Method and apparatus for purifying an oil-based fluid

An apparatus for removing contaminants from an oil-based fluid comprising:

• an electrically charged housing having a housing floor and a plurality of walls, wherein a contaminated oil-based fluid is contained within the walls and housing floor;
• a plurality of rotatable disks oppositely charged to said housing, each disk having a disk outer surface retained a height above the housing floor and contacting the contaminated oil-based fluid;
• a means for rotating the disks;
• and
• a scraper head including a plurality of tines located between the disks, wherein a nonconductive lip extends from each tine toward each disk to remove contaminants collected on each disk.

A method for purifying a contaminated oil-based fluid comprising:

• directing a contaminated oil-based fluid into an electrically charged housing, wherein the housing has a housing floor;
• exposing the fluid to an electrical field between the electrically charged housing and the oppositely charged cylindrical drum disposed within the housing;
• adjusting a height between the housing and an oppositely charged cylindrical drum so that the drum is in contact with the stream;
• rotating the drum to remove contaminants adhered to the drum from the fluid;
• and
• scraping the drum with a nonconductive scraper head to remove the contaminants from the drum.