Benefits of our centrifuges
Understanding the importance of slop oil treatment
Slop oil and oily sludge are by-products of upstream and downstream oil processes, generated from various sources such as DAF units, API separators, lagoons, oil pits, and tank bottoms. These waste streams contain a high percentage of oil, water, and solids, making them difficult to manage due to their high viscosity, emulsion content, and abrasive particles. Proper treatment of slop oil is crucial as it reduces hazardous waste volumes, minimizes environmental impact, and recovers valuable hydrocarbons that would otherwise be lost.
GEA's advanced solutions for efficient slop oil treatment
GEA offers a comprehensive solution for the treatment of slop oil, combining mechanical separation with heating and chemical enhancement. Our decanter centrifuges and disk-type separators are tailored to handle varying compositions of slop oil, ensuring efficient recovery of saleable hydrocarbons and reducing overall disposal costs. GEA's expertise in centrifugal separation technology ensures that our customers receive reliable, high-performance solutions that meet their specific needs.
Explosion protection according to ATEX standard
Explosion-protected versions for the zone 2 or zone 1 according to ATEX compliance make for maximum safety in all relevant process stages. Thanks to our blanketing principle, products which are classified as hazardous can also be heated and processed reliably at temperatures above their flash point.
Single-stage treatment
For feedstock material that can be efficiently processed through dewatering and simultaneous oil and water separation, GEA's 3-phase single-stage decanter centrifuges are the preferred solution. These centrifuges can handle high solid content achieving maximum dewatering and clarification in one stage, making them ideal for easier slop oil treatment requirements.
Single-stage treatment with 3-phase decanter centrifuge
Two-stage treatment
In cases where the feedstock is more challenging to treat or higher oil quality is required, GEA's double-stage treatment process becomes more viable. This involves using 2-phase decanter centrifuges followed by high-speed disk stack centrifuges. The disk stack machines process the decanter centrate phase, separating ultra-fine particles and maximizing water removal. This results in a high-quality oil product that can be merchandized similarly to crude oil.
Double-stage treatment with 2-phase decanter centrifuges and disk stack centrifuges
Three-stage treatment
For applications where both oil quality and water discharge quality must meet stringent requirements, GEA’s advanced three‑stage treatment process is the optimal solution. This configuration combines a high‑performance decanter centrifuge with an oil‑polishing separator and a dedicated water separator.
Stage 1 – Decanter centrifuge
The decanter removes the bulk solids and performs primary phase separation, ensuring stable feed conditions for the downstream separators.
Stage 2 – Oil separator
A high‑speed disk stack centrifuge polishes the recovered oil by removing ultrafine particles and residual water, producing an oil phase with very low BS&W and high commercial value.
Stage 3 – Water separator
A dedicated water‑polishing separator reduces residual oil in the water phase down to environmentally acceptable levels (≤ 15 ppm), enabling direct discharge or feeding into a wastewater treatment system. This three‑stage configuration provides maximum recovery of valuable hydrocarbons, high‑purity oil and water outlets, and significant reduction of disposal volumes – ideal for facilities that must comply with strict environmental regulations or operate under challenging feed conditions.
3-stage treatment with 2-phase decanter and two disk stack centrifuges
Downloads
GEA Insights
The water equation
Across Europe, drought is a recurring reality – and no longer confined to the south. While water increasingly shapes where industries locate, its value is determined by local context. There are many technological routes to water efficiency in industrial processes, but location, energy needs and other factors are also key.
