Pre-treatment of Process Wastewater Using the S100 Oil SkimmerAutomated Fat Removal in the Food Processing Industry
In the food processing industry, the production of fat-containing products generates significant volumes of wastewater contaminated with oils and fats. Particularly in the manufacture of products such as salad dressings and seasoned marinades, fats and oils enter the wastewater stream and must be reliably removed before discharge into the sewer system or a wastewater treatment plant.
Problem
A manufacturer of salad dressings and oil-based marinades faced the challenge of efficiently removing fats and oils generated during the production process from its wastewater. The existing fat separators were unable to meet these requirements adequately.
A key issue was the inability to reliably monitor the thickness of the accumulating fat layer within the separator. As a result, oils and fats were regularly carried over into the wastewater system, without being withheld in the fat separator, leading to repeated complaints from the downstream municipal wastewater treatment plant, including a threat of revoking their permit to discharge wastewater.
In addition, the company required an automated solution for transferring the separated fats into a suitable collection container without manual intervention. The objective was to reduce maintenance efforts while increasing operational reliability and process efficiency.
Solution: FRIESS S100 Oil Skimmer in a Mobile Configuration
To ensure the continuous removal of accumulated fats from the fat separator, an S100 oil skimmer was installed. The system was specifically designed to meet the requirements of the application.
A key feature of the solution is the heated discharge chute, which prevents fats from solidifying and ensures the continuous and reliable removal of separated substances, even at lower ambient temperatures.
The oil skimmer system was implemented in a mobile configuration, allowing the entire unit to be moved together with an IBC container using a pallet truck or forklift.
This flexibility was essential because the yard area where the fat separator is located must remain accessible to truck traffic.
To provide a secure and stable installation, a specially designed mounting frame was developed, enabling the skimmer to be mounted directly onto the IBC container. This resulted in a compact and space-saving solution.
The system is controlled via a time-based control unit combined with IBC level monitoring. This setup enables largely automated operation while preventing the collection container from overflowing.
Result
The implementation of the oil skimmer successfully prevented fats and oils from entering the sewer system via the process wastewater, ensuring reliable compliance with the requirements of the municipal wastewater treatment plant.
At the same time, the automated discharge process significantly reduced the workload for operating personnel and improved overall process reliability. The mobile design provides additional flexibility and enables cost-effective operation of the system.