Flow, level & control


to know where the interface between water and oil is located in the desalinator. For one thing, the high-voltage grid must be positioned in the oil phase, as this method only works with non-conductive media. However, too much water must not be drawn off downwards. If that would happen, the treatment process for the water then contaminated with oil would be much more complex. Another reason is that the tank should be optimally utilised, which allows the separation process to run effectively. The desalinator contains high-voltage grids that accelerate the separation process of the phases. In the process, the saline water settles to the bottom, is drawn off downwards and fed to the appropriate treatment facilities. This is done at elevated temperatures of about 130°C to reduce the viscosity of the crude oil. The desalinated crude oil is then pumped in the direction of the distillation facilities.


T


CopinG witH fluCtuAtinG dEnsitiEs From the point of view of interface measurement, there are a number of challenges here: The composition, and thus also the DK value and density, of the crude oil-water mixture changes depending on where the oil comes from. For example, the density can vary between 820 and 940 kg/m³. This means that the running time of the previously used measuring methods also varied. Until recently, a level gauging method that


works according to the displacement principle was used at this measuring point. Besides the fluctuating density, other factors also affected measurement accuracy: vibration and


he separation of water from crude oil is a continuous process. There are several reasons why it is important


Delivering precise measured values in crude oil processing


By Claudia Homburg, VEGA Controls 26 October 2021 Instrumentation Monthly


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