ASTM_F_1778_-_97_2008.pdf

Designation:F177897(Reapproved 2008)Standard Guide forSelection of Skimmers for Oil-Spill Response1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1778;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers considerations for selecting skimmersystems for the recovery of marine-oil spills.The purpose ofthis guide is to provide oil spill response planners,equipmentmanufacturers,users,and government agencies with a standardon the equipment selection process for the removal of oil fromthe marine environment.1.2 This guide does not address the compatibility of spill-control equipment with spill products.It is the users respon-sibility to ensure that any equipment selected is compatiblewith anticipated products and conditions.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F625 Practice for Classifying Water Bodies for Spill ControlSystemsF631 Guide for Collecting Skimmer Performance Data inControlled Environments3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 encounter ratethe volume of oil per unit timeactively directed to the removal mechanism.F6313.1.2 nameplate recovery ratethe maximum skimmingcapacity of a device under optimum conditions of oil type,slick conditions,and environmental conditions.3.1.3 oil recovery ratethe volume of oil recovered by thedevice per unit time.F6313.1.4 recovery effciencythe ratio,expressed as a percent-age,of the volume of oil recovered to the volume of total fluidsrecovered.F6313.1.5 throughput effciencythe ratio,expressed as a per-centage,of the volume of oil recovered to the volume of oilencountered.F6314.Significance and Use4.1 This guide is intended to facilitate the oil spill responseequipment selection process for local,regional,and nationalspill response teams.It is not intended to define rigid sets ofequipment standards.4.2 The effectiveness of the equipment chosen to combat anoil spill will depend on the oil type and environment(s)encountered,as well as other factors.This guide is intended tobe used by persons generally familiar with the practical aspectsof oil spill cleanup operations including on-scene responsecoordinators,planners,oil spill management teams,oil spillremoval organizations,and plan evaluators.4.3 Eleven general types of skimming systems are describedin this guide.Each description includes a summary of theoperating principle and a list of selection considerations.4.4 Selection considerations are included to guide the useron the selection of a particular skimmer type or category.Usersare cautioned that within each category there may be a widevariation in performance among various skimmers.4.5 When selecting a skimmer for use in extremely coldconditions,consideration should be given to the effect of iceforming on the skimmer,changes in buoyancy,possible restric-tion of inlets,and changes to hydraulic efficiency.Becausethere may be wide variations in skimmer performance atextreme temperatures,even within a given category,ambienttemperature is not included as a selection consideration.5.Skimmer Selection Considerations5.1 Selecting a type of skimmer for a given applicationinvolves examining the skimmers likely performance against1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on HazardousSubstances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF20.12 on Removal.Current edition approved Sept.15,2008.Published September 2008.Originallyapproved in 1997.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as F1778 97(2002).DOI:10.1520/F1778-97R08.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 a range of operational requirements.The following are recom-mended as a guide to this process,with the requirementsgrouped according to the operating environment,the slickconditions,and skimmer performance criteria.Comments oneach of these operational requirements,specific to each skim-ming type,are given in Section 6.5.2 Operating Environment:5.2.1 Wave ConditionsDepending on the type of skimmer,waves may affect both the oil-recovery rate and the oil-recovery efficiency.In general,most skimmers work best incalm