MODULE 2

Module II
Evaporation
Introduction, Types Of Evaporators, Design
Calculation And Processes
 EVAPORATION

• Evaporation is the vaporization of a liquid. Chemical process industries, in general, use evaporator for the
vaporization of a solvent from a solution.
• However the evaporation is so important operation in chemical process industry that it is considered an
individual operation.

Evaporation is a process in which the solvent is removed from a solution of a non-volatile solute and a volatile
solvent.

Examples: Brine when heated with water (solvent) is evaporated and salt (solute) is produced.
Other typical examples of evaporation of water are concentration aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide;
glycerol, sugar; juices and glue.
In certain cases where the primary object is to get crystals by evaporation, this special process is termed
crystallisation.

On account of changes in concentration and properties of the solution the following special problems may creep
up :

1. Concentration of liquid
2. Solubility and crystal formation
3. Foaming
4. Pressure and temperature
5. Temperature sensitivity of materials
6. Entrainment of drops
7. Scale deposition on materials of construction
 Evaporator
➢Equipment, in which evaporation is performed, is known as
evaporator.
➢The evaporators used in chemical process industries are
heated by steam and have tubular surface.
➢The solution is circulated in the tube and the tubes are
heated by steam. In general the steam is the saturated steam
and thus it condenses on the outer tube surface in order to
heat the tube.
➢The circulation of the solution in the tube have reasonable
velocity in order to increase the heat transfer coefficient and
remove of scales on the inner surface of the tube.
➢The steam heated tubular evaporators may be classified as
natural and forced circulation evaporators.
 Solution properties

Knowledge of solution properties is important for the design of the equipment for evaporation. Some of
the important properties of the solution are given below,

❖Concentration

Initially, the solution may be quite dilute and the properties of the solution may be taken as the properties
of solvent. As the concentration increases, the solution becomes viscous and heat transfer resistance
increases. The crystal may grow on the heating coil or on the heating surface. The boiling points of the
solution also rise considerably. Solid or solute contact increases and the boiling temperature of the
concentrated solution became higher than that of the solvent as the same pressure (i.e. elevation in boiling
point).

❖Foaming

Many of the materials like organic substance may foam during vaporization. If the foam is stable, it may
come out along the vapor known as entrainment. Heat transfer coefficient changes abruptly for such
systems.
❖ Degradation due to high temperature

The products of many chemical, food, pharmaceutical industries etc. are very temperature sensitive and they may get
damaged during evaporation. Thus special case or technique is required for concentrating such solution

❖ Scaling

Many solution have tendency to deposit the scale on the heating surface, which may increase the heat transfer resistance.
These scales produce extra thermal resistance of significant value. Therefore, scaling in the equipment should not be
ignored thus de-scaling becomes an important and routine matter.

❖ Equipment material

The material of the equipment must be chosen considering the solution properties so that the solution should neither be
contaminated nor react with the equipment material.
 CLASSIFICATION OF EVAPORATORS
A. On the basis of the fluids to be evaporated :

Chemical evaporators

• natural circulation type

• forced circulation type.
• Falling Film Type evaporator

Natural circulation

• Horizontal tube
• Vertical tube
• Basket vertical tube
• Long tube vertical

B. On the basis of the method of evaporation :

• Single effect evaporator

• Multiple effect evaporator
 Natural circulation evaporator

As the name indicates, the circulation of the solution is natural and the density difference derives it. The
solution gets heat up and partially vaporized as it flows up the tubes. The heated liquid flows up because of the
density difference. Vapor-liquid disengagement occurs above the tube. Thick liquor comes down from this
down comer and withdrawn from the bottom. The natural-circulation evaporators may be used if the solution
is quite dilute. In the dilute solution the natural circulation will be at sufficient speed. It may also be used
when the solution does not have suspended solid particles. As the solution stays in the tube for larger time, the
solution should not be heat sensitive.

