# US 9,751,027 B2 · Interface and mud control system and method for refinery desalters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,027 B2 - Document ID: US9751027B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/047,361 - Filed: 2016-02-18 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-29 - Assignees: Cameron International Corporation - Applicants: Cameron International Corporation - Inventors: Rafiqul Khan; Joseph Min-Hsiun Lee; Gary W. Sams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751027B2 ## CPC - B01D 17/04: Breaking emulsions - B01D 17/0214: {with removal of one of the phases} - B01D 17/12: Auxiliary equipment particularly adapted for use with liquid-separating apparatus, e.g. control circuits - B01D 19/0036: {Flash degasification (the other groups take precedence)} - B01D 21/0042: {Baffles or guide plates} - B01D 21/0087: {Settling tanks provided with means for ensuring a special flow pattern, e.g. even inflow or outflow (B01D21/2411 takes precedence)} - B01D 21/10: {Settling tanks with multiple outlets for the separated liquids} - B01D 21/2416: {Liquid distributors with a plurality of feed points} - B01D 21/2472: {Means for fluidising the sediments, e.g. by jets or mechanical agitators} - B01J 4/004: {Sparger-type elements} - B08B 9/0933: {Removing sludge or the like from tank bottoms} - C10G 31/08: by treating with water - C10G 33/06: with mechanical means, e.g. by filtration - B01J 2204/002: the feeding side being of particular interest - B01J 2204/005: the outlet side being of particular interest - B01J 2219/182: horizontal - B01J 2219/1943: cylindrical - C10G 2300/4081: Recycling aspects - C10G 2300/805: Water - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES ## Abstract A method and system for controlling an interface emulsion layer within an oil treatment vessel includes injecting a water flow through a plurality of radial eductors arranged about a radial eductor manifold located in the brine water layer. Each radial eductor is oriented vertically to the radial eductor manifold and the horizontal axis of the oil treatment vessel. The water flow through the plurality of radial eductors causes a swirling flow pattern in a volume of water around each radial eductor that is effective for promoting a collapse of the interface emulsion layer. The water flow through each radial eductor, which may be a recycled water flow, may be in a range of about 1 to 5 feet per minute. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling an interface emulsion layer within an oil treatment vessel, the method comprising: injecting a water flow from a brine water layer of the oil treatment vessel through a plurality of radial eductors arranged about a radial eductor manifold oriented in a horizontal plane and located in the brine water layer; wherein the water flow causes a swirling flow pattern of a volume of water in the brine water layer around each radial eductor, the swirling flow pattern agitating a lower surface of the interface emulsion layer residing above the brine water layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising of recycling a volume of water from the oil treatment vessel, wherein the water flow includes the recycled water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising of adjusting a water flow rate in response to a level of the interface emulsion layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3 wherein said adjusting causes the interface emulsion layer to destabilize. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the water flow through each radial eductor is in a range of 1 to 5 feet per minute. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the radial eductor manifold is located in a horizontal plane situated in an upper two-thirds portion of the volume of water. ### Claim 7 A system for controlling an interface emulsion layer forming within an oil treatment vessel, the system comprising: a radial eductor manifold including a plurality of radial eductors and being located in a brine water layer residing within the oil treatment vessel; means for recycling a volume of the brine water layer to the radial eductor manifold; each radial eductor being oriented perpendicular to a center line of said radial eductor manifold and comprising an outer eductor shell and a tubular eductor stem with a plurality of tangential exit slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7 wherein water flowing through the radial eductors creates a swirling flow pattern to agitate a lower surface of an interface emulsion layer residing between the brine water layer and an oil layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7 wherein the means for recycling a volume of the brine water layer to the radial eductor manifold comprises a recirculating pump and recycle piping. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7 wherein a water velocity through each radial eductor is in a range of 1 to 5 feet per minute.