Geotech Filter Bucket User manual

Rev 6/27/2018 Part # ORS999004003
Filter Bucket
Installation and Operation Manual

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Table of Contents
Section 1: System Description........................................................................... 3
Function and Theory ......................................................................................... 3
System Components......................................................................................... 3
Section 2: System Installation............................................................................ 4
Section 3: System Operation.............................................................................. 5
Section 4: System Maintenance......................................................................... 6
Cleaning the Intake Screen and Filter Bucket................................................... 6
Conditioning the Intake Screen......................................................................... 6
Section 5: System Troubleshooting .................................................................. 7
Section 6: System Specifications ...................................................................... 8
Section 7: System Schematics......................................................................... 10
Section 8: Replacement Parts List................................................................... 13
Appendix A: Decontamination Procedures .................................................... 14
The Warranty...................................................................................................... 21

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NOTE
DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS
This uses the following conventions to present information:
An exclamation point icon indicates a WARNING of a situation
or condition that could lead to personal injury or death. You
should not proceed until you read and thoroughly understand the
WARNING message.
WARNING
CAUTION
A raised hand icon indicates CAUTION information that relates to
a situation or condition that could lead to equipment malfunction
or damage. You should not proceed until you read and thoroughly
understand the CAUTION message.
A note icon indicates NOTE information. Notes provide additional
or supplementary information about an activity or concept.

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Section 1: System Description
Function and Theory
The Geotech Filter Bucket is an independently floating passive oil-water separator that is
equipped with a visual alarm to indicate when the bucket is full of product.
The heart of the system is a floating cartridge that recovers product for storage in an
integral 2-liter reservoir. Actual separation of product from water is carried out by a mesh
screen located in the cartridge. This screen is specially treated to pass oil and repel water.
The screen is therefore termed oleophilic/hydrophobic (oil loving /water hating).
The Geotech Filter Bucket comes with a standard 100 mesh intake screen. A 60 mesh
intake screen is also available for use with higher viscosity fluids. See Geotech Manual
“Hydrocarbon Viscosity Test Kit” for more information on choosing the correct Filter
Bucket and intake cartridge.
System Components
Figure 1-1: Geotech Filter Bucket

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Section 2: System Installation
The Geotech Filter Bucket is placed in a sump, pond, or other body of water. It is easily
deployed by holding the circumferential handle. The bucket and cartridge will float as
shown in Figure 3-1. As it progressively fills, the bucket will sink into the water while the
cartridge will remain at the water/product interface (Figure 3-3).
When the bucket is full, remove it by its handle. Unscrew the cover and pour the product
into a suitable receptacle. Clean any debris off the cartridge exterior if necessary.
The cartridge surface is best cleaned with a soft brush and clean
fuel. Care should be taken to remove debris without pushing it
through the screen. Never clean with detergents, surfactants, or
unknown solvents.
If the Filter Bucket is left floating on water with little or no hydrocarbon
present; the screen may eventually pass water and cause the bucket to
sink. As a precaution against this possibility, tether the bucket by
attaching a cord to the lifting handle. Attach the other end of the cord to
the edge of the well or pond.

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Section 3: System Operation
When properly deployed, and before product has accumulated in the reservoir, the Filter
Bucket should sit in the water as shown in Figure 3-1. As product passes through the
cartridge, it falls into one of the two hoses and is gravity fed through the bucket wall and
through a small check valve. When the cover of the bucket is removed, product can be
seen flowing into the bucket. The rate of flow into the Filter Bucket is dependent upon the
viscosity of the product and the thickness of the slick (See Section 6: System
Specifications).
As product accumulates in the reservoir, the Filter Bucket will ride lower in the water as
shown in image C of Figure 3-1. At the same time, the product level indicator shaft will be
extended through the top of the bucket. The Filter Bucket is designed so that the reservoir
will cease taking on product just as the cartridge contacts the bucket handle.
Figure 3-1: Filter Bucket Operation
A
B
C

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Section 4: System Maintenance
Although the separator screen has been designed to provide maximum surface area,
build-up of debris will reduce the rate of hydrocarbon recovery. In most well sites, debris
clogging is a minor problem because the hydrocarbon has already been filtered somewhat
in moving through the earth. On settling ponds, where industrial waste oil must be
recovered, screen clogging is potentially a more serious concern.
Cleaning the Intake Screen and Filter Bucket
The Geotech Filter Bucket will come with a floating cartridge containing a 100 or 60 mesh
intake screen. When required, gently clean the screen with WD40 or kerosene, using a
soft, bristle brush, to remove emulsified product, bio growth or other debris. Take care to
avoid damaging the screen intake.
Using warm soapy water, clean all debris and bio growth from the interior and exterior of
the Filter Bucket.
Rinse the cartridge assembly and bucket with clean water. Make sure the intake cartridge
is completely dry before reconditioning the intake screen.
Conditioning the Intake Screen
Prior to initial deployment, and after every cleaning, the intake screen must be conditioned
(or primed) with diesel fuel or other similar hydrocarbon. Use a soft, bristle brush to
saturate the screen portion of the intake thoroughly. The optimum fluid would be to use
the hydrocarbon to be recovered. Take care to avoid damaging the screen intake.
Do not clean the intake screen with soapy water or detergent.

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Section 5: System Troubleshooting
If the Filter Bucket fails to perform properly, check for the following:
Visually inspect the Filter Bucket for damage, such as loose fittings, cut hose, or
cracks or splits in the reservoir.
Verify that the intake screen is not clogged and can move up and down freely.
Use the cleaning procedure in Section 4: System Maintenance if needed.
Verify that there are no perforations to the screen.
Check for clogging in the two hoses.
Verify if the hydrocarbon can be “absorbed” with the type of mesh cartridge you
are using (see User Manual “Hydrocarbon Viscosity Test Kit”.
Section 8: Replacement Parts List contains a list of all serviceable parts. Also, technical
support is available by contacting Geotech Environmental Equipment at 1-800-833-5978
or [phone].

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Section 6: System Specifications
Dimensions
Height: 16” (41 cm)
Diamter: 10” (25 cm)
Weight: 7 lbs. (3.2 kg)
Capacity: .53 gallons (2 liters)
Materials
Body: Polyethylene
Hose: Polyethylene
Check valve: PTFE
Cartridge: 100 mesh oleophilic/hydrophobic (blue)
60 mesh oleophilic/hydrophobic (green)
System Limitations
As with all systems, the Filter Bucket is limited by its components. These restrictions are
classified into water product type recovered.
Water Parameters
The water parameters are classified into physical, chemical, and debris divisions.
Physical State
The physical bucket is designed as a surface follower to minimize its heave and pitch.
When the water is rough due to current or wind conditions, the effect may reduce the
ability of the cartridge to repel water. Under certain conditions, the cartridge will pass
water. The slight density difference between product and water is inconsequential for the
buoy flotation. If the unit is used exclusively in sea water, certain parts may eventually
require replacement due to salt water corrosion.
Chemical State
Detergent or surfactant concentrations greater than 100 ppm (grams/liter) may cause the
cartridge to pass water.
Also, if the Filter Bucket is placed in an area with no product to “wet” the screen, a natural
biological film will coat the screen and reduce its ability to repel water. Since this biological
build-up (or fouling) is accelerated by warm temperatures, the cartridge will pass water
more easily during the summer or in tropical environments.
In general, oil/water emulsions will pass through the cartridge screen, and the extent of
this problem is related to the relative amounts of product and water present. The oil/water
interface always has both emulsion types present as well as high concentrations of
surfactant. Whenever the Filter Bucket is deployed in thin layers of product, some water
may pass through the cartridge.