Chapter No 13

EVAPORATION

Q.1 Define Evaporation and write factors affecting rate of evaporation.

i. Evaporation is defined as the process of removal of water from an

aqueous solution or food product to concentrate it.
ii. In evaporation, the vapour from the boiling liquid solution us
removed and more concentrated solution remains.

The basic factors that affect the rate of evaporation are the:

a. Rate at which heat can be transferred to the liquid,

b. Quantity of heat required to evaporate each kg of water,
c. Maximum allowable temperature of the liquid,
d. Pressure at which the evaporation takes place,
e. Changes that may occur in the foodstuff during the course of the
evaporation process.

Important practical considerations in evaporators are the:

a. Maximum allowable temperature, which may be substantially below

100°C.
b. Promotion of circulation of the liquid across the heat transfer
surfaces, to attain reasonably high heat transfer coefficients and to
prevent any local overheating,
c. Viscosity of the fluid which will often increase substantially as the
concentration of the dissolved materials increases,
d. Tendency to foam which makes separation of liquid and vapour
difficult.
Q.2 Explain Single Effect Evaporator.

i. Considered as a piece of process plant, the evaporator has two

principal functions, to exchange heat and to separate the vapour that is
formed from the liquid.
ii. The typical evaporator is made up of three functional sections:
a. The heat exchanger, to exchange heat between heating medium
and product medium
b. The evaporating section, where the liquid boils and evaporates,
c. The separator in which the vapour leaves the liquid and passes
off to the condenser or to other equipment.
iii. In many evaporators, all three sections are contained in a single
vertical cylinder. In the centre of the cylinder there is a steam heating
section, with pipes passing through it in which the evaporating liquors
rise.
iv. At the top of the cylinder, there are baffles, which allow the vapours
to escape but check liquid droplets that may accompany the vapours
from the liquid surface.

Fig. 7.1 Single effect Evaporator

Material balance over the Single effect evaporator

1. Mass Balance equation

F=V+L
2. Component Balance equation
F . xf = L .xl
Where, F = Feed rate
V= Vapour production rate
L = Concentration liquid rate
xf, xl = Solid content of the feed and concentration liquid

Energy balance over the Single effect evaporator

Energies of entering stream = Energies of leaving stream

Energy in Feed + Energy in Steam = Energy in Vapour + Energy in Condensate

+ Energy in Concentrated Liquid

F. hf + S Hs = V. Hv + S. hs + L. hL

F. hf + S (Hs-hL) = V. Hv + L. hL

F. hf + S s = V. Hv + L. hL

If the condensate outlet temperature is less than the steam temperature

F. hf + S [s+ Cpw T] = V. Hv + L. hL

Where, hf = Enthalpy of Feed = Cpf T

hf = Enthalpy of Conc. Liquid = CpL T
Hv = Latent heat of vaporization at Pressure Pv
s= Latent heat of condensation of steam
Hs = Enthalpy of Steam at Pressure Ps and Temperature Ts
hs = Enthalpy of Steam Condensate at Pressure Ps and Temp. Ts

The Heat transfer is given by equation

Q = U A ∆Tm = U A (Ts − Tl )
Where, U = Overall Heat transfer coefficient (W/m20C)
A = Heat transfer area (m2)
Tm = Maximum Temp. Difference (0C)
Ts = Steam Temperature (0C)

Steam Economy is the ratio of vapour produced to the steam required.

Vapour Produced V
Steam Economy = =
Steam Required S

Q. 3 Explain Multiple Effect Evaporators.

i. To reduce overall energy costs, evaporators may be placed in series

such that the vapour from one evaporator is the heat source to
evaporate water from the next unit in the series.
ii. In this system steam for evaporation is required for the first unit
only. The latent heat of vaporization of the condensing steam
provides energy to evaporate water in the first stage of the
evaporator. Vapour from this stage is condensed in the next effect
to vaporize the water there. This continues through all effects.
iii. In a multiple effect system, one kilogram of steam input will
evaporate as many kilograms of water as there are effects.”This
would imply that for a triple effect system, one kilogram of steam
would produce three kilograms of vapour.
Forward Feed Multiple effect Evaporator

Fig. 7.2 Forward Feed Multiple effect Evaporators

i. In this type of evaporator the fresh feed is added to the first effect
and flows to the next in the same direction as the vapour flow.
ii. This method of operation is used when the feed is hot or when the
final concentrated product might be damaged at high temperature.
iii. The boiling point temperature decreases from effect to effect. This
means that if the pressure of first effect is at P1= 1 atm., the last
will be under vacuum at a pressure P3 i.e. P1>P2>P3 and T1>T2>T3.

Backward Feed Multiple effect Evaporator

Fig. 7.3 Forward Feed Multiple Effect Evaporators

i. In the backward feed operation shown in Fig. 7.3 for triple effect
evaporator, the fresh fed enters the last and coldest effect and
continuous on until concentrated product leaves the first effect.
ii. This method of reverse feed is advantageous when the fresh feed is
cold, since a smaller amount of liquid must be heated to the higher
temperature in the second and the first effect. However, liquid
pumps must be used in each effect, since the flow is from low to
high pressure.
iii. This reverse feed method is also used when the concentrated
product is highly viscous. The high temperatures in the early
effects reduce the viscosity and give reasonable heat transfer
coefficients.
3. Parallel Feed Multiple effect evaporator

i. Parallel feed in multiple effect evaporators involve the adding of

fresh feed and withdrawal of concentrated product from each effect.
The vapour from each effect is still used to heat next effect.
ii. This method of operation is mainly used when the feed is almost
saturated and solid crystals are the product as in the evaporation
of brine to make salt.