In this category the main evaporators are,

• Calandria type or short tube evaporator
• Long tube vertical evaporator

The Calandria type or short-tube evaporators have short tubes as compared to the long tube evaporators. The
short-tube evaporation uses circulation and solution flows many times in the evaporators. However, in case of
the long tube evaporator the flow is once through.
 Calandria type or short tube evaporator

Working

Thin solution/liquor is introduced to the tube side and steam into the
steam chest. The liquor covers the top of the tubes. Heat transfer to the
boiling liquid inside the tubes takes place from condensing steam on the
outside of the tubes. Vapour formed will rise through the tubes, come to a
liquid surface from which there are disengaged into a vapour space and
removed from the vapour outlet. Circulation of the cold liquor is
promoted by a central downtake and the concentrated solution/thick liquor
is removed from the bottom of the evaporator.
 Advantages:

1. Relatively inexpensive
2. As scaling occurs inside the tube, it can be easily removed by mechanical or chemical means
3. Provides moderately good heat transfer at a reasonable cost
4. High Heat Transfer coefficient
5. Requires low head room

Disadvantages:

1. Floor space required is large

2. Amount of liquid hold up in the evaporator is large
3. Since there is no circulation, these units are not suitable for viscous liquid.
 Long tube vertical evaporator
Working
In this evaporator, feed enters the bottom of the tubes, gets
heated by the condensing steam starts to boil part way up the tubes
and a mixture of vapour and liquid issues from the top of tubes and
finally impinges at a high velocity on a deflector. The deflector acts
both as a primary separator and foam breaker. Some part of the
saturated liquid is removed as a product and the remaining part is
returned to the bottom of the evaporator.
This type of evaporator is widely used handling of foamy,
frothy liquors.
It is used for the production of condensed milk and concentrating
a black liquor in the pulp and paper industry.
 Forced circulation evaporator
• Natural circulation evaporators have many limitations through they are economical as
compared to forced circulation evaporator.
• A forced circulation evaporator has a tubular exchanger for heating the solution
without boiling.
• The superheated solution flashes in the chamber, where the solution gets
concentrated.
• In forced circulation evaporator horizontal or vertical both type of design is in-
practice. The forced circulation evaporators are used for handling viscous or heat
sensitive solution.
 Forced circulation evaporator with external pump

There is an external circulating pump, usually of the centrifugal

type when crystals are present, though otherwise vane types may be
used. The liquor is either introduced at the bottom and pumped
straight through the calandria, or it is introduced in the separating
section. In most units, boiling does not take place in the tubes,
because the hydrostatic head of liquid raises the boiling point above
that in the separating space. Thus the liquor enters the bottom of the
tubes and is heated as it rises and at the same time the pressure
falls. In the separator the pressure is sufficiently low for boiling to
occur. Forced circulation evaporators work well on materials such
as meat extracts, salt, caustic soda, alum and other crystallising
materials and also with glues, alcohols, and foam-forming
materials.
 Falling film evaporators
Highly heat sensitive materials are processed in falling film evaporators.
They are generally once-through evaporator, in which the liquid enters at
the top, flows downstream inside the heater tubes as a film and leaves from
the bottom. The tubes are heated by condensing steam over the tube. As the
liquid flows down, the water evaporates and the liquid gets concentrated. To
have a film inside of the tube, the tube diameter is kept high whereas the
height low to keep the residence time low for the flowing liquid. Therefore,
these evaporators, with non-circulation and short resistance time, handle
heat sensitive material, which are very difficult to process by other method.
The main problem in falling film evaporator is the distribution of the liquid
uniformly as a thin film inside the tube.
Performance of steam heated tubular evaporators
The performance of a steam heated tubular evaporator is evaluated by the capacity and the
economy.
❖ Capacity
Capacity is defined as the no of kilograms of water vaporized per hour.
❖ Economy
Economy is the number of kg of water vaporized per kg of steam fed to the unit. Steam
consumption is very important to know, and can be estimated by the ratio of capacity divided by
the economy. That is the steam consumption (in kg/h) is
Steam Consumption = Capacity / Economy
The method of increasing the economy are

1. Use of multiple effect evaporator system

2. Vapour recompression
 SINGLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
❖ Single-effect evaporators are used when the throughput is low, when a cheap supply of steam is available, when
expensive materials of construction must be used as is the case with corrosive feedstocks and when the vapour is so
contaminated so that it cannot be reused.
❖ Single effect units may be operated in batch, semi-batch or continuous batch modes or continuously.
▪ Batch modes: batch units require that filling, evaporating and emptying are consecutive steps.
▪ Semi-batch : Semi-batch is the more usual mode of operation in which feed is added continuously in order
to maintain a constant level until the entire charge reaches the required product density.
▪ Continuous evaporators : continuous evaporators have a continuous feed and discharge and
concentrations of both feed and discharge remain constant.
 SINGLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS OPERATIONS

