CRUDE OIL DESALTING

OVERVIEW

• CRUDE OIL COMPOSITON

• DESALTING THEORY

• DESALTER DESIGN
• DESALTER OPERATION
 DESALTING GLOSSARY
API Gravity
A numeric measure of the specific gravity of a crude
oil. API gravity is defined as (141.5/sp.gr. – 131.5).
Brine Recycle
Desalter effluent water used as a portion of the
desalter wash water.
Capacitance
The ratio of the charge of electricity imparted to a
conductor to the resulting potential, expressed in farads.
 DESALTING GLOSSARY

Carryover
Amount of water in the desalted crude measured
as percentage (%)
Crude Oil Rate (Charge Rate)
Bbls/day (@ 42 gal/bbl)
Cubic meters/hr (bbls/6.3)
Tonnes/day (bbls X 350 x sp. gr./2205)
 DESALTING GLOSSARY
Cuff, Rag or Interface
The most concentrated water in oil emulsion just
above the water level.
Electrical Transactor
A transformer, and current limiting reactor in the
same enclosure.
Emulsion
A mixture of one immiscible liquid in another.
Emulsion normally refers to water mixed into an oil
continuous phase.
 DESALTING GLOSSARY
Filterable Solids
Particles usually in the range of 4 to 20 microns,
which are insoluble in toluene. Determined by
filtration of a sample.
Impedance
An apparent resistance in an alternating current
circuit, made up of two components reactance and
true resistance.
KVA (Kilo Volt Amperes)
Power expressed in 1000 volt amperes
 DESALTING GLOSSARY
Mixing
Methods for contacting crude oil with water
i.e.: pumps, heat exchangers, valves or static mixers.
PED
Portable electric desalter used as a laboratory to study
emulsion resolution, and emulsion stability.
ppm
Parts per million, either by weight (lbs/million lbs)
or by volume. To convert ptb in water to weight
ppm divide ptb by 0.35
ie. 35 ptb = 100 wppm (lbs/million lbs).
 DESALTING GLOSSARY
ptb
Pounds per thousand barrels
Salt
Chloride content typically expressed as Sodium
Chloride (NaCl)
Undercarry
Oil in the effluent brine measured as volume percent
(%) or in ppm.
 CRUDE OIL DESALTING
Desalter design and operation is impacted by:
a. Crude Oil Character
b. Crude Oil Quality
c. Crude Blends
d. Heavy Crudes
e. Reprocessed (slop) oils
 CRUDE OIL DESALTING
CRUDE OIL CHARACTER CRUDE OIL QUALITY
1. API gravity 1. Water
2. Viscosity 2. Salt
3. Asphaltenes 3. Solids (oil and water
insoluble)
4. Waxes
4. Emulsion Stabilizers
5. Organic Acids
6. Conductivity
 CRUDE OIL COMPONENTS
TYPICAL PARAFFINS
METHANE (CH4) BUTANE (C4H10) ISOBUTANE (C4H10)

TYPICAL AROMATICS.
NAPTHALENE (C10H8)
BENZENE (C6H6)
 CRUDE OIL COMPONENTS
• NON HYDROCARBONS COMPONENTS
– SULFUR
• H2S
• Mercaptan, sulfides, disulfides, thiophenes, etc
• Elemental Sulfur
– OXYGEN
• Phenols, ketones, carboxylic acids, naphthenic acids

– NITROGEN
• Basic and non-basic compounds
 CRUDE OIL COMPONENTS

• NON HYDROCARBONS (Cont.)

– TRACE METALS
• Arsenic, Nickel, Iron, Vanadium, Mercury, Copper
- SALTS
• Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium
Chloride
– SOLIDS
• Calcium Carbonate, Silica, clays
– WATER
 ASPHALTENE MOLECULE

O
C84H98N2S2O3 N C O
H NOTE: The structure
shown is hypothetical

S
N
Mol. Wt. 1247.9 O
S 80.85% C
7.92% H
2.24% N
H/C = 1.18 (w/w), 5.14% S
.
40.4% Aromatic Carbon 3.85% O
 RESIN MOLECULE

C64H86NSO2
O

OH
N
H
S

Mol. Wt. 934

H/C = 1.34 (w/w) 82.35% C NOTE: The structure
shown is hypothetical
34% Aromatic Carbon 9.29% H
1.50% N
3.43% S
3.43% O
 ROUTINE LABORATORY
MEASUREMENTS
– WATER CONTENT
• Centrifugation - BS&W
• Karl-Fischer
• Distillation
– SPECIFIC GRAVITY
• Hydrometer corrected for temperature

