Oil water filtration The ...

Oil water filtration

The effect of oil on filtration by sand beds will be disastraous. The oil will form a solid film with individual sand particles and will not allow filtration. But, you are concerned about oil leakage from equipment. If you mean the mechanical equipment as per the WTP design, I don't think you have to worry. That is too small to be of any consequence. I am considering normal oil leakage from lubrication chamber of equipment.

Where in the line do you anticipate oil contamination from equipment? The machinery may be

1. Pump: Here there is no scope for any oil contamination

2. Clarifier : Possible of course but the central pillar is usually guarded by a circular closed enclosure. The mechanism will be grease lubricated (the worm gear and the pinion).

There are ways of cleaning oil from water but you need not be concerned about them as you won't be needing them.
If you feel that you should do something, I propose a oil skimmer. However, I have seen many RG filter beds and there isn't any oil. Perhaps you need to check if the machines upstream are leaking excessive oil.

The Oil & Gas Industry faces problems of this type. The pneumatic automation industry also faces this problem. There is a empirical threshold concentration value but I will have to look it up.

Regards

Arindom Borah