Experiment No

OPEN PAN EVAPORATOR

Objective:
To Study the effect of steam pressure on the economy of the open pan
evaporator
THEORY:
Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs from the surface of a
liquid into a gaseous phase that is not saturated with the evaporating substance.
The other type of vaporization is boiling, which is characterized by bubbles of
saturated vapor forming in the liquid phase. Water is transferred from the surface
to the atmosphere through evaporation, the process by which water changes from
a liquid to a gas. Approximately 80% of all evaporation is from the oceans, with the
remaining 20% coming from inland water and vegetation. Winds transport the
evaporated water around the globe, influencing the humidity of the air throughout
the world. For example, a typical hot and humid summer day in the Midwestern
United States is caused by winds blowing tropical oceanic air northward from the
Gulf of Mexico.
Several factors affect the rate of evaporation from surfaces:
1. Energy availability.
2. Humidity.
3. Rate of turbulent diffusion.
4. Water availability.
There is usually a difference between two terminologies that are evaporation and
drying. The difference generally stated is between the products of the two
operations i.e. the product of evaporation is liquid or slurry as we are aiming to
concentrate a solution. But in case drying, the moisture content is evaporated from
the specimen by the application of heat to the desired characteristic of the object
in solid form. For example, to attain the desired properties of gypsum, we remove
the free moisture content up to 6 remaining molecules of water attached with it,
called inherent moisture content. Therefore:

 Evaporation gives liquid/slurry.

 Drying gives – Solid
Types of evaporators are:
1) Natural circulation type
a. Vertical short tube or Calandria evaporator
b. Long tube vertical (LTV) rising film type
c. Long tube vertical (LTV) falling film type
2) Forced Circulation type
3) Agitated Film Evaporators
4) Multiple Effect Evaporator
5) Plate Evaporator
6) Open Pan Evaporator

Pan evaporation is a measurement that combines or integrates the effects of

several climate elements: temperature, humidity, rain fall, drought dispersion,
solar radiation, and wind. Evaporation is greatest on hot, windy, dry, sunny days;
and is greatly reduced when clouds block the sun and when air is cool, calm, and
humid. Pan evaporation measurements enable farmers and ranchers to
understand how much water their crops will need. An evaporation pan is used to
hold water during observations for the determination of the quantity of
evaporation at a given location. Such pans are of varying sizes and shapes, the most
commonly used being circular or square. The best known of the pans are the "Class
A" evaporation pan and the "Sunken Colorado Pan". In Europe, India and South
Africa, a Simon’s Pan is used. Often the evaporation pans are automated with water
level sensors and a small weather station is located nearby
Pan evaporation is a measurement that combines or integrates the effects of
several climate elements: temperature, humidity, rain fall, drought dispersion,
solar radiation, and wind. Evaporation is greatest on hot, windy, dry, sunny days;
and is greatly reduced when clouds block the sun and when air is cool, calm, and
humid. Pan evaporation measurements enable farmers and ranchers to
understand how much water their crops will need. An evaporation pan is used to
hold water during observations for the determination of the quantity of
evaporation at a given location. Such pans are of varying sizes and shapes, the most
commonly used being circular or square.
 Procedure
1. Start-up
• Fill up the open pan with water up to a certain height say 15 cm.
• Set the steam pressure at a certain value say 10 Psi and turn on the equipment.
• Don’t open the steam valve till required pressure is attained.
2. Operation
• Measure the fluid (water) temperature in the open pan evaporator.
 • When required steam pressure is attained opened the steam inlet valve in to
the evaporator.
• Measure the temperature of the inlet steam.
• Measure the initial water height.
• After certain time say 10 min measure the water level.
• Calculate the height differences indicating the volume evaporated.
• Measure the condensate (Steam outlet) temperature.
3. Shutdown
• Repeat the experiment following the same procedure for another steam
pressure say 20 Psi.
• After performing the experiment turned off the steam.
• Drain all the condensed water and water left over in the evaporator.
• Open safety valve to release all the steam pressure
 Safety and Precautions
1. Don’t open the steam valve till the required steam pressure is attained.
2. In case of steam pressure build up open the relief valve.
3. Use gloves to operate the open pan evaporator.
4. Don’t exposed naked skin to hot water or steam as it can cause serious injury.
5. Learn where the safety and first-aid equipment is located. This includes fire
extinguishers, fire blankets, and eye-wash stations.
6. Notify the instructor immediately in case of an accident.
7. If hot surface come into contact with your skin or eyes, flush immediately with
copious amounts of water and consult with your instructor
  Application
1. Pan evaporation is used to estimate the evaporation from lakes.
2. Helps to evaluate the environmental conditions like humidity, wind flow
and other gradients responsible for evaporation.
3. Helps to identify global warming trend and future predictions.