Chapter 11 - Oil and Water Separators

This chapter provides a discussion of oil and water separators, including

their application and design criteria. BMPs are described for baffle type
and coalescing plate separators.

11.1 Purpose of Oil and Water Separators

To remove oil and other water-insoluble hydrocarbons, and settleable
solids from storm water runoff.

11.2 Description
Oil and water separators are typically the American Petroleum Institute
(API) (also called baffle type) (American Petroleum Institute, 1990) or the
coalescing plate (CP) type using a gravity mechanism for separation.
See Figures 11.1 and 11.2. Oil removal separators typically consist of
three bays; forebay, separator section, and the afterbay. The CP
separators need considerably less space for separation of the floating oil
due to the shorter travel distances between parallel plates. A spill control
(SC) separator (Figure 11.3) is a simple catchbasin with a T-inlet for
temporarily trapping small volumes of oil. The spill control separator is
included here for comparison only and is not designed for, or to be used
for treatment purposes.

11.3 Performance Objectives

Oil and water separators should be designed to remove oil and TPH
down to 15 mg/L at any time and 10 mg/L on a 24-hr average, and
produce a discharge that does not cause an ongoing or recurring visible
sheen in the storm water discharge, or in the receiving water (see also
Chapter 3).

11.4 Applications/Limitations
The following are potential applications of oil and water separators where
free oil is expected to be present at treatable high concentrations and
sediment will not overwhelm the separator. (Seattle METRO, 1990;
Watershed Protection Techniques, 1994; King County Surface Water
Management, 1998) For low concentrations of oil, other treatments may
be more applicable. These include sand filters and emerging
technologies.
• Commercial and industrial areas including petroleum storage yards,
vehicle maintenance facilities, manufacturing areas, airports, utility
areas (water, electric, gas), and fueling stations. (King County Surface
Water Management, 1998)
• Facilities that would require oil control BMPs under the high-use site
threshold described in Chapter 2 including parking lots at convenience
stores, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls, discount

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 warehouse stores, banks, truck fleets, auto and truck dealerships, and
delivery services. (King County Surface Water Management, 1998)
• Without intense maintenance oil/water separators may not be
sufficiently effective in achieving oil and TPH removal down to
required levels.
• Pretreatment should be considered if the level of TSS in the inlet flow
would cause clogging or otherwise impair the long-term efficiency of
the separator.
• For inflows from small drainage areas (fueling stations, maintenance
shops, etc.) a coalescing plate (CP) type separator is typically
considered, due to space limitations. However, if plugging of the
plates is likely, then a new design basis for the baffle type API
separator may be considered on an experimental basis (see 11.6
Design Criteria).

11.5 Site Suitability

Consider the following site characteristics:
• Sufficient land area
• Adequate TSS control or pretreatment capability
• Compliance with environmental objectives
• Adequate influent flow attenuation and/or bypass capability
• Sufficient access for operation and maintenance (O & M)

11.6 Design Criteria-General Considerations

There is concern that oil/water separators used for storm water treatment
have not performed to expectations. (Watershed Protection Techniques,
1994; Schueler, Thomas R., 1990) Therefore, emphasis should be given
to proper application (see Section 11.4), design, O & M, (particularly
sludge and oil removal) and prevention of CP fouling and plugging. (US
Army of Engineers, 1994) Other treatment systems, such as sand filters
and emerging technologies, should be considered for the removal of
insoluble oil and TPH.

The following are design criteria applicable to API and CP oil/water

separators:

• If practicable, determine oil/grease (or TPH) and TSS concentrations,

lowest temperature, pH; and empirical oil rise rates in the runoff, and
the viscosity, and specific gravity of the oil. Also determine whether
the oil is emulsified or dissolved. (Washington State Department of
Ecology, 1995) Do not use oil/water separators for the removal of
dissolved or emulsified oils such as coolants, soluble lubricants,
glycols, and alcohols.
• Locate the separator off-line and bypass flows in excess of 2.15 times
the Water Quality design flow rate.
• Use only impervious conveyances for oil contaminated storm water.

