CHAPTER 6:

EVAPORATION SYSTEM
PART II
CH2035 FOOD ENGINEERING 2
Semester 1, 2024-2025

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 OUTLINE:
▪ Introduction
▪ Types of Evaporation Equipment
▪ Methods of Evaporator Operation
▪ Overall Heat Transfer Coefficients In Evaporators
▪ Fouling in Evaporators
▪ Calculation Methods For Single Effect Evaporators
▪ Boiling Point Rise of Solutions And Enthalpy-
concentration Charts Of Solutions
▪ Calculation Methods For Multiple-effect Evaporators
▪ Condensers For Evaporators
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ In a single-effect
evaporator, dilute liquid
feed is pumped into the
heating chamber, where it
is heated indirectly with
steam.
➢ Steam is introduced into
the heat exchanger, where
it condenses to give up
its heat of vaporization to
the feed, and exits the Fig. 1: Heat and mass
system as condensate. balance for single effect
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evaporator
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ The capacity of a single effect evaporator can be solved:
𝑸 = 𝑼 𝑨 ∆𝑻
❖ where ΔT (K) is the difference in temperature between the
condensing steam and the boiling liquid in the evaporator.
❖ Q (W) - determined by making a heat and material balance on
the evaporator.
❖ F (kg/h) - feed to the evaporator having a solid content of xF
mass fraction, TF temperature, and enthalpy hF (J/kg)
➢ The vapor V (kg/h) is given off as pure solvent having a solids
content of yv=0, temperature T1, and enthalpy of Hs.
➢ The condensed steam leaving of S (kg/h) and has a
temperature of Ts and enthalpy of Hs.
➢ The condensed steam leaving of S (kg/h) is assumed usually to
be at Ts, the saturation temperature, with an enthalpy of hs.
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CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢The steam gives off only its latent heat, which is: 𝝀 = 𝑯𝒔 -𝒉𝒔
➢Since the vapor V is in equilibrium with the liquid L, the
temperatures of vapor and liquid are the same.
➢The pressure P1 is the saturation vapor pressure of the
liquid of composition xL at its boiling point, T1 (Assume no
boiling point rise).
▪ The material balance at steady state, the rate of mass in =
the rate of mass out, a total mass balance:F = L + V
➢ For a balance on the solute (solids) alone, F xF = L xL
▪ For the heat balance, since the total heat entering = total heat
leaving:
➢ Heat in feed + heat in steam = heat in concentrated liquid +
heat in vapor + heat in condensed steam bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Assume no heat lost by radiation or convection:
𝐹ℎ𝐹 + 𝑆𝐻𝑠 = 𝐿ℎ𝐿 + 𝑉𝐻𝑣 + 𝑆ℎ𝑆
𝐹ℎ𝐹 + 𝑆𝜆 = 𝐿ℎ𝐿 + 𝑉𝐻𝑣
▪ The heat Q transferred in the evaporator is: Q= 𝑆(𝐻𝑠 -ℎ𝑠 ) = S𝜆
➢ The latent heat of steam at the saturation temperature TS
can be obtained from the steam tables.
➢ However, the enthalpies of the feed and products are often
not available.
➢ These enthalpy-concentration data are available for only a
few substances in solution.
➢ Some approximations are made in order to make a heat
balance, as listed below:
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
i. It can be demonstrated as an Steam table - Properties of saturated steam & water
approximation that the latent
heat of evaporation of 1 kg mass
of the water from an aqueous
solution can be obtained from the
steam tables using the
temperatures of the boiling
solution T1 (exposed surface
temperature) rather than the
equilibrium temperature for pure
water at P1.
ii. If the heat capacities cPF of the
liquid feed & cPL of the product
are known, they can be used to
calculate the enthalpies (this
neglects heats of dilution,
unknown). bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Example:
➢ A continuous single-effect evaporator
concentrates 9072 kg/h of a 1.0 wt% salt
solution entering a 311.0 K to a final
concentration of 1.5 wt%.
➢ The vapor space of the evaporator is at
101.325 kPa and the steam supplied is
saturated at 143.3 kPa.
➢ The overall coefficient U = 1704 W/m2.
➢ Calculate the amounts of vapor and liquid
product and the heat transfer area required.
➢ Assume that, since it is dilute, the solution
has the same boiling point as water.
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Solution:
➢For the material balance: F = L + V
9072 = L + V
➢Substituting into F xF = L xL and solving:
9072 (0.01) = L (0.015)
L = 6048 kg/h of liquid
➢Substituting into V = F – L and solving:
V = 3024 kg/h of vapor
➢ The heat capacity of the feed is assumed to be cPF = 4.14
kJ/kg. K.
[Often, for feeds of inorganic salts in water, the cP can be
assumed approximately as that of water alone.]

