Patent ID: 8318023

Claim:
A method of removing at least one vaporizable contaminant from a stream of oil circulated for lubrication of engine parts in an operating internal combustion engine, the operation of the engine being managed with a computer control system which senses a temperature of the circulating oil, the method comprising: diverting at least a portion of the contaminant-containing oil stream to a membrane located for receiving the engine lubricating oil flow, the membrane having a thickness and first and second opposing surfaces, and flowing the stream portion over the first surface of the membrane, the oil flow engaging the first surface of the membrane such that some contaminant leaves the oil stream and passes from the first surface to the second surface of the first membrane; contacting contaminant from the second surface of the membrane with a flowing stream of heated air of predetermined temperature sufficient to at least partially vaporize the contaminant so that the contaminant vapor is incorporated in the flowing air stream and removed from the second surface of the membrane; and continuing to circulate contaminant-containing oil over the membrane during engine operation.