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A crude oil desalter is a device used in petroleum refineries to remove inorganic salts, water and sediment from the incoming petroleum crude oil feedstock before it is refined. This article focuses on the use of electrostatic desalters to produce a dehydrated, desalted crude oil with a very low sediment content. Almost all refineries now use electrostatic desalters. However, there may still be a few refineries employing the older, less efficient method that utilizes chemicals and settling tanks.

Removal of the salts, water and sediment is necessary to avoid excessive

The salt, water and sediment in crude oil as received by refineries

The amount of water, salts and sediment in the crude oil as received at petroleum refineries varies widely with the source of the crude oil, the prior processing of the crude oil at the source sites and with the mode of transporting the crude oil from its source to the refineries.

(CC) Drawing: Milton Beychok Figure 1: Schematic flow diagram of a typical crude oil distillation unit.

(CC) Drawing: Milton Beychok Figure 2: Cross-sectional diagram of a crude oil desalter