PureBilge
Alfa Laval PureBilge is a fully automated centrifugal separation system that cleans oily water effectively at sea. With options to reduce oil pollution below 5 ppm –far tougher than the 15 ppm IMO requirement – it sets a new standard in making water safe for discharge overboard.
Reliable, efficient, continuous
- Compact, modular, easy-to-install system saves time, space and money
- Continuous, single-stage operation requires less holding tank volume and provides more payload capacity
- Reduced operating costs thanks to low maintenance, automated control, minimal waste disposal, no chemical consumption and no disposable filter eleme
- Unaffected by sea heave, oil shocks or high solids loading
- Password-locked switch ensures only those responsible for environmental compliance may authorize discharge
Alfa Laval PureBilge is a high-speed centrifugal oily water separation (OWS) system that cleans large volumes. Its superior separation performance stems from the patented XLrator spiral inlet, which prevents oil droplets splitting and additional emulsions forming. It is even available for smaller vessels as PureBilge Compact.
PureBilge Compact is specifically designed for vessels requiring only a smaller treatment capacity and can be installed on a new vessel or retrofitted on an existing one.
They do not require chemicals, adsorption filters or membranes and they reduce operating costs by being designed for 24/7 unmanned operation.
Centrifugal separation means oily water discharge compliance
With a fleet of greater than 100 vessels, Teekay is one of the major marine actors in today’s energy sector. The company takes no chances with environmental compliance, especially when it comes to oily water treatment. A large number of Teekay’s vessels rely on centrifugal separation and oily water treatment systems from Alfa Laval.
How PureBilge Works
PureBilge is a fully automated bilge water treatment system that combines pumping, preheating, and centrifugal separation to meet IMO discharge limits - even down to 5 ppm.
Oily water is filtered and heated before entering the separator, where it spins at 8,000 rpm to remove oil, emulsions, and solids. Clean water is discharged only if oil content is below the set limit; otherwise, it’s recirculated. The system features the patented XLrator inlet for efficient flow and now includes the EPC 70 control cabinet, offering advanced process control and built-in cybersecurity protection.
Options that simplify installation and maintenance
PureBilge is available in three standard versions:
- PureBilge Compact 0605: 600l/h, 5 ppm
- PureBilge Compact 0615: 600l/h, 15 ppm
- PureBilge 2515: 2 500 l/h, 15 ppm
- PureBilge 2505: 2 500 l/h, 5 ppm
- PureBilge 5015: 5 000 l/h, 15 ppm
- PureBilge 5005: 5 000 l/h, 5 ppm
Choose from a range of options to meet your requirements and on-board conditions:
- 5 ppm certificate
- Heat recovery
- Safety box
- Sludge removal kit
- CIP unit
- Chemical dosing unit
- Remote control
The PureBilge disc-stack centrifugal separator rotates with a gravitational force of 6,000 G generated at 8,000 rpm. Oil and emulsions are separated from the oily water and discharged continuously through the oil outlet. Solids that collect at the separator bowl periphery are discharged intermittently at pre-set intervals and are directed to a collecting tank for sludge or waste oil.
A built-in water pump, or paring disc, continuously discharges separated oily water via the clean water outlet. The destination depends upon its oil content - an oil-in-water monitor tracks this continuously at an isokinetic sampling point. If the oil content is below the alarm limit, which can be set from zero to 15 ppm, the separated oily water can be pumped directly overboard or into a clean water tank for discharge later. If the oil content exceeds the ppm limit, the effluent is returned for reprocessing.
The automated control and monitoring integrates with existing Alfa Laval systems, giving you a single, user-friendly interface.
Bilge water compliance issues
Persistent failures in oily water separator (OWS) systems—often linked to tampering and underinvestment in maintenance—signal deeper breakdowns in maritime compliance. This white paper examines why conventional bilge water treatment technologies fall short and how Alfa Laval PureBilge, with its high-speed centrifugal separation, offers a robust alternative proven to meet regulatory demands under real-life conditions.
