CHEM3012

Separation Process (II)

Learning Materials-Topic 1-Week 2
Single effect evaporators

Course Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate the basic fluid properties such as density, specific weight and viscosity and
their dimensions and units

• Demonstrate the dimensional analysis for planning experiments and the techniques
involved.

Lecturer Name: Dr Mostafa Ghasemi Baboli

Academic Year: 2022-2023
Course Coordinator Name: Dr Mostafa Ghasemi Baboli

References:
Felder, R.M. & Rousseau, R.W., Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, 3th edition, J. Wiley &
Sons, New York, 2005.
Himmelblau, D, M, and Riggs, J, B. Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering, 7th
Edition, Prentice Hall, 2004.
 Single-effect Evaporators
• the feed (usually dilute) enters at TF and saturated steam
at TS enters the heat-exchange section.
• condensed leaves as condensate or drips.
• the solution in the evaporator is assumed to be completely
mixed and have the same composition at T1.
• the pressure is P1, which is the vapor pressure of the
solution at T1.
• wasteful of energy since the latent heat of the vapor
leaving is not used but is discarded.
• are often used when the required capacity of operation is
relatively small, but it will wasteful of steam cost.
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Calculation Methods for Single-effect
Evaporator
• Objectives: to calculate
- vapor, V and liquid, L flowrates.
- heat transfer area, A
- overall heat-transfer coefficient, U.
- Fraction of solid content, xL.
• To calculate V & L and xL,
- solve simultaneously total material balance &
solute/solid balance.
F=L+V total material balance
F (xF) = L (xL) solute/solid balance

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Calculation Methods for Single-effect
Evaporator
• To calculate A or U,
- no boiling point rise and negligible heat of solution:
calculate hF, hL, Hv and .
where,  = (HS – hs )
h = cP(T – Tref)
where, Tref = T1 = (as datum)
cPF = heat capacity (dilute as water)
HV = latent heat at T1
solve for S:
F hF + S  = L hL + V HV
solve for A and U:
q = S  = U A T = UA (TS – T1)
where q is the heat transferred to the evaporator 4
Calculation Methods for Single-effect
Evaporator
• To get BPR and the heat of solution:
- calculate T1 = Tsat + BPR
- get hF and hL from Figure 8.4-3.
- get S & HV from steam tables for superheated vapor
or
HV = Hsat + 1.884 (BPR)
- solve for S:
F h F + S  = L h L + V HV
- solve for A and U:
q = S  = U A T = UA (TS – T1)
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Example 1:
Heat-Transfer Area in Single-Effect Evaporator.

A continuous single-effect evaporator concentrates

9072 kg/h of a 1.0 wt % salt solution entering at 311.0
K (37.8 ºC) to a final concentration of 1.5 wt %. The
vapor space of the evaporator is at 101.325 kPa (1.0
atm abs) and the steam supplied is saturated at 143.3
kPa. The overall coefficient U = 1704 W/m2 .K.
calculate the amounts of vapor and liquid product and
the heat-transfer area required. Assumed that, since it
its dilute, the solution has the same boiling point as
water.

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Solution:

F = 9072 kg/h V=?

TF = 311 K T1 , y V , H V
xF = 0.01
hF. P1 = 101.325 kPa
U = 1704 W/m2
S , TS , HS T1 A=?
PS = 143.3 kPa S, TS , hS
L=?
T1 , hL
xL = 0.015

Figure 8.4-1: Flow Diagram for Example 8.4-1 7

 Solution:

Solution;
Refer to Fig. 8.4-1 for flow diagram for this solution.
For the total balance,
F=L+V
9072 = L + V

For the balance on the solute alone,

F xF = L xL
9072 (0.01) = L (0.015)
L = 6048 kg/h of liquid

Substituting into total balance and solving,

V = 3024 kg/h of vapor 8
Solution:

Since we assumed the solution is dilute as water;

cpF = 4.14 kJ/kg. K (Table A.2-5)
From steam table, (A.2-9)
At P1 = 101.325 kPa, T1 = 373.2 K (100 ºC).
HV = 2257 kJ/kg.
At PS = 143.3 kPa, TS = 383.2 K (110 ºC).
 = 2230 kJ/kg.

