ESS® ENCLOSED SKIMMING SYSTEM
Enclosed oil skimming for containment, protection and controlled tank installation
The Oil Skimmers ESS® is a complete enclosed oil-removal system for applications where the skimmer and recovered-oil handling components need protection from weather, harsh environments, tampering or surrounding plant conditions.
Where required, the enclosure can be completely sealed and gasketed to contain volatile organic compounds and other vapours associated with the recovered liquid.
The ESS is particularly suited to tanks and manways where the oil skimmer must be integrated into a controlled, enclosed installation rather than mounted openly above the process.
Published oil-removal capacity 4–100 US gal/h (15–379 L/h)
Standard system core Model 6V Brill®
Higher-capacity skimmer option Model 7V also available
Containment Fully enclosed & gasketable
Installation Tanks, openings & manways
Cold-weather option Winterized to -40°F (-40°C)
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Three elements adapt the ESS to the tank
The ESS architecture separates the enclosed skimming hardware from the application-specific height and tank-interface requirements.
1 · SYSTEM CORE
Enclosed skimming package
Contains the enclosed hood, Brill® skimmer, access door, oil-water decanter and system controller.
2 · HEIGHT EXTENSION
Match the discharge height
An optional extension raises the ESS when additional height is needed so recovered oil can gravity drain into the selected collection vessel.
3 · ADAPTER PLATE
Fit the existing opening
A custom adapter plate can match an existing manway, opening and bolt pattern to simplify installation on the tank.
SYSTEM CORE
What is inside an ESS?
1
Model 6V or 7V Brill® oil skimmer A free-floating collector tube continuously recovers suitable petroleum oils, fats, greases, vegetable oils and other floating oily wastes.
2
Fully enclosed hood Protects the skimming components from weather, environmental exposure, accidental contact and tampering.
3
Oil-water decanter Returns collected water so a higher concentration of recovered oil continues toward the collection vessel. Standard or angled decanter configurations are available.
4
Access door Can be configured as bolted, hinged, lockable and optionally windowed according to service and inspection requirements.
5
System controller Provides control of system power and can incorporate timers, heating elements, indicators and other system functions.
6
Application-specific tank interface Height extensions and adapter plates allow the enclosure to be engineered around existing tank openings, manways and collection geometry.
WHY ENCLOSE THE SKIMMER?
The enclosure solves more than one problem
VOC containment A completely sealed and gasketed configuration can contain vapours associated with suitable volatile contaminants.
Weather protection Protects the oil skimmer and controls from wind, rain and harsh outdoor environments.
Leak & drip containment The enclosure contains minor drips and leaks within the system rather than exposing the surrounding area.
Tamper protection Lockable access keeps moving equipment and adjustment points protected from unauthorized access.
Custom tank fit Height and mounting interfaces can be engineered to match existing tank openings and bolt patterns.
Controlled maintenance access Hinged or removable access panels allow inspection and maintenance while retaining an enclosed installation.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS
ESS or Centaur ESS?
The ESS can operate as an enclosed skimming system that gravity-drains recovered oil, or be expanded into a more complete storage and transfer package.
STANDARD ESS
Enclosed skimming & decanting
The enclosed skimmer recovers oil, the decanter returns residual water and recovered oil gravity drains toward a separate collection vessel.
SEALED & GASKETED ESS
Additional vapour containment
For suitable applications requiring enhanced containment, the enclosure can be sealed and gasketed to limit release of VOCs and process vapours.
CENTAUR ESS
Add oil storage & transfer
Adds a recovered-oil storage tank and transfer pump. The tank can be separate from the ESS or integrated as one complete system.
ESS vs ORTS: select ESS when enclosure, environmental protection, tank/manway integration or vapour containment is the primary requirement. Select ORTS when integrated recovered-oil storage and transfer are the primary system requirements. Centaur ESS bridges both concepts by adding storage and transfer to the enclosed ESS platform.
