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51317--9514-Work Life Balance – Revisiting the Relationship Between Desalting Efficiency and Overhead Corrosion

It has been documented that improved desalting efficiency reduces the risk of corrosion and vice versa. This paper introduces a new way of using the desalting process to help control overhead corrosion. The end result is the corrosion engineer has a new tool to reduce the risk of salt formation.

Product Number: 51317--9514-SG
ISBN: 9514 2017 CP
Author: James Noland
Publication Date: 2017
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$20.00
$20.00

It has been well documented that improved desalting efficiency reduces the risk of corrosion and vice versa. The work life balance of the refinery corrosion engineer is frequently challenged by concerns that risk of overhead corrosion is increasing as refineries process more challenging crudes and run lengths increase. One component of this problem is the risk of ammonia and amine salt formation. As the concentration of the ammonia and amines increase the risk of salt formation increases. Computer modelling is employed to calculate this risk and to assure the selection of neutralizing amine used to control overhead pH does not also contribute to the risk of salt formation.Traditionally however the natural level of ammonia and amines that are present in the system meaning those not due to addition of the neutralizer has been a “given” in the risk calculation. They are typically monitored but not controlled. The material balance of amines/ammonia is complicated the level of these contaminants cannot be easily correlated with desalting efficiency.This paper introduces a new way of correlating desalting efficiency with control of overhead corrosion from the perspective of ammonia and amine levels in the overhead. A new adjunct chemistry fed in combination to the emulsion breaker at levels of 1-2 ppm is shown in case histories to be able to increase the removal of ammonia in the desalter reducing ammonia levels in the overhead. The ammonia is removed in the desalter and leaves the system in the brine. At higher levels it is shown that the new adjunct chemical is also able to remove tramp amines. The end result is the corrosion engineer has a new tool to reduce the risk of salt formation improving crude flexibility and work life balance.

Key words: corrosion, overhead corrosion, desalting, amine removal, ammonia, tramp amines

It has been well documented that improved desalting efficiency reduces the risk of corrosion and vice versa. The work life balance of the refinery corrosion engineer is frequently challenged by concerns that risk of overhead corrosion is increasing as refineries process more challenging crudes and run lengths increase. One component of this problem is the risk of ammonia and amine salt formation. As the concentration of the ammonia and amines increase the risk of salt formation increases. Computer modelling is employed to calculate this risk and to assure the selection of neutralizing amine used to control overhead pH does not also contribute to the risk of salt formation.Traditionally however the natural level of ammonia and amines that are present in the system meaning those not due to addition of the neutralizer has been a “given” in the risk calculation. They are typically monitored but not controlled. The material balance of amines/ammonia is complicated the level of these contaminants cannot be easily correlated with desalting efficiency.This paper introduces a new way of correlating desalting efficiency with control of overhead corrosion from the perspective of ammonia and amine levels in the overhead. A new adjunct chemistry fed in combination to the emulsion breaker at levels of 1-2 ppm is shown in case histories to be able to increase the removal of ammonia in the desalter reducing ammonia levels in the overhead. The ammonia is removed in the desalter and leaves the system in the brine. At higher levels it is shown that the new adjunct chemical is also able to remove tramp amines. The end result is the corrosion engineer has a new tool to reduce the risk of salt formation improving crude flexibility and work life balance.

Key words: corrosion, overhead corrosion, desalting, amine removal, ammonia, tramp amines

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07567 Controlling Unit Overhead Corrosion: Rules of Thumb for Better Crude Desalting

Product Number: 51300-07567-SG
ISBN: 07567 2007 CP
Author: Joerg Gutzeit
Publication Date: 2007
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