API GRAVITY (o) = [141.5/sp.gr.] - 131.5

 CRUDE OIL PROPERTIES
Crude source Paraffins VOL Aromatics Naphthenes Sulfur API
% VOL % VOL % Wt % Gravity o
Nigerian Lt 37 9 54 0.2 36
Saudi Lt 63 18 18 2.0 34
Saudi Heavy 60 15 25 2.1 28
Venezuelan 35 12 53 2.3 17
Heavy
Venezuelan 52 14 34 1.5 24
Light
USA Mid -- -- -- 0.4 40
Continent
USA West 46 22 32 1.9 32
Texas Sour
North Sea 50 16 34 0.4 37
Brent
 DEFINITIONS

Dispersed Phase Continuous Phase Descriptive Names

Liquid Gas Aerosol, fog, mist
Solid Gas Smoke
Gas Liquid Foam
Liquid Liquid Emulsion
Solid Liquid Sol, colloidal suspension
Gas Solid Solid foam
Liquid Solid Gel, solid emulsion
Solid Solid Alloy
 SURFACTANTS
Anionic, Cationic, Nonionic or Amphoteric
polar head group
(likes water)

hydrophobic tail
(likes oil)
 WATER IN OIL
“NORMAL” EMULSION
Continuous Oil
Phase finely divided solid

dispersed
water
phase
 OIL IN WATER
“REVERSE” EMULSLION
Continuous Water finely divided solid
Phase

dispersed
oil
phase
WATER IN OIL EMULSION
oil FLOCCULATION oil

SEDIMENTATION
COALESCENCE

oil oil

oil
OIL IN WATER EMULSION
water
FLOCCULATION

CREAMING COALESCENCE

water

water

water
DEMULSIFICATION PROCESS

COLLISION

LIQUID
DRAINAGE

COALESCENCE
 SOLIDS AS STABILIZERS

SOLID PARTICULATES

• SUSPENDED SOLIDS (20-200 um)

o generally easily removed
• FILTERABLE SOLIDS (<20 um)
WATER o difficult to remove

CHARACTERISICS
SURFACES PARTIALLY COATED WITH OIL
INSOLUBLE IN OIL/WATER
ACCUMULATE AT INTERFACE
 EMULSION STABILIZERS
• ASPHALTENES
• SEDIMENTS e.g. SAND, SILT, DRILLING MUDS
• INORGANIC PARTICULATES
– FeS, Fe2O3, CaSO4, CaCO3
• COKE / CATALYST FINES
• NAPHTHENIC ACIDS
• WAXES (AT TEMPS < 80 oC)
• PRODUCTION CHEMICALS
• CAUSTIC
 DEMULSIFIER MECHANISM
DRAINAGE
DEMULSIFIER REDUCES
LOCAL REGIONS OF HIGH
INTERFACIAL TENSION ()

WATER WATER
OIL

 = ENERGY
AREA

OIL FILM DRAINAGE

DEMULSIFIER MECHANISM
SOLIDS WETTING
• REMOVES OIL FROM PARTICLE SURFACE
• PARTICLE PASSES INTO AQUEOUS PHASE
• DESTABILIZES INTERFACIAL FILM
• COALESCENCE
• SOLIDS REMOVED IN EFFLUENT
 ASPHALTENE INCOMPATIBILITY
Asphaltene Monomer

Asphaltenic Aggregation in Mixed

Aromatic-Aliphatic Solvent
Asphaltene Flocculation in
a Highly Aliphatic Solvent
 DESALTING CHEMICALS

Primary Demulsifier Secondary Chemical

• “Normal” Emulsion • “Reverse” Emulsion
Breaker Breaker
– Dehydration – Solids Wetting
– Solids Wetting

Typical feed rates 3 - 30ppm Typical feed rates 10 - 100ppm

based on crude charge based on wash water rate

-
Typical Emulsion Breaker Chemistry

-OH
OH
O ( )
H-C-H + (x+2) x
+ H2O

R-
formaldehyde alkyphenol alkyhphenol formaldehyde resin

OH
( )
x
+ y(x+2) O
ethylene or
[ ] x
alkyhphenol formaldehyde resin propylene
oxide polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl
ether
DESALTING THEORY
 DESALTING THEORY

- Benefits
- Process
- Operational factors
- Stabilization/destabilization
BENEFITS OF DESALTING

