Hydraulic fluid dehydration system and method including pre-heating

A method of dehydrating a supply of hydraulic fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating a fluid pump to draw the supply of hydraulic fluid through an inlet hose at a flow rate;
• heating the supply of hydraulic fluid received from the fluid pump;
• supplying a first portion of the heated hydraulic fluid flow to a fluid dehydrator;
• and
• returning a second portion of the heated hydraulic fluid flow to an inlet of the fluid pump, wherein the second portion of the fluid flow is determined by the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid through the fluid dehydrator.

A self-contained, mobile dehydration system operable to dehydrate a supply of hydraulic fluid, the mobile dehydration system comprising:

• a mobile support cart;
• a fluid pump mounted to the support cart;
• an inlet hose configured to receive the supply of hydraulic fluid, the inlet hose coupled to an inlet of the fluid pump such that the fluid pump is operable to draw the supply of hydraulic fluid through the inlet hose;
• a fluid heater mounted to the support cart and having an inlet positioned to receive the supply of hydraulic fluid from the fluid pump, the fluid heater including at least a first flow restricting orifice such that as the hydraulic fluid passes through the flow restricting orifice, the hydraulic fluid is heated;
• a fluid feedback line connected between an outlet of the fluid heater and the inlet of the fluid pump to return a first portion of the hydraulic fluid flow from the fluid heater to the fluid pump inlet;
• a dehydrator mounted to the support cart and positioned to receive a second portion of the heated hydraulic fluid flow from the fluid heater outlet, the dehydrator being operable to remove water from the hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a return hose coupled to an outlet of the fluid dehydrator to return the dehydrated hydraulic fluid to the supply.