Automatic oil skimmer and grease trap

Types of Automatic Oil Skimmer and Grease Traps

An automatic oil skimmer and grease trap is designed to prevent oil from entering the drainage system. They all work on the same principle, but there may be variations depending on the design.

• Gravity Grease Trap Skimmers

  A gravity grease trap skimmer is often installed in a grease trap or interceptor to remove floating grease and oil layers. It comprises a floating weir, a collection tank, and a guide rail. The floating weir remains buoyant on the water surface, changing positions as the water level fluctuates. The weir's lip catches floating oil and grease, guiding them into the collection tank through the guide rail. Once in the collection tank, the oil and grease are stored for subsequent manual disposal.

• Conveyor Grease Trap Skimmer

  This device uses a conveyor belt to remove oil from the water surface. The conveyor belt is constantly moving, lifting the oil from the water surface, and transporting it to the collection container. Compared to gravity grease trap skimmers, the conveyor grease trap skimmer has the advantage of a continuous oil removal process. It can handle high oil generation rates and requires regular maintenance and supervision to ensure proper functioning and belt upkeep.

• Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Grease Trap Skimmer

  A DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) grease trap skimmer operates based on the principle of air flotation. It is capable of separating oil, grease, and solid waste from water by the process of air flotation, facilitating efficient treatment and purification of wastewater. The DAF skimmer works by introducing air into the water, forming tiny bubbles that lift the floating oil and grease to the surface. A scraper then removes the concentrated material to obtain a cleaner solution.

Specification and Maintenance of Automatic Oil Skimmer and Grease Trap

The performance and efficiency of oil skimmers, combined with regular maintenance, are essential for prolonging their life.

Specifications will differ by type, model, and manufacturer, but key features include the following.

• The performance: This denotes the amount of oil the skimmer can remove. It is typically expressed in liters or gallons per hour.
• The extraction mechanism: Automatic skimmers can have different extraction mechanisms: belt-driven, screw-driven, suction, or floating disc.
• The type of sensor: Sensors can be capacitive, resistive, conductive, or optical. Skimmers can also have different types of control panels that manage the skimmer's operation. For example, programming the time and frequency of the automatic skimmer or adjusting the sensitivity of the sensors to determining the thickness of the oil layer that triggers the skimmer's operation.
• Grease storage tank capacity: This refers to the amount of waste the trap can store. It is typically expressed in liters or gallons. For example, a typical capacity may be 200 liters or 52 gallons.
• Separator efficiency: Automatic grease traps (also known as fat traps) prevent fat from clogging pipes. The separator efficiency refers to the percentage of fat or oil removed by the separator. A commonly cited efficiency figure is over 95 percent.

Maintenance:

The maintenance routine will depend on the type of automatic oil skimmer and grease trap and its working environment. Please refer to the manufacturer manual for the recommended maintenance schedule. Operating parameters should be checked daily to see if there are any problems. Common adjustments include skimmer floating height, separator effluent quality, pump pressure, and skimmer frequency. Carry out a detailed inspection of key parts at least once a week. Monitor the condition of the belt, separator, and sensor. They should all be clean and free of any clogs or deposits. The floating mechanism should move freely with no signs of damage. The electrical connections should be secure and dry. The settings should be as required, and there must not be any alarm warnings.

More thorough maintenance requirements should be done, as indicated by the manufacturer’s manual, at least every three months. In this case, all moving parts should be lubricated, and the grease storage tank should be emptied. The separator should be cleaned, along with the oil belts. A professional service should be called once a year to carry out essential repairs and a detailed equipment inspection.

Usage scenarios of automatic oil skimmers and grease traps

• Restaurants and commercial kitchens:

  All food establishments produce large quantities of food and cooking oils. An automatic oil skimmer can be integrated into a restaurant grease trap to ensure that wastewater does not exceed permitted limits before being discharged into the municipal sewer system. This will help to protect the pestilles and the treatment plants.

