PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

DESIGN OF SEASHORE OIL SPLITTER

H.MOHAMMED ALI1, VINOTHKUMAR.K , A.VIGNESH, N.MANIKANDAN
1,2,3,4
Assistant Professor
Department Of Mechanical Engineering
SRM Institute Of Science And Technology, Ramapuram, Chennai-89
1
. mohammeh@srmist.edu.in 2. vinothkk@srmist.edu.in
ABSTRACT
It is seen that the we has witnessed many oil spillage incidents in the sea and oceans and caused huge hazards
to the our living creatures . Even during Transportation of Oil gets spillage being the results of damage , weather and
roughness of sea due to the storm and wars . It is estimated that that around 706 million gallons of oil enters the ocean
every year in addition to the accidents in which it is observed that half of the above volume is through land and waste
disposal through Industries .Offshore operations and spill or leaks from ships or tanker are some contributing less than
8% of the total and routine maintenance of ships ( 20%), on shore air pollution & hydrocarbon particles (13%) and
natural seepage from the sea floor (over 8%) , has resulted in the danger to acquatic life. To separate the mixed oil from
the water, industries use wide variety of methods. The objective of this is to implement shoreline oil splitter by using
sorbent belt. The shoreline oil splitter removes the oil from water by scoop out process and collect in a container with
proper hose setup. The oil is utilised for applicable areas.

Key words: Sorbents; scrapers; polyurethane belt; smps.

1. INTRODUCTION
An Oil splitter device that is designed to remove floating oil from the water body. There are specific methods are
handy for a wide application such as oil spill response, as part of oily water treatment , removing oil from general
machine coolant and aqueous parts and collecting fat oils and grease in water treatment in food processing industry.
Many types of oil splitter available. It is necessary to know the features before using a particular splitter .

2. WORKING
This Seashore oil splitter vary accordingly , oil splitter depends on specific gravity , surface tension, viscosity and
medium to remove floating oil from a fluid's surface. The oil which is spilled it cling to belt medium more readily when
compared to water, where water is less affinity to the sorbent belt. Which allows splitter media in the shape of a belt to
pass through a fluid surface to pick up floating oil with less water . The oil in the sorbent belt is removed with wiper
blades or also called pinch rollers. This Oil splitter is dependable and an effective tools for removing oil from water.
The oil splitter can help to an extend to reduce contaminating the water and aquatic life . The Splitting principle
technique depends, is on these physical properties of oil, namely specific gravity, surface tension . As oil have a lower
specific gravity than when compared to water, which helps to separate from water and the float on surface unless
agitated. The split oil are possible to collect using an sorbent belt oil splitter.
3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK
The experimental work includes the selection of materials for the fabrication of seashore oil splitter. As discussed in
the previous chapter, the material selection includes the selection of suitable components for the fabrication of the
VOLUME 51 393 ISSUE 2 2021
PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

shoreline oil splitter. The major components are the wiper motor, roller, sorbent belt, scrapper blade, receiver tank,
SMPS (Switch mode power supply).

3.1Belt Material
The belt is made up of a special polymer material called sorbent material which allows the oil particles to stick on it.
The belt is mounted on the rollers and carries the oil from the floating surface by the rotary motion of the roller.

Belt specifications:

• Length : 2000 mm

• Thickness : 1.5 mm

• Width : 100 mm

3.2 Scraper Blade

The scraper blade is a polyurethane material. It is mounted on the frame assembly above the receiver tank with the
help of a clamp. The polyurethane scraper blade is in contact with the rotating sorbent belt which carries the oil. The blade
removes the oil sticking on the belt without affecting the belt material. The length of the blade is equal to the width of the
belt material.

3.3 Receiver Tank

The oil removed from the belt is collected in the receiver tank. The tank is made of mild steel
material.

Tank specifications:

• Length: 730 mm
• Breadth: 140 mm
• Height: 160 mm
• Thickness: 2 mm
4. DESIGN AND CALCULATIONS
4.1 Design

Figure 3.1 Front view of the splitter.

