MODULE 4

EVAPORATORS AND DISTILLERS

Competence: A-III/1.F1.C4 Operate main and auxiliary machinery and associated control systems

Course Outcome: Operate, maintain and troubleshoot the following auxiliary machineries in accordance
with its manufacturer’s specification:
1. Various pumps (gear, centrifugal, vane, screw, reciprocating)
2. Air compressor
3. Fresh water generator
4. Heat exchanger
5. Deck machinery such as crane, mooring winch and windlass

KUP: A-III/1.F1.C4.KUP1.6: Basic construction and operation principles of machinery systems namely:
(.a) various pumps:(gear pump, centrifugal pump, vane pump, screw pump, Reciprocating pump), (.b) air
compressor, (.d)fresh water generator, (.e) heat exchanger

I. Learning Objectives:
At the end of the topic, student must be able to:
– explains why ‘fresh water’ may have to be produced from seawater
– lists the purposes for which the water might be used
– explains the effect that distillation has on the dissolved solids in seawater
– states that evaporators and distillers are pressure vessels and as such must conform to approved
standards for materials, fittings and construction
– states that there are two main methods of obtaining vapour from seawater:
– by direct boiling, using boiling water evaporators
– by the evolution of vapour when the seawater is ‘supersaturated’, using flash evaporators
– describes in simple terms, using line sketches, the construction of a shell and coil evaporator,
naming the materials of the principal parts
– lists the mountings fitted to a simple shell and coil evaporator
– explains why a reducing orifice is fitted in the steam supply line of such an evaporator
– states that the heat transfer can be obtained from:
– a supply of steam or other hot fluid passing through coils
– tubes which are immersed in the seawater or
– an electrical element immersed in the seawater
– explains why low-pressure evaporators are used
– explains what is meant by single-effect and by double-effect evaporation
(Flash evaporators)
– explains the principle of flash evaporation
– states that flash evaporators can use a number of stages, with seawater feed passing through each
stage in succession
– describes, with the aid of a simple sketch, a two-stage flash evaporator
– explains the principle of operation of the evaporator in the above objective
(Multiple-effect evaporation)
 – states that shell and coil evaporators can be connected in series, with the vapour produced in the
first unit being used as the heating fluid in the next unit, the seawater passing through each unit in
turn
– states that production of vapour in the second and successive units occurs partly by boiling and
partly by flash evaporation
– states that such a system is termed ‘multiple effect’
– states that multiple-effect evaporation produces an increased quantity of fresh water compared to
a single evaporator using a similar input of heat
– describes, with the aid of a single line sketch, the arrangement of a two-stage flash-evaporation
plant

II. Topic:
1. Fresh Water Generator
2. Flash Evaporator
3. Multiple-effect Evaporator

III. Materials/References:

IV. Procedure:

Distillation is the production of pure water from sea water by evaporation and re-condensing. Distilled
water is produced as a result of evaporating sea water either by a boiling or a flash process. This
evaporation enables the reduction of the 32000 parts per million of dissolved solids in sea water down to
the one or two present in distilled water. The machine used is called an 'evaporator', although the word
'distiller' is also used.

Boiling process

Sea water is boiled using energy from a heating coil, and by reducing the pressure in the evaporator shell,
boiling can take place at about 60°C.

The sea water from the ship's services is first circulated through the condenser and then part of the outlet
is provided as feed to the evaporation chamber (Figure 7.6). Hot diesel engine jacket water or steam is
passed through the heater nest and, because of the reduced pressure in the chamber, the sea water boils.
The steam produced rises and passes through a water separator or demister which prevents water
droplets passing through. In the condensing section the steam becomes pure water, which is drawn off
by a distillate pump. The sea water feed is regulated by a flow controller and about half the feed is
evaporated. The remainder constantly overflows a weir and carries away the extra salty water or brine. A
combined brine and air ejector draws out the air and brine from the evaporator.
Figure 7.6 Boiling process evaporator

Flash process

Flash evaporation is the result of a liquid containing a reasonable amount of sensible heat at a particular
pressure being admitted to a chamber at a lower pressure. The liquid immediately changes into steam,
i.e. it flashes, without boiling taking place. The sensible heat content, water pressure and chamber
pressure are designed to provide a desired rate of evaporation. More than one stage of evaporation can
take place by admitting the liquid into chambers with progressively lower pressures.
Figure 7.7 Two-stage flash evaporator

A two-stage flash evaporator is shown in Figure 7.7. The feed pump circulates sea water through the
vapour condensers and the preheater. The heated sea water then passes to the first-stage flash chamber
where some of it flashes off. A demister removes any water droplets from the steam as it rises and is then
condensed in the first-stage condenser.

The heated sea water passes to the second-stage flash chamber, which is at a lower pressure, and more
water flashes off. This steam is demisted and condensed and, together with the distilled water from the
first-stage, is drawn off by the distillate pump.

The concentrated sea water or brine remaining in the second-stage flash chamber is drawn off by the
brine pump. The preheater uses steam to heat the sea water and most of the latent heat from the flash
steam is returned to the sea water passing through the condensers. An air ejector is used to maintain the
low pressure in the chambers and to remove any gases released from the sea water.
Maintenance

During the operation of evaporating plants, scale will form on the heating surfaces. The rate of scale
formation will depend upon the operating temperature, the flow rate and density of the brine.

Scale formation will result in greater requirements for heating to produce the rated quantities of distilled
water or a fall-off in production for a fixed heating supply.

Cold shocking, the alternate rapid heating and cooling of the tube surfaces, for a boiling process type, can
reduce scale build-up. Ultimately, however, the plant must be shut down and the scale removed either by
chemical treatment or manual cleaning.