New Analytical Solutions to Ensure Enhanced Desalter Operation 

AppliTek (Belgium), recently added a new application to its existing analyser portfolio for Petrol & Gas applications (available on www.applitek.com). Refinery operators can now quantify and control exactly the desalting process by the continuous determination of salt in crude oil.

Crude oil desalters carry the important task to remove inorganic salts, water and sediment from the oil feedstock. Without these, chlorides generated would cause severe corrosion of pipe walls, heat exchanger tubes and shell, and other carbon steel components in which they come in contact during processing. Desalting is a continuous and difficult process and typically achieved by creating a water/oil emulsion.

Controlling the interface level inside the desalter, however, is typically done by interface level measurements that are not always that correct and requires skilled operators. AppliTek’s state of the art UPA® multiparameter analyser platform is perfectly fitted for this task and enables to monitor precisely the critical process parameters such as CaCl and MgCl in the crude oil. On top of that, benefits of the salt content control become self-evident further in the downstream processing to prevent poisoning of catalysts.

Measurements of AppliTek’s new on-line monitoring system are conform with ASTM D3230 - 09 Standard Test Method for Salts in Crude Oil.