By Jim Fitch
Practicing Oil Analysis Magazine
Numerous methods have been developed to selectively remove water and other volatile contaminants from hydraulic and lubricating fluids. These methods include absorbent filter media and regenerable adsorbent packings and the like. In many cases, it is not economical or practical to use disposable media, and as a result, continuous scrubbing processes have been developed. These processes are available in a variety of designs and are universally referred to as oil reclamation systems.
The most common scrubbers are derivatives of vacuum distillation processes used in refineries. The process involves expanding oil to produce high surface area to facilitate the vaporous extraction of water and certain other contaminants.