The Ro-Mop skimmer is ideal for recovery of light, medium and emulsified oils in rivers, harbours, marinas, lagoons, swamps and other inland waters. Long lengths of mop can be used to collect oil some distance from the wringer unit.
As the mop skimmer system is an oleophilic (oil-attracting) system, only a small percentage of water is picked up with the oil – typically less than 10 percent.
The Ro-Mop skimmer system comprises of a powered wringer unit which is mounted over a collection tank and an endless loop of polypropylene rope mop which is directed across the water surface, in some cases using a floating pulley. As the mop circulates over the water surface oil sticks to the fibres. This oil is squeezed out of the mop as it passes through the machine, and drained into the collection tank. The mop fibres are open-ended and therefore do not pick up trash. The wringer unit remains on the bank, only the mop is placed in the water.
The Ro-Mop is highly reliable and very simple to maintain. The moving parts principally comprise of motor, gearbox, chain, sprockets and rollers. Ro-Mop units are available in a variety of drives to suit most applications – emergency response or fixed installation.
How it works
The mop skimmer system will recover a wide range of oils, but is best suited to recovering liquid oils. The mops can also be applied to fats and heavy oils with the injection of heat to assist recovery. As the oleophilic rope mop moves through the spilled oil, it selectively attracts oil and rejects water (less than 5 to 10% water recovery). The recovered oil is then squeezed by the skimmer driver rollers and gravity discharged into a collection sump or tank.
The mop machine can lift the oil over a great height (e.g. from drains, pits, tanks, wells, boreholes, etc) which eliminates the need for a suction pump. The fibres of the mop are open ended so large items of trash are not picked up, most in fact falls off the mop as it travels to the wringer unit. Integrated transfer pumps are available to move the recovered oil from the sump to storage or transport.
These machines are extremely versatile and flexible, and can be used in many applications, including through small access holes, hanging from vessels, or in dangerous conditions (special models). The smaller models of this skimmer are extremely portable and can easily be carried to site by two people.
Advantages of a Ro-Mop skimmer system:
- Simple and effective – easy to set up, high recovery efficiency
- Ease of maintenance – the machine is located at ground level giving easy access
- Minimal moving parts – mop machines consist of a motor, gearbox, chain transmission and a pair of rollers
- Horizontal and vertical skimming of oil
- Tolerant to trash and debris
- Three different models to deliver a system which exactly meets your requirements
About DESMI
DESMI designs and manufactures an extensive range of systems to recover oil and chemicals from the marine and inland environment. DESMI products include skimmers, booms, storage tanks, power packs, pumps, dispersant systems, vessels and ancillary items.
DESMI’s extensive range of containment booms and oil skimmers supports their oil spill response solutions which are highly trusted in the industry. Whether the requirement is for offshore or shoreline areas; the arctic or equatorial environment, DESMI delivers proven solutions for all spill conditions and offers outstanding life-cycle costs.