Tube Oil Skimmers: Precision Oil Recovery for Industrial Applications

What Are Tube Oil Skimmers?

Tube oil skimmers are compact, efficient devices designed to remove floating oils and greases from industrial fluids. At Vens Hydroluft, our tube oil skimmers use a free-floating oleophilic collector tube that attracts and picks up oil from the surface of coolant tanks, sumps, and process water systems. Made in Canada and engineered for reliability, these skimmers are ideal for CNC machine shops, small sumps, and confined spaces where larger skimmers cannot fit.

How Does a Tube Skimmer Work?

A tube oil skimmer operates using a closed-loop polymer tube that floats on the surface of the contaminated liquid. The motor-driven unit pulls the tube through the fluid, where it picks up oil due to the oleophilic nature of the tube material. The oil-laden tube then passes through a set of scrapers that remove the collected oil and channel it into a collection vessel. The clean tube returns to the fluid surface to continue the oil removal cycle.

The tube design allows the skimmer to reach into tight spaces, around obstacles, and across irregular tank geometries that other skimmer types cannot access. This makes tube skimmers particularly valuable in retrofit applications where existing equipment limits access to the fluid surface.

Advantages of Tube Oil Skimmers

Tube skimmers offer several distinct advantages. They are extremely compact and can be mounted on the side of virtually any tank or sump. The flexible tube can reach around corners and obstacles, making them perfect for machines with limited overhead clearance. They operate quietly and require minimal maintenance. Unlike belt oil skimmers which need vertical space above the tank, tube skimmers work well in horizontal configurations.

Best Applications for Tube Skimmers

Tube oil skimmers excel in CNC machining centers, grinding machines, EDM machines, parts washers, and small to medium-sized coolant sumps. They are ideal for removing tramp oil from metalworking fluids, extending coolant life and reducing bacterial growth. Food processing facilities also use tube skimmers for grease removal from wash water systems. Watch tube skimmers in action on our YouTube channel.

Choosing the Right Oil Skimmer for Your Needs

While tube skimmers are excellent for many applications, some situations call for different solutions. For larger tanks, disc oil skimmers or multi-disc Vens ORBIS Pro skimmers may offer higher oil removal rates. For open water applications, floating drum skimmers are designed to handle waves and varying water levels. Contact our team at Vens Hydroluft for expert guidance on selecting the perfect oil skimmer for your application.