VOLUME 51 394 ISSUE 2 2021

PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

Figure 3.2 Roller Assembly

4.2 Design Calculation

Volume of tank = length*breadth*height

=730*140*160 (mm)
3
Volume of tank =16352000 mm Thickness of oil film
0.001 meter Circumference Area =2[Height + Breadth]
= 2[520+100]
= 1.24 meter
Volume rate = Thickness of oil film * width of belt * rpm * circumference area

=0.001*1.0*64*1.24 = 0.07936 m3/s

Maximum volume =793.6 ml/min (rpm of motor)

Minimum volume =89 ml/min (rpm of belt).

To calculate the amount of water mixed with oil after the process of splitting the following methodologies
are being used:

• Infrared

• Crackle Test

• Calcium Hydride Test

These techniques require instruments which are of very high cost and they are used in laboratories for
accurate level of measurement.

Oil used = bun engine oil

Density of oil which has been used for the process = When Zero degree Celsius it is 899.0 kg/m^3.

VOLUME 51 395 ISSUE 2 2021

PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

For 20 degrees it is 888.1 kg/m3. For 40 degrees it is 876.0 kg/m3.

Density of water = 1000 kg/m3

1. Volume of the oil collecting tank =length *breadth*height.

2. Density = mass/volume.

3. The density of water is noted before the oil is being mixed with it.

4. Now calculate the density of the oil and water mixture present in the collection tank after the
splitting process.

Amount of water mixed with oil after the splitting process is represents as “A”

Density of water before the mixing of oil is represented as “Y”.

A=X-Y

A- WATER RATIO

X- PURE OIL DENSITY

Y- OIL AND WATER MIXED DENSITY

5. TESTING

1. Oil used for testing is Engine oil (20W-40) grade

2. Water is filled inside the base tank till its volume gets filled and oil is spilled inside the tank. In 15 liters of water 300 ml
of oil is spilled.

3. The power supply is switched on and the A.C voltage is converted into D.C voltage with the help of Switch Mode
Power Supply (SMPS)

4. It transfers it power to the wiper motor attached with the roller.

5. Wiper motor works at the rate of 64 rpm at a power supply range of about 12 volts.

6. Due to the rotation of the roller the sorbent belt rotates and comes into contact with oil mixed water and
splitting process is carried out.

7. The oil that comes along the belt is removed with the help of scraper and collected separately in collection tank.

Table 5.1 Observation Table of 20W-40 oil

VOLUME 51 396 ISSUE 2 2021

PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

S.No Belt speed Oil Collection of Time Recovery

spilled spilled oil Ml (Min) rate
(rpm)
(ml) (ml/min)

1 7 200 170 1.36 125

2 7 300 275 2.09 131

3 7 500 485 3.51 138

Table 5.2 Observation Table Of Gear Oil

S.No Belt Oil Collection of Time Recovery rate

speed spilled spilled oil Ml (Min)
(ml/min)
(rpm) (ml)
1 7 200 160 1.34 119

2 7 300 270 2.35 114

3 7 500 465 3.85 12

Table 5.3 Observation table of 15W-40 Oil

S.No Belt Oil Collection Time (Min) Recovery rate

speed spilled of spilled oil
ml (ml/min)
(rpm) (ml)
1 7 200 160 1.76 90

2 7 300 265 2.57 103

3 7 400 380 4.12 92

6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The above results of the experiment says that the design improvement of seashore oil splitters to include a belt
with pulley which would definitely improve the oil splitter efficiency. In practical view different oil spillage removal
method is available, but this method would indicate limitations of other methods . On extensive research & testing this
shoreline splitter can improve present techniques and to have better removal rate of oil if spilled.

6.1 EFFICIENCY
VOLUME 51 397 ISSUE 2 2021
PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

In this oil splitting the setup removed 483 ml of oil as output in 1 minute time. The initial amount of oil floating
in the water surface is 600 ml (engine oil).

Efficiency = output/ input X 100%

Amount of oil floating (input) = 600 ml

Amount of oil collected in the tank (output) = 483 ml

Thus the efficiency achieved is 80.5%

The above efficiency calculation is done by taking the engine oil as the input. Efficiency varies with various oils,
because the density of the oils varies from one to the other and hence the removal rate is also varied.