In single effect evaporator, the steam is fed to the evaporator

which condenses on the tube surface and the heat is transferred
to the solution. The saturated vapor comes out from the
evaporator and this vapor either may be vented out or
condensed. The concentrated solution is taken out from the
evaporator.
The economy of the single effect evaporator is thus less
than one. Moreover, the other reason for low economy is that
in many of the cases the feed temperature remains below the
boiling temperature of the solution. Therefore, a part of the
heat is utilized to raise the feed temperature to its boiling point.
 MULTIPLE EFFECT EVAPORATOR
In order to increase the economy we may consider the arrangement of the two evaporators as shown in the
fig. The figure shows that the two evaporators are connected in series. The saturated vapor coming out from
the evaporator-1 is used as steam in the second evaporator. Partially concentrated solution works as a feed to
the second evaporator. This arrangement is known as double effect evaporator in forward feed scheme. A
few of the important point that we have to note for this scheme is that the vapour leaving evaporator-2 is at
the boiling temperature of the liquid leaving the first effect. In order to transfer this heat from the
condensing vapor from the evaporator-1 to the boiling liquid in evaporator-2, the liquid in evaporator-2
must boil at a temperature considerable less than the condensation temperature of the vaporization, in
order to ensure reasonable driving force for heat transfer. A method of achieving this is to maintain a
suitable lower pressure in the second effect so that the liquid boils at a lower temperature. Therefore, if the
evaporator-1 operates at atmospheric pressure, the evaporator-2 should be operated at same suitable vacuum.
The benefit of the use of multiple effect evaporators is that in this arrangement multiple reuse of heat supplied to the
first effect is possible and results in improved steam economy.
 Boiling point elevation

The evaporators produce concentrated solution having substantially higher boiling point than that of the solvent (of the
solution) at the prevailing pressure. The increase in boiling point over that of water is known as boiling point elevation
(BPE) of the solution. As the concentration increases the boiling point of the solution also increases. Therefore, in order
to get the real temperature difference (or driving force) between the steam temperature and the solution temperature,
the BPE must be subtracted from the temperature drop. The BPE may be predicted from the steam table (in case water
is a solvent).
An empirical rule known as Dühring rule is suitable for estimating the BPE of strong solution. The Dühring rule states
that the boiling point of a given solution is a linear function of the boiling point of the pure water at the same
pressure. Therefore, if the boiling point of the solution is plotted against that of the water at the same pressure, a
straight line results. Different lines are obtained at different concentrations. The fig. 9.3 shows representative Dühring
plots for a solution (non-volatile solute in water).
Figure :Representative Dühring lines for a system (non-volatile solute in water) mole fraction of solute in the
solution (a) 0.1 (b) 0.2 (c) 0.25 (d) 0.39 (e) 0.35 (f) 0.45 (g) 0.5 (h) 0.6 (i) 0.7
The fig. helps to find out the boiling point of solution at moderate pressure. For example if a solution having ‘x’ mole
fractions of solute have a pressure over it such that water boils at T° C, by reading up from the x-axis at T °C to the line
for the x mole fraction solution and then moving horizontally to the y-axis, the boiling point of the solution can be found
at that pressure.
Enthalpy Balance

Single effect evaporator

The latent heat of condensation of the steam is transferred to the boiling solution through the heating surface in order to
vaporize the water. Thus, two enthalpy balances are required one for the liquid and another for the steam.
The following assumptions are required, in order to make the enthalpy balance,
Flow of non-condensable is negligible
The superheat and sub-cooling of the condensable steam is negligible
No solid precipitates out from the concentrating solution
𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐻𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑠 𝐻𝑠 = 𝑚ሶ 𝑣 𝐻𝑣 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑠 ℎ𝑠 ሶ + 𝑚′𝐻′
ሶ
𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐻𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑠 (𝐻 − ℎሶ ) = 𝑚ሶ 𝑣 𝐻𝑣 + 𝑚′𝐻′
𝑠 𝑠
 Consider an evaporator as shown in figure. If feed is fed at a rate of 𝑚𝑓ሶ kg/h of a weak solution containing W1%
solute and the thick liquor containing W2% solute by weight is withdrawn at rate of 𝑚′ሶ kg/h.
Let 𝑚𝑣ሶ 𝑏𝑒 the kg/h of water evaporated from it.