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 • Specify appropriate performance tests after installation and
shakedown, and/or certification by a professional engineer that the
separator is functioning in accordance with design objectives.
Expeditious corrective actions must be taken if it is determined the
separator is not achieving acceptable performance levels.
• Add pretreatment for TSS that could cause clogging of the CP
separator, or otherwise impair the long-term effectiveness of the
separator.
Criteria for Separator Bays:
• Size the separator bay for the Water Quality design flow rate x a
correction factor of 2.15 (see Chapter 4 of this Volume for a definition
of the Water Quality Design Flow Rate).
• To collect floatables and settleable solids, design the surface area of
the forebay at ≥ 20 ft² per 10,000 ft² of area draining to the separator
(6)
. The length of the forebay should be 1/3-1/2 of the length of the
entire separator. Include roughing screens for the forebay or
upstream of the separator to remove debris, if needed. Screen
openings should be about 3/4 inch.
• Include a submerged inlet pipe with a turn-down elbow in the first bay
at least two feet from the bottom. The outlet pipe should be a Tee,
sized to pass the design peak flow and placed at least 12 inches
below the water surface.
• Include a shutoff mechanism at the separator outlet pipe. (King
County Surface Water Management, 1998)
• Use absorbents and/or skimmers in the afterbay as needed.

Criteria for Baffles:

• Oil retaining baffles (top baffles) should be located at least at 1/4 of
the total separator length from the outlet and should extend down at
least 50% of the water depth and at least 1 ft. from the separator
bottom.
• Baffle height to water depth ratios should be 0.85 for top baffles and
0.15 for bottom baffles.

11.7 Oil and Water Separator BMPs

Two BMPs are described in this section. BMP T11.10 for baffle type
separators, and BMP T11.11 for coalescing plate separators.

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 BMP T11.10 API (Baffle type) Separator Bay
Design Criteria:
The criteria for small drainages is based on Vh, Vt, residence time, width,
depth, and length considerations. As a correction factor API's turbulence
criteria is applied to increase the length.
Ecology is modifying the API criteria for treating storm water runoff from
small drainage area (fueling stations, commercial parking lots, etc.) by
using the design hydraulic horizontal velocity, Vh, for the design Vh/Vt ratio
rather than the API minimum of Vh/Vt = 15. The API criteria appear
applicable for greater than two acres of impervious drainage area.
Performance verification of this design basis must be obtained during at
least one wet season using the test protocol referenced in Chapter 12 for
new technologies.
The following is the sizing procedure using modified API criteria:
• Determine the oil rise rate, Vt, in cm/sec, using Stokes Law (Water
Pollution Control Federation, 1985), or empirical determination, or
0.033 ft./min for 60µ oil. The application of Stokes’ Law to site-based
oil droplet sizes and densities, or empirical rise rate determinations
recognizes the need to consider actual site conditions. In those cases
the design basis would not be the 60 micron droplet size and the
0.033 ft/min. rise rate.
• Stokes Law equation for rise rate, Vt (cm/sec):

Vt = g(σw-σo)D² /18ηw)

Where:
g = gravitational constant (981 cm/sec²)
D = diameter of the oil particle in cm.
Use
oil particle size diameter, D=60 microns (0.006 cm)
σw =0.999 gm/cc. at 32° F
σo: Select conservatively high oil density,
For example, if diesel oil @ σo=0.85 gm/cc and motor oil @ σo = 0.90
can be present then use σo=0.90 gm/cc
ηw = 0.017921 poise, gm/cm-sec. at Tw=32 °F, (See API Publication
421, February , 1990)
Use the following separator dimension criteria:
Separator water depth, d ≥3≤8 feet (to minimize turbulence).
(American Petroleum Institute, 1990; US Army Corps of Engineers,
1994)
Separator width, 6-20 feet (WEF & ASCE, 1998; King County Surface
Water Management, 1998)
Depth/width (d/w) of 0.3-0.5 (American Petroleum Institute, 1990)

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 For Storm Water Inflow from Drainages under 2 Acres:

1. Determine Vt and select depth and width of the separator section

based on above criteria.
2. Calculate the minimum residence time (tm) of the separator at depth d:

tm = d/Vt

3. Calculate the horizontal velocity of the bulk fluid, Vh, vertical cross-
sectional area, Av, and actual design Vh/Vt (American Petroleum
Institute, 1990; US Army Corps of Engineers, 1994).

