500 CRYSTALLIZATION

for groups not to exceed four units, with flow of the or the controlled evaporation in a batch vacuum
magma from usually cascading down
one section crystallizer as the pressure is lowered results in
into the head of the next section. The shock of cooling as well as concentration of the solution.
cascading usually increases nucleation and should be The provision of adequate evacuator capacity for
avoided if possible. Seed crystals are sometimes the low pressures required is a major consideration
added, or spontaneous nucleation or the inevitable unless cooling water is available at a temperature
seeding by microscopic crystals of the salt floating sufficiently below the saturation temperature of the

Steam
Water
Steam

Steam^ ^ Water
Barometric
condenser

Barometric
condenser

2-Stage
steamjet
ejector
with
intercondenser

Propeller
rgj "agitators

\J3affle to reduce
short-circuiting

-Dump valve ^Crystalholding

Discharge

Via. 473. Vacuum crystallizer with recirculation. Fig. 474. Vacuum crystallizer with agi Fia. 475. Oslo vacuum crys
(JSwenson Evaporator Co.) tators. (Swenson Evaporator Co.) tallizer. (Simison Evaporator
Co.)

in the atmosphere of a plant is depended upon to vapor so that direct condensation of the solvent
start crystal growth. Crystals are removed at the vapor is possible. Under such conditions a vacuum
end of the crystallizer by an inclined spiral flight pump or a one- or two-stage steam ejector is ade
conveyor which lifts them onto a drain board or a quate to maintain the reduced pressure by simply
conveyor which carries the crystals to centrifuges or removing the noncondensable gases. Usually the
any other drying operations that may be required. operating pressure required to attain the desired
The vacuum crystallizer is a device for cooling the crystallization is that the evolved vapor
so low
solution by evaporation of a portion of the solvent. cannot be condensed directly by the cooling water
It may be batch or continuous in operation. In available. In this case a steam jet booster, as shown
principle, the vacuum crystallizer is little more in Fig. 473, is used to compress the vapor and non-
than a vessel which may be evacuated to extremely condensables before condensation. The removal of
low pressure, ordinarily by steam jet ejectors, into noncondensables saturated at the temperature of
which the feed may be introduced. The spontaneous condensation is accomplished by steam jets as de
flashing of feed in a continuous vacuum crystallizer scribed.