• Food processing:

  Food production processes can create fat, grease, and oil in large quantities. Fats and greases must be removed before they can be treated and prevented from entering the food processing plants. An automatic oil skimmer integrated into a grease trap will perform this function efficiently.

• Meat processing:

  Meat processing also includes a lot of oils and fats. Automatic oil skimmers can be used in combination with a grease trap to handle wastewater efficiently before it enters the municipal system.

• Car washes:

  Car washes are an ideal application scenario for automatic oil skimmers. Hydraulic fluids, motor oil, grease, and other contaminants can be handled effectively with the combination of an oil skimmer and a grease trap.

• Manufacturing:

  Production facilities may use process water contaminated with oil, cutting fluids, and emulsions. Using an oil trap in combination with an automatic oil skimmer can effectively treat this kind of wastewater.

• HVAC:

  Cooling water in chiller plants may be contaminated with grease, food particles, and biofilms. Automatic oil skimmers and grease traps work together to keep the exchangers and cooling systems clean.

• Marine and offshore:

  Fuel oil and grease spills from marine vessels operating in the ocean, rivers, or lakes must be removed before the bilge water can be safely treated and discharged overboard into compliance with environmental regulations. Automatic oil skimmers are used for this purpose by ships as far as possible from the land and before the water reaches the oil-water separators.

How to choose automatic oil skimmer and grease trap

Business buyers should consider the following factors before purchasing an automatic grease trap or oil skimmer.

• Assess the source of waste

  Public institutions like schools, diners, restaurants, and food service business buyers greatly benefit from automatic grease traps. Consider selecting models with larger capacities since they produce substantial fat, grease, and oil daily.

• Consider waste composition

  Industrial operations may generate diverse waste streams with varying grease and oil types, such as lubricants or chemical processing oils. Business buyers in industrial settings should opt for automatic grease traps with advanced separation technologies capable of handling complex waste compositions, such as coalescing plate separators or centrifuges.

• Frequency of waste generation

  Business buyers in high-volume food processing or manufacturing operations may produce large quantities of grease and oil. Buyers should select automatic grease traps with high capacities and robust performance to ensure efficient continuous operation and minimize maintenance.

• Pump-out frequency

  If buyer location allows for frequent pump-outs and minimal on-site waste storage, a conventional automatic grease trap may be sufficient. However, if limited site access requires frequent pump-out and on-site waste storage, an automatic grease trap with a separate waste holding tank would be preferable.

• Environmental compliance

  Ensure the selected automatic grease trap complies with local environmental regulations and standards. Choose models with reliable performance, effective monitoring systems, and proper documentation to meet regulatory requirements and avoid potential penalties.

Q&A

Q: How does an automatic oil skimmer work?

A: Automatic oil skimmers use buoyancy or absorption phenomena to separate oil from water. They skim the surface of the water continuously, collecting floating oils or greases. The collected oil is then conveyed to a container or storage facility through an automated system, such as a belt drive, pneumatic tube, or spring drive.

Q: What are the benefits of grease traps?

A: Automatic oil skimmer and grease trap have multiple benefits. They help businesses comply with environmental regulations by preventing harmful substances from entering water systems. They also protect municipal wastewater facilities from clogs and damage caused by fats, oils, and greases. Moreover, they preserve the integrity of wastewater treatment processes, enhancing the efficiency of treatment plants. Lastly, these traps reduce the risk of fire hazards, as fats and oils are known to be flammable.

Q: What are the limitations of automatic grease traps?

A: Some compound grease traps must be fitted in a specific order downstream from one another, which can be a limitation when installing. Also, while grease traps work effectively on fats and oils originating from food preparation activities, they may not efficiently handle other types of grease, such as industrial lubricants or those originating from manufacturing processes. Additionally, automatic grease traps might struggle to separate certain types of grease that are chemically complex or contain high concentrations of solids.