EXAMPLE 8, JUICE CONCENTRATION – Solution

The feed for a single-effect evaporator (concentrator) mV

is raw fruit juice at a mass flow rate of m F . Steam, at
a flow rate of m S heats the juice and the water vapor
exits the evaporator at a rate of m V , while the
concentrated product exits at a rate of m P . Figure 1
shows the evaporator configuration and flow streams. mF Juice
mP
The concentrator operates at 120°F. Other conditions
are: mS
Feed: TF = 80°F, XF = 10%
Figure 1. Evaporator flow streams.
Product: XP = 40%
Steam: m S = 1000 lb/hr at 25 psia
Where,
T = temperature, °C (°F) Subscripts:
m = mass flow rate, ( )
kg lb
s h
F = feed

cp = specific heat capacity, J

( )
Btu
kg °C lb ° F
P = product

X = concentration, ( )
kg lb
kg lb
V = vapor

S = steam
hfg = heat of vaporization of steam, J
kg
( Btulb ) w = water
hg = enthalpy of vapor phase, J
kg
( Btulb )
Assume: zero boiling point rise, cp,solids = 0.35 Btu/lb·°F, cp,w = 1 Btu/lb·°F.

Find: the product rate, m P (lb/h)

Solution: The data is added to the sketch in Figure 2.

Use steam tables to obtain:
mV
TV = 120°F (hfg)S = 952.16 Btu/lb, at 25 psia
(hg)V = 1113.7 Btu/lb
note: TS = 240°F, at 25 psia
cpF = 0.935 Btu/lb°F (hg)V = 1113.7 Btu/lb, at 120°F
TF = 80°F cpP = 0.74 Btu/lb°F
TP = 120°F note: PV = 1.69 psia, at 120°F
XF = 0.1 lb/lb
mF Juice (120°F) XP = 0.4 lb/lb
Calculate:
mP = ?
cpF = 0.35·(0.1) + 1.0·(1 – 0.1)
mS = 0.935 Btu/lb·°F
(hfg)S = 952.16 Btu/lb
cpP = 0.35·(0.4) + 1.0·(1 – 0.4)
Figure 2. Sketch of problem with data.
= 0.74 Btu/lb·°F

1
Starting with the feed flow stream and working counterclockwise gives the energy balance:
m F ·(0.935 Btu/lb·°F)·(80°F – 32°F) + 1000 lb/h·(952.16 Btu/lb) =
m P ·(0.74 Btu/lb·°F)·(120°F – 32°F) + m V ·(1113.7 Btu/lb) (1)

(where TF = TF – 32°F and TP = TP – 32°F to agree with the English unit steam tables reference
point of 32°F). A mass balance on the solids yields:
(0.1 lb/lb)· m F = (0.4 lb/lb)· m P (2)
The total mass balance gives:
m F = m V + m P (3)

These three simultaneous equations in m F , m P , and m V can be solved by the method of your
choice. Substituting equations 2 and 3 into equation 1 gives:
(179.52 Btu/lb) · m P + 952,160 Btu/h = (65.12 Btu/lb) · m P + (3341.1 Btu/lb) · m P
Product Rate
m P = 295. lb/h = 0.0372 kg/s

Then equations 2 and 3 give:

m F = 1180. lb/h = 0.149 kg/s and m V = 885. lb/h = 0.1115 kg/s

Alternative Solution Method (solve the original equations algebraically):

The mass and energy balances yield the following (see Fig. 1):

Solids mass balance: m F ⋅ X F =m P ⋅ X P , kgs S ( )

lbS
h

Total mass balance: m F = m V + m P , kgs ( lbh )

Total energy balance: m F ⋅ c pF ⋅ TF + m S ⋅ (h fg ) S = m V ⋅ (hg )V + m P ⋅ c pP ⋅ TP , Js ( Btu

h
)
These equations can be solved simultaneously for any needed values for a single effect
evaporator. To calculate the feed, product, and vapor rates when the steam rate is given, use:
m S ⋅ (h fg ) S
m P =
c pP ⋅TP − RX ⋅c pF ⋅TF +( RX −1)⋅ (hg )V

m F = R X ⋅ m P
XP
m V = ( R X −1) ⋅ m P , where, RX ≡
XF
You can now substitute the problem data into these equations to get m P and other values. For
one time calculations, it may be more convenient to solve the simultaneous equation with the
numerical values already substituted (your calculator or a spreadsheet can do this). However,
judicious substitutions, like RX above, can make the pure algebra method relatively painless.