Separator for desalting petroleum crude oils having rag layer withdrawal

US9611433B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Magaly C. Barroeta · Tomball, US
• Jose X. Simonetty · Kingwood, US
• Brian D. Albert · Fairfax, US
• Jennifer A. Gillett · Springfield, US
• Victor Alva · Everett, US
• Theodore Trent Trier · Billings, US
• John R. Faber · Houston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 14, 2016
• Grant date: Apr 4, 2017
• Expiry date: Oct 14, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10G2300/205
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An improved separator for desalting petroleum crude oils which may be operated in a continuous manner under automatic control; the improved desalter is therefore well suited to modern refinery operation with minimal downtime. A portion of the emulsion layer is withdrawn from the desalter through external withdrawal ports according to the thickness and position of the emulsion layer with the selected withdrawal header(s) being controlled by sensors monitoring the position and thickness of the emulsion layer. The withdrawn emulsion layer can be routed as such or with the desalter water effluent to a settling tank or directly to another unit for separation and reprocessing.