1. Above-Ground Oil-Water Separators
Best Suited For: Facilities with limited space, where excavation is impossible, or where frequent maintenance access is required.
Technology: Parallel Corrugated Plate Coalescers (including the proprietary HD Q-PAC design).
Mechanism: Uses a high-surface-area structure of interconnecting plates. As oily water flows through, small droplets collide and "coalesce" into larger droplets that rise more quickly to the surface.
Key Advantages
- Compact Footprint: Fits into existing layouts.
- Low Maintenance: No moving parts or replacement cartridges.
- 99.99% Efficiency: Removes free oil droplets > 20 microns.
2. Below-Ground Oil-Water Separators (HQB Series)
Best Suited For: New construction projects, facilities with ample outdoor space, or operations that want to preserve floor space.
Compliance: Specifically designed to meet API-421 and European Standard EN 858-1 requirements. Features FRP coating for superior corrosion protection.
Common Applications: Truck washes, car washes, parking lots, and large-scale industrial discharge points.
3. SkimLoop Oil-Water Separators
Best Suited For: Removing floating oils and solids from process fluids like parts washers, coolants, or quench tanks.
Continuous Cleaning
Can be retrofitted to existing tanks to keep process fluids clean indefinitely.
Oil Recycling
Captured oil is collected separately, making it easier to resell or reuse.
4. Specialized Separation Technologies
| Situation | Recommended Technology | Why it's the best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Marine / Bilge | BORS | Specifically designed for MARPOL regulations. |
| High Oil Volume | Gun Barrel Separators | Best when oil volume exceeds water volume (Oil Sector). |
| Emulsified / Sheen | OrganoClay / AHP-55 | Chemical adsorption for pollutants gravity can't catch. |
| Hydrocarbons & PCBs | OilFree Filter Cartridges | Patented polymeric technology for toxic/strict limits. |
Summary Selection Guide
Choose Above Ground (easy maintenance) or Below Ground (space-saving).
Choose the SkimLoop for continuous fluid polishing.
Supplement with OrganoClay or OilFree cartridges; gravity alone is not sufficient.
Related Products
Above Ground Oil Water Separators
Ecologix above ground oil water separators use parallel corrugated plate technology that causes oil droplets to increase in size, and separate more quickly.
Below Ground Oil Water Separators
The Ecologix HQB Cylindrical Gravity Displacement Oil Water Separator will remove essentially 100% of all free and dispersed non-emulsified oil from the water stream larger than 20 microns in diameter with a specific gravity of .88 or less.