The SIMOP 4982 is a hydrocarbon level alarm system designed to monitor the oil layer thickness in oil/water separators used at car washes, industrial facilities, and rainwater treatment stations. Mandated by EN 858 for all oil separators, it provides continuous surveillance of the hydrocarbon accumulation zone and alerts operators before the separator reaches its retention limit and risks discharging oil into the outlet.

How does conductive oil-water detection work?

The detection principle exploits the difference in electrical conductivity between water (conductor) and oil/hydrocarbon (insulator). Each probe contains two stainless steel electrodes: when both are immersed in water, the circuit is closed and the system registers normal operation. When the hydrocarbon layer thickens to the point where one electrode is submerged in oil, the circuit opens and the control unit triggers a visual and audible alarm. The system checks all connected sensors every 30 minutes (adjustable interval) and displays the status of each channel on the front-panel 2×16-character LCD screen.

What makes it suitable for hazardous industrial installations?

The 4982 carries ATEX intrinsic safety certification ([EX ia] IIC, Baseefa08ATEX0110X), allowing the probe circuits to extend into potentially explosive atmospheres without risk of ignition. The control unit itself is housed in an IP65-rated enclosure suitable for wall mounting in exposed industrial environments. Sensor cables can be extended up to 200 meters from the control unit, accommodating large separator installations or remote monitoring locations. An optional GSM module (reference ANH22/15200) enables SMS alarm notifications to mobile phones for unmanned sites.