Patent ID: 9512370
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: C10G

Claim Text:
1. A process for monitoring salinity of a dry crude stream in a crude oil desalting process, the process comprising the steps of: feeding, to a wet crude stream or a recycled water stream, at least one emulsion breaking chemical using an emulsion breaking chemical injection system having a predetermined range of operating conditions and feeding, to the wet crude stream, the recycled water stream using at least one recycled water pump having a predetermined range of operating conditions to produce an enhanced wet crude stream including water from the recycled water stream and the at least one emulsion breaking chemical, wherein the wet crude stream is fed to the crude oil desalting process by a wet crude stream pump; feeding the enhanced wet crude stream to a first mixing apparatus having a predetermined range of operating conditions to produce a mixed wet crude stream; feeding the mixed wet crude stream to a dehydrator vessel having a predetermined range of operating conditions to produce a reduced water content crude stream and a waste water stream; feeding the waste water stream using at least one waste water stream pump having a predetermined range of operating conditions to a waste water facility; feeding a wash water stream using at least one wash water pump having a predetermined range of operating conditions to the reduced water content crude stream to produce a hydrated crude stream; feeding the hydrated crude stream to a second mixing apparatus having a predetermined range of operating conditions to produce a mixed hydrated crude stream; feeding the mixed hydrated crude stream to a desalter vessel having a predetermined range of operating conditions to produce a dry crude stream and the recycled water stream; feeding the dry crude stream to a first continuous online analyzing unit for determining basic sediment and water (BSW) real time data of the dry crude stream, wherein the first continuous online analyzing unit is in communication with an online analyzer and provides the BSW real time data to the online analyzer; feeding the recycled water stream to a second continuous online analyzing unit for determining total dissolved solids (TDS) real time data of the recycled water stream from the desalter vessel, wherein the second continuous online analyzing unit is in communication with the online analyzer and provides the TDS real time data to the online analyzer; determining, by the online analyzer, salt concentration real time data of the dry crude stream based on a predetermined correlation of BSW real time data and TDS real time data, wherein the online analyzer is in communication with a multivariable controller and provides the salt concentration real time data to the multivariable controller; assessing, by the multivariable controller, operating parameters of any of the wet crude stream pump, recycled water pump, emulsion breaking chemical injection system, first mixing apparatus, dehydrator vessel, waste water stream pump, wash water pump, second mixing apparatus, and desalter vessel; and adjusting, by the multivariable controller, one or more of the operating parameters to maintain the salt concentration real time data within a predetermined range to minimize power usage of the crude oil desalting process, wherein the operating parameters are adjusted when the salt concentration data is outside the predetermined range and the operating parameters are adjusted within the predetermined range of operating conditions for the respective operating parameters.