Method for the separation from each other of the components of a mixture of water, oil and dirt (sludge)

Claim 1

In a method of separating components of a mixture of water, oil and sludge in a separating chamber on the basis of their differing physical properties such that oil is collected in the top of the chamber, water collected below the oil and sludge collected at the bottom and each of the components discharged from its relevant level, the improvement comprising the continuous steps of: pouring the mixture from a downwardly directed conduit into an upwardly widening first separating chamber having a discharge at its lower end to generate vortices in said first separating chamber and cause the dynamic separation of a rising oil, a descending heavy sludge and a mixture of water, oil and light sludge, separating said mixture of water, oil and light sludge in a second separating chamber by passing over at least one filter disc in said second separating chamber wherein oil is discharged from the upper side of said filter disc and clean water and sludge are discharged from the lower side of said filter disc and operating said discharge of said heavy sludge so that the flow thereof corresponds to the sludge volume supply.