(55d) Desalter Interface Control and Diagnostics Utilizing Sonar Transducers

Improving interface control in the desalting process remains one the salient issues in optimizing refining operations; all the more important because of the desalting systems's role as ?gatekeeper? for primary feeds to the overall refining process. The constant tug-of-war of improvements in equipment design and emulsion breaking chemistries versus the stress of opportunity crude mix and feed rates above rated capacities requires that the control of all system operating parameters be as stable as possible. Interface control technologies developed to date have ranged from simple averaging devices to complex combinations of analytical devices: the former stressing functional simplicity at the expense of control stability, and the latter providing impressive separation profiling at the cost of a burdensome complication of the operator's involvement. A recent entry into the field of desalter interface control has proven to provide an impressive compromise between control stability and complexity. This technology; an industrialized sonar transducer, shows promise in providing both the basic control functions required and the diagnostic input required to evaluate critical matters such as emulsion growth and solids accumulation. This paper presents both laboratory and field evaluation of this technology, with emphasis on the quality of interface control and process diagnostics. The observed performance is further compared to existing control technologies, both in terms of reliability and end-user complexity.