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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢To make a heat balance, it is convenient to select the
boiling point of the dilute solution in the evaporator, which
is assumed to be that of water at 101.32kPa, T1 = 373.2K, as
the datum temperature.
➢Hv is the latent heat of water at 373.2K = 2257 kJ/kg (from
steam tables).
➢The latent heat of the steam at 143.3 kPa (saturation
temperature Ts = 383.2 K) is 2230 kJ/kg.
➢The enthalpy of the feed can be calculated from:
ℎ𝐹 =𝑐𝑃𝐹 𝑇𝐹 − 𝑇1
➢Substituting into heat balance with hL = 0, since it is at the
datum of 373.2K, 𝐹ℎ𝐹 + 𝑆𝜆 = 𝐿ℎ𝐿 + 𝑉𝐻𝑣
(9072)(4.14)(311.0-373.2)+S(2230)=6048(0)+3024(2257)
S =4108 kg steam/h
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ The heat Q transferred through the heating surface area A is:
Q = S (λ) = (4108 kg/h)(2230 kJ/kg)(1000[J/kJ]/3600[s/h])
= 2 544 000 W
➢ Since ∆T = Ts – T1, Q = U A ∆T,
A = Q / (U ∆T ) = 2 544 000 W/[(1704 W/m2)(383.2 -373.2)K]
= 149.3 m2

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CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Effect of processing variables on evaporator operation:
1. Effect of feed temperature:
➢ The inlet temperature of the feed has a large effect on the
operation of evaporator.
➢ In example above, the feed entering was at a cold temperature
of 311.0K (low - boiling point of 373.2 K).
➢ About 1/4 of the steam used for heating was used to heat the
cold feed to the boiling point.
➢ About 3/4 of the steam was left for vaporization of the feed.
➢ If the feed is under pressure and enters the evaporator at a
temperature above the boiling point in the evaporator,
additional vaporization is obtained by the flashing of part of
the entering hot feed.
➢ Preheating feed can reduce the size of evaporator and heat
transfer area needed.
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CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
2. Effect of pressure:
➢ The pressure of 101.32kPa abs was used in the vapor
space of the evaporator.
➢ This sets the boiling point of the solution at 373.2K and
gave a ΔT of 10 K (if operating temperature is 383.2 K).
➢ The large Δ T is desirable, as the Δ T increases, the
heating-surface area A and cost of evaporator decrease.
➢ To reduce the pressure below 101.32kPa (to be under
vacuum), a condenser and vacuum pump can be used.
➢ If the pressure was reduced to 41.4 kPa, the boiling point
of water would be 349.9K and the new Δ T would be 33.3 K
(383.2-349.9 K).
➢ A large decrease in heating-surface area would be
obtained.
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR SINGLE EFFECT EVAPORATORS
3. Effect of steam pressure:
➢ Using higher pressure, saturated steam increases the ΔT,
which decreases the size and cost of the evaporator.
➢ High pressure steam is more costly and is often more
valuable as a source of power.
➢ Overall economic
balances are
really needed to
determine the
optimum steam
pressures.