Problem 1 A single effect evaporator is required to concentrate a solution

from the 10% solids to 30% solids at the rate of 250 kg/h. if the pressure in
the evaporator is 77 kPa absolute, and if the steam is available at 200 kpa
gauge, calculate the quantity of steam required per hour and the area of
heat transfer surface if the overall heat transfer coefficient is 1700 J/m2s0C.
Assume that the temperature of feed is 180C and that the boiling point of
the solution under the pressure of 77 kPa absolute is 910C. Assume also the
specific heat of the solution is same as that of the water that is 4.186
kJ/kg0C and the latent heat of vaporization of the solution is the same as
that of water under the same condition.

a. The condensing temperature of a steam at 200 kPa (guage) is 1340C

and latent heat 2164 kJ/kg
b. The condensing temperature at 77 kPa (abs.) is 910C and latent heat
is 2281 kJ/kg.

Given:

i. F=250 kg/h
ii. xf=10 %
iii. xL=30%
iv. U=1700 J/m2s0C
v. Tf=180C
vi. TL=Tv=910C
vii. Cpf= CpL=4.186 kJ/kg0C
viii. =2164 kJ/kg
ix. Hv=2281 kJ/kg
x. L=?
xi. V=?
xii. A=?
Sol.

1. Material balance over the Single effect evaporator

Mass Balance equation
F=V+L
250= V + L..................... (1)
Component Balance equation
F . xf = L .xl
250 x 10 = L x 30
2500
𝐿= 30

L= 83.34 kg/h
From equation 1;
V= 166.66 kg/h

2. Energy balance over the Single effect evaporator

Energies of entering stream = Energies of leaving stream

Energy in Feed + Energy in Steam = Energy in Vapour + Energy in Condensate
+ Energy in Concentrated Liquid

F. hf + S [s+ CpwT] = V. Hv + L. hL

F Cpf T + S [s+ CpwT] = V. Hv + L. CpLT

The Datum Temperature is 910C

250 x 4.186 x (18-91) + S [2164+4.186 x(134-91)] = 166.66 x 2281 + 83.34x4.186 x(91-91)

-76394.5+2343.998 S =380151.46 + 0
2343.998 S =456545.96
456545.96
𝑆=
2343.998
S = 194.78 kg/h
Heat supplied by the steam,
Q = S [s+ CpwT]
Q = 194.78 x [2164+4.186 x(134-91)]
Q = 456560.4224 kJ/h
456560.4224
Q=
3600
Q=126.82 kW=126820 W
The Heat transfer is given by equation

Q = U A ∆Tm = U A (Ts − T1 )

126820 = 1700 A (134 − 91)

126820
A=
1700 x 43

A = 1.734 m2

Ans:
 i. The Quantity of steam required = 194.78 kg/h
ii. The area of heat transfer surface = 1.734 m2
iii. The Vapour Produced (V)=166.64 kg/h
iv. The Concentrated liquid = 83.34 kg/h

Problem No. 2: Estimate the requirement of steam, heat transfer surface and
the evaporating temperature in each effect, for a triple effect evaporator,
evaporating 55 kg/h of a 10% solution up to 30% solution. Steam is available
at 200 kPa gauge and the pressure in the evaporation space in the final effect
is 60 kPa absolute. Assume that the overall heat transfer coefficient are 2270,
2000, 1420 J/m2s0C in the first, second and third effect respectively. Neglect
sensible heat effect and assume no boiling point elevation, and equal heat
transfer in each effect.
Problem No. 3 How much water would be required in a jet condenser to
condense the vapours from an evaporator evaporating 5000 kg h-1 of water
under a pressure of 15 cm of mercury? The condensing water is available at
18°C and the highest allowable temperature for water discharged from the
condenser is 35°C.
What heat exchange area would be required for a surface condenser working
under the same conditions as the jet condenser, assuming a U value of 2270 J
m-2 s-1 °C-1 and disregarding any sub-cooling of the liquid.
Given:
i. Quantity of Condensate, m = 5000 kg/h
ii. Pressure in evaporator, Z = 15 cm of Hg
iii. Condensing water inlet temperature, Ti =180C
iv. Condensing water outlet temperature, To=350C
v. Mass of water required, mw=?
Sol:
i. Block Diagram
Vapour from evaporator
m = 5000 kg/h Condensate
P= 15 cm of Hg To= 350C
JET
CONDENSER
Water Water
m=? m=?
Ti=180C To= 350C

ii. Heat balance

The pressure in the evaporator is 15 cm mercury = Z g
= 0.15 x 3.6 x 1000 x 9.81
= 20 kPa.
From Steam Tables, the condensing temperature of water under pressure of 20
kPa is 60°C and the corresponding latent heat of vaporization is 2358 kJ kg-1.
Heat removed from condensate = m  + m Cp T
= 5000 x 2358 x 103 + 5000 x 4.186 x 103 x (60-35)
= 12300 x 106 J/h ............................................(1)
Heat taken by cooling water per kg = mw Cp T
= mw x 4.186 x 103 x (35 - 18)
= 7.1 x 104 mw J ...........................(2)
From equation 1 and 2
12300 x 106 = 7.1 x 104 mw
mw = 1.7 x 105 kg/h
The temperature differences are small so that the arithmetic mean temperature
can be used for the heat exchanger (condenser).
(60 − 18) (60 − 35)
Mean temperature difference = +
2 2
= 33.5 0C.

Quantity of heat required by condensate,

Q = UA T
12300 x 106 = 2270 x A x 33.5 x 3600
A = 45 m2
Ans:
i. Mass flow rate of water required = 1.75 x 105 kg/h
ii. Heat transfer area require = 45 m2