6.2 ECONOMICAL REMOVAL OF OIL

In general Seashore oil splitters carries water in small amount with the oil they separate. In particular suction
type splitters accumulates more water in the reservoir. Due to which it increases the oil recycle costs.In general the
average of water-to-oil decreases with thicker films of oil floating and low speed pick-up medium.

7. CONCLUSION

The design and fabrication of the machine for splitting oil floating in water surface from the water. We
planned to collect 600 ml of oil in 1 minute and we have achieved 483 ml of oil. Thus we have achieved more than
75% of output as expected. Various trails are conducted and the output is increased by various techniques used during
the trial.

We did the below actions to get maximum output:

 Increasing the contact area of the belt.

 Stirring the floating oil thus increasing the rate of removal of oil.

 Increasing the power supply by modifying with suitable SMPS(Switched Mode Power Supply).

 Fixing the angle of the belt assembly at correct critical angle reduced the slip of belt from the drum, thus
increasing the output.

8. FUTURE SCOPE

 Increasing the contact area of the belt with the floating oil can helps us to remove more amount of oil from the
water surface. The contact surface can be increased by adding two or more belts in the conveyor.
 Speed of belt on load need to increase with stable motion.
 Scrapper plate arrangement can be changed.
 Replacing the belt with more sticky (oleophilic belts) can improve the oil removal rate.
 Increasing number and width of belt efficiency will increase.
REFERENCES

VOLUME 51 398 ISSUE 2 2021

PENSEE ISSN NO: 0031-4773

I. M.Husseien; A.Amer, A.Ei Maghoraby, N.A. Toha (2009) ‘Availability of barley straw application on oil spill
clean up’Int. J.Environ, SciTech, 6(1), 123-130, winter.

II. N.Ventikes, E.Vergetis, N. Psarafits, G. Triantafyylloy, (2004) ‘A high level synthesis of oil spill response
equipment ant countermeasures’, Journal of Hazardous materials 51-58.

III. A Free Floating Endless Belt type oil skimmer’, (1972) Journal of United States Environmental Protection
Agency.

IV. White, D. C. (2000), ‘Oil Spill Response -Experience,Trends and Challenges’. Darwin, Australia: 8th
International Oil Spill Conference.

V. Victoria Broje’ and ‘Arturo A. Keller’, “Improved recovery of oil spills from water surfaces using tailored
surfaces in Oleophilic skimmers, Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of
California, Santa Barbara.

VI. ASTM.2007.ASTM F726-06’, “Standard test methods for sorbent performance of adsorbents”,
American society of testing and materials, West Conshohocken. P.A

VII. S.H. Schwartz’, “Performance tests of four selected oil spill skimmers, in: Proceedings of the
International Oil Spill Conference”, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC, USA, 1979, pp.
493–496.S.D. Gill, W. Ryan’, “Assessment of the ACW-400 oil skimmer by the Canadian Coast Guard for
oil spill countermeasure operations, in: Proceedings of the International Oil Spill Conference”, American
Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC, USA, 1979, pp. 279–282

VIII. Oil Spill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar”, Environmental Protection Service, Ottawa Ontario, Canada,

1988, pp. 229–265.

IX. Eduard Muljadi, Yifan Zhao, Tiam Hua Liu’, “IEEE transactions on industry applications”, VOL.29, NO.3,
May/June 1993
X. National Research Council’, “Understanding oil spill dispersant and its effects”, National Academic press,
Washington, 2005.
XI. K. Deb, S. Agrawal, A. Pratab, T. Meyarivan, “A Fast Elitist Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms
for Multiobjective Optimization: NSGA II,” KanGAL report 200001, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India,
2000. (technical report style)
XII. J. Geralds, "Sega Ends Production of Dreamcast," vnunet.com, para. 2, Jan. 31, 2001. [Online].
Available: http://nl1.vnunet.com/news/1116995. [Accessed: Sept.12, 2004]. (General Internet site)

VOLUME 51 399 ISSUE 2 2021