• Reduce Corrosion
• Reduce Fouling
• Extend Run Length
• Maximize Throughput
• Stabilize Operation
• Eliminate Heating Costs
 EFFECT OF SALTS
RESIDUAL SALTS
• Present in water droplets of crude oil
• Lead to formation of HCl if not removed

HYDROLYSIS REACTION TEMPERATURE / °C

MgCl2 + 2H2O Mg(OH)2+ 2HCl 120
CaCl2 + 2H2O Ca(OH)2 + 2HCl 200-230
NaCl + H2O NaOH + HCl >500

CS-285
 THE DESALTING PROCESS

• Contacting Step
– Injection of “clean” water (wash water) to
• Dilute Salt Concentration
BPG-054
• Increase Coalescing Efficiency
• Typical Wash Water Range 4 - 10 %
– Formation of Emulsion
• Dehydration Step
– Breaking of Emulsion
– Removal of water (effluent brine)
 SINGLE-STAGE DESALTER

Demulsifier Desalted
Cold pre-Heat Crude
Exchangers
Desalter
Feed Oil Mix Valve

Water
Effluent Water
BPG-048
..
 MULTI-STAGE DESALTING
Desalted
SERIES: Maximize Desalting Efficiency Crude
10ppm 1ppm
1st salt out 2nd salt out
Stage Stage
Heat
100ppm Exchangers
salt in
Feed Oil Mix Valve
Mix Valve
Water

Effluent Water

Overall Efficiency = (100 - 1) / 100 = 99%

 MULTI-STAGE DESALTING
PARALLEL: Maximize Throughput
Desalted
Crude
Mix Valves
Heat
Exchangers

Feed Oil

Water

Effluent Water
 MAXIMIZE COALESCENCE

• More Wash Water

• Efficient Mixing
• More Heat
• Electrical Field
• Chemical
Desalter Monitoring Guidelines
CONTACTING (EMULSION CREATION)

H2O Undermixing

Oil

H2O Overmixing

Oil
D S G 2-3 Th e o ry
 CONTACTING DEVICES

VEE BALL VALVE

DOUBLE PORTED GLOBE VALVE STATIC MIXING ELEMENT

 CONTACTING: OPTIMIZED
Optimize Mixing Using Mix Valve
H2O

Oil

P
Pressure Pressure
Upstream Downstream
2-3

DSG
 DESALTER EFFICIENCY

Salt Content
100 Mostly Water
BS&W
80
% of
60 1.0
Original
0.8 % BS&W
Salt in Optimum
40 in
Desalted Mixing Pressure 0.6
Desalted
Crude 0.4
20 Crude
0.2
0 0
Mostly BS Increasing Mixing Pressure Drop

BPG-051
 EFFECTS OF OVERMIXING
100 Salt Content
BS&W
80
Overmixing
% of Original Salt 60 1.0
in Desalted 0.8
40 % BS&W in
Crude 0.6
Desalted
0.4 Crude
20
0.2
0 0
Increasing Mixing Pressure Drop

• Current Increases
• Voltage Decreases
• Grid Shorts
 STOKE’S LAW

KD  w   o 
2
V

V = Settling Velocity
Rapid Separation?
K = A Constant
• Large D
D = Diameter of Water Droplet
• Large (w - o)
w = Density of Water
• Small 
o = Density of Oil
 = Viscosity of Oil
 DENSITY EFFECT

1.00
3% NaCl solution
13 API
0.95
16 API
0.922
22 API
0.90
Specific 0.897 30 API
Gravity 0.85
36 API

0.80
40(100) 90(200) 150(300)
Temperature / °C (°F)
 VISCOSITY EFFECT
5000
2000 10 API
1000
13 API
500
200 16 API
140
100
22 API
Viscosity 30 API
59 60
(SUS)
45 36 API

35
-

40(100) 90(200) 140(280) 150(300)

Temperature / °C (°F)
 SETTLING COMPARISION

KD 2  w   o 
V 

“16 API” @ 140 °C (280 °F) “13 API” @ 140 °C (280 °F)
w = 0.950, o = 0.897,  = 59 w = 0.950, o = 0.922,  = 140
KD 2 KD 2
V16  0.950  0.897  V13  0.950  0.922
59 140
 8.98 10  4 KD 2  2.00 10  4 KD 2
V16
100  460%
V13
TEMPERATURE / DENSITY EFFECT

