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PACE® (Positive Accelerated Coalescence of Emulsions) System: a true advancement in the state of the art in oil/water separation. It is the result of ten years of research, development and field testing.
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PACE® will handle any combination of fresh water, salt water, free oil, mechanical emulsions and chemical emulsions. It will consistently and reliably produce clean water for discharge.
PACE® will handle petroleum fuel and lubricating oils ranging in viscosity and specific gravity from N°2 diesel to N°5 heavy fuel oil without modifications or heaters at ordinary room temperatures. If the oil will flow, PACE® can process it.
PACE® will accumulate and automatically eject the oil recovered from emulsions.
The ability of the system to discharge clean, oil-free water does not depend upon the skill of the operator.
There are no adjustments.
PACE® is the most practical, the most economical and the most reliable method of breaking chemical emulsions. This patented system is the best oil/water separator in the world.
PACE® converts grey emulsions into clear water and black oil. The water is suitable for legal discharge, and the oil is concentrated to the point where it will support combustion. The volume of oil for separate disposal can be reduced by up to 98%.
In addition, you can recover the active cleaning agents and water in your oil-contaminated wash solution for reuse, and do so with a substantial return of your investment.
Neither electrical failure nor operator error will cause oil to be discharged.
The only maintenance normally required is:
Sophisticated process technology produces simple equipment. The only moving parts are an ordinary centrifugal pump and four solenoid valves. The few controls required are conventional.
Tank, skid, structure and piping are heavily constructed and reinforced to withstand the most severe operating conditions.
Internal tank arrangement, flow regulation and a unique interface sensor prevent discharge of oil containing excessive amount of water.
The system is completely self-contained, with all valves and controls necessary for automatic operation, detergent in-place washing, filling and draining
Suction generated by the pump draws fresh wastewater into the primary separator. Free oil is separated and rises to the top of the primary separator. Chemical and mechanical emulsions pass through the bag filter into the second stage of treatment.
These emulsions are pumped across the surface of the membrane at high velocity and moderate pressure. Water, salts and detergents are forced through the membrane. Oil is rejected. The concentrated emulsion then passes through the reservoir, where excess oil is stripped and returned to the primary separator.
The remainder passes back to the pump suction, so that the pumping rate is much greater than the system output. High velocity flow across the membrane surface shears excess oil and minimizes fouling.
Discharge of clean water from the system produces the vacuum required to draw wastewater into the system.
The primary separator is full of liquid at all times. As oil is accumulated, emulsion is displaced and the oil/water interface moves lower. When this interface reaches the interface sensor, it triggers the oil-ejection cycle.
The pump stops, the clean water discharge solenoid valve closes and the water inlet solenoid valve opens. Water under regulated line pressure ejects the accumulated oil through the oil discharge check valve fitted on the primary separator.
Once a preset quantity of oil has been ejected, the pump starts, the water inlet solenoid valve closes and the clean water discharge solenoid valve opens.
Skid mounted unit; assembled, piped, wired and tested at the factory before shipment. Includes all valves, machinery and controls necessary for automatic operation, in-place washing, filling and draining.
Any combination of fresh water, salt water, free base oil, mechanical emulsions and chemical emulsions. Any combination of petroleum oils, up to a specific gravity of 0.94 (19 degrees API). Any viscosity which will plow through the piping.
U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Department of Environment, U.K. Department of Transport, Norwegian Maritime Directorate, Danish Government Ships Inspection Service, National Swedish Administration of Shipping and Navigation, U.S.S.R. Registry of Shipping and others per IMO Resolution A.393(X), "Recommendations on International Performance and Test Specifications of Oily Water Separating Equipment and Oil Content Meters".
Equipment is designed and constructed in accordance with the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 46 Shipping, Subchapter F (Mechanical Engineering) and Subchapter J (Electrical Engineering).
Testing in accordance with 46 CFR Part 162 "Engineering Equipment Design and Approval Requirements for Oil Pollution Prevention Equipment", conducted by a U.S. Coast Guard Designated Testing Facility and witnessed by representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Water Pollution Control Directorate.
All numerical values listed in parts per million (ppm).
| Condition | Max. Oil content |
Avg. Oil content |
USCG/IMO Limits |
| Treating heavy Fuel Oil | ND* |
ND* |
15.0 |
| Treating Light Fuel Oil | ND* |
ND* |
15.0 |
| Treating Chemical Emulsions | 6.5 |
1.0 |
15.0 |
*not detected
Copies of the Test Report are available upon request.
Several standard models are available. Refer to the Table for capacities, dimensions and other data.
Each standard PACE unit is fully configured to operate automatically in any of three modes:
All welded steel construction, ASTM A-36 steel with 1/4 inch minimum thickness, tank penetrations are full welded both sides.
All steel piping is ASTM A-53 Grade B minimum, with flanges or unions provided for takedown. All installation connections are 150 lb. rated, raised face flanges per ASTM A-305.
Assembly hardware and threaded tank nozzles are stainless steel. All interior surfaces of Primary Separator are grit blasted to "white metal" per SSPC 5 and coated to 10 mils DFT with polyamide epoxy resin. All exterior surfaces grit blasted and epoxy coated.