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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ In most cases, evaporation the solutions are not such dilute
solutions, the thermal properties of the solution being
evaporated may differ considerably from those of water.
➢ The concentrations of the solutions are high enough so
that the heat capacity and boiling point are quite different
from that of water.
➢ For strong solutions of dissolved solutes, the boiling
point rise due to the solutes in the solution usually cannot
be predicted.
➢ A useful empirical law known as Duhring's rule can be
used.
➢ A straight line is obtained if the boiling point of solution
is plotted against the boiling point of pure water.
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
❖ at the same pressure for a given concentration at
different pressures.
❖ A different straight lines is obtained for each given
concentration.
➢ Fig. 2 shows a Duhring line chart is given for solutions of
sodium hydroxide in water.
➢ It is necessary to know the boiling point of a given solution
at only two pressures to determine a line.
➢ The boiling-point rise of a common aqueous solutions in
addition to common salts and solutes (NaNO3, NaOH, NaCl,
& H2SO4, sucrose, citric acid, sodium sulfate, glycerol) are
available in Perry & Green Handbook.
➢ The biological solutes have small boiling point rise
values as compared to those of common salts.
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS

Fig. 3: Dühring lines illustrating the

Fig. 2: Duhring lines for aqueous influence of solute concentrations on
solutions of sodium hydroxide. boiling point elevation of NaCl
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ Example:
➢The pressure in an evaporator is given as 25.6 kPa and a
solution of 30% NaOH is being boiled.
➢Determine the boiling temperature of NaOH solution and
the boiling-point rise of the solution over that of water at the
same pressure.
▪ Solution:
➢From steam tables, the boiling point of water at 25.6 kPa is
65.6oC.
➢Use Fig. 2, 65.6oC, 30% NaOH, the boiling point of NaOH
solution is 79.5oC.
➢The boiling-point rise is 79.5 - 65.6 = 13.9oC
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ If the heat of solution of aqueous solution being
concentrated in an evaporator is large, neglecting it could
cause errors in heat balances.
➢This heat of solution phenomenon can be explained as
follows:
❖ If NaOH pellets are dissolved in a given amount of water, it
is found that a considerable temperature rise occurs
[heat is evolved (heat of solution)].
❖ the amount of heat evolved depends on the type of
substances and on the amount of water used.
❖ If a strong solution of NaOH is diluted to a lower
concentration, heat is liberated.
❖ If a solution is concentrated from a low to a high
concentration, heat must be added.
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ Fig.4 shows an enthalpy-concentration chart for NaOH is
given where the enthalpy is in kJ/kg solution, temperature in
oC, and concentration in weight fraction NaOH in solution.

➢ Such enthalpy-concentration charts are usually not made

for solutions having negligible heats of solution, since the
heat capacities can be used to calculate enthalpies.
➢ The enthalpy of the liquid water is referred to the same
datum or reference state as in the steam tables (0oC).
➢ This means that enthalpies from the figure can be used with
those in steam tables.
➢ In heat balance [𝐹ℎ𝐹 + 𝑆𝜆 = 𝐿ℎ𝐿 + 𝑉𝐻𝑣 ], the hF and hL can be
taken from Fig. 4 & values are taken from steam tables.
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
Fig. 4: Enthalpy-
concentration chart for
NaOH-water system
[Reference state for
Liquid water at 0oC]

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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ Example:
▪ An evaporator is used to concentrate 4536
kg/h of a 20% solution of NaOH in water
entering at 60oC to a product of 50% solids.
➢ 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 vaporised/kg steam used,
and the heating surface area in m2.
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ Solution:
➢ The given variables:
➢ F = 4536 kg/h, xF = 0.20 wt fraction, TF = 60oC, P1 = 11.7 kPa,
steam pressure = 172.4 kPa, xL = 0.50 wt fraction.
➢ For overall material balance, F = 4536 = L + V
➢ Substituting and solving: F xF = L xL
(4536)(0.20) = L (0.50)
L = 1814 kg/h,
V = F – L, V = 2722 kg/h
➢ To determine boiling point T1 of 50% concentrated solution,
➢ 1st step: obtain the boiling point of pure water at 11.7kPa
from steam tables, Tb = 48.9oC
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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
➢ From the Duhring chart, for a boiling point of water of
48.9oC and 50% NaOH, the boiling point of the solution is T1
= 89.5oC.
➢ Boiling point rise = 89.5 - 48.9 = 40.6 oC
➢ From the enthalpy-concentration
chart, for 20% NaOH at 60oC, hf =
214 kJ/kg, for 50% NaOH at
89.5oC, hL = 505 kJ/kg,
➢ For superheated vapor V at 89.5oC,
and 11.7 kPa (Superheated
because the boiling point of water
is 48.9oC at 11.7 kPa),
➢ From steam tables, HV = 2667 kJ/kg. bblee@unimap.edu.my
 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ Alternatively, 1st step obtain the enthalpy of saturated vapor
at 48.9oC and 11.7 kPa of 2590 kJ/kg.
➢ Then using a heat capacity of 1.884 kJ/kg.K for superheated
steam with the superheat of 40.6oC,
➢ Hv = 2590 + 1.8884 (40.6) = 2667 kJ/kg.
▪ For the saturated steam at 172.4kPa, the saturation
temperature from steam tables is 115.6oC and the latent heat
is λ = 2214 kJ/kg.
➢ Solving for S: 𝐹ℎ𝐹 + 𝑆𝜆 = 𝐿ℎ𝐿 + 𝑉𝐻𝑣
(4535)(214) + S (2214) = (1814)(505) + (2722)(2667)
S = 3255 kg steam / h