Let us take the overall material balance and the material balance of the solute
Overall material over evaporator:
kg/h weak solution = kg/h thick liquor + kg/h water evaporated

𝑚𝑓ሶ = 𝑚𝑣ሶ + 𝑚′ሶ

 Material balance of solute:
Solute in feed = solute in thick liquor

𝑤1 𝑚ሶ 𝑓 𝑤2 𝑚′ሶ
=
100 100
𝑤1 𝑚ሶ 𝑓 = 𝑤2 𝑚′ሶ

Let Tf , T and Ts be the temperatures of the feed entering the evaporator solution in the evaporator and
condensing steam respectively
Let λs = latent heat condensation of steam
The rate of heat transfer through heating surface from the steam side
𝑄𝑠 = 𝑚ሶ 𝑠λs
Enthalpy balance /heat balance over the evaporator

Heat associated with feed + Heat associated with steam = Heat associated with vapour leaving +Heat associated with thick
liquor
 ሶ
𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐻𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑠 λ𝑠 = 𝑚ሶ 𝑣 𝐻𝑣 + 𝑚′𝐻′

𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐻𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑠 λ𝑠 = (𝑚𝑓 −ሶ 𝑚ሶ ′ )𝐻𝑣 + 𝑚′𝐻′

ሶ

𝑚ሶ 𝑠 λ𝑠 = (𝑚𝑓 −ሶ 𝑚ሶ ′ )𝐻𝑣 + 𝑚′𝐻′-

ሶ 𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐻𝑓

Heat transfer rate on steam side = heat transfer on liquor side

Heat transfer to the solution in the evaporator by condensing steam is utilized to heat the feed solution from
Tf to T and for the evaporation of water from the solution
𝑄 = 𝑄 = 𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐶𝑝𝑓 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑓 + (𝑚ሶ𝑓 -𝑚′) ሶ λ
𝑠 v

With Qs = 𝑚𝑠ሶ λs
ሶ λ
𝑚𝑠ሶ λs = 𝑚𝑓ሶ 𝐶𝑝𝑓 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑓 + (𝑚𝑓ሶ -𝑚′) v

For negligible boiling point rise, λv = λ = latent heat by vaporization of water at a pressure in the vapour space and can
be read from steam tables
ሶ λ
𝑚𝑠ሶ λs = 𝑚ሶ𝑓 𝐶𝑝𝑓 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑓 + (𝑚ሶ𝑓 - 𝑚′) v

𝑚𝑠ሶ λs = 𝑚𝑓ሶ 𝐶𝑝𝑓 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑣λv

The boiling point of a solution (T) corresponding to a pressure in the vapour space can be obtained by knowing the
boiling point elevation point of pure water at that pressure , if T’ is the boiling point of water at certain pressure of the
operation and P is the boiling point elevation , then

T= T’ + P
The heat transfer surface is calculated with the help of the following eq:

Q= UA ∆T

ሶ ∆T
Q = 𝑚𝑠 λs =UA

∆T = Ts - T
An evaporator operating at atmospheric pressure is fed at the rate of 10000 kg/h of weak liquor containing
4% caustic soda. Thick liquor leaving the evaporator containing 25% caustic soda. Find the capacity of the
evaporator.
Basis: 10,000 kg/h of weak liquor entering the evaporator
Material balance of caustic soda:
Caustic soda in the feed = Caustic soda in the thick liquor
0.04 x 10000= 0.25 x 𝑚′ሶ
ሶ 1600 kg/h
𝑚′=
Overall material balance:
Kg/h of feed = kg/h water evaporated + kg/h of thick liquor
10000= kg/h water evaporated + 1600
Water evaporated = 10000 – 1600 = 8400 kg/h
Capacity of the evaporator = 8400 kg/h
 An evaporator is operating at atmospheric pressure. It is desired to concentrate a feed from 5% solute
to 20% solute at a rate of 5000 kg/h. Dry saturated steam at a pressure corresponding to the saturation
temperature of 339K is used. The feed is at 298K and the boiling point rise BPE is 5K. The overall heat
transfer coefficient is 2350 W/m2.K. Calculate the economy of the evaporator and the area of the heat
transfer to be provided.
Data: Treating the solution as a pure water and neglecting the BPR, the latent heat of condensation of
steam at 399K is 2185 KJ/kg.
Latent heat of vaporization of water at 101.325 KPa and 373K= 2257 KJ/Kg
Specific heat of feed = 4.187 KJ/kg. K

