Open Source Automated Batch Oil-Water Seperator

Basics

• An automated device that takes in a bulk batch of oil-water mix (a little more than a drum?) (can start smaller scale) and seperates it
• It would not fully "dry" it, so it wouldn't be anhydrous, but for most uses it should work as expected for the designated "oil"
• Main cases where a dryer would be needed would be complex chemistry

Minimum Viable Product

• Production version should be capable of processing ~160 - 170 liters as a "barrel" is ~159 liters
• Should seperate enough water that there is no visible "layer line", just homogenized water should remain
• Should be fully automated
• Should Produce Seperate Oil and Water Barrels/Tanks
• Optional Solvent "Wash" to remove residue of oil post seperation (Keep the funnel etc clean, and not lead to losses of volume in the process
  • This would require solvent, and removal of solvent, but assuming it is more volitile than the oil it should evaporate off
• Should have ports (in a standardized position) that allow for positioning in a Open Source Biorefinery 's Workflow, or for standardized adapters/modules to be easilty developed

Basic Design

Pour Funnel

• Optional, attached to the intake port

Intake Port

• A Stabdardized Port, in a Standardized Spot
• Takes in an oil-water mix

Holding Tank

• Holds the oil-water mixture befor it is seperated

Solvent Intake Port

• Optional Addon for "washing" the device after a cycle in an automated fashion

Seperator

• Simplest would be a seperatory funnel type device
• Use an electronically controlled valve to empty one fraction, stop before the other and use an electronic switch
  • Could also have these in a cascade of smaller and smaller seperatory funnels for a more thurough seperation
• Need to develop some sort of level detection method, optical perhaps? a water in fuel sensor (from diesel fuel contamination systems) could work

Switch

• Switches the flow for the two main fractions
• Optional addition for the wash fluid, rather than diverting it to oil, to make processing more efficient (less solvent contaminated oil)

Output Ports

• Ports for:
  • Oil
  • Water
  • Optional Wash Fluid Out

General Frame/Case

• Bridbeam + 3D Printed Covers ?

Control Unit

• A Simple Arduino + Breakout PCB Should Work