Patent ID: 8043858

Claim:
A dynamic desalter simulator for testing a demulsification process comprising: a pressurized oil vessel configured to hold a supply of crude oil; a water vessel configured to hold a supply of wash water; at least one chemical feed pump to selectively add emulsion breaker chemicals to the crude oil and/or wash water in the desalter simulator; a pump configured to pump crude oil from the oil vessel and wash water from the water vessel through the desalter simulator; an emulsion forming device configured to form a crude oil-wash water emulsion from the crude oil and wash water pumped through the pump; a desalter vessel configured to receive the crude oil-wash water emulsion from the emulsion forming device through an emulsion input line fluidically connected to the emulsion forming device, the height of an input point of said emulsion input line into the desalter vessel being variable with respect to the desalter vessel, wherein the crude oil-wash water emulsion is resolved within the desalter vessel with the assistance of the emulsion breaker chemicals so the wash water and crude oil form distinct phases, with substantially desalted and dewatered crude oil removed from an upper portion of the desalter vessel and substantially oil-free wash water removed from a bottom portion of the desalter vessel, wherein a portion of the desalter vessel is substantially transparent such that the wash water phase and the crude oil phase and a rag layer formed between the phases are visible from the exterior of the desalter vessel; a heated jacket surrounding the desalter vessel; and at least one light source positioned adjacent to the desalter vessel, wherein the light source is directed through the substantially transparent portion and through the wash water phase, the crude oil phase, and a rag layer to aid in visualization and testing of the demulsification process.