Abstract

Apparatus for reconditioning water-based, synthetic and semi-synthetic coolants. The apparatus comprises a stainless steel mesh filter for removing larger particulate, a coalescer to agglomerate oil droplets and enable a disk skimmer to remove and transfer the separated oil to an oil reservoir, and an inverted, coolant-driven centrifugal separator to separate the smaller particulate down to one micron or smaller in size. Part of the cleaned coolant is combined with the partially cleaned coolant to enable multiple passes of the coolant to assure removal of the particulate. The coolant is pumped using two double-diaphragm air pumps for best control of flow rate and pressure and for good suction for the size of the pump. A biocide may optionally be added to stabilize the coolant. In addition to being able to separate particulate, the separator has sufficient thrust to partially separate the constituents of the coolant as well. These constituents are recombined, emulsified, by issuing them from the separator through jet nozzles.