- Oil is introduced into the vacuum chamber, where water, dissolved air and gases, and other low-boiling-range volatile contaminants are removed. Special chemically-inert accelerator cartridges in the vacuum chamber are employed to serve the following functions
- First, their in-depth design structure allows free water to be rapidly separated from oil by coalescence even before it reaches the evaporation stage.
- Second, millions of glass fibers 3-10 micrometer diameter provide a large total surface area for exposure of the thin oil film to the vacuum.
- Third, sharp points of the glass fibers promote fast release of gases and vapors from oil.
- Fourth, the elements act as a fine filter removing solid contaminants. The cartridges are easily replaced and disposable.
- This method is more efficient than previously used spray nozzles and baffles which required several passes to obtain the same degree of degasification.
- The typical performance achieved with the AEHV series is:
- Dehydration—at minimum oil temperatures of 27°C the water removal is from 50 ppm to less than 5 ppm.
- Degasification—reduce soluble air content from full saturation of approximately 12% to less than 0.25%.
- Particulate matter—standard after-filter provides filtration down to 0.5 micron
- Other contaminants such as products of oil oxidation, thermal degradation, dissolved varnishes, paints and acids can be removed by the addition of optional Fullers Earth filters to the system.