_____________________________________________________________________________________ Treatment
Technology
Explosion-protection classifications guide the equipment design. Systems conforming to such standards ensure safe operation in facilities where flammable vapors may be continuously or intermittently present.
The role of mechanical separation in water management
Water recovered from three-phase separation often contains less than 0.2 percent oil content, depending on feed conditions and system design. This treated water can be more easily routed to downstream polishing stages such as:
■ Dissolved air flotation( DAF)
■ Media filtration
■ Membrane systems
■ Biological treatment
By reducing the hydrocarbon load early in the process, three-phase centrifuges help minimize chemical demand, energy consumption, and fouling of secondary treatment assets.
Turning waste streams into economic assets
Recycling waste oil not only mitigates environmental risk, but it can also significantly reduce operational costs. One facility processing 100 tons of waste oil achieved:
■ 70 tons of clean, recyclable oil
■ 20 tons of water suitable for further treatment
■ 10 tons of dry sludge requiring disposal
This represents a dramatic shift in value. Instead of paying to dispose of 100 tons of hazardous material, only ten tons remain after mechanical separation.
Another case further illustrates how improved separation technology can reduce disposal fees, recover valuable oil, and cut downtime caused by clogged or inefficient equipment. The specific example involved a food-processing environment, but the mechanics of three-phase hydrocarbon recovery translate directly to oil and gas waste streams, where similar mixtures of oil, water, and solids must be continuously processed.
For environmental reasons, many governments are requiring that waste oils be recycled by refining unless there are serious technical and economic constraints. The composition of the waste oil and the level of contaminants in the waste oil determine the recycling options energy-oil-gas. com 17