Vh = Q/dw = Q/Av (Vh maximum at < 2.0 ft/min.)(American

Petroleum Institute, 1990)

Q = 2.15 x the Water Quality design flow rate in ft³/min, at

minimum residence time, tm

At Vh/Vt determine F, turbulence and short-circuiting factor

(Appendix V-D) API F factors range from 1.28-1.74. (American
Petroleum Institute, 1990)

4. Calculate the minimum length of the separator section, l(s), using:

l(s) = FQtm/wd = F(Vh/Vt)d

l(t) = l(f) + l(s) +l(a)
l(t) = l(t)/3 + l(s) + l(t)/4

Where:

l(t) = total length of 3 bays

l(f) = length of forebay
l(a) = length of afterbay

5. Calculate V = l(s)wd = FQtm, and Ah = wl(s)

V = minimum hydraulic design volume

Ah = minimum horizontal area of the separator

For Storm Water Inflow from Drainages > 2 Acres:

Use Vh = 15 Vt and d = (Q/2Vh)¹/² (with d/w = 0.5) and repeat above

calculations 3- 5.

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 BMP T11.11 Coalescing Plate (CP) Separator Bay

Design Criteria
Calculate the projected (horizontal) surface area of plates needed using
the following equation:

Ap = Q/Vt = Q/0.00386(σw-σo/ηw)

Ap = Aa(cosine b)

Where:

Q = 2.15 x the water quality design flow rate, ft³/min

Vt = Rise rate of 0.033 ft/min, or empirical determination, or Stokes Law

based

Ap = projected surface area of the plate in ft²; .00386 is unit conversion

constant

σw=density of water at 32º F

σo= density of oil at 32º F
Aa = actual plate area in ft² (one side only)

b = angle of the plates with the horizontal in degrees (usually varies from
45-60 degrees).

ηw=viscosity of water at 32º F

• Plate spacing should be a minimum of 3/4 in (perpendicular distance

between plates). (WEF & ASCE, 1998; US Army Corps of Engineers,
1994; US Air Force, 1991; Jaisinghani, R., 1979)
• Select a plate angle between 45° to 60° from the horizontal.
• Locate plate pack at least 6 inches from the bottom of the separator
for sediment storage.
• Add 12 inches minimum head space from the top of the plate pack
and the bottom of the vault cover.
• Design inlet flow distribution and baffles in the separator bay to
minimize turbulence, short-circuiting, and channeling of the inflow
especially through and around the plate packs of the CP separator.
The Reynolds Number through the separator bay should be <500
(laminar flow).
• Include forebay for floatables and afterbay for collection of effluent.
(WEF & ASCE, 1998)
• The sediment-retaining baffle must be upstream of the plate pack at a
minimum height of 18 in. (King County Surface Water Management,
1998).

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 • Design plates for ease of removal, and cleaning with high-pressure
rinse or equivalent.

Operation and Maintenance

• Prepare, regularly update, and implement an O & M Manual for the

oil/water separators.
• Inspect oil/water separators monthly during the wet season of October
1-April 30 (WEF & ASCE, 1998; Woodward-Clyde Consultants) to
ensure proper operation, and, during and immediately after a large
storm event of ≥1 inch per 24 hours.
• Clean oil/water separators regularly to keep accumulated oil from
escaping during storms. They must be cleaned by October 15 to
remove material that has accumulated during the dry season
(Woodward-Clyde Consultants), after all spills, and after a significant
storm. Coalescing plates may be cleaned in-situ or after removal from
the separator. An eductor truck may be used for oil, sludge, and
washwater removal. (King County Surface Water Management, 1998)
Replace wash water in the separator with clean water before returning
it to service.
• Remove the accumulated oil when the thickness reaches 1-inch. Also
remove sludge deposits when the thickness reaches 6 inches (King
County Surface Water Management, 1998).
• Replace oil absorbent pads before their sorbed oil content reaches
capacity.
• Train designated employees on appropriate separator operation,
inspection, record keeping, and maintenance procedures.

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 Figure 11-1 API (Baffle Type) Separator

Source: King County (reproduced with permission)

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 Figure 11-2 Coalescing Plate Separator

Source: King County (reproduced with permission)

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 Figure 11-3 Spill Control Separator (not for oil treatment)

Source: 1992 Ecology Manual

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