Continuous purification of motor oils using a three-phase separator

A method for continuous purification of motor lubricant oil comprising:

• circulating lubricant oil between a motor lubricant oil tank and a motor;
• providing a pair of baffles in the lubricant oil tank to create a first portion having baffles and a second portion not having baffles;
• transporting contaminated lubricant oil from said motor lubricant oil tank in a cleaning loop, said transport in said cleaning loop comprising:
• supplying contaminated lubricant oil to a three-phase centrifugal separator from an inlet between a side of the lubricant oil tank and the pair of baffles;
• continuously separating contaminants in the separator and continuously discharging a first liquid phase comprising purified lubricant oil from a liquid light phase outlet of the separator, continuously discharging a second liquid phase comprising solid contaminants from a liquid heavy phase outlet of the separator and continuously discharging a sludge phase from a sludge outlet by the aid of a conveyor screw of the three-phase separator;
• and
• transporting said first liquid phase comprising purified oil back to the lubricant oil tank,
• wherein the transporting contaminated lubricant oil from the motor lubricant oil tank comprises withdrawing the contaminated lubricant oil from the first portion in the lubricant oil tank, and returning oil from the separator to the second portion of the lubricant oil tank, and
• wherein the circulating lubricant oil between the motor lubricant oil tank and the motor comprises withdrawing the lubricant oil from the second portion of the lubricant oil tank and returning oil through an outlet of the motor having a longitudinal axis located between the pair of baffles.