The enthalpy of the feed can be calculated from,

hF = cpF (TF – T1)
hF = 4.14 (311.0 – 372.2)
= -257.508 kJ/kg. 9
 Solution:
Substituting into heat balance equation;
F hF + S  = L hL + V HV
with hL = 0, since it is at datum of 373.2 K.
9072 (-257.508) + S (2230) = 6048 (0) + 3024 (2257)
S = 4108 kg steam /h
The heat q transferred through the heating surface area, A is
q = S ()
q = 4108 (2230) (1000 / 3600) = 2 544 000 W
Solving for capacity single-effect evaporator equation;
q = U A T = U A (TS – T1)
2 544 000 = 1704 A (383.2 – 373.2)
Solving, A = 149.3 m2. 10
Solution:

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Example 2:
Evaporation of an NaOH Solution.
An evaporator is used to concentrate 4536 kg/h of a 20 %
solution of NaOH in water entering at 60 ºC to a product of
50 % solid. The pressure of the saturated steam used is
172.4 kPa and the pressure in the vapor space of the
evaporator is 11.7 kPa. The overall heat-transfer coefficient
is 1560 W/m2.K. calculate the steam used, the steam
economy in kg vaporized/kg steam used, and the heating
surface area in m2.

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Solution:
V, T1 , yV , HV
F = 4536 kg/h
TF = 60 ºC
xF = 0.2
hF. P1 = 11.7 kPa
U = 1560 W/m2
S=?
T1 A=?
TS , HS
PS = 172.4 kPa S, TS , hS
L, T1 , hL
xL = 0.5

Figure 8.4-4: Flow Diagram for Example 8.4-3

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 Solution:

Solution,
Refer to Fig. 8.4-4, for flow diagram for this solution.
For the total balance,
F = 4536 = L + V
For the balance on the solute alone,
F xF = L xL
4536 (0.2) = L (0.5)
L = 1814 kg/h of liquid
Substituting into total balance and solving,
V = 2722 kg/h of vapor
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Solution:

To determine T1 = Tsat + BPR of the 50 % concentrate product, first

we obtain Tsat of pure water from steam table. At 11.7 kPa, Tsat
= 48.9 ºC.

From Duhring chart (Fig. 8.4-2), for a Tsat = 48.9 ºC and 50 % NaOH
, the boiling point of the solution is T1 = 89.5 ºC. hence,
BPR = T1 - Tsat = 89.5-48.9 = 40.6 ºC

From the enthalpy-concentration chart (Fig.8.4-3), for

TF = 60 ºC and xF = 0.2 get hF = 214 kJ/kg.
T1 = 89.5 ºC and xL = 0.5 get hL = 505 kJ/kg.
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Solution:

For saturated steam at 172.4 kPa, from steam table, we get

TS = 115.6 ºC and  = 2214 kJ/kg.

To get HV for superheated vapor, first we obtain the enthalpy at Tsat = 48.9
ºC and P1 = 11.7 kPa, get Hsat = 2590 kJ/kg.
Then using heat capacity of 1.884 kJ/kg.K for superheated steam. So
HV = Hsat + cP BPR
= 2590 + 1.884 (40.6) = 2667 kJ/kg.

Substituting into heat balance equation and solving for S,

F h F + S  = L h L + V HV
4535 (214) + S (2214) = 1814 (505) + 2722 (2667)
S = 3255 kg steam /h. 16
 Solution:

The heat q transferred through the heating surface area, A is

q = S ()
q = 3255 (2214) (1000 / 3600) = 2 002 000 W

Solving for capacity single-effect evaporator equation;

q = U A T = U A (TS – T1)
2 002 000 = 1560 A (115.6 – 89.5)

Solving, A = 49.2 m2.

Steam economy = 2722/3255
= 0.836 17
Simplified diagram of forward-feed triple-
effect evaporator
vapor T1 vapor T2 vapor T3
to vacuum
condenser
(1) (2) (3)
feed, TF

T1 T2 T3

steam, TS
condensate

concentrate concentrated
concentrate
from second product
from first
effect. effect.

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 Forward-feed multiple/triple-effect
evaporators
- The fresh feed is added to the first effect and flows to
the next in the same direction as the vapor flow.
- Operated when the feed hot or when the final concentrated
product might be damaged at high temperature.
- At steady-state operation, the flowrates and the rate of
evaporation in each effect are constant.
- The latent heat from first effect can be recovered and
reuse. The steam economy , and reduce steam cost.
- The Tbp  from effect to effect, cause P1 .

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