Auxiliary baffle for a grease interceptor and a grease interceptor incorporating the same

Abstract

An in-line grease interceptor assembly adapted to separate fat, oil, and grease (FOG) out from wastewater mixed with FOG. The assembly has an inlet for receiving wastewater mixed with FOG, an outlet for discharging wastewater after at least some FOG has been separated out from the wastewater, and a chamber hydraulically located between the inlet and the outlet. The chamber has lateral sides, a floor, and an open top, and is adapted to maintain the mixed wastewater in the chamber at a predetermined liquid level located below the open top while accumulating the separated FOG in a layer above the predetermined liquid level. An auxiliary baffle is positioned inside the chamber, extending from a downstream end toward an upstream end of the chamber, between the floor and the open top. The auxiliary baffle has a downstream end, an upstream end, and lateral sides, and defines a first separation section above the auxiliary baffle, and a second separation section below the auxiliary baffle. One or more water directors are also positioned in the chamber to provide a sinuous flow path for the mixed wastewater through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet via the first separation section, and the second separation section. The auxiliary baffle is sized, shaped and positioned in the chamber to substantially block the separated FOG in the first separation section from entering the second separation section. A method of preventing FOG being carried out with wastewater mixed with FOG from a food preparation establishment to a sewer system is also disclosed.