COLD WEATHER & HEAVY OILS
Winterization and recovered-oil heating
Oil viscosity can rise significantly as temperature falls, affecting collector pickup, gravity drainage and decanter performance.
Heat tracing Heating can be incorporated where recovered oil needs to remain mobile through the collection path.
Insulation The enclosure can be insulated to help maintain operating temperature in harsh outdoor conditions.
Extreme cold operation Properly winterized ESS systems are specified by the manufacturer for operation down to -40°F (-40°C).
CONSTRUCTION & DRIVE OPTIONS
Configure the enclosure around the process and site
Carbon Steel Primed and painted enclosure construction for suitable applications.
Stainless Steel For environments requiring greater corrosion resistance or cleanability.
Aluminium Available as an alternative enclosure construction.
Fiberglass Listed by the manufacturer as an enclosure material option.
Electric Drive Electrical configuration is selected for the site supply and system requirements.
Pneumatic or Hydraulic Drive Alternative drive arrangements are available for suitable industrial applications.
Electrical and hazardous-area applications: Supply voltages or ATEX compliance. Motor, heater, controller, and generator specifications should be confirmed for the actual geographical site and hazardous-area classification.
APPLICATIONS
Where enclosed oil skimming is particularly useful
Fuel Distribution Enclosed oil and fuel recovery from tanks, containment areas and wastewater systems.
Tank Farms Tank or manway-mounted oil recovery where containment and protection are required.
Petrochemical Processing Surface-oil recovery in industrial environments requiring controlled equipment enclosure.
Chemical Processing Application-specific oil recovery with material and vapour considerations.
Rail Facilities Outdoor and cold-weather installations where skimming equipment needs protection.
Military & Infrastructure Protected and customizable installations for demanding site requirements.
Industrial Wastewater Enclosed free-oil recovery from suitable tanks and treatment systems.
Fat & Grease Recovery Custom discharge arrangements can be engineered for thicker recovered materials.
Outdoor Tanks Weather-protected skimming where an open skimmer installation is undesirable.
APPLICATION FIT
When does ESS make sense?
Strong ESS applications
- Oil skimmer must be enclosed from weather or environment
- Tank or manway mounting is required
- Equipment should be protected against tampering
- Vapour or VOC containment is required
- Recovered oil should be decanted before collection
- Custom installation height is required
- Cold-weather or heated operation is required
- A sealed, aesthetically controlled installation is preferred
Review another solution when
- An open standalone skimmer is sufficient
- Integrated oil storage and transfer are the primary requirements
- One portable skimming system must serve multiple locations
- The complete oily-water stream requires separator treatment
- The oil is stably emulsified and does not form a free surface phase
Capacity note: Oil Skimmers currently publishes an ESS system capacity of 4–100 US gal/h (15–379 L/h). Although the Model 7V is also available in an ESS configuration, a separate higher ESS capacity is not published on the current ESS product page. Final capacity should therefore be confirmed during system sizing.
Engineer the ESS around the tank, opening and containment requirement
ESS selection starts with the physical tank installation as well as the characteristics of the recovered oil and surrounding environment.
Useful application information includes:
- Oil or floating contaminant type
- Liquid temperature
- Required oil-removal rate
- Tank dimensions and liquid depth
- Minimum and maximum liquid level
- Tank opening or manway dimensions
- Existing manway bolt pattern
- Distance required for gravity drainage
- Required enclosure material
- Indoor or outdoor location
- Need for sealed and gasketed VOC containment
- Need for heat tracing or insulation
- Preferred Model 6V or Model 7V configuration
- Available site power or alternative drive requirement
- Hazardous-area / ATEX classification where applicable
Request an ESS application review
Filtra International can review the tank geometry, manway, oil characteristics, environmental conditions and containment requirements before the ESS configuration is selected.
Tube Test Kit
For suitable oils, collector-tube pickup can be tested using the actual oil and process liquid before final ESS configuration.