1.00
3% NaCl solution
13 API
0.95
16 API
0.938
0.922 22 API
0.90
0.912

Specific 0.897 30 API

Gravity 0.880
0.85
36 API

0.80
40(100) 90(200) 150(300)
Temperature / °C (°F)
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE / VISCOSITY
5000
2000 10 API
1000
13 API
500
200 16 API
140

Viscosity 90 100
(SUS) 22 API
59 60 30 API
49
45 36 API

35
-

40(100) 90(200) 140(280) 150(300)

Temperature / °C (°F)
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE (13 API)

“13 API” @ 140 °C (280 °F) “13 API” @ 150 °C (300 °F)
w = 0.950, o = 0.922,  = 140 w = 0.938, o = 0.912,  = 90
KD 2 KD 2
V13,140C  0.950  0.922 V13,150C  0.938  0.912
140 90
 2.00 10  4 KD 2  2.89 10  4 KD 2

V13,150C
100  145%
V13,140C
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE (16 API)

“16 API” @ 140 °C (280 °F) “16 API” @ 150 °C (300 °F)
w = 0.950, o = 0.897,  = 59 w = 0.938, o = 0.880,  = 49
KD 2 KD 2
V16,140C  0.950  0.897  V16,150C  0.938  0.880
59 49
 8.98 10  4 KD 2  11.84 10  4 KD 2

V16,150C
100  132%
V16,140C
 WATER SOLUBILITY

0.8

0.6 Increasing
API
50
Volume 0.4
% Water
0.2 Increasing
10 Specific
0.0 Gravity
65(150) 120(250) 180(350) 230(450)
Temperature / °C(°F)
 ELECTRICAL FIELD

-- +
-
-- --
++ ++
+
Electrostatic
Induced Charge Attraction
--
- - ---
++ ++
 “DEEP” ELECTRICAL FIELD

Deep Electrical Field Radiates from Bottom Grid

with Water as Ground
FORCE OF ATTRACTION
CV02 D 6
F
d4
F = Attractive Force
C = A Constant
V0 = Voltage Gradient
D = Droplet Diameter
d = Distance Between Drops

Drop Size Most Important !

 CRITICAL VOLTAGE
ks
Vc 
d
Vc = Critical Voltage Gradient
k = A Constant Large Drops More
s = Surface Tension of the droplet
Vulnerable to

d = Diameter of the droplet

Voltage Gradient approx.
3000 volts / inch of space
between grids
 DESALTER EFFICIENCY

Desalting Efficiency Dehydration Efficiency

100 ppm IN 4.9% Wash Water

2 ppm OUT 0.1% Water IN

0.1% Water OUT
(100 - 2) / 100 = 98%
[ (0.1 + 4.9) - 0.1 ] / (0.1 + 4.9)

= 98%
DESALTING EFFICIENCY CANNOT EXCEED
DEHYDRATION EFFICIENCY!
 Industry Norms
Dehydration performance is generally rated as follows:

Optimum Nil to 0.05% water

Good 0.05% to 0.15% water
Satisfactory 0.15% to 0.25% water
Tolerable 0.25% to 0.40% water
Excessive >0.4%
In two stage operation, the water carryover should be at least
0.05% less than single stage for the same conditions
 SUMMARY

MIXING COALESCENCE GRAVITY

• Mix Valve • Wash Water • Stoke’s Law
Setting
• Temperature • Droplet Diameter
• Wash Water
• Electric Field • Crude API
Volume
• Contaminants • Crude Density
• Multiple
Stages • Chemicals • Crude Viscosity
DESALTING DESIGN
 INTRODUCTION

1960 1970 1980

1950
1940

1935

1800's

50,000,000 BC
 HISTORY
TM
Bilectric

Petreco Cylectric
1980's Deep Field
Tri-Grid
Low Velocity
1960's
Multi Phase/
Spherical Multi Grid 1980's
1940's
2 Grid

1960's
1935 MARSCO

1947 Howe Baker

 HISTORY - NATCO

TM
Petreco ELECTRO DYNAMIC
Alliance

National Oilfield
Tank Electrical
Company Dehydration

1926 1960's 1980's

 BASIC DESIGN

Vessel Differentiation
- Size, Shape
- Electrical Configuration
- Emulsion Distribution
- Interface Control

