(70b) Optimizing Separator Operation with Liquid Measurements

Petroleum refineries process large amounts of crude oil to make gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and other products. The processing steps produce some water in oil emulsions that are difficult to treat and dispose of. The water produced by a refinery tends to extract the water soluble components of the crude, including heavy metals, sulfides, and salts that can require substantial wastewater treatment prior to discharge. Various separator units are used to allow collection of the water phase separately from the organic products and, later on, to remove solid contaminants from the water phase prior to discharge.

Selecting appropriate liquid analytical measurement instrumentation for these vessels optimizes removal of waste products and minimizes product loss. However, in-situ measurement in this environment requires resistance to the physical and chemical effects of both the hydrocarbon and the aqueous phases, which can include substantial amounts of heavy metals and sulfur compounds. We will discuss some of the latest electrochemical solutions for meeting these challenges and how online diagnostics can be used to prevent downtime and predict maintenance requirements.