Centaur ESS
Request ESS Application Review & Quote
If recovered-oil storage and automatic transfer are also required, we can evaluate a Centaur ESS configuration with storage tank and transfer pump.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ESS® Enclosed Skimming System
Common questions about enclosed, weather-protected and VOC-contained industrial oil skimming.
What is the ESS Enclosed Skimming System?
The ESS® is an enclosed industrial oil-removal system built around a Brill® tube-type oil skimmer, oil-water decanter and system controller. It is designed for applications where the skimming equipment requires containment or protection from the surrounding environment.
What are the three main parts of an ESS?
The manufacturer divides the ESS into the System Core, an optional Height Extension and an optional Adapter Plate. The extension and adapter allow the system to be matched to the tank height, manway or existing opening.
Which oil skimmer is used inside an ESS?
The Model 6V is the standard skimmer at the heart of the ESS. Oil Skimmers also states that the Model 7V is available for ESS applications requiring a different skimmer configuration.
What is the published oil-removal capacity of the ESS?
The current manufacturer ESS page publishes an oil-removal capacity of 4–100 US gal/h (15–379 L/h). Although a Model 7V configuration is also available, the manufacturer does not currently publish a separate higher ESS system capacity for that option.
Can the ESS contain VOC vapours?
Where the application requires it, the ESS can be completely sealed and gasketed to contain volatile organic compounds and other vapours associated with the recovered liquid.
Does the ESS include a decanter?
Yes. The standard ESS includes an oil-water decanter designed to return collected water so a higher concentration of recovered oil continues to the collection vessel.
Can the decanter be changed for difficult oil or grease?
The manufacturer offers standard and angled decanter configurations, and documented custom systems have also used alternative discharge arrangements for thick fats and greases. The final arrangement should be selected from the actual recovered material.
Can the ESS fit an existing tank manway?
Yes. An optional adapter plate can be manufactured to fit an existing tank opening or manway, including the required bolt pattern.
Can the ESS be made taller?
Yes. An optional Height Extension can be made to the height required for the installation, including applications where additional elevation is needed for gravity drainage into a collection vessel.
What materials can the ESS enclosure be made from?
Manufacturer options include carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and fiberglass. Final material selection depends on process chemistry, corrosion conditions and environmental exposure.
Can the ESS be used outdoors?
Yes. A principal purpose of the enclosure is to protect the skimming system from wind, weather and harsh indoor or outdoor conditions.
Can the ESS operate in freezing conditions?
Yes. When appropriately winterized, the manufacturer specifies continued oil-skimming operation at temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C). Heating can also be added simply to maintain recovered-oil flow in less extreme climates.
What is a Centaur ESS?
The Centaur ESS adds an oil storage tank and transfer pump to the standard enclosed ESS. Recovered oil is stored locally and can then be pumped to a remote collection location. The storage tank can be separate or integrated with the ESS.
What is the difference between ESS and ORTS?
ESS is primarily selected when enclosure, tank or manway integration, weather protection or vapour containment are important. ORTS is primarily an integrated skimming, recovered-oil storage and transfer system. Centaur ESS combines enclosure with storage and transfer.
What motor types are available?
Oil Skimmers states that standard, pneumatic and hydraulic motor arrangements are available. Final electric motor voltage and drive configuration should be confirmed for the actual installation.
Is a US explosion-proof ESS automatically ATEX compliant?
No. Oil Skimmers offers equipment for certain US hazardous-location requirements, including Class I, Division I applications, but this should not automatically be interpreted as European ATEX compliance. European hazardous-area suitability must be confirmed for the complete system and actual site classification.
Can a Tube Test Kit be used before selecting an ESS?
Yes. For suitable applications, collector-tube pickup can be evaluated with the actual oil and process liquid before the final ESS configuration is selected.
What information is needed to configure an ESS?
Useful information includes the oil type, liquid temperature, required recovery rate, tank dimensions, liquid-level range, manway or opening dimensions, bolt pattern, collection-vessel location, required enclosure material, weather exposure, VOC-containment requirement, drive preference, electrical supply and any hazardous-area classification.