Skimmers, as the name implies, are designed to collect, or skim, the 

 floating product from the surface of the water. Skimmers can be grouped into 

 four basic categories: (1) vacuum or suction type, (2) weirs, (3) dynamic 

 inclined plane, and (4) oleophilic belts, drums, and disks. 



VACUUM OR SUCTION-TYPE SKIMMERS 



The sucti 

 operation. A 

 vacuum the oil 

 skimmer head i 

 of using this 

 its ability to 

 in most water 

 with debris an 

 to prevent clo 



on-type skimmer is a simple device in terms of both design and 

 suction head and pump are involved, and these devices simply 



from the surface of the water. One example of a suction-type 

 s called a "duck bill" (Figure 11). The primary advantages 

 device are its adaptability to most environmental situations, 



handle almost all types of oils, and the simplicity of operation 

 depths. Its disadvantages include a tendency to become clogged 

 d the need for continual maintenance during recovery operations 

 gging and allow efficient skimming. 



DISCHARGE HOSE 



OIL RECOVERY 

 ORIFICE 



Figure 11. Illustration of a suction-type skimmer head for removing 

 spilled oil. 



WEIR SKIMMERS 



Weir skimmers are probably the most widely recognized type of recovery 

 device available today. In addition, they are the most widely available type 

 of skimmer for pollution recovery operations. 



Weir skimmers consist of four primary components: (1) a flotation device 

 to suspend the skimmer in water, (2) a reservoir to collect the oil, (3) a 

 device to adjust the skimming level to minimize the quantity of oil entering 

 the reservoir, and (4) some method to empty the reservoir, either by positive 

 displacement pumps or suction (Figure 12). 



11 



