Operating under jet splashing conditions can increase the capture efficiency of scoops

•The capture efficiency of scoops may increase up to 10%, if the oil jet splashes against the outer scoop contour.•The best efficiency is obtained when the jet is aimed to hit the outer scoop contour at a fixed point near the rear side.•An analytical splashing criterion is developed to predict the range of operating conditions at which the jet is aimed to hit the rear scoop side.•Basic assumption of the paper is that the best efficiency curve is correlated to the splashing criterion, which is confirmed by experiments.•Visualization tests have shown that the main efficiency losses are due to 1) the missing of plumes, and 2) centrifugal losses.