Sinopec Qilu Branch has successfully developed a groundbreaking technology with independent intellectual property rights that can be widely applied in refineries. This innovative ultrasonic-enhanced crude oil demulsification technology significantly improves the desalination and dehydration processes during crude oil refining, offering great potential for cost reduction and operational efficiency. On February 20th, an expert panel from Sinopec Corporation’s Science and Technology Development Department conducted a technical review of this technology at Qilu Shengli Refinery, where they observed its practical application on-site.
The technology demonstrates excellent performance in removing emulsified water and salts from crude oil, which is crucial for ensuring the smooth operation of downstream refining equipment and improving the quality of final products. According to reports, after being implemented in a 3.5 million tons/year atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit, the technology has saved millions in demulsifier costs and electricity consumption annually, generating over 420 million yuan in direct economic benefits. The indirect advantages are equally impressive, making it a promising solution for the industry.
This ultrasonic demulsification technology, developed jointly by Qilu Branch Research Institute and Shengli Refinery, has already secured four Chinese patents and one international patent application. It represents a major advancement in refining technology, reaching international standards and showing significant potential for large-scale refineries, especially those with capacities of 10 million tons or more. Experts believe it could bring a new revolution to the oil refining sector.
In recent years, China's refining industry has experienced rapid growth, with increasing demands for higher-quality refined products. Before processing, crude oil must undergo effective dehydration and desalination to remove impurities such as inorganic salts and entrained water. This step is essential for maintaining the safe and stable operation of refining equipment and ensuring product quality.
Traditionally, the industry has relied on heating, high-voltage electric fields, and chemical demulsifiers for these processes. However, these methods are energy-intensive and costly, especially for heavily emulsified crude oils. To address this challenge, Qilu Petrochemical Research Institute began exploring ultrasonic-enhanced demulsification technology in 2001. By 2003, the technology was successfully tested in the first-stage electric desalting tank of Qilu Shengli Refinery, and subsequent tests were carried out in 2004 and 2005 on different units.
To adapt to varying crude oil properties, Qilu Research Institute developed a DCS automatic control system that allows real-time adjustment of ultrasonic intensity. Two implementation methods have been developed: one combines ultrasonic and electric fields without the need for chemical demulsifiers, achieving salt content below 3 mg/L; the other uses a combination of ultrasonic, demulsifier, and electric field to meet even stricter requirements.
Industrial tests have shown that the technology works well across various crude oil types, demonstrating strong adaptability. By adopting this technology, refineries can significantly reduce their energy and chemical costs, leading to substantial savings and improved profitability.
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