Solution: Solute in the feed = solute in the thick liquor

0.05 x 5000 = 0.20 x 𝑚′ሶ

Overall material balance:
Kg/h of feed = kg/h water evaporated + kg/h of thick liquor
Water evaporated = 𝑚𝑣ሶ = 5000 – 1250 = 3750 kg/h
 λ𝑠 = 2185 KJ/kg 𝑄𝑠 = 𝑚ሶ 𝑠λs
𝑄𝑠 = 𝑚ሶ 𝑠λs = 4640.1 x 2185
λ𝑣 = 2257 KJ/kg
= 10138619 KJ/hr
Temp of thick liquid
= 10138619x1000/3600
T = T’ + BPE = 373 +5 = 378 K
= 2816283J/s
Tf = 298K
𝑚ሶ 𝑓 = 5000 kg/h Ts = saturation temp of steam = 399K

Cpf = 4.187 KJ/kg.K ∆T = Ts – T = 399 – 378 = 21K

𝑚𝑠ሶ λs = 𝑚𝑓ሶ 𝐶𝑝𝑓 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑣λv U =2350 W/m2.K

ሶ
𝑚𝑠 𝑥2185 = 5000𝑥 4.187 378 − 298 + 3750 𝑥 2257 Q= UA ∆T

𝑚𝑠 = 4640.1 𝑘𝑔/ℎ A = 2816283 / (2350 X21)

Steam Consumption = Capacity / Economy
A = 57.07 m2
4640.1= 3750 / Economy
Economy = 0.808 kg evaporation/kg steam
Temperature profile in an evaporator
❖ If TBP is the boiling of the liquid in the evaporator as the prevailing pressure, then the temperature of the liquid in the tube
will be TBP. The temperature of the recycled stream entering the tubes will then also be TBP, if the feed is sufficiently hot. Now,
we will imagine how the temperature is changing in the tube.
❖ Let us see that when the liquid flows up in the tube, its temperature rises because at the bottom of the tube the pressure is
higher (vapor chamber pressure + hydrostatic pressure + frictional loss) as compared to the top of the tube. Therefore, a liquid
starts boiling at a level when its temperature rises to its saturation temperature at the pressure at that point. After the boiling in
between the tube, as liquid goes up in the tube, the local temperature drops because of the reduction in the local pressure. It
may also be mentioned that as the liquid moves up it gets concentrated and thus the boiling point of the solution also increases
as the liquid traversed up in the tube.
❖ The liquid temperature profile in the tube is shown in the fig. for low (plot i) and high (plot ii) liquid velocity. The liquid
temperature in the tubes increases up to certain height and then the temperature decreases due to the loss of superheat. At
higher velocity the temperature raise is less and the liquid boils near the top of the tube.
❖ The plot (iii) shows the shell side temperature profile where steam is heating the tube. As can be seen, the slightly
superheated steam enters the shell and soon the temperature of the steam losses its sensible heat and then condenses on
the tubes and provide the latent heat of condensation (at temperature Tsteam) to the tube and before boiling from the shell
may get slightly sub-cooled.
❖ The plot (iv) is the boiling temperature of the water (Tw) at the pressure in the vapor chamber. Thus, the BPE=TBP-
Tw and the true temperature during force is the difference between the plot (iii) and the plot (i) or (ii).
❖ Thus, the real temperature driving force will be the difference in steam temperature and liquid temperature always
the high. However, it is practically not easy to determine the temperature profile in the tube. Therefore, the driving force
can be taken as (Tsteam - TBP) for the design purpose.
 Heat transfer coefficient
The correlation used in the boiling and condensation may be used here. If the evaporator operates at very
high liquid velocity so that the boiling occurs at the top end of the tube, the following correlation may be
used,

where, D is the inner diameter of the tube, k is the thermal conductivity of the liquid or solution.

