimming Tip:

When selecting an oil skimmer, be sure to place the skimmer where oil is already gathering.  This will ensure the quickest removal of the oil.

Myth#9.jpg

Fact:

Belt oil skimmers and oil skimming will collect all types of oil including all free-floating oils, LNAPLS, DNAPLS, and some emulsified oils. The various belt materials  allow for any type of hydrocarbon removal.

Oil Skimming Tip:

There are several things to consider when choosing a belt for your oil skimmer. For example, some plastics won’t stand up to heat or strong chemicals, some metal belts won’t skim well from coolants due to rust inhibitors being present and certain plastic belts don’t last in heated applications. It is very important to choose a good oil skimmer vendor that offers a wide variety of belts to handle any situation.   Equally important is to inform them of the details of your application so they can provide assistance in choosing the proper belt material at the start.

 

 

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Industrial piping setup with valves and a drainage grate in a factory setting.

CIMG0551-300x225.jpgRecently, a US automotive parts engineering facility contacted Abanaki Corporation about two issues it was having at its plant.

  1. Wanting to reduce the high costs of constantly needing to replace its coolant due to oil contamination
  2. Removing the oil from the wastewater recovery trenches.

The Tote-It machine center skimmer was the answer. The skimmer is well suited for parts washing and machining center applications. By removing surface oil from a wash tank, the parts will not be recontaminated as they are withdrawn. CIMG0548-300x225.jpgFurthermore, by removing tramp oil from a coolant tank, the company prevents excessive smoke and fumes that are caused by oil burning during cutting operations. The Tote-it also reduces bacteria growth in the tank, along with the resulting odor.

Once the facility utilized the Tote-It skimmer in both the cooling tanks and the recovery tanks, it was able to successfully remove the oil from the coolant and from the wastewater.Additionally, with the ability to clean the oil laden coolant, the facility was able to save a significant amount of money and time on coolant disposal costs.

 

 

 

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