OPTIMUM COALESCENCE PLATE ARC LENGTH FOR REMOVAL OF OIL DROPLETS FROM WASTEWATERS

Aspects on the arc length of coalescence plates of a oil-water separator asdeterminant factors for removal of oil droplets from wastewaters wereinvestigated. The primary component of the separator consists of a series ofconcave and convex shaped coalescence plates to form multiple angles platearrangement for enhancement of oil droplet coalescence onto the plates.Experimental results were obtained using different overflow rates and differentarc lengths of coalescence plates, and were statistically evaluated. As a result, aseries of mathematical equations pertaining to oil removal efficiencies fromwastewaters were formulated. The predicted and observed data were compared,and optimal coalescence plate arc lengths for maximum oil droplets removalfrom wastewater at different flow rates were determined. It was also found thatcoalescence plate arc length had a more significant effect on oil removalefficiency at high overflow rate than at low overflow rate, i.e. oil removalefficiency dropped with reducing coalescence plate arc length. It was alsoconcluded that removal efficiency of emulsified oil droplets from wastewaterwas strongly correlated to the system’s overflow rate and horizontal projectionof arc coalescence plate area.