Nordstone | Oil-Water Separator Vessel

Oil-Water Separator Vessel – Advanced Separation Technology

Oil-Water Separator Vessels are specialized pressure vessels designed to separate free oil, emulsified oil, and suspended solids from water in industrial and environmental applications. They are widely used in oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, marine, and wastewater treatment industries to ensure clean water discharge, process efficiency, and compliance with environmental regulations.

At NORDSTONE, we design and manufacture oil-water separator vessels with robust mechanical construction, optimized separation efficiency, and adherence to international standards, including ASME Section VIII Div.1, API, and PED.

What is an Oil-Water Separator Vessel?

An oil-water separator vessel is designed to exploit density differences between oil and water to achieve separation. Oil, being lighter, rises to the surface, while water settles at the bottom. Some designs also include coalescing media, baffles, and demulsifiers to enhance separation efficiency.

Key components include:

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Vertical or horizontal cylindrical pressure vessel

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Inlet diffuser and baffle system for flow control and turbulence reduction

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Coalescing plates or media (optional) to accelerate oil separation

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Oil collection weir and outlet

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Water outlet at the bottom

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Drain and vent connections

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Manways for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance

These vessels provide efficient oil removal, minimal carryover, and high operational reliability, protecting downstream equipment and ensuring environmental compliance.

Types of Oil-Water Separator Vessels

1. Gravity Oil-Water Separator

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Relies on density differences and gravitational settling

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Simple design, low maintenance, and suitable for low to medium flow rates

2. Coalescing Plate Oil-Water Separator

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Uses interleaved plates to coalesce fine oil droplets

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Higher separation efficiency for emulsified or dispersed oils

3. API Oil-Water Separator

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Designed according to API 421 and API 650 standards

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Suitable for crude oil, refinery effluents, and produced water

4. Pressure Oil-Water Separator

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Operates under pressurized conditions to improve separation rate

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Suitable for chemical, petrochemical, and high-flow applications

5. Custom Industrial Oil-Water Separator

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Tailored design for specific industrial wastewater or process water applications

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Optimized vessel size, flow rate, and separation efficiency

Key Features of Our Oil-Water Separator Vessels

✔ High Separation Efficiency

Removes free and emulsified oil from water efficiently
Coalescing plates or media enhance fine oil droplet removal
Reduces downstream contamination and sludge formation

✔ Robust Mechanical Design

ASME Section VIII Div.1 compliant
API, TEMA, and PED standards adherence
Cylindrical vessel with wind, seismic, and thermal stress analysis
Reinforced nozzles, manways, and support structures

✔ Wide Material Selection

Carbon Steel

SA516 Gr.60/70, SA106 Gr.B

Stainless Steel

SS304/304L, SS316/316L

Duplex / Super Duplex

Stainless Steel

Nickel Alloys

Inconel, Hastelloy, Alloy 20

Special Construction

Lined or coated construction for corrosive or oily service

✔ Easy Maintenance & Operation

Manways for inspection and cleaning
Removable coalescing plates or media
Lifting lugs and external supports for safe handling

Design & Engineering Considerations

Process Design

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Flow rate, oil content, and water quality analysis

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Coalescing media selection and baffle design

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Retention time calculation for effective separation

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Skimming and drainage system design

Mechanical Design

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Pressure vessel design per ASME Section VIII Div.1

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Wind, seismic, and thermal load analysis

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Support design (skirt, leg, or saddle)

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Nozzle reinforcement, flanges, and manway design

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Compliance with PED, NACE MR0175, and international codes

Operational Parameters

4-15 bar

Design Pressure

5-80°C

Design Temperature

0.5-4 m

Diameter Range

1-6 m

Height Range

All parameters customizable to project-specific requirements

Applications

Oil & Gas Industry

Produced water treatment
Refinery wastewater separation
Crude oil pre-treatment

Chemical & Petrochemical

Separation of process effluents
Recovery of valuable oils
Protection of downstream equipment

Marine & Environmental

Bilge water treatment
Industrial wastewater treatment
Compliance with environmental discharge standards

Industrial & Manufacturing

Metalworking fluids recovery
Cooling water treatment
Effluent clarification before reuse

Quality Assurance & Testing

All oil-water separator vessels undergo strict QA/QC:

Hydrostatic

& Pneumatic Testing

Radiographic

Testing (RT)

Ultrasonic

Testing (UT)

Dye Penetrant

Inspection

Magnetic Particle

Inspection

Weld Inspection

& Media Support Validation

Material

Traceability (MTC)

Third-Party

Inspection (TPI)

Third-Party Inspection Agencies:

TUV BV Lloyds DNV SGS

Optional Features & Packages

Skid-mounted or free-standing design

Flexible installation options

Coalescing plates or media

For fine oil droplet removal

Automated oil skimming system

Efficient oil removal automation

Instrumentation ports

For level, pressure, and flow monitoring

External insulation and corrosion protection

Enhanced durability and protection

Anti-fouling and anti-corrosion coatings

Special surface treatments

Why Choose NORDSTONE?

20+ years of expertise in industrial filtration and separation vessels
Advanced process simulation and mechanical design capabilities for optimized oil-water separation performance
ASME-certified fabrication for global compliance and international standards
Custom-engineered solutions for oil-water separation and process water treatment
Full QA/QC, documentation, and third-party inspection support for complete project traceability
Proven reliability in oil & gas, chemical, petrochemical, environmental, and industrial sectors

Oil-Water Separator Vessel – Filtration & Separation Vessels