Belt oil skimmer installation checklist

A belt oil skimmer has few parts and is quick to install. How much oil it collects, though, depends on where it sits, how the belt hangs and where the oil goes. Use this checklist before, during and after installation.

At a glance

• Place it where oil gathers, away from inlets and turbulence.

• Mount it rigidly, with the belt hanging free and reaching below the lowest level.

• Give the oil a clear path into a container or concentrator.

• Check the wipers and set the timer in the first week.

Before the skimmer arrives

• Confirm the liquid temperature suits the belt: NT up to 60 °C, HT up to 120 °C.

• Note the highest and lowest liquid levels.

• Choose the mounting point, and check the power supply matches the motor nameplate.

• Decide where the collected oil will go and how it will be emptied.

Siting

• Oil drifts with the flow and the wind. Place the skimmer where oil collects, often at the far end of a tank or in a quiet corner.

• Keep away from inlets, mixers and aerators, which break the oil layer up.

• Leave room to reach the head unit for cleaning and belt changes.

Mounting and belt

• Fix the head unit to a rigid bracket or stand, level and secure against vibration.

• The belt must hang freely, clear of walls, pipes and baffles.

• The bottom of the belt loop must stay below the lowest level the oil reaches.

Oil discharge

• Place the discharge spout over a collection container, drain or oil concentrator, with a clear fall.

• Size the container for the oil expected between emptyings, and empty it before it is full.

Electrical

• Fit a local isolator and earth the unit.

• Use a motor and enclosure suited to the location, outdoors or in a hazardous area.

• A timer saves wear by running the skimmer when oil is present.

Start-up checks

• The belt runs smoothly and tracks centrally on the pulleys.

• The wiper blades touch the belt evenly on both faces.

• Oil comes off the wipers cleanly and flows into the container.

• Little water comes up with the oil.

The first week

• Note how much oil is collected each day.

• Adjust the timer so the skimmer runs long enough to keep the surface clear.

• Check belt tracking and wiper contact again.

Frequently asked questions

Can the skimmer be moved between tanks?

Yes, if each tank has a suitable mounting point and the belt length suits each depth.

Does it need to run all the time?

Usually not. Running on a timer when oil is present saves belt wear and collects drier oil.

What if the oil level changes a lot?

Choose a belt long enough for the lowest level, or consider a floating skimmer that follows the level.

For belt sizes and materials see our oil skimmer belt guide, and for the full range see our belt oil skimmers. Send us your details if you would like our engineers to review your installation. Customers in the European Union can also order through our European company, VDT Europa OÜ in Tallinn, Estonia.