In this Oil Skimmers 101 guide
we will discuss the different types of oil skimmers and help you choose the right one for your application.
Oil skimmers are essential tools in managing tramp oil in coolant systems. They remove floating oil from coolant, which improves the efficiency of the coolant and reduces wear and tear on the machine’s components. With several types of oil skimmers available, choosing the right one can be a daunting task.
All of Zebra's oil skimmers are specifically designed to be easy to install and maintain. They are energy efficient and can be customized to meet the specific needs of our customers.
Belt Skimmers:
Belt skimmers are ideal for applications where the machine doesn’t offer easy overhead access to the coolant. They are small enough to fit into smaller spaces and can handle fluctuating fluid levels well. The length of the belt skimmer can be customized according to your needs. For larger tanks, custom-built long reach belt skimmers are ideal, as the belt needs to be long enough to rest in the fluid even when it is at its lowest level.
Tube Skimmers:
If you need to access your coolant tank from the side, tube skimmers are the best option. These oil skimmers are designed to be compact. This makes them ideal for those smaller sumps. This also lets the oil skimmer operate in shallow sumps with low fluid levels.
Zebra Skimmer’s Sidewinder can be clamped in place or to a magnetic base for easy movement. They can go through the top or side of the tank and removes oil effectively, even in tight spaces.
Disk Skimmers:
Disk skimmers are an excellent choice if you have ample space and need a simple solution. However, the disk must always be in your fluid for it to work. If your fluid fluctuates, then this may not be your best option. Disk skimmers also are effective when the skimming requires a high temperature skimming material that a tube or belt skimmer does not provide.
Coalescers:
Coalescers have a floating head in the unit that extracts the top quarter-inch of fluid from your sump and removes the oil. They are helpful if you have small particles or emulsified oils that don’t work well with regular oil skimmers. Coalescers are known for offering the highest oil removal rate of all skimming devices.
Automation:
Automating your coolant delivery, monitoring and maintenance of sump levels in your coolant tanks will also help keep your fluids running at their optimal performance. The value of keeping your coolant within a defined range cannot be overstated. Two main factors are It prevents costly downtime and reduces high parts reject rate.
In conclusion of our Oil Skimmers 101 guide, choosing the right oil skimmer for your application depends on many factors, including access to the tank, space availability, fluid fluctuation, and the presence of small particles or emulsified oils. By understanding the different types of oil skimmers available and how they work, you can make an informed decision that meets your specific needs.
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About Zebra Skimmers:
Our mission has always been simple. It is to provide the metal working industry with the oil skimmers and metalworking fluid management systems they need to complete jobs quickly and efficiently. Innovative and affordable solutions have gained us many accolades. Our continued growth is due in no small part to our excellent customer service… Not to mention our satisfaction guarantees and the performance of our tools.
Among our diverse options of oil skimmers and metal working fluid management systems, you can expect to find:
- Coolant management equipment, which includes coolant mixers, proportioning pumps, and also coolant automation systems to mix and deliver fluid solutions at the desired concentrations.
- Industrial oil skimmers, including tramp oil belt skimmers, disk skimmers, tube oil skimmers, and individual sump coalescers as well for the removal of surface and tramp oils from fluids.
- Aeration or circulation equipment and sump odor control tablets to control fluid odor and overall machine shop smell
- Industrial fluid monitoring equipment, including brix refractometers to verify fluid solution concentrations, pH test strips and also water hardness testing sticks.