EVAPORATION:

Evaporation is the process of removal of partial or all the solvent present in a solution. The
solvent to be removed is water in most cases. Evaporation is carried out by heating a solution to
vaporize the solvent. Heating source is usually low pressure steam but in other cases fuel, solar
energy, electricity, flue gases may be used as heating source.

Evaporation and other processes:

 It differs from distillation in that the end product is concentrated solution rather than a
vapor. 
 It is different from vaporization as vaporization occurs at boiling point while evaporation
occurs at all the temperatures.
 It is different from crystallization in that the end form is not in crystal from and purpose
is not to make the crystals.
 It is different from the drying process as the end product is not in solid form (essentially).

EVAPORATOR:
An evaporator is a vessel in which evaporation occurs. An evaporator is of any shape or size
depending upon the amount and nature of liquor to be evaporated. Different types of evaporators
are used in industries for the purpose of evaporation. Some of these are:

 Open pan evaporator

 Falling film evaporator
 Salting type evaporator
 Forced circulation evaporator

 OPEN PAN EVAPORATOR:

Evaporation by the use of open pan evaporator is one of the simplest methods of evaporation.
It consists of a pan jacketed with a metal and commonly used when small quantities are to be
handled. Pan is made of any material like stain less steel, copper, aluminum etc. It consists of
a single metal sheet or several sheets are welded together. A jacket is attached with the pan
that is provided with the steam inlet while condensate drain is provided at its bottom. The
pan may be provided with paddle to provide agitation.

The solution to be concentrated is taken into the pan and steam is admitted at the jacket.
Evaporation is carried out for a time when desired concentration is achieved. The
concentrated liquor is then drained from the outlet.
 These types of evaporators are simple, easy to use and clean, cheap and easy to construct.
But the whole liquor is heated all the time so it may lead to decomposition of the material
also heat economy is low.

 CLIMBING & FALLING FILM EVPORATOR:

Pharmaceuticals, fruit juices and many food products with volatile flavor constituents retain
more of these if they are evaporated under conditions favoring short contact times with the
hot surfaces. This can be achieved for solutions of low viscosity by climbing- and falling-
film evaporators.

Climbing and falling film evaporators consists of a long tube (column), a condenser and a
separator. The long column contains different tubes in it in which liquid moves. Condenser is
there to condense the vapors that are separated whereas separator separate outs the mixture of
vapors and concentrated solution.

The liquor to be concentrated is introduced from the bottom of the evaporator and heating
steam is at a little height from the bottom. Both the liquor and the heating steam moves in
their films against the gravity. At the height the vapors are sent to the condenser whereas the
concentrated solution is fallen downward under the action of gravity. Again steam is
provided to have a good evaporation result. The vapors and condensed and the concentrated
solution containing vapors in it, is sent to the separator where the vapors are separate out.

These evaporators are available in separate functions too. Some are only falling film
evaporators in which the solution moves downward and some are only climbing film
evaporators. However, heat transfer co-efficient is greater in case of falling film evaporator
as there is little turbulence in flow of the liquid in case of climbing film. So for these
evaporators, the feed entered must be at a temperature near to be boiling point of the liquid to
be evaporated. If a sub-cooled liquid is introduced, the first sections will be merely feed
heating. In all film evaporators, there should be a continuous film of the inner circumferences
of the tubes.

To minimize the energy consumptions, these evaporators are either used in a multi-effect
system or thermo-compression is done with the vapors coming out. Thermo-compression
can be done in two ways; steam jet thermo compression & mechanical thermo-
compression. In steam jet thermo-compression, a steam jet is used to recycle the vapors
while in mechanical thermo-compression some compressors.
 FORCED CIRCULATION EVAPORATOR:
Increase in the velocity of the flow of the liquor through tubes results in a significant
increase in the liquid film heat transfer co-efficient. To achieve a high velocity of liquor,
forced circulation evaporators are employed.

In these types of evaporators some mechanical device is fitted to circulate the contents
being heated in it. A forced circulation evaporator consists of steam jacketed tubes which are
held between two tube sheets. The part of the tubes is projected in to the vapor head which
consists of a deflector. The vapor head is connected to a return pipe which runs down wards
and enters in to the inlet of a pump.

Steam is introduced in to the calendria. Pump sends the liquid to the tube with a positive
velocity. As the liquid moves up through the tube it gets heated and begins to boil. As result
the vapor and liquid mixture rushes out of the tubes at a high velocity. This mixture strikes
the deflector in an effective separation of liquid and vapor. The vapor enters the cyclone
separator and leaves the equipment. The concentrated liquid enters to the pump for further
evaporation. Finally the concentrated product is collected.

Forced circulation evaporators enable the high degrees of concentration as heat transfer
rate can be maintained in spite of the increased viscosity of the liquor. In its industrial
installations higher values of overall heat transfer coefficients have been achieved. If
evaporation is conducted under reduced pressure, forced circulation evaporator is suitable for
thermo-labile substances. It is well suited for crystallizing operation where crystals are to be
suspended at all times.
 SALTING TYPE EVAPORATORS:
Another type of evaporators is salting type evaporator. Like other evaporators, it also
consists of a separator, evaporator (main body) and a condenser. The evaporator is of
vertical shape and has a short vertical calendria in it. Feed is introduced from tube side and
steam is introduced from shell side for heating purpose. Evaporation takes place in the
evaporator, and mixture of liquid main vapors is sent to the separator. Vapor-liquid separator
is mounted on the condenser. The vapors separated from the liquid are sent to the condenser,
and liquid is returned back to the evaporator through a return line.

SALTING TYPE EVAPORATOR