This section presents the designed dimensions of the evaporator which

comprises the distributor plate and the calandria. The designers include the

assumptions necessary for the calculation to be possible.

Distributor Plate and Evaporator Tubes

According to Bouman et al. (1988), a critical component in falling-film

evaporators is the distribution device. The product must be distributed uniformly at

the feed inlet to assure a sufficient supply of liquid to each tube. If a distributor does

not satisfy this condition adequately, individual heating tubes will not be provided

with sufficient liquid and there is consequently the danger of deposit formation.

A distributor plate spreads the liquid so that it flows into all the tubes of the

pass. Distributor plates can be up to 2 m in diameter and are typically made from 5

mm stainless steel sheet. Distributor holes are typically 6 to 8 mm in diameter. Holes

in the distributor can be arranged in a triangular pattern or in a hexagonal pattern

where each evaporator tube is surrounded by six distributor holes (Morison K.R.,

2014).

Morison K.R. (2014) stated that there must be steady state liquid levels in the

distributor trays. Liquid levels must be less than or equal to 20 mm to have a good

distribution.

1st Effect

From the above references, the designers decided that the diameter of the

distributor plate is 2 m. With respect to solve for the diameter of the holes of the
distribution plate, the designers calculated the total mass flow rate to pass through the

distribution holes.

The designers planned to maintain 3mm liquid level in the distribution tray to

maintain good distribution. Thus, the volume of the maintaining liquid is

V =π r 2 h

2
V =π ( ) [ 3 mm( 10001 mmm )]( 1000
2m
2 1m )
L
3

V =9.425 L

The 9.425L volume of the maintaining liquid level is assumed to be constant at every

second of the operation. On that note, the feed volumetric flow rate must be greater

than 9.425L per second. From the previous section, it was stated that the usual feed

mass flow rate is 8 kg/s. Its volumetric flow rate is

ṁ
V̇ dp=
ρ

kg
8
s 1000 L
V̇ dp= x
kg 1m 3
1056 3
m

L
V̇ dp=7.576
s

There will be an adjustment to the feed mass flow rate prior to the distribution tray.

L
The volumetric 7.576 will be considered as the volumetric flow rate that will pass
s

through the distribution tray. Thus, to solve for adjusted feed mass flow rate,
V˙ f −V˙dp=V̇

where:

V˙ f =feed volumetric flow rate

V˙dp =total volumetric flow rate to pass through the distribution plate

V̇ =volume of the maintaining liquid level per second

V˙ f =V̇ + V˙dp

L L
V˙ f =9.425 +7.576
s s

L
V˙ f =17
s

In terms of mass flow rate,

ṁ
V̇ f =
ρ

ṁ=V̇ ρ

L kg 1m3
( )(
ṁ= 17
s
1056 3
m )( 1000 L )
kg
ṁ=17.952
s

kg
The adjusted feed mass flow rate is 17.952 . This is the mass flow rate that will give
s

kg
8 of mass flow rate that will pass through the distribution plate while maintaining
s

9.425L of liquid level per second.

Design wettring rate

The wetting rate is defined as the mass flow rate per unit circumference of the

tubes( skg∙m ). The minimum wetting rate is the rate required to ensure complete
wetting. The selection of average wetting rates for the evaporator tubes is a key design

step. They can be determined using mass balance calculations. If the wetting rate is

too low, each evaporator effect can be split into two or more passes (Morison K.R. &

Hartel R.W., 2007).

According to Isgec Heavy Engineering (2016), the usual range of wetting rate

L
20−22 . From the same reference, the usual tube size 35-45mm and tube length
c m∙ h

L
ranging 8m to 12m. For the purpose of this design, the wetting rate is 20 , the
c m ∙h

tube size is 35mm and the tube length is 8m. From this assumption, it is now possible

to solve the number of evaporator tubes using the formula for solving wetting rate.

V̇
W=
π ∙ n∙ d

where:

W = wetting rate ( c m∙L h )

V̇ = mass flow rate to pass through the distribution plate ( ( Lh )
d = diameter of the tube (m)

n = number of evaporator tubes

V̇
W=
π ∙ n∙ d

V̇
n=
W ∙ π∙d