Chapter 10
Evaporation
Instructor: Dr. Rami Jumah
Department of Chemical Engineering
Jordan University of Science and Technology
Chapter 8 (Geankoplis)
Chapter 16 (McCabe)
 Heat is added to a solution to vaporize the solvent, which is usually water.
Evaporation
Solvent vapor
Feed
(volatile solvent
& non-volatile solute)
 Case of heat transfer to a boiling liquid.
Concentrated solution
 Vapor from a boiling liquid solution is removed and a more concentrated solution
remains.
 Refers to the removal of water from an aqueous solution.
 Examples:
- Concentration of fruit juice, milk or caustic soda
- Production of high quality water from river/sea
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Chapter 1-˻
Production of Milk Powder
Standardization to adjust
the content of fat in milk
Heating to sterilize
Falling-film evaporator
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Spray dryer
to get milk powder
Chapter 10-˼
Processing Factors
(1)Concentration
- Dilute feed: viscosity , heat transfer coefficient, h also TBPsoln. ≈ TBPwater
- Concentrated solution: , and h  & TBPsoln. 
(boiling point rise, BPR)
(2) Solubility
- Concentration , solubility  , crystal formed.
- Solubility (normally)  with temperature 
(3) Temperature
- Heat sensitive material degrade at higher temperature & prolonged heating.
- Examples: foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals
(4) Scale deposition
- Product decomposition & solubility decrease
deposition of solid materials on the heating surfaces :
U  cleaning required
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Chapter 1-˽
(5) Foaming/frothing
- Caustic solutions, food solutions, fatty acid solutions form foam/froth
during boiling.
- Accompanies the vapor coming out of the evaporator and entrainment
losses occur.
(6) Pressure and Temperature
- Pressure , boiling point .
- Concentration , boiling point  Boiling Point Rise (BPR)
- Heat-sensitive material  operate under vacuum Tsolution
A
q
 A  ?
U  Tsteam  Tsolution 
(7) Material of construction
Minimize corrosion.
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Chapter 1-˾
Types of Evaporation Equipment








Horizontal tube type
Vertical tube type
Long tube vertical type
Forced-circulation type
Open kettle or pan
Open-pan solar evaporator
Falling-film-type evaporator
Agitated-film evaporator
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Chapter 1-˿
Effect of Processing Variables on Evaporator Operation
(1) Feed Temperature (TF):
- TF < TBP: some of latent heat of steam will be used to heat up the cold feed,
only the rest of the latent heat of steam will be used to vaporize the feed.
- If the feed is under pressure & TF > TBP, additional vaporization is obtained
by flashing of feed.
- Preheating the feed can reduce the size of the evaporator heat transfer area
(2) Evaporator Pressure (P1):
- Desirable: large T  A  & cost .
q = U A T = UA (TS – T1)
T1 = TBP
- T1 depends on P1 will  T1  use vacuum pump
(3) Steam Pressure (Ps):
- Desirable: high steam pressure  TS   T  A  & cost 
- But high-pressure is costly  optimum TS by overall economic balances
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Chapter 1-̀
Boiling Point Rise of Solutions (BPR)
- The concentration of the solution are high enough so that the cP and TBP
are quite different from water
- BPR can be predict from Duhring chart for each solution such as NaOH
and sugar solution.
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Chapter 10-́
Enthalpy-concentration Charts of Solutions
- For large heat of solution of the aqueous solution
- To get values for hF and hL
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Chapter 10-̂
Typical Heat Transfer Coefficients for Various Evaporators
Type of evaporator
U (W/m2.K)
Short-tube vertical, natural circulation
1100-2800
Horizontal-tube, natural circulation
1100-2800
Long-tube vertical, natural circulation
1100-4000
Long-tube vertical, forced circulation
2300-11000
Agitated film
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Chapter 10-˺˹
Methods of Operation of Evaporators
1. Single-effect Evaporators
- Used when the required capacity of operation is small and/or the cost of steam is
cheap compared to the evaporator cost.
- Is wasteful of energy since the latent heat of the vapor leaving is not used.
- Solution in the evaporator is assumed to be completely mixed:
(C1,
Vapor,V to condenser
T1 , yV , HV
T1)product = (C1, T1)solution inside
- Equilibrium: vapor T = TBPsoln= T1
- P = P1 = vapor pressure of solution at T1
Feed, F
TF , xF , hF.
