Aquaguard RBS TRITON 35, Operating And Maintenance Instructions Manual

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OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL
RBS TRITON™ 35 SKIMMER
8
Booms can be used with RBS
RBS TRITON™ skimmers to help concentrate the oil
around the pick up area. ASTM adaptors are available through Aqua-Guard.
3.2 SHUT-DOWN
To conclude the oil recovery operation, the brushes should be stopped, then the transfer
pump should be allowed to empty the small central sump. Some oil will remain in the
sump after pump has shut off.
Turn off both the power pack and pump engines.
Raise the
RBS TRITON™ skimmer head from the water and place it on a plastic tarp or
bed of oil sorbents. Disconnect the suction hose and hydraulic hoses from the skimmer
head. Drain the remaining oil from the sump through the drain plug, collecting the oil in a
proper container.
As much as 6 liters (1.6 gallons) of oil may remain in the sump.
Always clean the equipment as soon as possible after it has been used.
4 PERFORMANCES
4.1 RECOVERY RATE
The Aqua-Guard RBS
TRITON™ 35 skimmer will recover any floating oil that is fluid at
ambient temperatures.
The recovery rate is governed by:

The brush speed, which is regulated from the power unit. As oil viscosity increases,
brush speed may be increased to increase the rate of recovery.

The viscosity of the oil. Very light oils and very heavy oils are recovered at lower rates
than those of intermediate viscosity. Very light oils only form thin films on the brushes,
while very thick oils do not flow down the tubes fast enough to clear the brush area.

The thickness of the oil slick being recovered. A thin film of oil can only be recovered
at a rate governed by the rate at which the oil will flow into the path of the brush. If the
oil film is thick enough to submerge the lower edges of the brush completely, the
recovery rate is maximized.

The degree of emulsification of the oil. Highly emulsified oils decrease the volume of
oil recovered. This is due to the water film, which is present after emulsification,
hindering the adhesion of the oil to the brushes.
4.2 MAXIMIZING RECOVERY
Efforts to maximize the thickness of the oil film will result in higher recovery rates.
Film thickness may be increased by the following:

Reducing the area enclosed by the containment boom

Towing the boom in a catenary curve against the current or wind, depending on which
one gives the greatest effect

Avoiding any actions which increase the degree of emulsification