Horizontal tube oil skimmer for above-ground tanks, wastewater and process applications
The Oil Skimmers Model 5H Brill® is an industrial horizontal tube-type oil skimmer designed for continuous removal of free-floating oils, fats, grease and oily waste from tanks, process water, wastewater, cleaning solutions and other water-based liquids.
The Model 5H is specifically designed for installations where the skimmer can be mounted within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the liquid level. Its free-floating collector tube travels across the liquid surface, picks up floating oil and carries it back to the skimmer for mechanical removal.
Industrial oil removal where the skimmer can be mounted close to the liquid
The Model 5H is particularly useful for above-ground tanks, open or closed process tanks and industrial systems where a rugged continuous skimmer can be positioned near the liquid surface.
Wastewater tanks & treatment systems
Continuously remove free-floating oil before it moves further into wastewater treatment or downstream process stages.
Above-ground & process tanks
Horizontal tube operation suits tanks where the skimmer can be positioned within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the working liquid level.
Machining, parts washing & metal processing
Remove tramp oil, lubricants and floating oily contaminants from coolant, cleaning and water-based process systems.
Steel & heat-treating operations
Apply continuous surface-oil removal to industrial water tanks and process systems in metal production and heat treatment.
Chemical, food & fuel applications
Suitable for applications involving free-floating petroleum oils, vegetable oils, animal fats, greases and other separated oily waste.
Power generation & industrial facilities
Remove floating oil from suitable industrial water systems before recovery, treatment or disposal.
How the Model 5H removes free-floating oil
The Model 5H uses a closed-loop collector tube that floats freely on the liquid surface. Free-floating oil adheres to the outside of the moving tube while it travels through the skimming area.
The tube carries the recovered oil into the skimmer housing, where scraper components remove it from the tube and direct the recovered liquid into the oil collection pan.
The cleaned tube then returns to the liquid surface and the process repeats continuously.
Designed for changing liquid levels and floating debris
Unlike a rigid surface pickup, the free-floating tube does not follow one fixed path through the tank.
- Automatically moves with fluctuating liquid levels
- Can move over, under and through floating debris
- Continuously returns recovered oil to the skimmer
- Suitable for continuous unattended operation
- Designed for demanding indoor or outdoor industrial environments
Model 5H technical overview
Final configuration should be selected according to oil type, temperature, tank dimensions, liquid level, mounting position and required oil-recovery rate.
Is the Model 5H the right oil skimmer for your tank?
The Model 5H is a strong fit when:
- The contaminant is free-floating on the liquid surface
- The skimmer can be mounted within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the liquid level
- An above-ground, process or wastewater tank requires continuous oil removal
- The required oil-removal rate falls within 4–60 US gal/h (15–227 L/h)
- Liquid levels fluctuate during operation
- Floating debris may be present on the surface
Another Oil Skimmers solution may be better when:
- The skimmer must be located substantially above the liquid level
- A higher oil-recovery rate than 60 US gal/h (227 L/h) is required
- Tank geometry makes horizontal tube operation impractical
- The oil is mainly present as a stable emulsion
- A complete oil-water separation process is required rather than surface skimming alone
Test your actual oil before final equipment selection
For suitable Model 5H applications, an Oil Skimmers Tube Test Kit can be used to evaluate how effectively the collector material attracts and transports the actual floating oil.
This can be useful for unusual petroleum oils, vegetable oils, animal fats, process liquids or wastewater applications where collector performance has not previously been demonstrated.
Request a Tube Test KitValidate industrial oil removal under actual conditions
For selected equipment and applications, Filtra International can evaluate a temporary proof-of-concept or rental arrangement.
This may be useful for unusual wastewater or process applications, for internal project approval or where actual tank conditions should be evaluated before permanent installation.
- Application reviewed before trial equipment is proposed
- Evaluate actual oil and tank conditions
- Useful for technical validation and internal approval
- Subject to equipment suitability and availability
Need help confirming whether the Model 5H is the right configuration?
Provide the oil type, operating temperature, tank dimensions, normal and minimum liquid levels, distance from the liquid surface to the proposed mounting location, expected oil quantity and available motor voltage. We can use these details to review the mounting, collector configuration and required oil-recovery capacity.
Request Technical Recommendation & QuoteModel 5H industrial oil skimmer questions
Common questions about selecting and installing the Model 5H for above-ground tanks, wastewater and industrial process applications.