Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for automated real-time monitoring and controlling desalting in a crude distillation unit. Crude oil and wash water are mixed by a pressure drop across a mix valve, thereby forming a crude oil/water phase stream. The crude oil/water phase stream is supplied into a desalter vessel, whereupon an emulsion forms at an interface between the crude oil and the water phase. The crude oil/water phase stream is contacted with a dosage of an emulsion breaker in an applied electric field. At least one property associated with the emulsion is measured using an emulsion level indicator. A total chlorine and a water percentage of the crude oil are measured. At least one of the pressure drop and the dosage of the emulsion breaker is adjusted substantially in real time in response to at least one of the measured properties, total chlorine, and water percentage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for automated real-time monitoring and controlling desalting in a crude distillation unit. Crude oil and wash water are mixed by a pressure drop across a mix valve, thereby forming a crude oil/water phase stream. The crude oil/water phase stream is supplied into a desalter vessel, whereupon an emulsion forms at an interface between the crude oil and the water phase. The crude oil/water phase stream is contacted with a dosage of an emulsion breaker in an applied electric field. At least one property associated with the emulsion is measured using an emulsion level indicator. A total chlorine and a water percentage of the crude oil are measured. At least one of the pressure drop and the dosage of the emulsion breaker is adjusted substantially in real time in response to at least one of the measured properties, total chlorine, and water percentage.

Abstract: A self-operating windshield wiping apparatus for cleaning a window includes a portable housing having a cavity, and a curvilinear guide track formed in an outermost wall thereof. A suction cup is eccentrically positioned within the cavity and partially extends outwardly from the open bottom end for removably securing the portable housing to a support surface. A handle is rotatably mated to the portable housing and reciprocated along the curvilinear guide track, a rotating cam situated within the portable housing and mated to the handle, and a motor communicatively mated to the rotating cam. Such a motor causes the rotating cam to rotate along a circular travel path within the cavity. A wiper blade section is coupled to a distal end of the handle and simultaneously reciprocated with the handle along a first arcuate path as the rotating cam is revolved along the circular travel path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically, parametrically amplifying a small-signal. A small-signal optical parametric amplifier (OPA) includes a narrowband pump source, means for suppressing stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) (e.g., a phase modulator), coupled to the narrowband pump source, a booster amplifier, coupled to the SBS-suppressed pump output, a bandpass filter, coupled to the booster amplifier, a low-loss coupler, coupled to the bandpass filter and the receiving end of a small-signal transmission line, and means for performing non-linear mixing, coupled to the injection coupler. The narrowband pump source produces a pump output. The booster amplifier amplifies the SBS-suppressed pump output to a sufficient power level for achieving parametric gain. The bandpass filter bandpass filters the amplified, SBS-suppressed pump output and suppresses amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in the pump output.