OWSKIMMER MANUFACTURING

While the Archimedes screw pump was being improved, another work-team developed the separator that will work with it. Both will be connected and will rotate together and will consent water separation (heavy phase) before pump suction. A design challenge never made until now.

Our prototype was made in stainless steel following high quality standards that guarantee the absence of vibrations that could affect the operation of the pump. It was also necessary to prevent overstress caused by the high inertia of the rotary volume during unexpected stops, as well as ensuring the sealing of the assembly. Assembly correct balance and its sealing were prime objectives.

Therefore, manufacturing and control chosen methods were of high precision to prevent deviations from the original project.

Once the separator was manufactured, we proceeded to assemble what we call OWSPUMP, or what is the same: the separator, the static pump for the heavy phase and the screw pump for the light phase.

From the skimmer inlet (overflow, disk, brush,...) the recovered substance would enter the separation chamber. Once this is achieved, the water will be removed from the device through a static pump while the oil or floating solid waste (light phase) will be pumped by the Archimedes screw pump to a temporary storage tank.

The pump-separator assembly would be installed in a protection cage or support thereof, which would then be connected in turn to the flotation of the skimmer. For laboratory tests this last step was not necessary.

The first tests carried out in laboratory and in relevant environments demonstrate the efficiency of the system and its good mechanical functioning:

ARQUIMEDES SCREW PUMP METALLIC PROTOTYPE (ALUMINIUM + STAINLESS STEEL)

Thanks to the assurance obtained during the previous tests we decided to complete the prototype with a machined aluminum body.

Once the new parts were made we could simulate working conditions, actual adjustmen between parts and ready a more robust prototype than the previous one whose body was completely made of sintered powders of nylon.

The test bench confirmed the first tests results and helped us to know better the limits of each one of the pieces designed by our engineers and the possible points of improvement.

Here we show you a video of one of the tests carried out:

STAINLESS STEEL SCREW (II)

After quite a few attempts and difficult adjustment and setting of various machine tools and control devices we were able to manufacture the stainless steel screw, AISI-316.

This is the first and foremost part of the definitive bomb. Together with the sealing disk they represent the core of the mechanism that allows fluid pumping. In the image we show you the screw and the sealing disk "geared" in both its final version and its sintered nylon version, the latter a little unwell after hours of testing.

Watch the video:

In successive posts we will show you how we make the pump body in metallic material and the centrifugal separator that will allow us to separate water from hydrocarbons before pumping.

STAINLESS STEEL SCREW (I)

Once we've verified the design of the screw, we're starting its production in stainless steel.

Due to its geometry and its perfect fitting with the sealing disc it's the most complicated part of the pump.

Nevertheless we're confident of achieving the goal!.

FIRST PROTOTYPE OF OUR PUMP - TEST

Despite the inherent imprecision of the manufacturing technology we were able to operate our pump prototype which was completely made using Selective Laser Sintering of nylon powder.

See the video here:

CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST PROTOTYPE OF THE PUMP

Once the idea was developed, to build a skimmer equipped with a Archimedes screw pump but able to separate part of the recovered water, we start manufacturing of the prototype.

Although our final aim is to manufacture a robust pump capable of working with any type of fluid, and being stainless steel the material that responds to such requirements, we decided to make a first prototype using the technique of selective laser sintering of nylon powder.

In this way we built the first pump with a very fragile material, so that if it passed the test we would have guarantees of adjustment and operation to proceed with the very superior investment represented by the metallic prototype.

The technology used responded very well to expectations and not only. We got a prototype that geometrically validated our design but it was also a functional prototype with which we could verify the hydraulic behavour of the pump.

LET'S START!

Analyzing performance and design of the available pumps we are inclined to use screw pumps in our aim to reduce water content in the skimmer.

Its geometry and the way in which power transmission takes place makes us think that they are the most suitable to work together with a centrifugal separator.

Now is the time to take action: We will create a prototype that will allow us to verify the results of our theoretical study.

The challenge in front of us is huge. We have the need to design and manufacture three devices in one: a weir skimmer, an Archimedes screw pump and a centrifugal separator.

Since we have a long experience in skimmers manufacture we will leave it for the last moment, so we will concentrate at first on the design and manufacture of the pump as it represents the core of this new equipment for Oil Spill Response. We will call it:

OWSKIMMER