Ever since 2005, when the MEPC 60(33) regulation was replaced by MEPC 107(49), the older gravity-type Oily Water Separators (OWS) often had to be replaced by a centrifugal-type or an emulsion breaking cleaning system, or the shipowner chose to complement the existing OWS with additional filters. Many new separators sold today also use exchangeable filter cartridges.
The filter-option, involving the least initial investment, can become a costly option for many operators. In many cases, filters need to be changed several times per months and sometimes even more often.
Marinfloc has addressed this problem by launching a new pre-treatment system called CD pre-T. By keeping the existing certified OWS, and connecting the CD pre-T in line with the same, filter changes become virtually unnecessary. With the Marinfloc CD pre-T breaking the emulsion and cleaning the water down to 15ppm, the present OWS would just act as a pump, discharging clean water overboard.
Since the new CD pre-T is to be installed before any existing OWS, independent of type or make, no changes or new certificates are necessary and the investment cost for the pre treatment system is easily balanced against filter costs and the hassle and time it takes to change them. Marinfloc claims the payback time is less than one year for many ships with challenging bilge water.
The emulsion breaking step of the CD Pre-T uses forced flotation together with a flocculent. After this step the cleaned bilge water with less than 15 ppm of oil is lead back through a three-way valve into the present OWS suction line and is pumped overboard through the existing OWS and controlled by the present oil content meter.
The first two systems to be launched by Marinfloc have a capacity of 1,000 litres/hour, measuring 1.5 m by 0.7 m, and 250 litres/hour, measuring 0.8 m by 1.2 m. A larger 2,000 litres/hour system is to be launched shortly.
(www.marinfloc.com)
