Sensors and instrumentation for monitoring and control of multi-phase separation

The use of sensors and instrumentation for monitoring and control of multi phase separation of crude oil in oil industry is discussed. Crude oil is pumped to large tanks to separate gas, oil, water, and other materials. It is important to monitor the separation process and to measure the multi interfaces between materials, such as gas foam, foam oil, oil emulsion, and water sand. The gamma ray systems are the multi interface level measurement systems, which are based on measuring attenuation of gamma radiation to detect the density profile in a separator. Because of different densities of oil, water, emulsion, foam and sand, the radiation signals are attenuated differently and multi interfaces can be measured. Ultrasonic transducers is used for single level measurement and are used to determine a single interface between gas liquid or gas solids. Capacitance transducers are designed to measure a single interface level. Inductive systems are used for multi interface level measurement.