Patent ID: 8343316

Claim:
A vacuum dehydrator for processing an oil containing entrained contaminants including water, air and particulates, said dehydrator comprising: a tower enclosing upper and tower chambers; a random packing in said upper chamber; first heating means for preheating the oil to a temperature above the boiling point of water; first inlet means for introducing the preheated oil into said upper chamber for downward flow through said random packing into said lower chamber, said downward flow being accompanied by separation of entrained air and water from the oil as water vapor accumulating in said upper chamber, and retention of particulates within said random packing, said first inlet means comprising a conduit entering said tower in said lower chamber beneath said random packing, and passing upwardly through said random packing to discharge the preheated oil into said upper chamber above said random packing; second heating means for heating ambient air; second inlet means for introducing the thus heated ambient air into said lower chamber for upward flow through said random packing into said upper chamber; cooling means for condensing water vapor accumulating in said upper chamber, said cooling means being configured and arranged to surround said upper chamber; first pump means for creating a vacuum in said upper chamber and for removing condensed water vapor from said upper chamber; and second pump means for removing oil from said lower chamber.