Membrane elements and tanks are separately tested for leaks. Coating are checked for holidays and pinholes. Each unit is subjected to a full power-on test prior to shipment to verify the integrity of pipe connections and seals, proper operation of all machinery and controls, and membrane oil rejection.
| Model N° | S-1 |
S-2 |
S-3 |
S-4 |
S-4.5 |
S-5 |
| Rated Capacity (l/day)(1) | ||||||
Nominal Flow at 40°C |
1 900 |
9 120 |
18 240 |
36 500 |
55 000 |
82 000 |
Nominal Flow at 20°C |
1 140 |
6 080 |
12 160 |
24 700 |
37 000 |
55 000 |
| Dimensions (m)(2) | ||||||
Length |
1,77 |
1,92 |
3,11 |
3,05 |
3,66 |
4,27 |
Width |
0,73 |
1,31 |
1,62 |
1,98 |
2,29 |
2,60 |
Height |
1,46 |
1,74 |
1,89 |
2,23 |
2,35 |
2,44 |
| Weights (kg) | ||||||
Shipping |
585 |
1 170 |
1 845 |
2 925 |
3 960 |
4 950 |
Operating |
720 |
1 710 |
3 060 |
5 400 |
8 550 |
11 250 |
| Piping Connections | ||||||
Wastewater Inlet |
1" |
2" |
2-1/2" |
3" |
4" |
4" |
Clean water Inlet |
3/4" |
3/4" |
3/4" |
1" |
1-1/2" |
1-1/2" |
Permeate Discharge |
1/4" |
3/4" |
1" |
1-1/2" |
2" |
2" |
Oil Discharge |
3/4" |
1" | 1-1/2" |
2" |
2-1/2" |
2-1/2" |
Pumpout |
3/8" |
3/4" |
3/4" |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Max. Suction Lift (m)(3) | 3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Max Oil Discharge Head (m) | 9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
| Motor HP | ||||||
60 Hz Circulating Pump |
3 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
50 Hz Circulating Pump |
5 |
10 |
15 |
25 |
30 |
40 |
Filter Feed Pump |
1 |
1.5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Notes:
(1). Rated Capacity in liters per day is the factory's best estimate based upon field experience to date using the standard membrane, and is provided for reference only. Capacity in service for this membrane may be estimated using the service Factors listed below.
(2). Reference data only.
(3). Flooded suction is recommended wherever possible.
PACE is a variable flow device. The throughput to be expected in service will depend upon four major factors:
1. The total dynamic head the system must overcome (TDH Service Factor)
2. The temperature of the wastewater (Temperature Service Factor)
3. The contaminant level of the wastewater (Contaminant Service Factor)
4. The "tightness" of the membrane employed (Membrane Service Factor)
In order to properly select a specific application, you must first determine a value for each of these Service Factors using the table provided.
As the total dynamic head (TDH) which the unit must overcome increases, the differential pressure available to force water through the membrane decreases, and flow decreases accordingly. The total dynamic head (TDH) includes suction lift, discharge head and friction losses.
TDH (m) |
TDH Service Factor |
0 |
1.0 |
3 |
1.1 |
6 |
1.2 |
9 |
1.3 |
High concentrations of emulsified oil, surfactants, emulsifying agents and other contaminants increase the Membrane resistance to flow.
Water Characteristics |
Service Factor |
Relatively clean |
1.0 |
Average |
1.5 |
Very dirty |
2.0 |
The viscosity of water decreases as its temperature increases. The pores of the Membrane are so tiny that a decrease in the water's viscosity reduces the membrane's resistance to flow.
Temperature (°C) |
Service Factor |
5 |
2.24 |
10 |
1.93 |
15 |
1.68 |
20 |
1.48 |
30 |
1.18 |
40 |
0.96 |
50 |
0.81 |
60 |
0.69 |
70 |
0.60 |
Standard Membranes are designed to reject oil, and may pass light hydrocarbon such as aliphatic hydrocarbons. Alternate Membranes which will reject these lighter fractions have smaller pores than do standard Membranes. They therefore provide more resistance to flow.
Membrane selected |
Membrane Service Factor |
Standard |
1.0 |
Tight |
1.5 |
Multiply the demand flow in liters/day times the TDH SERVICE FACTOR times the PROCESS WATER SERVICE FACTOR times the WATER TEMPERATURE SERVICE FACTOR times the MEMBRANE SERVICE FACTOR to get the corresponding nominal rating. Select the next largest unit.
Example 1: general shop wastewater containing detergents, lubricating and hydraulic oils, daily flow = 1,000 l, Temperature =20°C, Discharge Head =3 m. Use the standard membrane and size the unit per the service factors as follows:
1000 x 1.1 x 2.0 x 1.48 x 1.0 = 3,256 l/day
Select a PACE S-2 with nominal rated capacity of 6,080 l/day.
Example 2: caustic washwater from engine rebuilding operation containing lubricating oil, detergents, emulsifying agents and other light fraction hydrocarbons. Daily flow = 5,000 l, temperature = 30°C, open discharge. Use the tight membrane and size the unit per the service factors as follows:
5000 x 1.0 x 2.0 x 1.18 x 1.5 = 17,700 l/day
Select a PACE S-4 with nominal rated capacity of 24,700 l/day and specify installation of tight membranes.
We can test a sample of your process water. Please contact us for details.
If flow is critical, a pilot run using a PACE test unit may be required on site. These units are available. Please contact us for details.
Standard units can be connected in parallel to handle large flows. Compared with field-erected systems, factory-built units offer lower total installed cost, better quality control and reduced lead times.
Integrated PACE / Centrifuge systems can efficiently process wastewater containing oil concentrations too high for normal ultrafiltration. The outputs are clean water and oil suitable for sale or for use as fuel.
In certain applications, a fully configured PACE unit may not be required, only the second stage with its ability to break chemical emulsions and produce clean water. The PACE second stage can be furnished separately in all the standard sizes and rated capacities (SK-Series).
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