EQUIPMENTS ON EVAPORATION

Amboang, Novieniel

Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, MSU- Iligan Institue of Technology,

Philippines

Background

Evaporation is the process of removing vapor from boiling liquid to form a more
concentrated solution. Commonly, it is the removal of water from an aqueous solution.
Evaporation mostly happens in the concentration of sugar, HCl, NaOH, glycerol, glue, milk,
and orange juice. In most of the processes, the evaporated water is discarded with the exception
of certain cases wherein the water is used as boiler feed, special chemical purposes, or other
purposes. Evaporation is also used in the purification of seawater into drinking water.

Equipment

Equipment used for evaporation uses heat to vaporize the solvent in a solution. The heat is
generally provided by the condensation of steam on one side of a surface with the
evaporating liquid on the other side. The type of equipment varies with respect to the
configuration of the heat transfer and the means of circulation or agitation of the liquid.

1. Horizontal-tube Natural Circulation Evaporator

In this evaporator, steam enters tubes where it condenses and the steam condensate
leaves the other end of the tubes. The boiling liquid solution covers the tubes and the
vapor leaving the surface goes through a de-entraining device then leaving out the top.
This type of evaporator is cheap and is used for nonviscous liquids with high heat
transfer coefficients. This evaporator also operates continuously.
 Figure 2. Horizontal-tube Evaporator

2. Vertical-type Natural Circulation Evaporator

In this type of evaporator, vertical tubes are used wherein the liquid flows inside
the tubes and steam condenses outside the tubes. Due to boiling and change in density,
the liquid rises in the tubes and flows down through a downcomer. This type of
evaporator is used with nonviscous liquids. This is often called a short-tube evaporator.

Figure 3. Vertical-type Evaporator

3. Long-tube Vertical-type Evaporator

This type of evaporator uses long tubes about 3 to 10 meters long and vapor bubbles
form inside the tubes causing a pumping action which allows the liquid to flow at quite
high velocities. This process is commonly used in producing milk.

Figure 4. Long-tube Evaporator

4. Falling-film-type Evaporator

It is a variation of the long-tube type evaporator wherein the liquid is fed at the top
of the tubes and flows down the walls of a thin film. This type is commonly used for
fruit juices.
 Figure 5. Falling-film Evaporator

5. Forced-circulation-type Evaporator
This is also a variation of the long-tube type evaporator wherein a pipe connection
is added with a pump between the outlet concentrate line and the feed line. This type
of evaporator is useful for viscous liquids.

Figure 6. Forced-circulation Evaporator

6. Agitated-film Evaporator
This evaporator is a modified falling-film evaporator with a single, large, jacketed
tube containing an agitator. Liquid is poured at the top and flows down into vertical
agitator blades. The concentrated liquid flows out the bottom while vapor flows out the
top. This evaporator is useful for viscous materials such as rubber latex, gelatin,
antibiotics, and fruit juices.
 Figure 7. Agitated-film Evaporator

REFERENCES

Geankoplis, C. J. (2003). Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles (Includes Unit
Operations) Fourth Edition. Prentice Hall.