Apparatus and methods for conveying a flow of oil-containing liquid into an oil separation skim tank, and skim tanks including the same

A method of conveying a flow of oil-containing liquid into a separation skim tank, the method comprising:

• causing the flow of oil-containing liquid to have a greater horizontal width at an exhaust opening of a diffuser in fluid communication with the skim tank than at an intake opening of the diffuser, while minimizing vertical divergence of the flow at the exhaust opening.

An apparatus for conveying a flow of oil-containing liquid into an oil separation skim tank, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving the flow of oil-containing liquid;
• and
• means for distributing the flow of oil-containing liquid to a plurality of conduits, each of the conduits in fluid communication with a respective one of a plurality of diffusers, wherein the means for distributing comprises means for causing a pressure rise in the means for distributing across each of the plurality of conduits to be substantially less than a pressure drop from an intake opening of each conduit to an exhaust opening of its respective diffuser.

A method of conveying a flow of oil-containing liquid into an oil separation skim tank, the method comprising:

• receiving the flow of oil-containing liquid at an intake port of an intake manifold in fluid communication with a plurality of conduits, each of the conduits in fluid communication with a respective intake opening of a respective one of a plurality of diffusers;
• and
• distributing the flow of oil-containing liquid from the intake manifold to the plurality of conduits, wherein distributing comprises causing a pressure rise in the intake manifold across each of the plurality of conduits to be substantially less than a pressure drop from an intake opening of each conduit to an exhaust opening of its respective diffuser.