T1
heat-exchanger
tubes
Steam, S
TS , HS
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P1
Condensate, S
TS , hS
Concentrated liquid, L
T1 , xL , hL
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Chapter 1-˺˺
2. Forward-feed Multiple-effect Evaporators
Used when the feed is hot or when the final concentrated product might be
damaged at high temperatures
T1 > T2 > T3,
P1 (atm.) > P2 > P3 (vac.),
vapor T1
feed, TF
(1)
T1
C1 < C2 < C3,
vapor T2
vapor T3
(2)
to vacuum
condenser
(3)
T3
T2
steam, TS
condensate
concentrate
from first
effect.
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concentrate
from second
effect.
concentrated
product
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Chapter 10-˺˻
3. Backward-feed Multiple-effect Evaporators
- Used when the feed is cold since a smaller amount of liquid must be heated
to the high temps in the second and first effects
- Used when the final concentrated product is highly viscous. The high
temperature in the first effect reduce the viscosity and give reasonable heattransfer coefficient.
T1 > T2 > T3,
P1 (atm.) > P2 > P3 (vac.),
vapor T1
(1)
vapor T2
(2)
C1 > C2 > C3
vapor T3
to vacuum
condenser
(3)
feed, TF
steam, TS
T1
T2
T3
condensate
concentrated
product
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Chapter 10-˺˼
4. Parallel-feed Multiple-effect Evaporators
- Involve the adding of fresh feed and the withdrawal of concentrated product
from each effect
- Used when the feed is almost saturated and solid crystals are the product
e.g. evaporation of brine to make salt
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Chapter 10-˺˽
Calculations Methods for Single-effect Evaporators
CALCULATIONS
(1)
a) Vapor, V and liquid, L flowrates
b) Heat transfer area, A
c) Overall heat-transfer coefficient, U
d) Fraction of solid content, xL
To calculate V & L and xL:
solve simultaneously total material
balance & solute/solid balance.
F=L+V
F (xF) = L (xL)
Vapor,V to condenser
T1 , yV , HV
Feed, F
TF , xF , hF.
P1
Steam, S
A
TS , HS
heat-exchanger
tubes
Condensate, S
TS , hS
Concentrated liquid, L
T1 , xL , hL
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Chapter 10-˺˾
(2) To calculate A or U:
-
No boiling point rise and negligible heat of solution:
1. Calculate hF, hL, Hv and .
where,
 = (HS – hs)
hF = cPF(TF – Tref); hL = cPL(T1 – Tref)
where,
Tref = T1
cP = heat capacity (dilute as water)
HV = latent heat at T1
2. Solve for S (energy balance):
F hF + S  = L hL + V HV
3. Solve for A and U:
q = S  = U A T = UA (TS – T1)
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Chapter 10-˺˿
(3) To get BPR and the heat of solution:
1)
Calculate T1 = Tsat + BPR
2)
Get hF and hL from h-conc. charts (e.g., Figure 8.4-3)
3)
Get S & HV from steam tables for superheated vapor or
HV = Hsat + 1.884 (BPR)
4)
Solve for S:
5)
Solve for A and U:
F hF + S  = L hL + V H V
q = S  = U A T = UA (TS – T1)
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Chapter 10-˺̀
Example 8.4-1: Heat-Transfer Area in Single-Effect Evaporator
A continuous single-effect evaporator concentrates 9072 kg/h of a 1.0 wt
% salt solution entering at 311.0 K (37.8 ºC) to a final concentration of 1.5
wt %. The vapor space of the evaporator is at 101.325 kPa (1.0 atm abs)
and the steam supplied is saturated at 143.3 kPa.
The overall coefficient U = 1704 W/m2 .K.
Calculate the amounts of vapor and liquid product and the heattransfer area required. Assume that, since it its dilute, the solution has
the same boiling point as water.
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Chapter 10-˺́
F = 9072 kg/h
TF = 311 K
xF = 0.01
hF.
V=?
T1 , y V , HV
P1 = 101.325 kPa
U = 1704 W/m2
T1 =? A = ?
S , TS , HS
PS = 143.3 kPa
S, TS , hS
L=?