Fouling is a concern in the evaporator; therefore the following equation may be used for the overall heat transfer
coefficient with time,

where, t is the time for where the evaporator is the operation, α is a constant for a particular liquid, Udirty and Uclean all
the overall heat transfer coefficient of the dirty and clean evaporator.
 Method of feeding: Multiple effect evaporators

Multiple effect evaporator : Increasing the evaporator per kg of steam by using a series of evaporator between
the steam supply and condenser is called multiple effect evaporator

Four different feeding arrangement of feed to the evaporators are available.

1. Forward feed arrangement
• The liquid feed is pumped into the first effect and the partially concentrated solution is sent to the second
effect and so on. The heating steam is also sent through the first effect to another effect. This particular strategy is
known as forward feed.
• In the forward feed the concentration of the liquid increases from first effect to the subsequent effects till the
last effect.
• It may be noted that the first effect is that in which the fresh steam is fed, whereas the vapour generated in
the first effect is fed to the next evaporator (connected in series with the first effect) is known as second effect
and so on.
• The forward feed requires a pump for feeding dilute solution to the first effect.
• The first effect is generally at atmospheric pressure and the subsequent effects are in
decreasing pressure. Thus, the liquid may move without the pump from one effect to another
effect in the direction of decreasing pressure.
• However, to take out the concentrated liquid from the last effect may need a pump
Advantages
a. Simple to operate
b. Less expensive
c. The liquid flow from one effect to the next effect driven by the partial differential between successive effects so
no pump is required
d. Less chance of deterioration of heat sensitive material

Disadvantages
a. Reduced rate of heat transfer in second and higher effects
b. Feed should not below the boiling point because this reduces steam economy by consuming external steam to
supply sensible heat
 2. Backward feed arrangement

• The backward feed arrangement is very common arrangement.

• A triple-effect evaporator in backward arrangement is shown in the fig.
• In this arrangement the dilute liquid is fed to the last effect and then pumped through the successive effects
to the first effect.
• The method requires additional pumps (generally one pump in between two effects) as shown in the fig.
• Backward feed is advantageous and gives higher capacity than the forward feed when the concentrated
liquid is viscous, because the viscous fluid is at higher temperature being in the first effect.
• However, this arrangement provides lower economy as compared to forward feed arrangement.
Backward feed arrangement
Advantages
a. The most concentrated liquor is in contact with the highest temperature steam
b. Lower viscosity
c. Higher heat transfer rate in first effect

Disadvantages

a. Inter-effect pumps are necessary

b. Higher risk of damage of the viscous product subjected to a higher temperature
c. Risk of fouling
 3. Mixed feed arrangement
• The combination of forward-feed and backward-feed
is known as mixed feed arrangement.
• In mixed feed the dilute liquid enters in between
effects, flows in forward feed to the end of the effect and
then pumped back to the first effect for final concentration.
• Figure shows triple effect mixed feed arrangement.
• This mixed feed arrangement eliminates the need of a
few of the pumps.
• Moreover, it still passes the most concentrated liquid
through the first effect, which is having higher temperature
among all the effect (being at highest pressure compared
to other effects).
Advantages

a. Combines the simplicity of forward feed and economy of backward feed

b. Useful for concentration of a highly viscous feed

Disadvantages

a. More complex piping and instrumentation

b. More expensive
 4. Parallel feed arrangement
• Another common evaporator arrangements, which is more common in crystallization is parallel feed where feed
is admitted individually to all the effects.
• Advantage: — It is suitable where feed has to be concentrated slightly.
Advantages
a. More suitable for use with crystallizers
b. Better control

Disadvantages
a. More complex arrangement
b. Pumps generally required for each effect
 Material and heat Balance in Multiple effect Evaporator

Enthalpy/ heat balance over individual effects are:

