One oil-recovery system for multiple pits, sumps, tanks or ponds
Mobile Oil Skimming Systems are designed for plants where free-floating oil or grease accumulates at several locations, but installing a dedicated oil skimmer at every location is not economically or operationally necessary.
Instead, a complete Brill® tube-type oil-skimming system can be moved from one recovery point to another, allowing the same equipment to serve multiple pits, tanks, sumps, ponds or process areas.
Mobility can also be valuable where the skimmer must be removed from the work area periodically to provide access for cleaning, maintenance or other plant equipment.
Choose the level of mobility around the site
Oil Skimmers offers three mobile system concepts ranging from a manually movable cart to a complete tank-mounted extended-reach recovery station.
Move easily between nearby pits and tanks
A cart-mounted system provides a compact portable frame with handle for moving the skimmer between nearby recovery locations. It is suitable where manual movement around the plant is practical.
Move by forklift or pallet jack
The pallet-mounted configuration is designed for larger systems that need to move between different areas of an industrial site using existing materials-handling equipment.
Tank, boom and skimmer in one mobile station
For larger pits, ponds, lagoons and remote recovery locations, the Mobile Skimming Station combines oil recovery, storage, extended reach and transfer equipment on one transportable platform.
Compact mobility between nearby skimming locations
Cart-mounted systems are intended to make relocation simple when several tanks, pits or sumps require periodic rather than permanent oil skimming.
Portable oil recovery for larger industrial sites
Where a wheeled hand cart is not practical, a pallet-mounted system allows the complete package to be moved by forklift or pallet jack.
Recover oil around large ponds, lagoons and remote locations
The largest mobile configuration combines a collector-tube oil skimmer with recovered-oil storage, a balanced boom and transfer equipment.
It is intended for applications where one system must be moved between large pits or ponds, or repositioned around the perimeter as wind, water movement or operating conditions move the floating oil.
Swing the boom into position and deploy the collector tube
The balanced boom can rotate through 360° and move upward or downward, allowing the skimmer to be positioned over the water while the service area remains on dry land.
Recovered oil is stored in the mobile collection tank and can then be removed using the integrated transfer pump.
Stabilizer jacks keep the station fixed during operation, while the trailer-style arrangement allows relocation when the next recovery point is required.
Configure the mobile system around the site conditions
Typical mobile oil-recovery applications
When should one mobile system replace multiple fixed skimmers?
Strong mobile-system applications
- Several pits, tanks or sumps need periodic oil removal
- Oil load does not justify a permanent skimmer at every point
- The skimmer must be removed periodically for maintenance access
- Oil location changes around a large pond or lagoon
- Forklift, cart or trailer movement is practical on site
- Recovered oil needs to move with the skimming system
- Remote operation may require a generator package
- One shared system is operationally preferable to multiple fixed units
Review another solution when
- Continuous oil removal is required simultaneously at every location
- A fixed ORTS is required for permanent storage and automatic transfer
- An enclosed ESS installation is required for weather or vapour containment
- Only a simple fixed mounting arrangement is needed
- The contaminant is stably emulsified rather than free-floating
Select the mobile system around the entire site — not one pit
A mobile oil-skimming system should be sized around all locations that the equipment needs to serve, including the most difficult access point and the highest expected oil load.
Useful application information includes:
- Number of pits, sumps, tanks or ponds
- Dimensions of each recovery area
- Oil type and approximate viscosity
- Oil quantity at each location
- Liquid temperature
- Minimum and maximum liquid levels
- Distance from accessible ground to the liquid surface
- Guard rails, walls, ditches or other physical obstructions
- Required movement method: cart, forklift or trailer
- Required recovered-oil storage volume
- Transfer pump requirements
- Need for oil-water decanting
- Need for heat tracing or winterization
- Available electrical supply at each location
- Need for a generator package
- Hazardous-area classification where applicable
Request a mobile-system review
Filtra International can review all intended recovery points and help determine whether a Cart Mounted, Pallet Mounted or Mobile Extended Reach Skimming Station is the most appropriate configuration.
Where oil pickup is uncertain, the Brill® collector-tube material can be evaluated with the actual oil and process liquid before the mobile system is finalized.
Selected applications may be suitable for a temporary evaluation or proof-of-concept arrangement, subject to technical review and equipment availability.
Mobile Oil Skimming Systems
Common questions about portable oil recovery for multiple pits, tanks, sumps, ponds and industrial locations.