A wastewater treatment plant with cylindrical tanks, metal pipes, and railings hosts a person in protective gear managing the industrial equipment.

Power Skimmers

A power skimmer is a 2- or 3-shaft chain and flight system designed to remove grease, scum, and other floating materials from the water surface. Similar to 2-, 3-, and 4-shaft sludge collector systems, the power skimmer is operated by a gear motor, which translates rotation to collector sprockets to drive the chain and flight system. Flights transfer the scum up a beach plate through a scraping action and discharge it into a sloped trough.

A close-up of a mechanical setup featuring gears, a chain, and rods against a concrete wall. The system includes a chain loop connected to two sprockets and a cylindrical rod.
Features
Furnished with standard Polychem components
Accommodates large variations in water level
Available in non-metallic & metallic designs
Navigate Within Scum Removal
A close-up view of industrial machinery with cogwheels, head shafts, and a chain, all shown in a blue-tinted color scheme.
System Animation

Learn how all the components in a standard Polychem system are assembled and installed.

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Components

Drive Assembly
Skimmer Assembly
Trough Assembly
Drive Assembly

The power skimmer assembly is operated by a gear motor, which drives a head shaft to turn collector sprockets. Multiple mechanisms can be driven by a single gear motor equipped with over-torque protection to minimize the risk of damage due to flight obstruction. The over-torque hub design makes it convenient to disengage the gear motor from the drive sprocket for maintenance.

Skimmer Assembly

The skimmer assembly consists of head and stub shafts, c-channel flights equipped with squeegees, NCS-720-S collector chain, and Cast Nylon 6 collector sprockets.

Trough Assembly

The beach plate is designed to allow for the scum to de-water before it is discharged, keeping plant water levels stable. The trough is sloped so that scum flows from one side of the tank to the other. All stainless steel beaches and troughs are polished and free from burrs and blemishes, which can interfere with the skimming process.

an image featuring a close up of the drive assembly belonging to a power skimmer a close up view of a skimmer assembly Close-up view of part of an industrial metallic structure with a large cylindrical beam.

Articles & Literature

Rectangular clarifier systems
Rectangular vs. Circular Clarifiers: What is the Best Option?
Clarifiers are crucial in water and wastewater treatment processes as they help separate solid particles from liquids. However, selecting the right type of clarifier can be a daunting task. This article will compare the two most commonly used clarifier shapes, rectangular and circular, to help you decide which is best for your application.
Read Article
Literature
Polychem Chain & Flight Brochure Polychem Field Services

Water & Wastewater Treatment Products

A close-up of an industrial mechanical device showing a large, black cylindrical rod with ridged edges attached to a gear mechanism. The white plastic gear is engaged with the rod.
Rotating Troughs
A large industrial pipe carrying water or another fluid is suspended from the ceiling within a concrete structure. Several support beams and green pipes run parallel to the main pipe, and there is a small ladder on the left wall leading upwards.
Helical Skimmers
Abstract image featuring a minimalist design of white and light gray geometric shapes. The background has a subtle gradient, creating a clean and modern aesthetic.
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