For the first effect:
ሶ 𝐻𝑣1 + 𝑚1ሶ ′𝐻1′
𝑚𝑓ሶ 𝐻𝑓 + 𝑚ሶ 𝑠 λ𝑠 = 𝑚𝑣1
For the second effect:
𝑚1ሶ ′𝐻1 + 𝑚𝑣1 ሶ 𝐻𝑣2 + 𝑚2ሶ ′𝐻2
ሶ λ𝑣1 = 𝑚𝑣2
For the third effect:
𝑚 ሶ ′𝐻2 + 𝑚𝑣2
2 ሶ 𝐻𝑣3 + 𝑚 ሶ ′𝐻
ሶ λ𝑣2 = 𝑚𝑣3 3 3
 Where Hf, Hv, and H are the enthalpies of various streams and λ𝑣1 , λ𝑣2 , λ𝑣3 are the latent heat corresponding
to the pressure in the respective effects
For a barometric condenser

𝑚𝑣3ሶ λv3 = 𝑚𝑤
ሶ 𝐶𝑝𝑤 𝑇𝑣3 −
𝑇

True ∆𝑇 = 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∆𝑇 − 𝐵𝑃𝑅

𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑣
𝑇𝑣 = temp of water vapour corresponding to the pressure existing in an effect
𝑇𝑣3 = temp of vapour corresponding to the pressure in the vapour space of third effect

First Effect Second Effect Third Effect

Steam Ts Tv1 Tv2
Liquor TL1 TL2 TL3
Vapour TV1 TV2 TV3
∆T Ts- TL1 Ts- TL2 Ts- TL3
BPR TL1 - TV1 TL2 – TV2 TL3 – TV3
 For a triple effect evaporator
𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3
𝑈1 𝐴1 ∆T1 = 𝑈2 𝐴2 ∆T2 = 𝑈3 𝐴3 ∆T3

To obtain economy, areas in all effects are equal

𝐴1 = 𝐴2 = 𝐴3

𝑈1 ∆T1 = 𝑈2 ∆T2 = 𝑈3 ∆T3

∆T2 = (𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) ∆T1

∆T3 = (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ∆T1

∆T = ∆T1 + ∆T2 + ∆T3

∆T = ∆T1 +(𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) ∆T1 + (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ∆T1

∆T = ∆T1 [ 1 + (𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) + (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ]

∆T = Ts − Tv3
 For a triple effect evaporator
𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3
𝑈1 𝐴1 ∆T1 = 𝑈2 𝐴2 ∆T2 = 𝑈3 𝐴3 ∆T3

To obtain economy, areas in all effects are equal

𝐴1 = 𝐴2 = 𝐴3

𝑈1 ∆T1 = 𝑈2 ∆T2 = 𝑈3 ∆T3

∆T2 = (𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) ∆T1

∆T3 = (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ∆T1

∆T = ∆T1 + ∆T2 + ∆T3

∆T = ∆T1 +(𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) ∆T1 + (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ∆T1

∆T = ∆T1 [ 1 + (𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) + (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ]

∆T = Ts − Tv3
A triple effect evaporator is concentrating a solution that has no appreciable boiling point elevation. The temp
of stream to the first effect is 381.3K and the boiling point of the solution in the last effect is 324.7K, The
overall heat transfer coefficient in the first, second and third effect are 2800, 2200 and 1100 W/m2.K.
respectively. At what temp will the solution boil in the first and second effects?

Solution: ∆𝑇 = 381.3 − 324.7 = 56.6𝐾

∆T3 = 56.6 − 11.75 + 14.95 = 29.9𝐾
∆T = ∆T1 [ 1 + (𝑈1 /𝑈2 ) + (𝑈1 /𝑈3 ) ] ∆T1 = 𝑇𝑠 − T1’

56.6 = ∆T1 [ 1 + (2200 /2200) +(2800/1100) ] T1’ = 381.3 − 11.75 = 369.55k

∆T2 =T1’ - T2’
∆T1 = 11.75 K
T2’ =369.55 - 14.95 = 354.6K
∆T = ∆T2 [ 1 + (𝑈2 /𝑈1 ) + (𝑈2 /𝑈3 ) ]

56.6 = ∆T2 [1 + (2200/2800) + (2200/1100) ]

∆T2 =14.95K
Thank You