- Brine Removal
- Mud Washing
 RESIDENCE TIME

RESIDENCE TIME VS VESSEL DESIGN

Spherical Cylindrical

10'-14' Diameter
60+ ' Diameter 50+ ' Length
3 3
50,000 Ft Volume 5600 Ft Volume

Crude 60 minutes Crude 20 minutes

Water 5 hours Water 1 hour
TYPICAL RESIDENCE TIMES

Oil Residence Water Residence

Gravity of Crude
Time (Min.) Time (Min.)
@ 5% Wash Water Volume

15-18 oAPI 30 - 60 120 - 140

18-22 oAPI 20 - 30 80 - 120
22-28 oAPI 15 - 20 60 - 80
 CENTERLINE VELOCITY

API 40 35 30 25 20 15 12

Temp (F) 230 240 250 260 270 290 310

BPD/FT2 250 200 175 150 100 50 25

KVA/FT2 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .5 .6
Source: HOWE BAKER ENGINEERS 1994
EMULSION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

PETRECO NATCO

Dual Grid Spherical Dual Polarity

Deep Field Tri-Grid Low Velocity TriGrid
EDGE ® Cylectric ® TriVolt/TriVoltMax
Bilectric ® Electro-Dynamic
 Petreco Spherical
Oil Out
Transformer

Metal Plate

Grids

- “Hat” Adjusts

Effluent Water
Emulsion In
Adjustment Wheel
 Petreco Low Velocity

Float Level Control

- Laminar Distribution

- Emulsion into water phase Insulators

Oil collection header

-”Dog House” vs. Pipe

Doghouse

Emulsion In
 Petreco Cylectric

- Turbulent Distribution

- Good Flexibility
 Petreco Bilectric

- Stronger Electric Field

- Fixed Distributors
- Less Flexibility
Petreco Dual Grid

- Utilizes Area below grids

- Headers for Oil and Water
- Laminar flow
Petreco Deep Field Tri-Grid

• Larger Transformers
• Very efficient
 Grid Configuration

PETRECO MULTI GRID, MULTI PHASE

ALSO OFFERED:
• Single phase, single volt, two grid
• Three phase, single volt, two grid
• 3.2 phase, dual volt, two grid
• Single phase, single volt, tri grid
• Three phase, single volt, tri grid
• Three phase, dual volt, tri-grid
Note - Petreco has also designed four, five and six grid configurations
 NATCO DESALTERS

• Dual Polarity ®

• TriGrid

• TriVolt / TriVoltMax

• Electro-Dynamic ®

NATCO GROUP INCLUDES AXSIA; AXSIA-HOMAR

 NATCO DESALTERS

ELECTRO DYNAMIC TM DESALTER

Dilution Water Header

• Dual Polarity
HV Insulation Hanger
• DC between grids
HV Grid • AC below grids

Interface • Wash water on top

Distributor
• High/low voltage burst
DESALTING OPERATION
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THEORY
Primary Voltage
COALESCING FORCE (400-3500 volts)

2 6 Transformer
C x (Vo) x D
F= 4
d Secondary Voltage
(12-35 kV)
Where:

F = Attractive force
C = Dielectric constant of the fluid in the electric field
Vo= Voltage gradient (volts/inch or volts/cm of grid separation)
D = Droplet diameter
d = Distance between droplets
 COALESCENCE

Initial Water/Water 0.0066 Seconds after Voltage 0.0133 Seconds after Voltage
Emulsion

0.055 Seconds after 0.081 Seconds after Voltage 0.083 Seconds after
Voltage Voltage Complete
Coalescence
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT AND CONDUCTIVITY
KVA = (V x A)/1000
Where:

KVA = Power (wattage)

V = Voltage (the pressure behind the current)
A = Amperage (the amount of current flowing)

Dielectric Constant: Crude >> 3 So as % H2O Amps

Water >> 40
5% Emulsion >> 6
CONDUCTIVITY, CURRENT, VOLTAGE
AC Transformer

2400 Dehydrating Efficiency

Decreases
Volts

Amps FLA
Full Load Amperage (100)

Voltage Drops @  30% of transformer KVA rating

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
TRANSFORMER REQUIREMENTS

SIZING & CONFIGURATION REQUIRES

• Emulsion Conductivity
• Emulsion Distribution System
• Centerline Velocity
• Primary Power Supply
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Transformer Secondary
Line Voltage KVA Voltage
Rating
12-36 K V
Taps

800-3,000 Volts 8-24"

Inch Grids
Spacing

BPG-052
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
VOLTAGE EFFECT ON COALESCENCE
Water Out vs. Voltage Gradient
(Typical 30 oAPI Crude) Maximize Power /
.10
Lowest Tap Setting
.9
.8 - Cost?
.7
.6 - Necessity?
WATER OUT %

