Patent ID: 8864985

Claim:
Apparatus for receiving a flow of liquid skimmed from a body of water contaminated by hydrocarbons or the like, operative to separate the hydrocarbons from the water, comprising: a settling tank for receiving the flow of skimmed liquid operative to separate the liquid under the influence of gravity into a predominantly hydrocarbon upper fluid layer and a predominantly water lower fluid layer; a pump for withdrawing the predominantly water fluid from the lower level of the tank and passing it through a first pipe; a first hydrocarbon concentration meter connected to measure the hydrocarbon content of liquid passing through the first pipe and to generate a first control signal when the concentration of hydrocarbon exceeds a predetermined value; and a first valve connected to receive the first control signal and to direct the flow through a second pipe to the settling tank at such times as the first control signal indicates that the hydrocarbon concentration exceeds said predetermined value and to a discharge pipe directed to a second hydrocarbon concentration meter when the first control signal indicates that the concentration is below said predetermined value, the second hydrocarbon concentration meter connected to measure the hydrocarbon content of liquid passing through the discharge pipe and to generate a second control signal; and a second valve connected to the second hydrocarbon concentration meter to prevent the flow from discharging into the body of water when the second control signal from the second hydrocarbon concentration meter exceeds a predetermined value.