Oil/water separators and Lamella settlers

In the 1950’s API (American Petroleum Institute) separators were the standard solution for oil water separation. To enhance separation the use of corrugated plates was developed. Today corrugated plate separators (PCI/CPI) are used all over the world.

Spaans Babcock Technology has extensive experience in designing, engineering, document control and fabrication according to the Oil & Gas Industry Standards. Based on a standard range of equipment we can customize any unit to the client specifications.

Contrary to counter current separators with the entry at the top or bottom, the PCI/CPI has an entry at the side. The water flows in a laminar stream between the plates in a horizontal direction. The main advantage of the PCI/CPI is that heavy as well as light particles can be separated from the effluent simultaneously. For instance, oil is separated by floating upwards along the tops of the corrugated plates to the surface of the separator tank. Heavier particles at the same time settle along the bottom of the corrugated plates and slide down the plates to be collected in a sludge cone and discharged through a shaftless auger