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SPEL Midel Oil Separators

The introduction of synthetic cooling oil in transformers has dramatically improved the fire safety record for grid-based substations, these oils are classified as K-class fluids with a high fire point of >300°C to IEC 61039. While the use of such a fluid reduces fire risk and associated costs, the difference in specific gravity (SG = 0.97 at 20°C) presents challenges for capturing this type of oil in a conventional separator in the event of an oil leak or spill. This has resulted in SPEL conducting extensive testing and redesign to ensure that Midel can be safely and reliably captured in the advanced SPEL Midel Separator. A further technical advance in the SPEL Midel Oil Separator is the inclusion of a motorised Automatic Closure Device (ACD) which will shut down in the event of a catastrophic spill.    

For Midel Transformer Fluids

Introduction and operation

The SPEL Midel Oil Separator models are designed for high performance and long service life between maintenance periods.

The Midel range is a two chamber system for enhanced performance and reduced maintenance.

An alarm will sound and/or message an alarm on site or to a control room and automatically close off the separation chamber via the auto closing device, closed by a motorised valve. This is actuated by an oil alarm, closing the outlet in the case of a spillage emergency or when the maximum oil capacity has been reached.

Product Range

300 Series

(1.8m inside diameter):

NS 6 – NS 10

Catchment area: 333m2 – 556m2

 

400 Series

(2.6m inside diameter):

NS 20 – NS 60

Catchment area: 1,111m2 – 3,333m2

 

500 Series

(3.5m inside diameter):

NS 80 – NS 100

Catchment area: 4,444m2 – 5,555m2

 

Larger sizes available upon request

Automatic Closure Device

The SPEL Midel Oil Separators have a closure device by way of a motorised valve actuated by an oil alarm. The alarm will sound and/or message an alarm on site or to a control room and automatically close off the separation chamber from the outlet in the case of a spillage emergency or when the maximum oil capacity has been reached.

Shell Design

Designed with reference to BS EN 13121. All tank shells carry the SPEL 25 Year Warranty and life expectancy in excess of 50 years.

Shell Specifications

Different tank shell specifications are available dependent upon tank invert levels, ground conditions and ground water levels. (See Installation Guidance section)

Inlet/Outlet Connections

160/225/300mm diameter PVCU socket/spigot.

450, 600, 750, 900 and 1200mm diameter GRP spigot available, for connecting to site pipework via Flex-Seal/Band-Seal or similar flexible couplings.

The nine inlet/outlet options below are available to assist with design and installation.

The ‘heart’ of the SPEL Separators is the unique long life, low maintenance coalescer unit/s

The coalescer unit is mounted in the second chamber, providing a coalescence process for the separation of smaller globules of light liquid pollutants before final discharge to the surface water drain.

Being incorporated in the second chamber prevents contamination or blockage of the coalescer insert in water. It can be simply lifted out for cleaning during routine maintenance.

Typical applications are:

  • Power/substations using Midel Oil transformers.

Features

Tank shell designed in accordance with BS EN 13121
  • Filament wound shell – the embodiment of strength and durability – yet lightweight.
  • Life expectancy in excess of 50 years.
  • Smooth, high gloss internal corrosion resistant surface.
  • External ‘flow coat’ water penetration barrier.
  • Robust stainless steel coalescer unit with long-life, high-volume foam insert and lifting handle.
  • Coalescer unit/s in second chamber protected from bulk of oil and silt.
  • The M range for Midel oil have a closure device by way of a motorised valve actuated by an oil alarm.
  • Good access to all parts for desludging.
  • Sampling point incorporated into outlet.
  • Generous access for desludging and servicing of the ACD and coalescer unit/s
  • Sized for working capacity PLUS fuel/oil and silt containment, ensuring optimum performance between maintenance periods.
  • Generous sizing extends maintenance free periods and reduces desludging costs.
  • Dip pipe inlet for minimum turbulence and to prevent inflammable vapours passing upstream in drainage system.
ModelSeriesNominal Size (NS)Catchment Area (m2)Oil Storage (L)Silt Capacity (L)Overall Length (mm)Inlet Invert (mm)Base to Inlet (mm)Base to Outlet (mm)Optimum Inlet dia.** (mm)
  Flow (l/s)   L    
P006 2C/SC/M3006333606003,2006401,6101,550160
P010 2C/SC/M3001055610010005,0705401,6101,550160
P020 2C/SC/M400201,11120020005,2506252,4252,325225
P025 2C/SC/M400251,38925025006,1706252,4252,325225
P030 2C/SC/M400301,66730030007,4006252,4252,325300
P040 2C/SC/M400402,22240040009,930For details, please contact our
Technical Sales Team
300
P060 2C/SC/M400603,333600600013,710300
P080 2C/SC/M500804,444800800010,040300
P100 2C/SC/M5001005,5551,00010,00012,530450

Larger sizes available upon request

*SPEL Separators are designed for a maximum flow (NS/NSB) but can be fitted with larger than the recommended maximum connection size IN/OUT or with the addition of adapters providing the maximum flow (NS/NSB) cannot be exceeded or any increase in the operating level in the SPEL Separator to cause the captured pollutants to escape into the vent connections or through access shaft connections. Any overriding of the above criteria could jeopardise performance to the European Standard BS EN 858-1.

Shaft Extensions

All SPEL Separator Systems have a large range of technical accessories to ease maintenance and monitoring.

