6.1 Principle of operation While heating coils are fitted to all types of separators found at sea (as much to enable high viscosity oils to be removed from the separator as to provide optimum separating conditions), a variety of means are used to encourage laminar flow and the formation of large oil globules, with associated increase in velocity Units also exist which attempt a higher rate of separation by inducing cyclonic flow the theory being that the centripetal force acting on the globule will effectively increase the velocity differential. It is extremely difficult however to induce this type of flow without causing considerable turbulence with resultant re-entrainment6.1 Principle of operation • While heating coils are fitted to all types of separators found at sea (as much to enable high viscosity oils to be removed from the separator as to provide optimum separating conditions), a variety of means are used to encourage laminar flow and the formation of large oil globules, with associated increase in velocity. • Units also exist which attempt a higher rate of separation by inducing cyclonic flow the theory being that the centripetal force acting on the globule will effectively increase the velocity differential. It is extremely difficult however to induce this type of flow without causing considerable turbulence with resultant re-entrainment