Design and Development of Oil Skimmer

Oil contamination in water bodies poses significant environmental and operational challenges. To address this, an efficient oil skimmer device was designed and developed. The presented model employs a rotating belt mechanism to selectively remove oil from the surface of contaminated water.This project proposes a good oil-water separation system that utilizes a PVC conveyor belt that is powered using a Johnson Motor. The system depends on using the principle that although oil floats on water due to its lower density, and also forms oil slicks and films of time due to its relatively higher surface tension along with its inherent adhesive properties, as such when separation is possible, it is economically viable. The experimental rig consisted of an acrylic tank containing oil/water mix, a belt moving continuously to attract the oil forming adhesion to the belt, a scraping mechanism to remove the oil from the belt, and a collection tank that had an internal baffle separating oil from residual water. This paper discusses the systematic approach undertaken for design, material selection, fabrication, and testing of the oil skimmer. Experimental results demonstrate the device’s efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and potential for broader industrial applications.