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 BOILING POINT RISE OF SOLUTIONS AND
ENTHALPY-CONCENTRATION CHARTS OF SOLUTIONS
▪ Since Q = S λ
= (3255)(2214)(1/3600) = 2002 kW
➢Substituting into Q = U A ∆T
2 002 000 = (1560)(A)(115.6-89.5)
Hence, A = 49.2 m2

▪ Steam economy = F/S

2722 𝑘𝑔/ℎ
=
3255 𝑘𝑔/ℎ
= 0.836

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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Evaporation of solutions in a single-effect evaporator, a
major cost is the cost of the steam used to evaporate water.
➢A single effect evaporator is wasteful of steam cost since the
latent heat of vapor leaving the evaporator is often not used.
➢To reduce the cost, a multiple-effect evaporator is used
which recovers the latent heat of the vapor leaving & reuse it.

Fig.5: A three-
effect evaporator.
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ In the first effect, raw steam is used as the heating
medium to this 1st effect, which is boiling at temperature, T1
and pressure P1.
➢ The vapor removed from the 1st effect is used as the
heating medium, condensing in the 2nd effect &
vaporizing water at temperature T2 & pressure P2 in this
effect.
➢ To transfer heat from vaporizing water at temperature T2
and pressure P2 in this effect.
➢ To transfer heat from the condensing vapor to the boiling
liquid in this 2nd effect, the boiling temperature T2 must be
less than the condensing temperature.
➢ This means that the pressure P2 in 2nd effect is lower than P1
in this 1st effect.
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ In a similar manner, vapor from the 2nd effect is condensed
in heating in 3rd effect.
➢Hence, pressure P3 is less than P2.
➢If the 1st effect is operating at 1 atm abs pressure, the 2nd
and 3rd effects will be under vacuum.
➢In 1st effect, raw dilute feed is added and it is partly
concentrated.
➢This partly concentrated liquid flows to the 2nd evaporator
in series, where it is further concentrated.
➢This liquid from the 2nd effect flows to the third effect for
final concentration.
▪ When a multi-effect evaporator is at steady-state operation,
the flow rates & rate of evaporation in each effect are
constant. bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢The pressures, temperatures, and internal flow rates are
automatically kept constant by the steady-state operation
of the process itself.
➢To change the concentration in final effect, the feed rate to
the 1st effect must be changed.
➢The overall material balance made over the whole system
and over each evaporator itself must be satisfied.
➢If the final solution is too concentrated, the feed rate is
increases, and vice versa.
➢Then the final solution will reach a new steady state at the
desired concentration.

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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
1) Temperature drops of multiple-effect evaporators:
➢ The amount of heat transferred per hour in the 1st effect of a
triple-effect evaporator with forward feed: Q1 = U1 A1 ∆T1
➢ where ΔT1 is the difference between the condensing steam
and the boiling point of the liquid (Ts-T1).
▪ Assuming that the solutions have no boiling-point rise and
no heat of solution and neglecting the sensible heat
necessary to heat the feed to the boiling point,
approximately all the latent heat of the condensing steam
appears as latent heat in the vapor.
➢Q2 = U2 A2 ∆T2
➢This same reasoning holds for Q3.
➢Then since Q1 = Q2 = Q3, bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ Then approximately,
U1 A1 ∆T1= U2 A2 ∆T2=
U3 A3 ∆T3

