Car washes, also known as vehicle wash centers or car cleaning stations, are facilities where run-off water often contains hydrocarbons and other pollutants. To protect the environment and comply with legal standards, it’s essential to equip these facilities with effective treatment systems. In this article, you’ll discover the equipment you need to consider, namely hydrocarbon separators and associated level alarms.
Hydrocarbon Separators: Indispensable Equipment in a car wash.
A hydrocarbon separator is a device designed to remove oils and hydrocarbons from run-off water. This system uses the difference in density between water and hydrocarbons to separate floating pollutants from the water before it is discharged into the sewer system or the environment.
Why is hydrocarbon separator at a car wash essential ?
- Environmental protection: Hydrocarbons can be extremely harmful to aquatic ecosystems. An oil separator helps prevent water pollution by trapping these hazardous substances.
- Legal Compliance: Many environmental regulations require the installation of oil separators in car washes to ensure that run-off water is treated before being discharged.
- Plant preservation: Hydrocarbons can damage drainage systems and water treatment plants. Separating them upstream protects these infrastructures and reduces maintenance costs.
Hydrocarbon level alarms: Safety and efficiency
Level alarms are devices installed to monitor hydrocarbon and water levels in separators. They trigger an alarm when levels reach a certain limit, indicating that maintenance is required.
Find below the SIMOP range of hydrocarbon separators and their level alarms for car washes:
![[4730] Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, V100 sludge trap, top: circular primers - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4730-hydrocarbon-separator-nf-steel-5mg-l-1-5-to-6-l-s-v100-sludge-trap-top-circular-primers-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, V100 sludge trap, top: circular primers 7")
![[4731] Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, V100 silt storage, top: unenclosed - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4731-hydrocarbon-separator-nf-steel-5mg-l-1-5-to-6-l-s-v100-silt-storage-top-unenclosed-main-image-800x549-optimized.jpeg "Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, V100 silt storage, top: unenclosed 8")
![[4732] Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, with bypass, V100 sludge trap, top: circular primers - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4732-hydrocarbon-separator-nf-steel-5mg-l-1-5-to-6-l-s-with-bypass-v100-sludge-trap-top-circular-primers-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, with bypass, V100 sludge trap, top: circular primers 9")
![[4733] Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, with bypass, V100 sludge trap, top: without closure - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4733-hydrocarbon-separator-nf-steel-5mg-l-1-5-to-6-l-s-with-bypass-v100-sludge-trap-top-without-closure-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "Hydrocarbon separator NF steel 5mg/L, 1.5 to 6 L/s, with bypass, V100 sludge trap, top: without closure 10")
![[4798] CE steel hydrocarbon separators 5 mg/L, 1.5 to 50L/s, V100 sludge trap - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4798-ce-steel-hydrocarbon-separators-5-mg-l-1-5-to-50l-s-v100-sludge-trap-main-image-800x565-optimized.jpeg "CE steel hydrocarbon separators 5 mg/L, 1.5 to 50L/s, V100 sludge trap 11")
![[4799] CE steel hydrocarbon separators 5 mg/L, 3 to 50L/s, with bypass, V100 sludge trap - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4799-ce-steel-hydrocarbon-separators-5-mg-l-3-to-50l-s-with-bypass-v100-sludge-trap-main-image-800x565-optimized.jpeg "CE steel hydrocarbon separators 5 mg/L, 3 to 50L/s, with bypass, V100 sludge trap 12")
![[4808] CE ACIER 5 mg/l hydrocarbon separators with V300 sludge trap and circular primers - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4808-ce-acier-5-mg-l-hydrocarbon-separators-with-v300-sludge-trap-and-circular-primers-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "CE ACIER 5 mg/l hydrocarbon separators with V300 sludge trap and circular primers 13")
![[4809] CE 5 mg/l hydrocarbon separators with V300 sludge trap without closure kit - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4809-ce-5-mg-l-hydrocarbon-separators-with-v300-sludge-trap-without-closure-kit-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "CE 5 mg/l hydrocarbon separators with V300 sludge trap without closure kit 14")
![[4816] CE steel hydrocarbon separators 5 mg/L, 3 to 15L/s, V100 sludge trap and lift compartment (without pump) - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4816-ce-steel-hydrocarbon-separators-5-mg-l-3-to-15l-s-v100-sludge-trap-and-lift-compartment-without-pump-main-image-800x578-optimized.jpeg "CE steel hydrocarbon separators 5 mg/L, 3 to 15L/s, V100 sludge trap and lift compartment (without pump) 15")
![[4977] Junction boxes or sleeves for ATEX hydro alarm cable - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4977-junction-boxes-or-sleeves-for-atex-hydro-alarm-cable-main-image-optimized.jpeg "Junction boxes or sleeves for ATEX hydro alarm cable 16")
![[4978] SLUDGE DETECTION ALARM - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4978-sludge-detection-alarm-main-image-optimized.jpeg "SLUDGE DETECTION ALARM 17")
![[4979] OVERFILL DETECTION ALARM - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4979-overfill-detection-alarm-main-image-optimized.jpeg "OVERFILL DETECTION ALARM 18")
![[4980] Accessories for steel separators - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4980-accessories-for-steel-separators-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "Accessories for steel separators 19")
![[4981] Solar-powered hydrocarbon level alarm - Main image](https://simop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4981-solar-powered-hydrocarbon-level-alarm-main-image-800x800-optimized.png "Solar-powered hydrocarbon level alarm 20")