McTighe oil-water separators are designed to separate free oils and other floatable immiscible liquids from wastewater for safe collection and disposal. When the oil-water separator is put into operation, it is filled with clean water. The water level in the oil-water separator is established by the invert elevation of the outlet pipe.

As oil is coalesced within the McTighe separator, it rises to the top of the water surface where the oil accumulates and builds a layer downward. The layer will continue to increase in size until it is off-loaded either manually or automatically by a pump-out system or skimmer.

Oil can be removed from the separator at any time, however, it MUST be removed prior to exceeding the maximum oil storage capacity rating of the oil-water separator. (See separator drawings for maximum oil capacities.)

McTighe designs and builds level sensors that can detect the oil-water interface in our separators. The level sensors, when used in conjunction with an appropriate control panel (also available from McTighe), send signals to indicate oil level alarm conditions and/or control pumps for an automatic oil pump-out system.

Another means of oil removal is by utilizing a skimmer. The basic removal principle of an oil skimmer involves the difference in specific gravity between the oil and water. The operating level of an oil-water separator with an oil layer present is higher than the operating level with just water present. The change in the operating level height is dependent upon the difference in specific gravities of the oil and water and the thickness of the oil layer.

This section provides additional information and shows details on different ways oil can be removed from the McTighe Industries oil-water separators. See Section 6 in this catalog for additional information on the control panels and level sensors.