.5
.4 - Reversals?
.3
.2
.1
0

VO LTAG E G R ADIE NT
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Volts A mps Volts A mps

- Highly conductive crudes

- Tight emulsions
- High temperature
- High water level
- Slop content
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
TEMPERATURE VS. CONDUCTIVITY
Approximate current
temperature relationship for TROUBLESHOOTING
Bachaquero Crude blends
• Water in oil
380
• Crude conductivity
300
• KV Taps
AMPERAGE

200

100
200 250 300
TEMP (F)
F O R D O U B L E VO LT E D H O WE B A K E R D E S IG N
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Typical KVA/ft2 and optimum desalting temperatures for various crudes

Crude oil Crude oil Typical Typical Typical

oAPI (Specific Gravity) Temperature
(°F) KVA/ft2 KVA/m2

> 36 < 0.845 220-250 0.1-0.2 .0093-.0186

36-30 0.845-0.876 235-265 0.2-0.3 .0186-.0279
30-24 0.876-0.910 250-280 0.3-0.4 .0279-.0372
24-18 .0910-0.947 265-295 0.4-0.5 .0372-.0465
18-12 0.947-0.986 280-310 0.5-0.6 .0465-.0558
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
CRUDE BLEND CONDUCTIVITY
1 .0 1 .0
3
Installed KVA / ft2 Of Effective

C RU D E A C RU D E C 2
0 .5 3 0 .5

kv / cm 2 kv / cm
1
Electrode Area

1
0 0

75 100 125 150 75 100 125 150

kv / cm
1 .0 1 .0
3

C RUD E D
C RUD E B 3 2
0 .5 0 .5

2
kv / cm
1 1
0 0

75 100 125 150 75 100 125 150

Operating Temperature oC
 CRUDE BLEND CONDUCTIVITY
6

5 MAYA
Rho (Ohm-cm x 10^8)

MEREY
4
BLEND
3

0
160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300
Temp (F)
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
2400
Primary Volts

Conductivity
Reversal
“Cushion”

0 Primary Amps
0 60 60
0
 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
GRID DESIGNS
Consider: Grid location, size, spacing, number, phases, grounding, AC vs. DC, etc.

PETRECO NATCO

*Instantaneous + Coalescence for - Multiple Shatter

coalescence several minutes Coalescence steps (DC)
Narrow, high Depth of field Second field bulk
intensity field approach coalescence (AC)

*Best for light crudes + Best for heavier crudes

 DESALTER LEVEL CONTROL
The Level
Control
Paradox

Maximize Maximize
WATER OIL
Quality Quality
 LEVEL CONTROL

Pressure
Transducer
Pneumatic
Control

PP&
uI
P&
I

FLOAT CAPACITANCE ENERGY ABSORPTION

 LEVEL CONTROL
Pressure Transducers
MECHANICAL CONTROLLERS
Calibration
- Set 0% on LT
(Lowest Water level)
- Set 100% on LT
(Highest Water level)
- Gravity Changes
(Adjust “Zero” on top of desalter)
Gravity Change Theory
Gravity Buoyancy LT Float

Controller Level

BPG-053
LEVEL CONTROL CAPACITANCE

Suppliers:
Robert Shaw
DrexelBrook
Advantages
- Good for many systems
- Inexpensive
Disadvantages
- Shorts out at High % H20
- Cannot measure oil in water
- Prone to dirt problems
- Cannot Penetrate Coatings
- Averages Emulsion Content
MICROWAVE ENERGY ABSORBANCE

OIL WATE R

Probe Calibration
Oil 4 mA
Water 20 m A
LEVEL CONTROL AGAR

P+I
 LEVEL CONTROL AGAR

ADVANTAGES
• Maintains Level @ 70-90% Water
• Gives clean effluent water
• Gives early warning to rag growth
• No fouling/coating problems
• Minimizes upsets
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3'

HOWE BAKER PETRECO

3.5 GPM/ Nozzle 10 GPM/ Nozzle
Designed spray nozzles Nozzles 1/4” diameter

BPG-050
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FREQUENCY DURATION
Once / Shift Short Blast

Once / Day 1/2 Hour

Once / Week Continuous

IMPORTANCE
- Solids buildup causes vortexing
- Turnaround Runlength Shortened
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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Petreco Transformer Designs
(Howe Baker) Grid Designs
NATCO Grid Configurations

INTERFACE CONTROL MUD WASHING

Capacitance Duration
Float Frequency
Energy Absorbance Volume