Standalone demulsifier testing for crude oil

A system for testing a demulsifier of crude oil, the system comprising:

• a vessel configured to be pressurized and heated at a well site to match desired process conditions at which the demulsifier is to break an emulsion of the crude oil, the vessel comprising:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• an inlet pipe comprising:
• a first inlet configured to receive the crude oil;
• a second inlet configured to receive the demulsifier, wherein the inlet pipe is configured to mix the crude oil and the demulsifier to form a mixture of the crude oil and the demulsifier;
• and
• an outlet configured to discharge the mixture to an internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• an outlet pipe configured to discharge the mixture from the vessel;
• a first port;
• and
• a second port;
• an electric coil surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, the electric coil configured to connect to a power source and, in response to receiving power from the power source, generate heat to provide to the mixture within the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• a guided wave radar coupled to the first end of the vessel, the guided wave radar comprising a probe extending from the first end of the vessel and into the internal cavity defined by the vessel, wherein the guided wave radar is configured to generate a reference pulse of microwave energy through the probe and detect a surface echo reflected from the mixture within the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• a stand configured to support the vessel at its second end;
• a pressure transmitter coupled to the first port, the pressure transmitter configured to measure a pressure within the internal cavity defined by the vessel and transmit the measured pressure as a pressure signal;
• and
• a temperature transmitter coupled to the second port, the temperature transmitter configured to measure a temperature within the internal cavity defined by the vessel and transmit the measured temperature as a temperature signal.

A method for testing a demulsifier of crude oil, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first inlet of an inlet pipe, crude oil;
• receiving, by a second inlet of the inlet pipe, a demulsifier;
• mixing, by the inlet pipe, the crude oil and the demulsifier to form a mixture of the crude oil and the demulsifier;
• discharging, by an outlet of the inlet pipe, the mixture to an internal cavity defined by a vessel, the vessel positioned at a well site and comprising a first end, a second end, the inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a first port, and a second port;
• heating, by a heater surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, the mixture within the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• generating, by a guided wave radar coupled to the first end of the vessel, a reference pulse of microwave energy;
• guiding, by a probe of the guided wave radar, the reference pulse of microwave energy to the mixture within the internal cavity defined by the vessel, the probe extending from the first end of the vessel and into the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• detecting, by the guided wave radar, a surface echo reflected from the mixture within the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• measuring, by a pressure transmitter coupled to the first port, a pressure within the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• measuring, by a temperature transmitter coupled to the second port, a temperature within the internal cavity defined by the vessel;
• and
• discharging, by the outlet pipe, the mixture from the vessel.