T1 , hL
xL = 0.015
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Solution
Total material balance:
F = L + V  9072 = L + V
Balance on the solute (solids) alone:
F xF = L xL  9072 (0.01) = L (0.015)
 L = 6048 kg/h of liquid
 V = 3024 kg/h of vapor
Since it is assumed that the solution is dilute as water
hF = cpF (TF – T1)
 cpF = 4.14 kJ/kg. K
(Tref = T1)
 hF = 4.14 (311.0 – 373.2) = -257.508 kJ/kg
hL = cPL(T1 – Tref) = 0, since it is at T1 = Tref = 373.2 K
From steam table (Appendix A.2-9, Geankoplis)
Vapor (V) at P1 = 101.325 kPa: T1 = 373.2 K (100 ºC) & HV = = 2257 kJ/kg
Sat. steam at PS = 143.3 kPa:
TS = 383.2 K (110 ºC) &  = 2230 kJ/kg
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Chapter 10-˻˹
Substituting into heat balance equation:
F hF + S  = L hL + V H V
9072 (-257.508) + S (2230) = 6048 (0) + 3024 (2257)
S = 4108 kg steam /h
The heat q transferred through the heating surface area, A is
q = S () = 4108 4108 kg/h (2230 kJ/kg) (1000 / 3600) = 2 544 000 W
q = U A T = U A (TS – T1)
But
2 544 000 = 1704 A (383.2 – 373.2)

A = 149.3 m2
Steam or evaporator economy = V/S
= 3024 kg/h vapor / 4108 kg steam /h
= 0.736
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Chapter 10-˻˺
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Chapter 10-˻˻
Example 8.4-3: Evaporation of an NaOH Solution
An evaporator is used to concentrate 4536 kg/h of a 20 % solution of NaOH
in water entering at 60 ºC to a product of 50 % solid. The pressure of the
saturated steam used is 172.4 kPa and the pressure in the vapor space of the
evaporator is 11.7 kPa. The overall heat-transfer coefficient is 1560 W/m2.K.
Calculate the steam used, the steam economy in (kg vaporized/kg steam)
used, and the heating surface area in m2.
F = 4536 kg/h
TF = 60 ºC
xF = 0.2
hF.
V, T1 , yV , HV
P1 = 11.7 kPa
U = 1560 W/m2
T1
A= ?
S=?
TS , HS
PS = 172.4 kPa
L, T1 , hL
xL = 0.5
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S, TS , hS
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Chapter 10-˻˼
Solution
Total material balance:
F = L + V  4536 = L + V
Balance on the solute (solids) alone:
F xF = L xL  4536 (0.2) = L (0.5)
 L = 1814 kg/h of liquid
 V = 2722 kg/h of vapor
Determine T1 = Tsat + BPR of the 50 % concentrate product:
First obtain Tsat of pure water from steam table at 11.7 kPa  Tsat = 48.9 ºC
From Duhring chart (Fig. 8.4-2), for a Tsat = 48.9 ºC and 50 % NaOH :
the boiling point of the solution is T1 = 89.5 ºC
 BPR = T1 - Tsat = 89.5-48.9 = 40.6 ºC
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Chapter 10-˻˽
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Chapter 10-˻˾
From the enthalpy-concentration chart (Fig.8.4-3):
At TF = 60 ºC
and
xF = 0.2
At T1 = 89.5 ºC and
xL = 0.5
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hF = 214 kJ/kg
hL = 505 kJ/kg
Chapter 10-˻˿
For saturated steam at 172.4 kPa (from steam table):
TS = 115.6 ºC
and
 = 2214 kJ/kg.
To get HV for superheated vapor:
first obtain the enthalpy at Tsat = 48.9 ºC and P1 = 11.7 kPa:
 Hsat = 2590 kJ/kg.
Then using heat capacity of 1.884 kJ/kg.K for superheated steam.
 HV = Hsat + cP (BPR) = 2590 + 1.884 (40.6) = 2667 kJ/kg
Or: from superheated steam table at T1 = 89.5 ºC and P1 = 11.7 kPa
HV = 2667 kJ/kg
Substituting into heat balance equation and solving for S,
F hF + S  = L hL + V H V
4535 (214) + S (2214) = 1814 (505) + 2722 (2667)
 S = 3255 kg steam /h.
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Chapter 10-˻̀
The heat q transferred through the heating surface area, A is
q = S ()
q = 3255 (2214) (1000 / 3600) = 2 002 000 W
But
q = U A T = U A (TS – T1)
2 002 000 = 1560 A (115.6 – 89.5)
 A = 49.2 m2.
Steam or evaporator economy = V/S
= 2722 kg/h vapor / 3255 kg steam /h
= 0.836
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Chapter 10-˻́