Circular access shafts are supplied in 450, 600, 700, 900 and 1200mm diameter. Rectangular shafts are supplied in 800, 900 and 1000mm X 1000/1250/1500mm. GRP ladders can be incorporated for more access, complete with stainless steel fixings.

Rectangular Shafts
Stub Access Shafts
Flanged joint stub access shaft with extension shaft
600,750 and 900mm diameter.
Socket joint stub access shaft with extension shaft
600, 750, 900 and 1200mm diameter

200/300 Series

Shafts can be laminated onto the tank up to a maximum height of 1.2m. Above this height extension shafts can be supplied separately for on-site fitting during installation.

400 Series

Shafts up to 400mm high are laminated onto the tank. Above this height extension shafts can be supplied separately for on-site fitting during installation.

500 Series

Shafts up to 300mm high are laminated onto the tank. Above this height extension shafts can be supplied separately for on-site fitting during installation.

600 Series

Stub access shafts are fitted 100mm high and extension access shafts fitted as 500 series. Above this height extension shafts can be supplied separately for on-site fitting during installation.

Extension Shafts

These are supplied in 500mm increments and are available in different laminate specs to suit site-specific invert levels and applications.

Guide Rails for Coalescers

Note: only applicable to units fitted with the SPEL Coalescer

Normal servicing of the smaller SPEL Separators frequently requires emptying the unit completely. Guide rails provide access for the coalescer units to be taken out, cleaned and returned and guided accurately to their seating positions. However larger SPEL Separators may only require the hydrocarbon pollutants and silt to be removed.

In order to limit the servicing to sucking off the fuel/oil from the top and the silt from the bottom guide rails are required to ensure coalescer units are replaced into their correct positions.

The system is robust, manufactured throughout in stainless steel and the action positive, leaving no doubt the coalescer unit is located properly.

Brackets fixed to the top and bottom of the coalescer unit simply engage the stainless steel guide rail fixed to the top of the stub access shaft. The coalescer is then lowered in the normal way, being guided at the correct angle into the conical base unit which locates the coalescer unit into its final position.

Extension guide rails can be incorporated into SPEL extension shafts to suit (preferably when ordered with the separator).

SPEL coalescer unit lifting/locating/locking system for positive location and security locking

SPEL coalescer units lowered into the separator with the SPEL guide rail system are easily guided into the base unit’s conical moulding to automatically sit correctly.

However, when the separator is full of water, debris or silt accumulated over a period, this could prevent the coalescer unit from re-seating correctly after servicing.

The coalescer unit lifting/locating/locking system provides assurance the coalescer unit is seated correctly and can be locked into position to prevent tampering.

The system is particularly suitable in SPEL Separator + Econoskim® systems where the total contents of the separator are not emptied on servicing.

The system comprises a robust stainless steel lifting and lowering handle that locates on the guide rail system. When the coalescer unit is correctly located in the conical seating in the separator, the handle will align with guide rail top bracket i.e.. the handles slotted holes with the top bracket clip locking groove, see diagram.

When aligned the stainless steel clip can be located through the slots and lock into position on the top bracket.

The stainless steel lifting handle can be extended to suit deep tank inverts and provide easy access for lifting manually or with the SPEL tripod and hoist.

Automatic Alarms/Monitoring Systems

Alarm systems are available for all SPEL separators. These include probes for oil, silt and high level. There are also a range of control panels including solar power, more detail on our alarm systems can be found here.

Control Panels

Alarm Probes

idOil-OIL oil probe

Detects oil and indicates when the separator’s oil storage is full.

This probe is required in order for a treatment device to comply with BS EN 858.

idOil-SLU silt probe

Monitors the silt layer in the oil separator and indicates when the silt layer has reached its maximum level.

idOil-LIQ high liquid level probe

Indicates when the liquid level in the oil separator rises excessively e.g. in an outlet blockage situation.

Kiosks for externally mounted alarm/control panels are available. Click here for further detail.

SPEL tripod and hoist

Where surface water run-off has a high silt content the coalescer units can become filled, making them heavy to lift out. In order to facilitate easy withdrawal of coalescer units the SPEL tripod and hoist is recommended.

SPELGuard Commissioning, RAF Base

SPEL Econoskim

The SPEL Separator + Econoskim System is a patented system designed to maintain oil separators at peak performance for as long as possible. It does this by skimming the oil from the surface of the separator and transferring it to a separate containment tank for simple collection by a waste oil contractor thus reducing costs and further protecting the environment. For more information, click here.

1. When the SPEL constant monitoring system detects the level of fuel/oil pollutants has reached the pre-determined volume, the skimmers are brought into operation, transferring these pollutants from the SPEL separator to the SPEL Tankstor® containment tank. When the transference of light liquid pollutants has been completed, the system automatically stops the skimming process and re-sets.

2. During the skimming cycle a small amount of water is transferred from the SPEL separator into the SPEL Tankstor® containment tank. In order to maximise the capacity of the SPEL Tankstor® containment tank for pollutants, accumulated water is automatically transferred back to the SPEL separator.

3. The process repeats automatically every time pollutants reach the pre-determined volume. When the SPEL Tankstor® containment tank is 90% full, the SPEL constant monitoring system signals ‘EMPTY NOW’ with an audible and visual alarm.

Request A Quotation

For further information phone our sales hotline 01743 457977 or email sales@spelproducts.co.uk