➢ Usually, in commercial practice the areas in all effects are

equal and: Q/A = U1 ∆T1= U2 ∆T2= U3 ∆T3
➢ Hence, the temperature drops ΔT in a multiple-effect
evaporator are approximately inversely proportional to the
values of U.
➢ Calling ΣΔT as follows for no boiling point rise,
∑ΔT = ∆T1+ ∆T2 + ∆T3 = Ts – T3
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ Since ΔT1 is proportional to 1/U1, then,
1Τ𝑈1
∆𝑇1 = ෍ ∆𝑇
1Τ𝑈1 + 1Τ𝑈2 + 1Τ𝑈3
➢ Similar equations can be written for ΔT2 and ΔT3.
2) Capacity of multiple effect evaporators:
➢ A rough estimate of the capacity of a triple effect
evaporator compared to a single effect can be obtained by
adding the value of Q for each evaporator:
Q = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 = U1 A1 ∆T1= U2 A2 ∆T2= U3 A3 ∆T3
➢ If we make assumption that the U value is the same in
each effect and A value are equal:
Q = U A (∆T1+∆T2+∆T3)
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ If a single-effect evaporator is used with the same area A,
the same U, & the same total temperature drop, ΔT.
➢ This gives the same capacity as for multiple effect
evaporators.
➢ The increase in steam economy obtained by using
multiple-effect evaporators is obtained at the expense of
reduced capacity.
3) Calculations:
➢The values to be calculated:
i) the area of heating surface in each effect;
ii) the kg of steam per hour to be supplied;
iii) the amount of vapor leaving each effect (especially the last
effect).
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢The known values:
i) steam pressure to 1st effect;
ii) final pressure in vapor space of the last effect;
iii) feed conditions and flow to 1st effect;
iv) final concentration in the liquid leaving the last effect;
v) physical properties (enthalpies/heat capacities of liquid
and vapors)
vi) overall heat transfer coefficient in each effect.
vii) areas of each effect (assumed).

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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ The calculation are done using material balances, heat
balances, the capacity equation (Q = U A ΔT) for each effect.
➢ solving using trial and error approach (common).
▪ Step-by-step calculation methods:
i. From the known outlet concentration and pressure in the last
effect, determine the boiling point in the last effect.
➢ if a boiling-point rise is present, this can be determined from a
Duhring line plot.
ii. Determine the total amount of vapor evaporated by an overall
material balance.
➢ For the 1st trial approtion, the total amount of vapor among the
three effects.
➢ Usually, equal vapor produced in each effect, V1 = V2 = V3 is
assumed.
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ Make a total material balance on effects 1, 2, & 3 to obtain
L1, L2, and L3.
➢ Calculate the solids concentration in each effect by a
solids balance on each effect.
iii. Estimate the temperature drops ΔT1, Δ T2, Δ T3 in the
three effects from: 1Τ𝑈1
∆𝑇1 = ෍ ∆𝑇
1Τ𝑈1 + 1Τ𝑈2 + 1Τ𝑈3
➢ Any effect has an extra heating load, such as a cold feed,
requires a proportionately larger ΔT.
➢ Then calculate the boiling point in each effect.
➢ If a boiling point rise is present, estimate the pressure in
effects 1 and 2 and determine the boiling point rise in each
of the three effects. bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ Only a crude pressure estimate is needed since the boiling
point rise is almost independent of pressure.
➢ The ΣΔT available for heat transfer without the superheat is
obtained by subtracting the sum of all three boiling point rises
from the overall ∆T of Ts-T3 (saturation).
➢ Estimate T1, T2 and T3 from: 1Τ𝑈1
∆𝑇1 = ෍ ∆𝑇
1Τ𝑈1 + 1Τ𝑈2 + 1Τ𝑈3
➢ Calculate the boiling point in each effect.
iv. Use heat and material balances in each effect, calculate the
amount vaporized & the flows of liquid in each effect.
➢ If the amounts vaporized differ appreciably from those
assumed in Step ii, then Step ii-iv can be repeated using the
amounts of evaporation calculated (only solids balance is
repeated in step ii).
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
v. Calculate the value of Q transferred in each effect.
➢ Using the rate equation Q = UA ΔT for each effect, calculate
the areas A1, A2, and A3.
𝐴1 +𝐴2 +𝐴3
➢ Then calculate the average value Am by:𝐴𝑚 =
3
➢ If these areas are reasonably close to each other, the
calculations are complete and a second trial is not needed.
➢ If these areas are not nearly equal, a second trial should
be performed as follows:
❖ To start trial 2, use the new values of L1, L2, L3, V1, V2 and V3
calculated by the heat balances in step iv & calculate the
new solids concentrations in each effect by a solids balance
on each effect.
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 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
❖ Obtain new values of ∆T1’, ∆T2’, ∆T3’:
′ ∆𝑇1 𝐴1 ′ ∆𝑇2 𝐴2 ′ ∆𝑇3 𝐴3
∆𝑇1 = , ∆𝑇2 = , ∆𝑇3 =
𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝑚
❖ The sum (ΔT1’ + Δ T2’ + Δ T3’) must equal the original ΣΔ T.
❖ If not, proportionately readjust all ΔT' values so that this
is so.
❖ Then calculate the boiling point in each effect.
❖ If a boiling point rise is present, then using the new
concentrations, determine the new boiling point rise in
the three effects.
➢ This gives a new value of ΣΔT available for heat transfer by
subtracting the sum of all three boiling point rises from
the overall ΔT.
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
❖ Calculate the new values of ΔT’ from:
∆𝑇1 𝐴1 ∆𝑇2 𝐴2 ∆𝑇3 𝐴3
∆𝑇1′
= = , ∆𝑇2′
= , ∆𝑇3′
𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝑚
❖ The sum of the ΔT' values just calculated must be
readjusted to this new ΣΔT value.
❖ Then calculate the boiling point in each effect.
vi. Using the new ΔT' values, repeat the calculations starting
with step iv.
➢ Two trials are usually sufficient so that the areas are
reasonably close to being equal.

bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Example:
▪ Estimate the requirements of steam and heat transfer surface
of a triple effect evaporator.
➢ The evaporating temperatures in each effect, for a triple
effect evaporator evaporating 500 kg h-1 of a 10% solution
up to a 30% solution.
➢ Steam is available at 200 kPa gauge and the pressure in the
evaporation space in the final effect is 60 kPa absolute.
Assume that the overall heat transfer coefficients are 2270,
2000 and 1420 J m-2 s-1 °C-1 in the first, second and third
effects respectively.
➢ Neglect sensible heat effects and assume no boiling-point
elevation, and assume equal heat transfer in each effect.
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
▪ Solution:
➢Mass balance (kg h-1):
Concentration Solid Liquid Total
Feed 10% 50 450 500
Product 30% 50 117 167
Vapor 333
➢Heat balance:
➢ From steam tables, the condensing temperature of steam
at 200 kPa is 134°C and the latent heat is 2164 kJ kg -1.
➢ Evaporating temperature in final effect under pressure of
60 kPa (abs.) is 86°C, as there is no boiling-point rise and
latent heat is 2294 kJ kg-1.
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ Equating the heat transfer in each effect: Q1 = Q2 = Q3
➢ U1A1∆T1 = U2A2∆T2 = U3A3∆T3
➢ Overall ∆T = ∆T1 + ∆T2 + ∆T3 = (134 - 86) = 48°C.
➢ Now, if A1 = A2 = A3
➢ then ∆T2 = U1∆T1 /U2 and ∆T3 = U1∆T1 /U3
➢ so that ∆T1 (1 + U1/U2 + U1/U3) = 48,
∆T1 x [1 + (2270/2000) + (2270/1420)] = 48
3.73 ∆T1 = 48
∆T1 = 12.9°C
➢ ∆T2 = ∆T1 x (2270/2000) = 14.6°C
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ ∆T3 = ∆T1 x (2270/1420) = 20.6°C
▪ And so the evaporating temperature:
➢ in 1st effect: T1= 134 - 12.9 = 121°C; latent heat (from Steam
Tables) 2200 kJ kg-1.
➢ in 2nd effect: T2 =121 - 14.6 = 106.5°C; latent heat 2240 kJ kg-1
➢ in 3rd effect: T3 = 106.5 - 20.6 = 86°C, latent heat 2294 kJ kg-1
▪ Equating the quantities evaporated in each effect and
neglecting the sensible heat changes, if w1, w2, w3 are the
respective quantities evaporated in 1st,2nd & 3rd effects.
➢ ws is the quantity of steam condensed per hour in 1st effect,
➢ Then, w1 x 2200 x 103 = w2 x 2240 x 103
= w3 x 2294 x 103
= ws x 2164 x 103
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CALCULATION METHODS FOR MULTIPLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS
➢ The sum of the quantities evaporated in each effect must
equal the total evaporated in all three effects so that:
w1 + w2 + w3 = 333
➢ solving as above, w1 = 113 kg h-1, w2 = 111kg h-1, w3 =
108kg h-1, ws = 115 kg h-1
▪ Steam consumption:
➢ It required 115 kg steam (ws) to evaporate a total of 333 kg
water, that is 0.35kg steam/kg water evaporated.
▪ Heat exchanger surface:
➢Writing a heat balance on the first effect: w1 h1 = U A1∆T1
(113 x 2200 x 1000)/3600 = 2270 x A1 x 12.9
A1 = 2.4 m2 = A2 = A3
➢ Total area = A1 + A2 + A3 = 7.2 m2
