Method of reducing corrosion and corrosion byproduct deposition in a crude unit

A system for controlling chloride ion concentrations in a process stream of a crude unit to reduce corrosion and/or corrosion byproduct deposition in the crude unit, the system comprising:

• (a) a sensing device operable to sense and/or predict the chloride ion concentrations over time and convert the sensed or predicted chloride ion concentrations into input electrical signals capable of being transmitted, wherein the sensed and/or predicted chloride ion concentrations over time include a variation comprising chloride ion concentration spikes, and wherein the sensing device is operable to sense and/or predict the chloride ion concentrations at a frequency that shows the chloride ion concentration spikes over time;
• (b) a transmitter operable to transmit the input electrical signals;
• (c) a controller operable to receive the transmitted input electrical signals, convert the received input electrical signals into input numerical values, analyze the input numerical values, determine if the analyzed input numerical values are within an optimum range, generate output numerical values based upon the analyzed values, convert the output numerical values into output electrical signals, and transmit the output electrical signals;
• and
• (d) a receiver operable to receive the output electrical signals and cause changes in an influx rate of a composition into the process stream if the output numerical signal is not within the optimum range, wherein the composition is capable of adjusting the chloride ion concentration of the process stream, and wherein controlling the influx of the composition occurs to smooth the variation associated with the chloride ion concentration spikes.

A method of reducing corrosion and/or corrosion byproduct deposition in a crude unit, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a process stream flowing through the crude unit, wherein a process stream portion comprises process stream water, and wherein the process stream comprises a chloride ion concentration that comprises a variation including chloride ion concentration spikes that occur over time;
• (b) introducing an influx of a chloride ion controlling composition into the process stream, wherein the influx of the chloride ion controlling composition controls the chloride ion concentration;
• (c) automatically measuring and/or predicting the chloride ion concentration, wherein said measuring and/or predicting occurs at a frequency that shows the chloride ion concentration spikes in the chloride ion concentration over time;
• and
• (d) controlling the influx of the chloride ion controlling composition responsive to the measured and/or predicted chloride ion concentration in a manner effective to reduce crude unit corrosion and/or corrosion byproduct deposition and to smooth the variation associated with the chloride ion concentration spikes.