The word "desalter," which means a device used to remove salt from water, is spelled as /diːˈsɔːltər/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced as "dee," the second syllable as "saw" with a long "o" sound, and the third syllable as "lt" with no vowel sound between the "l" and "t." The final syllable is pronounced as "ər" with a schwa sound. This spelling reflects the English language pronunciation of the word and enables correct pronunciation with ease.
A desalter is a specialized equipment or unit used in the petroleum refining industry to remove salt and impurities from crude oil or other hydrocarbons during the refining process. It is an essential component of the refinery process, primarily employed in the early stages of crude oil treatment.
The desalter works by mixing water with the crude oil in a high-intensity mixer, causing the salts and other impurities to dissolve into the water. This water-oil mixture then enters a settling tank where gravity facilitates the separation of the water and oil layers. The oil layer is taken further into the refining process, while the water containing the impurities is subjected to additional treatment or sent to wastewater treatment facilities.
The desalter's main objective is to prevent corrosion and fouling in downstream distillation units, as salt and impurities can damage refinery equipment, catalytic converters, and cause operational issues. By extracting the salts and impurities, desalters contribute to producing higher-quality petroleum products with better stability, reduced corrosion potential, and improved efficiency in numerous refining processes.
Desalters are designed to handle various types of crude oil, taking into account factors like temperature, flow rate, water quality, and the desired salt content. They are often customized according to the specific needs of the refinery and can be found in different sizes, ranging from small units in oil fields to large-scale units in major refineries.
The word "desalter" is a compound word formed from the prefix "de-" meaning "reverse" or "remove" and the noun "salter" derived from the verb "salt", which means to add salt.
The prefix "de-" comes from Latin and is widely used in English to negate or reverse the meaning of a word. In this case, it implies the removal or reversal of the process of salting.
The noun "salter" derives from the Middle English word "salt" which comes from the Old English word "sealt". The verb "salt" has its roots in the Proto-Germanic language, where it originated from the word "saltaz".
Therefore, "desalter" essentially refers to a device or process that removes or reverses the action of salting, typically in the context of removing salt from water or other substances.