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CONDENSERS FOR EVAPORATORS
▪ In multiple-effect evaporators the
vapors form the last effect are usually
leaving under vacuum (< 1 atm).
➢ Theses vapors must be condensed
and discharged as a liquid at
atmospheric pressure.
➢ This is done by condensing the
vapors using cooling water.
➢ The condenser can be a surface
condenser, where the vapor to be
condensed and the cooling liquid are
separated by a metal wall, or a direct
Schematic of a forced
contact condenser, where the vapor
and cooling liquid are mixed circulation evaporator
directly. bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CONDENSERS FOR EVAPORATORS
1) Surface condenser:
➢ It is used when the actual mixing of the condensate with
condenser cooling water is not desired.
➢ It is a shell and tube condenser with the vapor on the shell side
and cooling water in multipass flow on the tube side.
➢ Noncondensable gases are usually present in the vapor stream.
➢ If the vapor being condensed is
below atmospheric pressure, the
condensed liquid leaving the
surface condenser can be removed
by pumping and the
noncondensable gases by a
vacuum pump.
➢ It is more expensive and use more
cooling water than direct contact
condenser. bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CONDENSERS FOR EVAPORATORS
2) Direct contact condensers:
➢ Cooling water directly contacts vapors and condenses the
vapors, the common type is Barometric condenser.
➢ The vapor enters the condenser is located on top of a long
discharge tail pipe.
➢ The condenser is high enough
above the discharge point in the
tail pipe so that the water column
established in the pipe more than
compensates for the difference in
pressure between the low
absolute pressure in the
condenser and the atmosphere.
Schematic of
barometric condenser bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CONDENSERS FOR EVAPORATORS
▪ The water is discharged by gravity through a seal pot at the
bottom.
➢A height of about 10.4 m is used.
➢It is inexpensive and economical of water consumption.
➢It can maintain a vacuum corresponding to a saturated
vapor temperature within about 2.8 K of water temperature
leaving the condenser.
➢The water consumption can be estimated by a simple heat
balance.
➢If the vapor flow to the condenser is V (kg/h) at temperature
Ts, and the water flow is W (kg/h) at an entering temperature
of T1, and a leaving temperature of T2,
V HS + W cp (T1 – 273.2) = (V + W) cp (T2 – 273.2)
bblee@unimap.edu.my
 CONDENSERS FOR EVAPORATORS
➢ where Hs is the enthalpy from the steam tables of the vapor
at Ts (K) and the pressure in the vapor stream.
➢ Solving,
𝑊 𝑘𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑆 − 𝑐𝑝 𝑇2 − 273.2
= =
𝑉 𝑘𝑔 𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑝 𝑇2 − 𝑇1
➢ The noncondensable gasses can be removed from the
condenser by a vacuum pump.

bblee@unimap.edu.my