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Crude-oil desalter cutaway

Explore an original 56-part refinery vessel with separate wash-water entry, a nine-hole inlet marker, open lattice region and two exit boundaries.

Static preview of the crude-oil desalter cutaway schematic
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HOW TO READ THIS MODEL

The system, explained.

A refinery desalter introduces wash water to crude so water-soluble salts and some other contaminants can leave with the water before distillation. The US Environmental Protection Agency describes mixing, electrostatic separation and subsequent water handling. This original single-stage scene marks a crude feed, an independent wash-water branch, a perforated entry-location plate, two open unelectrified lattices representing a coalescence region, an upper crude exit and a separate lower water exit. The blue plane is a static reading cue, not a measured interface. The full browser vessel has a complete bored shell and closed inspection cover; only the poster exposes its facing half. Geometry, part counts, spacing and colours are invented.

Model scope and limits

Original 56-part teaching scene. The complete shell has five real side openings; a separate end closure, feed branch, nine-hole entry marker and four support feet are bored. The two lattice decks are open, static and unelectrified. No actual crude assay, wash-water source or quality, emulsion behaviour, voltage, field, salt removal, separation efficiency, pressure, temperature, residence time, water treatment, instrumentation, controls, relief, rated connection, vessel integrity or safe operation is specified. Qualified project design and technical review are required for real equipment.

Further reading: US EPA refinery effluent study: crude desalting role and water handling; no source artwork or dimensions copied ↗

Source links support further study; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What does the separate lower outlet represent?

Choose an answer

GUIDED COMPONENT STUDY

Trace the system.

Read each explanation, then focus its component in the explorer. This is a learning route through the model, with no operating or maintenance sequence.

  1. Begin at the crude boundary

    The gold open tube meets a real end-closure passage. It represents crude arrival, without an assay, flow rate or rated line.

  2. Add a distinct wash-water boundary

    The blue branch reaches a drilled opening in the crude feed tube. Its water source, quality and flow are unspecified.

  3. Locate mixing without claiming a device

    The gold ring identifies a conceptual location after the two streams meet. It is not a mixing valve, shear calculation or emulsion model.

  4. Inspect the complete enclosure

    The browser model retains inner and outer shell surfaces with five real side openings. The poster alone removes the facing half for reading.

  5. Look through the entry marker

    Nine actual holes make this invented plate inspectable. Their pattern does not demonstrate distribution, mixing or salt removal.

  6. Compare the open lattice decks

    Two decks of separate rods locate a possible electrostatic coalescence region. They are unelectrified and are not a vendor electrode design.

  7. Read the blue plane cautiously

    This arbitrary static marker suggests a lower water region. It is not an interface reading, inventory or proven separation result.

  8. Follow treated crude onward

    The upper open neck provides a separate crude destination. The scene does not establish crude salt content or a distillation-unit connection.

  9. Keep desalter water separate

    The lower open boundary points to further water handling. It does not show treatment, discharge permission or effluent quality.

  10. Recognize closed access

    A separate solid cover closes the side inspection location in the complete model. This is not vessel-entry or isolation guidance.

Additional primary references: US EPA petroleum refining effluent study: crude desalting and water-handling role; checked September 28, 2026 ↗ · US EPA petroleum refining residuals study: refinery desalting before atmospheric distillation; checked September 28, 2026 ↗

ACCESSIBLE COMPONENT REFERENCE

Every part, in plain language.

Search all components ↗Model provenance ↗
Desalter presentation plinth

Display base, not a foundation. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Complete crude-desalter vessel wall

Complete double-surface horizontal enclosure with five separate side passages. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Bored feed-side vessel closure

End closure with one real crude-feed passage. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Closed treated-side vessel closure

Static closed end; no selected pressure-vessel head form. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Feed-side seam marker

Visible enclosure junction, not a weld detail. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Treated-side seam marker

Visible enclosure junction, not a weld detail. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Mixed-crude feed hollow neck

Open incoming crude boundary meeting the bored end closure. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Mixed-crude feed open collar

Open arrival marker without a rated connection. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Wash-water branch hollow neck

Open water boundary at an actual feed-line opening; no selected water quality or mixing device. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Wash-water branch open collar

Open wash-water connection marker. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Separate mix-location marker

A location cue after water meets crude; no mixing valve, shear rate or emulsion result is depicted. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Treated-crude exit hollow neck

Open upper crude boundary, not an outlet-quality result. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Treated-crude exit open collar

Separate open marker without a downstream distillation unit. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter-water exit hollow neck

Separate lower water boundary; treatment is outside this scene. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter-water exit open collar

Open water-handling destination marker. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Nine-hole inlet distributor marker

Separate invented entry-region plate with nine real holes; no distribution or separation result. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Distributor stand-off -0.52

Static location tie, without attachment design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Distributor stand-off 0.52

Static location tie, without attachment design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 long perimeter -0.62

Open neutral lattice boundary; no electrode spacing, voltage or field calculation. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 long perimeter 0.62

Open neutral lattice boundary; no electrode spacing, voltage or field calculation. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 cross member 1

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 cross member 2

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 cross member 3

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 cross member 4

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 cross member 5

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 longitudinal member 1

Independent open rod; no field strength or capture performance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 longitudinal member 2

Independent open rod; no field strength or capture performance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 1 longitudinal member 3

Independent open rod; no field strength or capture performance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 long perimeter -0.62

Open neutral lattice boundary; no electrode spacing, voltage or field calculation. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 long perimeter 0.62

Open neutral lattice boundary; no electrode spacing, voltage or field calculation. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 cross member 1

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 cross member 2

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 cross member 3

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 cross member 4

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 cross member 5

Independent open rod, not a vendor electrode profile or energized component. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 longitudinal member 1

Independent open rod; no field strength or capture performance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 longitudinal member 2

Independent open rod; no field strength or capture performance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Electrode region 2 longitudinal member 3

Independent open rod; no field strength or capture performance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Unelectrified lattice support marker 1

Placement cue only; no electrical penetration, insulation or attachment design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Unelectrified lattice support marker 2

Placement cue only; no electrical penetration, insulation or attachment design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Static desalter-water region plane

Arbitrary blue location marker, not an interface level or volume. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Upper observation hollow neck

Open observation location only; no probe, alarm, controller or setpoint. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Upper observation open collar

Uninstrumented open marker. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Lower observation hollow neck

Open observation location only; no probe, alarm, controller or setpoint. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Lower observation open collar

Uninstrumented open marker. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Closed desalter inspection neck

Side opening with a separately closed cover; no vessel-entry guidance. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter inspection cover seat

Annular location cue, not a gasket specification. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Closed desalter inspection cover

Static closed cover without a maintenance procedure. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter support stand 1

Illustrative contact to the vessel wall, not a load or foundation design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter bored support foot 1

Independent foot with a real anchor opening. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter support stand 2

Illustrative contact to the vessel wall, not a load or foundation design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter bored support foot 2

Independent foot with a real anchor opening. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter support stand 3

Illustrative contact to the vessel wall, not a load or foundation design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter bored support foot 3

Independent foot with a real anchor opening. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter support stand 4

Illustrative contact to the vessel wall, not a load or foundation design. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.

Desalter bored support foot 4

Independent foot with a real anchor opening. Invented static teaching geometry. No selected crude, salt load, wash-water quality, emulsion, voltage, pressure, temperature, residence time, controls, treatment or safe access is specified.