Mercer delivers enhanced-gravity separation systems engineered for coal-fired power stations where oily runoff, coal fines, ash, and abrasive solids overwhelm traditional CPI tanks, pits, and slotted-pipe skimmers.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Coal-fired power plants generate oily wastewater across a wide range of drainage points: conveyor lubrication systems, crusher house washdowns, turbine hall lube-oil, equipment bays, ash handling areas, fuel-oil backup systems, and stormwater from expansive coal pile surfaces. These flows are highly variable and often heavily loaded with coal fines, grit, rust, and suspended solids.
Yet many facilities still rely on CPI tanks, corrugated packs, or concrete pits originally built decades ago. When coal fines and ash enter these structures, they clog plate packs, blind flow passages, bury skim trenches, and destabilize the water column. Oil quickly mixes with solids, collapses, sinks, and turns into a persistent sludge layer that can remain untouched until a full outage or until compliance problems hit the outfall.
Mercer breaks that pattern.
Multi-Pack™ coalescer systems and Compliance Master™ separators deliver stable, automated performance in solids-heavy, high-variability coal environments. With automated oil removal, timed solids purging cycles, sealed covers, and abrasion-resistant construction, Mercer systems ensure predictable separation and fewer cleanouts, restoring compliance confidence for coal handling and power generation facilities.
INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
Treat turbine-bay drainage, gatehouse leaks, and powerhouse oily runoff while minimizing solids carry-through and protecting waterways.
Handle lube-oil leakage, compressor drainage, turbine washdowns, and sump water in highly variable flow conditions.
Remove oils and fines from coal pile runoff, conveyor/washdown water, and process-area drainage before it enters surface water or NPDES outfalls.
Manage controlled-area drainage, turbine lubricants, transformer leaks, and regulated wastewater streams with predictable, documented performance.
Capture fuel-oil spills, boiler house drainage, tank farm runoff, and oily sumps — automatically and with sealed emissions control.
Support wind, solar, and battery storage sites with containment and drainage solutions for transformer bays, inverter pads, and maintenance hubs.
Solution
Engineered for Critical Infrastructure, Proven Across the Grid
APPLICATION AREAS
SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
MERCER ADVANTAGE
Mercer brings stable, repeatable, and automated separation performance to coal plants by controlling flow geometry, managing solids, and preventing the oil collapse that plagues traditional systems.
Many separators fail when exposed to coal fines — Mercer designs specifically to tolerate abrasive particulate without performance collapse.
No confined-space pit digging, no hand-skimmed trenches, no unpredictable CPI failures.
CPI and simple gravity systems with slotted skim pipes foul immediately in coal environments. Mercer maintains rise paths and stable hydraulics.
Consistent performance supports NPDES monitoring, sheen control, and environmental audits.
Sealed, gasketed lids eliminate vapor seepage and prevent coal dust contamination.
Fewer cleanouts, longer intervals between maintenance, reduced disposal volumes.
Yes. Controlled-flow geometry and purge systems prevent fouling and maintain upward rise paths.
Absolutely — abrasion-resistant coatings and hopper-bottom solids management are designed for these conditions.
Yes. SCADA/PLC integration, alarms, and automated valve actuation are standard options.
Usually every 6–12 months — significantly less than weekly CPI cleaning cycles.
Often yes. Multi-Pack™ modules can upgrade performance without major civil work.
Yes — they prevent dust contamination, stabilize hydraulics, and reduce vapor and odor exposure.
