Oil content meter

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An oil content meter (OCM) is an integral part of all oily water separator (OWS) systems. Oil content meters are also sometimes referred to as oil content monitors, bilge alarms, or bilge monitors. [1]

Contents

OCM technology

The OCM continuously monitors how much oil is in the water that is pumped out the discharge line of the OWS system. [2] The OCM will not allow the oil concentration of the exiting water to be above the Marpol standard of 15 ppm. This standard was first adopted in 1977 with Resolution A.393(X) which was published by IMO. [3] These standards were updated various but the most current resolution is MEPC 108(49). The oil content meter will sound an alarm if the liquid leaving the system has an unsatisfactory amount of oil in the mixture. If it is still above that standard, then the bilge water will be reentered into the system until it meets the required criteria. The OCM uses light beams to determine how oily the water in the system is. [4] The system will then gauge the oil concentration based on a light intensity meter. Modern oil content meters also have a data logging system that can store oil concentration measurements for more than 18 months. [2]

Oil content meter No. 100 Oil content meter.jpg
Oil content meter

If the OCM determines that there is far too much of a type of oil, the OCM may be fouled and needs to be flushed out. [1] Running clean water through the OCM sensor cell is one way it can be cleaned. Also scrubbing the sensor area with a bottle brush is another effective method. [1] The new MEPC 107(49) regulations have set out stringent actions that require the OCM to be tamper proof and also the OCM needs to have an alarm that sounds whenever the OCM is being cleaned. [1] When the alarm goes off, the OCM functionality will be checked by crew members. [1]

An OCM is a small part of what is called the oil discharge monitoring and control system. The first part is the oil content meter. The second is a flow meter which measures the flow rate of the water at the discharge pipe. [5] Third, is a computing unit which calculates how much oil has actually been discharged along with the day and time of the discharge. [5] And lastly is the overboard valve control system which is essentially just a valve that can stop the discharge from flowing out at the appropriate time. [5]

Oil content meters measure how effective the oily water separators on a ship are functioning. [6] If the OCM computes that the oily discharge is above the 15 ppm standard, the oily water separator needs to be checked by the crew.

There are three types of oil that the oil content meter needs to check for and they are fuel oil, diesel, and emulsions. [6]

See also

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OCM may refer to:

An oily water separator (OWS) (marine) is a piece of equipment specific to the shipping or marine industry. It is used to separate oil and water mixtures into their separate components. This page refers exclusively to oily water separators aboard marine vessels. They are found on board ships where they are used to separate oil from oily waste water such as bilge water before the waste water is discharged into the environment. These discharges of waste water must comply with the requirements laid out in Marpol 73/78.

The term separator in oilfield terminology designates a pressure vessel used for separating well fluids produced from oil and gas wells into gaseous and liquid components. A separator for petroleum production is a large vessel designed to separate production fluids into their constituent components of oil, gas and water. A separating vessel may be referred to in the following ways: Oil and gas separator, Separator, Stage separator, Trap, Knockout vessel, Flash chamber, Expansion separator or expansion vessel, Scrubber, Filter. These separating vessels are normally used on a producing lease or platform near the wellhead, manifold, or tank battery to separate fluids produced from oil and gas wells into oil and gas or liquid and gas. An oil and gas separator generally includes the following essential components and features:

  1. A vessel that includes (a) primary separation device and/or section, (b) secondary "gravity" settling (separating) section, (c) mist extractor to remove small liquid particles from the gas, (d) gas outlet, (e) liquid settling (separating) section to remove gas or vapor from oil, (f) oil outlet, and (g) water outlet.
  2. Adequate volumetric liquid capacity to handle liquid surges (slugs) from the wells and/or flowlines.
  3. Adequate vessel diameter and height or length to allow most of the liquid to separate from the gas so that the mist extractor will not be flooded.
  4. A means of controlling an oil level in the separator, which usually includes a liquid-level controller and a diaphragm motor valve on the oil outlet.
  5. A back pressure valve on the gas outlet to maintain a steady pressure in the vessel.
  6. Pressure relief devices.
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A gas detector is a device that detects the presence of gases in an area, often as part of a safety system. A gas detector can sound an alarm to operators in the area where the leak is occurring, giving them the opportunity to leave. This type of device is important because there are many gases that can be harmful to organic life, such as humans or animals.

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All cargo vessels where MARPOL Convention is applicable must have an oil record book in which the officer responsible will record all oil or sludge transfers and discharges within the vessel. This is necessary for authorities to be able to monitor if a vessel's crew has properly disposed of their oil discharges at sea.

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Marpol Annex I is the first implementation made by Marpol 73/78, one of the most important international marine environmental conventions. The convention was designed to minimize pollution of the seas from ships. The objective of the convention is to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances. The Marpol Annex I began to be enforced on October 2, 1983, and it details the prevention of pollution by oil and oily water.

Oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is based on a measurement of oil content in the ballast and slop water, to measure conformance with regulations. The apparatus is equipped with a GPS, data recording functionality, an oil content meter and a flow meter. By use of data interpretation, a computing unit will be able to allow the discharge to continue or it will stop it using a valve outside the deck.

Port reception facilities are a place that international shipping ports must provide to collect residues, oily mixtures, and garbage generated from an ocean-going vessel. contaminants generated by ships cannot be discharged directly to the ocean. According to MARPOL 73/78 they must be collected by the Port reception facilities all around the world. The Port reception facility must be able to receive dirty oil and other contaminants, and also provide quick and efficient services.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Initial_Recommendations_for_Bilge_Oily_Water_Separator_System_Design_and_Operation" (PDF). martinottaway.com. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "TN2 Oil Content Meter" (PDF). www.ajsinclair.com. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Chronology & Search". MAX1 Studies. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Statutory Info – Bahamas – Oily Water Separator and 15 ppm oil content meter". www1.veristar.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "What is Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCS) on Ship?" . Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Deckma OMD-24 – Oil Content Meter | Mackay Communications and Marine Electronics and Service". www.mackaycomm.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
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