High-Quality Oil Desalter With Edge Design
Increase refinery profitability by processing a wider range of crudes, improving throughput, reducing maintenance-related costs, and enhancing crude unit reliability with EDGE™ Desalter technology.
Design and Build Quality of Edge Oil Desalters
Salt, water, and solids in crude oil accelerate corrosion, reduce throughput, and increase operating costs across downstream refining assets. EDGE™ Desalter technology helps refiners remove these contaminants more effectively.
As the sole authorized manufacturer of EDGE desalters and dehydrators, FET combines Howe-Baker‘s 75 years of proven performance with modern electrostatic separation technology.
Our desalters are used in refineries and production facilities worldwide, and FET is the only official source for EDGE designs, parts, and manufacturing support.
We provide more stable desalter operation, minimizing process upsets and supporting longer refinery run lengths.
Key Benefits
Reduced salt carryover
Reduces corrosion, minimizes chemical consumption, and helps prevent costly fouling-related downtime.
Lower water carryover
Improves process stability, supports higher throughput, and reduces wastewater treatment expenses.
Lower power consumption
Intelligent electrode design injects emulsion below high-intensity grids, saving energy without sacrificing performance.
20+ year service life
Solid-steel rod electrodes are unaffected by high oxygen concentrations and built to last in demanding conditions.
ISO certified
Built in line with ISO standards and global industry best practices. ATEX certification is also available for relevant environments.
ForuMix compatible
Works seamlessly with the ForuMix high-efficiency multiphase mixer for improved flow separation and homogeneity.
EDGE I
Original EDGE
The most widely deployed EDGE design. Three variable-electrified electrode grids maximize performance while keeping power consumption low. Best for lighter crudes and standard production applications.
Applications
- Lighter crudes
- High water content
- Production applications
EDGE II
Heavy Crude Specialist
Built for difficult-to-treat crudes. A dual-flow distribution system rapidly coalesces water droplets in high-viscosity oil, improving effluent quality and reducing chemical use. Available in 1, 2, or 3 electrode configurations.
Applications
- Heavy / high-viscosity oil
- High solids content
- Emulsion-sensitive feedstocks
EDGE III
Maximum flexibility
Combines EDGE I and EDGE II systems into one vessel. Handles everything from light, high-water crudes to heavy, solid-laden oils. A single unit replaces two separate desalter and dehydration units.
Applications
- Multiple crude slates
- All viscosity ranges
- High solids + emulsions
NU-STATIC
Distillate treater
Functions as a distillate treater or coalescer. Supports processing of natural condensates, aromatics, reformer feed, virgin naphtha, jet fuel and kerosene hydroxide, alkylate, and distillates.
Applications
- Natural condensates
- Jet fuel / kerosene
- Virgin naphtha
- Alkylate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is crude oil desalting and why is it necessary?
Crude oil desalting is the process of removing dissolved salts, water, and suspended solids from crude oil before it enters the refinery. Salts such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium chlorides can cause severe corrosion in downstream refinery equipment, particularly in crude distillation units. Effective desalting reduces corrosion, lowers maintenance costs, and extends the life of downstream equipment.
How does the EDGE Technology work?
1. Crude oil enters the vessel
Inlet headers distribute the crude and water mixture evenly across the vessel, creating a stable flow pattern that maximizes separation efficiency.
2. Electrical fields excite brine droplets
High-voltage AC electrical fields span the entire hydrocarbon volume. Low-intensity fields remove free water, while high-intensity fields break challenging emulsions that resist conventional separation methods.
3. Water and solids wash out
As brine droplets coalesce and settle, excess water and solids are flushed out through mud wash headers. Clean, treated crude moves forward to downstream refining.
- EDGE Vessel
- Electrodes
- AC electrostatic coalescing
What technology do EDGE desalters use?
EDGE desalters use an AC-type electrostatic coalescing process. High-voltage electrical fields are applied inside the vessel, causing brine droplets suspended in the crude oil to coalesce and settle out. This is one of the most energy-efficient and effective methods for crude oil desalting and dehydration available in the industry.
What is the difference between EDGE I, EDGE II, and EDGE III?
EDGE I is optimized for lighter crudes and production applications. EDGE II is specifically engineered for difficult-to-treat crudes, including high-viscosity, high-solids, and emulsion-sensitive feedstocks.
EDGE III combines both systems in a single vessel, offering the greatest operational flexibility for facilities processing multiple crude types or anticipating feedstock changes.
Can EDGE desalters be retrofitted into existing vessels?
Yes. FET offers retrofit and revamp solutions designed to upgrade existing desalting vessels with EDGE technology. This is often a more cost-effective approach than full replacement and is carried out by Forum’s experienced field teams from consultation through final installation.
What is the expected service life of EDGE electrode components?
Solid-steel rod electrodes used in EDGE desalters are unaffected by high oxygen concentrations and provide a typical service life of more than 20 years under normal operating conditions.
Does EDGE technology work with ForuMix™?
Yes. EDGE III (and other configurations where applicable) is fully compatible with the ForuMix™ high-efficiency, in-line multiphase mixer, which creates homogeneous shear force across the process flow for improved mixing and flow separation.
What aftermarket support does FET offer for EDGE equipment?
FET provides a full range of aftermarket services including inspections, troubleshooting, commissioning, operator training, spare parts, entrance bushings, transactor replacements, and monitoring panel parts. FET’s TWIC-certified global team supports electrostatic equipment worldwide.
Is EDGE technology certified to international standards?
EDGE products are developed in accordance with ISO certification and applicable industry standards. Forum also offers CN registration and ATEX certification for equipment used in relevant environments
Who owns the original designs for Howe-Baker desalters, dehydrators, and distillate treaters?
Forum Energy Technologies (FET) acquired the Howe-Baker product line of desalters, dehydrators and distillate treaters in 2010, including all design and technical drawings. As the owners of the original design, FET is the only authorized equipment manufacturer. Since the 1950’s, over 500 units using the Howe-Baker technology have been installed, originally by the original Howe-Baker Engineers, and its successors in interest, Chicago Bridge & Iron, Cameron, Allied Technologies, and more recently by FET. View Our History for more information, or contact us to receive quotes or other information.