An Oil-Water Separator also known as an Oil Interceptor is a gravity separation device designed using Stokes' law principles that define the rise velocity of oil droplets based on their density, size and water properties. The design of the separator is based on the specific gravity difference between the oil and the wastewater because that difference is much smaller than the specific gravity difference between the suspended solids and water. Based on that design criterion, most of the suspended solids will settle to the bottom of the separator as a sediment layer, the oil will rise to top of the separator, and the wastewater will be the middle layer between the oil on top and the solids on the bottom.
Two standards for the design of oil-water separators are most frequently used throughout the world today, the API 421 (American) standard and the EN 858-1 (European) standard. GCT oil-water separators are designed and manufactured according to the API 421 standard due to it being the more comprehensive standard between the two. European oil-water separators are designed to remove free oil droplets down to 150 micron based on a laboratory test, whereas American oil-water separators are designed to remove dispersed oil droplets down to 60 micron based on real-world conditions, in conclusion the American standard produces a better quality effluent. The GCT Fabricators range of Oil-Water Separators, a high-performance gravity-displacement separator system is designed and rated to API standards but may be de-rated and used according to EN standards depending on the application.
GCT oil-water separators are coalescing plate separators and are made from high quality stainless steel making them resistant to any form of corrosion and stain. All GCT oil-water separators have been designed by industry professionals and are manufactured in our factory under careful supervision, after which each product is inspected for welding and assembly defects.