System and method for deaeration

A deaerator for use in a hydraulic system, the deaerator comprising:

• a cylindrical body comprising:
• gas nucleation media configured to induce nucleation of gas dissolved in a hydraulic fluid to form gas cavities, wherein the gas nucleation media has a mean pore size of 30 μm or less as measured by ASTM F316 and a basis fiber surface area of 10 m2/m2 to 200 m2/m2 as measured by the Carmen-Kozeny method;
• growth media adjacent and downstream of the gas nucleation media, the growth media having a solidity of 20% or less at 1.5 psi and being capable of inducing coalescence or growth or coalescence and growth of the gas cavities;
• a porous barrier adjacent and downstream of the growth media, the porous barrier comprising a wire mesh or a woven screen and having openings forming an outlet, the openings being sized 125 μm or smaller;
• a top comprising an inlet;
• and
• a closed bottom end cap.