Oil skimmer as a disk skimmer
The disk skimmer consists of a driven, vertical disk with a diameter of 200 mm or more, the lower part of which is immersed in the water surface. The floating oil adheres to the disk and is conveyed to the scrapers by the rotating disk. The oil then flows from the scrapers via a hose into a collection tank.
Disc skimmers vary in size depending on the application. The more the liquid level fluctuates, the larger the disk needs to be. As this always entails higher costs, disk skimmers are often only offered as relatively small devices.
The disks are usually made of plastic or stainless steel. Unlike belt skimmers or belt skimmers, the discs are subject to less wear as the disc is more robust than a skimmer belt or skimmer belt.
Areas of application
Like the belt and belt skimmer, the disk skimmer is designed for smaller tanks and is unsuitable for large tanks. However, it can provide good service in smaller tanks, where it can pick up tramp oil through the surface of its disk. So if you expect a high volume of tramp oil in a small tank, you should consider whether a disk skimmer is the right choice.
Typical applications here are tanks with cooling lubricant or washing liquid. Here it is important to pay attention to the size of the tank so that it is not too large and the effectiveness is not reduced too much.
The level fluctuations when using a disc skimmer should remain within a moderate range so that the surface area of the disc can be utilized well and the liquid does not level out below the effective range of the disc skimmer.
Disk skimmers are often used for the maintenance / cleaning of cooling lubricants and for the removal of tramp oil. The resulting increase in the service life of products such as cooling lubricants leads to sustainable use and economic optimization. Some models are often equipped with joints that allow the disk to be immersed in the container in order to come into contact with the oil film.
How it works Video
Technical performance characteristics are lower compared to other skimmers, which is why this design is not so common in the industry. To ensure sufficient efficiency, the design of the disk diameter should not be too small. Like all oil skimmers, the disk skimmer is easy to operate and install. The physical conditions in which the skimmer is used should be agreed with the manufacturer in order to clarify any special features in advance that may affect its function and service life.
Prices
Disk skimmers are available for around 500 euros and do their job in smaller tanks. It is worth comparing prices. For a realistic assessment, warranty, spare parts and delivery times should be included in the price evaluation. Prices can vary greatly depending on the materials used. For example, a disk skimmer with a plastic disk will always be cheaper than a disk skimmer with a stainless steel disk. Here it is important to look at the operating conditions on site and check material compatibility. Washing applications are often too hot, for example, so that a plastic disk cannot be used.
Advantages:
- Inexpensive
- Compact design
- Suitable for narrow application areas
Disadvantages:
- Low flow rate
- Does not create a flow on the surface
- Only reaches a small area of the surface
- Size of the disk depends on bath level fluctuation
- Rubber scrapers are destroyed by particles
- Sludge can block the drain
Conclusion:
The disk skimmer is intended for smaller tanks in which the load of tramp oil is rather low and the contamination with particles is kept within limits, so that this can be managed with the disk of the disk skimmer. The purchase costs are moderate and you can get a usable device for less than 500 euros. The installation conditions often determine which design is most suitable. In principle, however, a belt or belt skimmer could also be considered for applications where a disk skimmer is suitable. It is always important to check which variant is best suited.
More about the other types of oil skimmers:
You can find more detailed information on oil skimmers here!