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Oily Water Seperator?

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by K1W1, Nov 22, 2010.

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  1. K1W1, Nov 22, 2010
    #1
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Is anyone here using a small OWS that is type approved to comply with IMO resolution IMO resolution (MEPC.107(49))?

    I have a colleague who is working on the spec for a smaller boat and is looking for some advice on this.

    Thanks in advance.
  2. Marmot, Nov 22, 2010
    #2
    Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    Color me confused but what difficulty is he having? Any type approved OWS with a 15 ppm monitor and shutoff fulfills the requirement and there are many of them available off the shelf.

    The only thing that has changed recently with regard to the OWS is the prohibition of the use of a connection from the bottom of the purifier sludge tank to the OWS which, in my opinion, is not a good practice anyway.

    Considering the boat in question is a "smaller" boat, how important is it for him to include a separator at all? Does he expect a great deal of bilge water production? If the boat is going to voyage internationally it has to have a waste oil discharge system installed and it might be far easier and safer just to increase the size of the waste oil tanks or add a bilge water storage tank. One problem with smaller separators in new boats is that they are rarely used and the engineers don't know how to operate or maintain them. Then, when they are needed, they don't work and that is what leads to really scary legal situations involving ORBs and illegal discharges.
  3. K1W1, Nov 22, 2010
    #3
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    He doesn't want to fill the engine room with something that isn't used very often, I was trying to find out what machines are used on the smaller end of the scale and if they have a small footprint.

    There are a number with 250 lt/hr machines online but as in many situations it is useful to try and get the end users recommendations rather than taking the salesman's speel as gospel.

    I believe the boat he is looking at the spec for is around 400 GRT.

    I agree with the non use of an OWS in the sludge tank having fallen victim myself to an incident where straight lube oil was sucked into the OWS when de watering the sludge tank, there was nothing in the handover notes about that little time consuming duffer.
  4. Marmot, Nov 22, 2010
    #4
    Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    If the boat is 400t or more it has to have an OWS installed. If it's under then a tank might be the solution. I would be very leery of units with very low capacity since residence time and area of the media is a large part of the process and those tiny little things just get too twitchy to endure. That is part of the reason there are so many OWS problems ... they have to be used regularly and they have to work when they are used.

    If he wants user reports he might want to contact some of the workboat fleets in the GoM or around your area. Facet makes a little half ton/hr unit that uses filters instead of a coalescing media and that might work better on a small yacht and is approved.

    Let us know which way he goes.
  5. corinthian99, Dec 7, 2010
    #5
    corinthian99

    corinthian99 New Member

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    Don't know if he's got the room for a DVZ - pretty decent units but might be pushed for space. I did work on one boat that had a Nelson Bilge Boy, can't say I loved it but it was very compact. Seem to remember the Amels 50m boats run with a really compact unit - centrifugal I think but can't remember the details at all.

    By the way was it you looking for some very special treadplate a while back? Saw the thread ages ago and then noticed it in the pipe shop at Barcelona Shipyard.
  6. georgito1, Feb 28, 2011
    #6
    georgito1

    georgito1 New Member

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    Ows

    Look up Coffin World Water and Heli-sep

    They should have something with a small foot print