Steam Hammer- Steam,Oil Mix Problem

[rambo]

I have a 3 Ton Steam operated free forging hammer. My problem is that the exhaust steam comes out mixed with condensate and cylinder oil and this outlet is connected to a tank in which they collect. I need to separate this mix as soon as possible. This total mixture is at very high temperatures as the steam coming out is saturated steam and we need to separate it out continuously to drain the water in the drainage. Obviously, oil mixed with water cannot be let out in the drainage. Any ideas how i am to go about it?

[ironrosefarms]

The oil should float on top of the water in the collection tank, so if you have a drain on the bottom of the tank or you can siphon from the bottom to remove the water, being careful to stop before you get to the oil. There is also products that are designed to absorb oil off of water, these can be purchased through companies like newpig.com .

Hope that helps in some fashion...
James

[ApprenticeMan]

Rambo, welcome! Can you please post pictures of your hammer I would very much like to see it?

[Dodge]

There is also an oil "conveyor" system out there. Sorry, don't have any brand names, but the CNC drills at work used them in the coolant reservoirs. a belt would be suspended onto the reservoir and as it turned, only oil would stick to it. It was then squeegeed off at the top into a bucket. Pretty neat system. Kept coolant clean and we just had to empty oil bucket when it filled.

[Torin]

They are called oil skimmers. There are belt styles and wheel styles. You can go to MSC Industrial Supply and type in "oil skimmer" in the keyword search box and have a bunch pop up...

[Dodge]

Yeah Todd, thats IT!!!

[ptree]

Rambo, at the hammer shop I worked at the exhaust steam with the oil and water went to a Silencer exhaust. The steam went up a pipe and the silencer was at the exit end. It was a a bowl shaped device that caused the staem to expand to atmospheric pressure in the bowl, which helped cut down the noise. The oil and water droplets fell out as the velocity dropped as the steam expanded and there was a drain to capture. Most of the water would however flash to steam as the pressure dropped leaving much less water.
Skimmers will pull MOST of the oil out but NOT all. If you have a permits sewer and can not send out oil, the skimmer won't do the job. There is a new product out that polymerizes the oil into a solid and leaves sheen free water. Most storm permits and sewers call out no sheen for discharge. Some sewer permits will allow as much as 100 Mg/Liter.
Not knowing your location I can not give exact requirements. I do Environmental for my company and have been in this trade for a while. The polymer product is called C.I. Agent. (Cheap Insurance). They are on the web and I know that the main office is in Louisville KY. USA

[rambo]

hey all. Thanks a lot. i'll forward your responses to my engineering department and see what they ask me to ask you again. Thanks a lot.

ApprenticeMan, I will try to post the pics for you to see in the same thread.

[rambo]

ptree, i am in India.

[rambo]

the pic of the hammer is below.