The Evaporation Convection Vacuum Dehydration Chamber (ECVD Head Unit)

The evaporation and convection processes that extract water, fuel and other liquids from motor oil occur in the ECVD chamber in the head unit of the Onboard(tm) Oil Refiner System, optimized by the unique design of the chamber.

The evaporation rate of contaminating fluids in oil will increase in proportion to the head units surface area. The greater the exposed surface, the faster the evaporation, because water molecules need to be on the oils surface to evaporate. With a bigger area, more water molecules are on the surface of the water, thus more water can evaporate. The evaporation rate depends on the environment of the liquids: temperature, humidity, amount of adjacent air and air movement. Also convection - the heat transfer of a gas or liquid by air current circulation (the phenomenon that makes water and fuel vapors rise and escape the oil), depends on the surface area of the exposed liquid.
Unique Features To enhance the evaporation/convection processes, oil emerges at the top of a heated ramp and slides down to the bottom. The ramp is heated by 12 or 24 V. heating unit, located for safety reasons outside the chamber. Air comes into the chamber and blows over the convection ramp. Fuel and water vapor rise, and the incoming air circulates out, taking the vapor with it. Water vapor and unburned fuel return to the air intake of the engine for re-burn, adding to engine combustion rather than polluting the environment. Thus the engine itself, in Onboard(tm)s unique system, contributes to the oil refining process. The flow rate of oil in the Onboard(tm) ECVD system will depend on 1) the oil pressure, which varies both in engine models and in their applications, and 2) the temperature and viscosity of the oil. In general, oil flow is estimated at 3 to 4 gallons per hour. The ECVD chamber is fabricated in the USA from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum for maximum durability and strength, while keeping weight to a minimum. Filter Element The filter element of the Onboard 1000 ECVD System uses the latest generation of G8 glass elements. Todays industrial and mobile hydraulic circuits require elements that deliver specified particle filtration under all circumstances. Wire mesh supports the media to ensure against cyclical flow fatigue, temperature, and chemical resistance failures that occur in filters with synthetic support mesh.

Glass media, compared with cellulose, is more compatible with hydraulic fluids, synthetics, solvents, and high-water-based fluids. Glass also has a significant filtration efficiency advantage over cellulose and is classified as absolute, whereas cellulose efficiency is classified as nominal.
The filter used by the Onboard ECVD System uses an absolute 3 micron, Beta 1000 element. Elements of different media with the same micron rating can have substantially different filtration efficienc ies. Figure 1 illustrates the difference between absolute and nominal filter efficiency. Glass also has much better dirt holding capacity than cellulose. Figure 2 illustrates that a glass element can last 4-5 times longer than a cellulose alternative.

Heating Element The Onboard ECVD System uses a precision cartridge heater that provides localized heat to restricted work areas requiring close thermal control. The U.S.-made heating element is below the outside surface for maximum heat transfer, minimum core temperatures, and faster heating. It is packed in magnesium oxide, rests on a ceramic element support and is covered by a Series 300 stainless steel sheath.