Water Technologies

API Oil/Water
Separators - A Total
System Approach
 A Generation
Ahead

In 1937, we partnered with the American Petroleum SLUDGE SCRAPERS REQUIRE LESS
Institute (API) to develop the industry’s first MAINTENANCE
engineered oil/water separator. Today, more than 60
years and a thousand installations later, the API The main reason collector components fail in
oil/water separator remains the industry benchmark. petroleum applications is because of their inability to
remove thick, sticky sludges from sludge hoppers.
UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE That is why our sludge collection hoppers, screw
conveyors, flushing connections, clean outs, sludge
Our experience in designing, building and providing withdrawal piping and sludge pumps have been
primary oil/water separation is unmatched in the specially designed for minimal maintenance and
industry. Our systems recover more reusable oil, operator attention.
require less maintenance and are safer than other
systems. We continually improve and upgrade our Our most common sludge scraper design uses a
designs to provide the highest levels of performance 4-shaft chain and flight collector mechanism. In this
and meet all current regulations. configuration, flights are conveyed by carrying chain
running across four sets of shafts and sprockets –
And our collectors and skimmers are suitable for a two sets at the top of the tank and two at the
variety of applications in the petroleum industry, bottom. Combinations of 2-shaft and 3-shaft
from wastewater treatment to oil product recovery collectors are also available.
and recycling. Our technologies include the API
oil/water separator, the rotoskim slotted skimmer The flights skim oil from the surface of the water to
pipe, the oil roll skimmer and other types of the effluent end of the separator for removal on a
skimming equipment. continuous basis. As the flights reach the effluent
end of the tank, they travel to the bottom where
API SEPARATORS PROVIDE EARLIER they move sludge to the hoppers at the influent end
RECOVERY OF REUSABLE OIL of the tank. Here the sludge is pumped to disposal
systems, or recovered in coking operations.
Our API separators treat and remove up to 80
percent of oil from refinery process water and storm
run-off. If emulsification is minimal, a greater Our sludge scrapers are
percentage of oil may be removed. Using our API designed using high-strength,
separators reduces the load on downstream non-metallic components to
treatment units and recovers more oil before resist damage caused by
chemical emulsion breakers are added in secondary corrosion, temperature
oil/water separation. and abrasion.

Our API separators are sized according to established

API guidelines for gravity separation and collection
of separable oil from petroleum industry
wastewater. For effective flow distribution we
recommend our unique inlet design using dished
deflector baffles in place of the more antiquated
slotted baffle.
Fixed, removable vapor High performance Oil roll skimmer with
containment cover non-metallic sprockets Oil/sludge scraper collection trough

Rack and pinion

operated skimmer pipe

Fixed vapor
containment cover

Inlet nozzle

Access manway

High-strength
lightweight chain Effluent nozzle

OIL ROLL SKIMMERS DELIVER high-performance fiberglass or steel are provided for
RELIABLE OIL REMOVAL enclosing the API separator to ensure vapor and odor
containment. Fiberglass panels are mounted to the tank
Our oil roll skimmers ensure safe and efficient removal flange with bolts or cast stainless steel clamps that
of collected oils, even when visual observation is not compress the sealing material for positive control of
possible. The operation is continuous, independent of hydrocarbons.
oil depth in the API separator and requires no operator
attention or adjustment. PERFORMANCE, SAFETY AND DURABILITY

Manufactured from hand-selected schedule 40 stainless Over the years, we’ve come to thoroughly understand API
steel pipe, the skimmer has a highly machined surface separator applications and specific needs of the customer
finish. This creates a much larger surface area and and the equipment. This experience, coupled with our
provides surface tension properties to gather more oil. commitment to customer satisfaction, results in smooth
Machining also provides a flat surface for the doctor project execution, safe operation and efficient, long-term
blade to run on, ensuring complete contact of the blade process performance.
with the pipe. This is essential for oil removal capacity
and doctor blade longevity. High volumetric flows of oil Our API separator design has been risk-assessed, assuring
can also be removed with the slotted skimmer pipe, safe operation. Safety considerations include:
although this method will remove excess water with the
oil. Depending on the slop oil system to be used for • Above ground, steel tankage for double-containment
recovery of this product, additional water may be and visual leak detection for hazardous sludge and
acceptable. wastewater.
• Vapor-tight covers to contain harmful and
FIXED CONTAINMENT COVERS RETAIN regulated VOCs.
VAPORS MORE EFFECTIVELY • Specially designed, high-strength, non-metallic
collector components for corrosion, temperature
We use fixed vapor containment covers on API oil/water and abrasion resistance.
separators to reduce odors and volatile organic • Stainless steel on all wearing metallic components
compound (VOC) emissions to the surrounding airspace. for reduced corrosion.
The covers are elevated from the oil/water surface to • Deflagration vents, flame arrestors and more.
enclose all of the oil skimming equipment, creating a
vapor space that is blanketed with nitrogen gas to
maintain a non-explosive environment, and to provide
enhanced oil skimming.

Access hatches allow inspection of the skimming

equipment, effluent weir and effluent chamber. The
Our fixed VOC containment cover
cover gasket, made of a special long-life material systems reduce the risk of
compatible with the environment, provides a positive explosions by using an inert gas,
seal by nature of its compressibility. Fixed covers of such as nitrogen, instead of air.
 For further information
please contact:

Siemens
Water Technologies
P.O. Box 1604
Waukesha, WI 53187
Tel: 262.547.0141
Fax: 262.547.4120
[email protected]
www.siemens.com/water

The information provided in this brochure contains merely general

Backed by over 65 years of continuous experience providing descriptions or characteristics of performance which in actual case of
new, innovative and cost-effective wastewater treatment use do not always apply as described or which may change as a result
of further development of the products. An obligation to provide the
solutions, Siemens is uniquely equipped to handle all of the respective characteristics shall only exist if expressly agreed in the
environmental solutions that petroleum and petrochemical terms of the contract.

companies require. From hazardous material control to safety,

we set the industry standards and, at the same time, reduce ©2007 Siemens Water Technologies Corp.

operating costs through component upgrades, equipment E10001-WTHPI-A5-V1-4A00

retrofits and wastewater recycle/reuse. Dispo No. 216 16 K.No. 3936

ZP-APIdr-BR-0407
Subject to change without prior notice.