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What are the factors need to be considered while selecting wash water to an overhead of the crude column? Currently, the only source of wash water is from desalted crude and stripping steam to the column. We have observed salt deposition in the overhead coolers and of the opinion that wash water will be a good option in future revamp in spite of using chemicals in the overhead.
 
Answers
20/03/2016 A: Eric Vetters, ProCorr Consulting Services, ewvetters@yahoo.com
The location of the injection, the design of the spray nozzle, and the amount of wash water are key variables. When adding wash water to an existing overhead system, it is important to make sure that the overhead drum and boot are adequately sized to make sure that the added water volume does not lead to water being entrained into the reflux/product. Water from the overhead accumulator is normally recycled as wash water.