The apparatus according to the invention is intended for building into oil separators which are installed in particular in ships and its object is the separation of oil and water of a water/oil mixture. The aim of the invention is facilitation of the coalescence process of oil and improved upward flow of small oil droplets. The aim is also the prevention of settling of oil portions between and on the plates and thus extending the intervals between maintenance. The apparatus is composed of individual plates which are arranged parallel to each other in such a way that they form passageway gaps whose size is 5 to 50 mm. The lower region of the plate is bent at an angle of 10 to 45 DEG in the region of 1/3 to 2/3 of the plate height. Combined in one plane they form a first layer and combined in the second plane they form a second layer. By an arrangement of the first layer offset by 90 DEG with respect to the second layer, a unit is obtained where the plates in the second layer are turned about the angle 90 DEG in relation to the direction of flow to the plates in the first layer, as a result of which a lattice-like unit is created. As many units can be in the apparatus as desired, depending on the strength of the flow of the water/oil mixture and on the desired degree of separation. <IMAGE>
