DOUBLE EFFECT EVAPORATOR

AIM :To evaluate the following at steady state conditions.

a
b
c

Material and heat balance.

Economy and heat capacity of evaporator.
Over all heat transfer coefficient.

THEORY :
Evaporation deals with concentration of a non-volatile solute from a solution by removal
of required amount of volatile solvent. Usually the solvent is water. By vaporizing a part of the
solvent, the concentrated solution is produced and vapour is discarded. The heat supplied to the
solution is used the increase the temp. of the solution to its boiling point and to evaporate the
solvent from the solution. Heat capacity of evaporator can be defined as Kg of water evaporated
per hour whereas steam economy is defined as Kg of water evaporated per Kg of steam used.
Over all heat transfer coefficient can be obtained from steady sy=tae balance by using the
relation
Q = Ws.s.= U A (Ts T)
Material balance around an evaporator is given by the relation
Ws.s +Wr.hr= Wv. H + W h

Water Vapour, Wv
Concentrated Liquid Feed W, X

Feed

Wf

, Xf

Over all Material Balance:

Wf = W + Wv
Solute Balance
Wf Xf = W X
Description:

W,X

The set up consists of two evaporators fitted in series. Each is made up of stainless steel tubes
surrounded by steel jacket and fitted with accumulator. Dilute solution is fed to the first
evaporator tubes . Steam from boiler is supplied to the shell to concentrate the dilute solution to
a desired level. The jacket is fitted with a steam trap and condensate is collected at the end of the
tube. The vapours of the volatile solvent produced in first evaporator are supplied to the second
evaporator. The vapours of the volatile solvent produced in second evaporator are condensed in
a shell and tube type condenser and balance non- volatile solute collected in the accumulator is
recycled through the evaporator.
PROCEDURE:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Prepare 5 % (wt) solution of sodium carbonate in water.

Set the desired steam temp. 1100C to 1200C at the Boiler.
Open the funnel valve and vent valve of the feed tank, fill the solution in the feed tank up
to 80 % level and close both the valves after filling it.
Connect compressed air supply to the set up and adjust the pressure of the feed tank in
the range 0.5 to 1 Kg /cm2 by pressure regulator and pressure gauge.
Start filling the evaporator tubes with the solution up to 50 % Level and then start
admitting steam in to the steam chest and also start cooling water supply in to the
condenser.
As soon as evaporation starts in the tubes, the liquid level in the boiler section starts
decreasing. Start admitting the fresh feed to make up the desired level.
The evaporated vapour of the first evaporator is condensed in the second evaporators
shell and second evaporator vapour condensed in condenser. Amount of vapour
condensed is collected in a vessel. Flow rate can also be measured.
Record the feed and thick liquor temp. with time.
Monitor the concentration of the thick liquor by measuring its density using density
calibration curve.

OBSERVATIONS:
At steady state conditions, record the following.
1. Condensate rate, Ws
= .. Kg/ s
2. Thin liquor flow rate, Wr
= .. Kg/ s
3. Thin liquor temperature, t
= ..0C
4. Thick liquor flow rate, W
= .. Kg/ s
5. Thick liquor temperature, t
= ..0C
6. Steam condensing temp. ts
= .0C
7. Cooling water flow rate, M
= .. Kg/ s
8. Cooling water inlet temp.
= .0C
9. Cooling water outlet temp.
= .0C
10. Thin liquor concentration mass fraction, xf =
11. Thick liquor conc.. mass fraction, x
=
12. Evaporation rate
= . Kg/ s
13. Steam Pressure
= .
14. Evaporaors : Shell Dia : 100 mm, shell length :500 mm ,

Tube Dia : 12 mm,

Calculations:
s

= .. J / Kg

(Latent heat of steam)

= .Kg/ m3) (Density of steam condensate)

= . Kg/ m3 (Density of water at temp. of condensate)

hf

= ..KJ/ Kg ( Enthalpy of fed per unit mass)

hp

= ..KJ/ Kg (Enthalpy of product per unit mass)

= ..KJ/ Kg (Enthalpy of water vapour evaporated per unit

mass)

Vf

= ml (Volume of feed )

Mf

= gms (weight of Vf ml of feed sample )

1.
2.
3.
4.

Establish material balance.

Establish heat balance.
Calculate economy and heat capacity of evaporator.
Calculate overall heat transfer coefficient.

PRECAUTIONS:
1

Never run the apparatus if power fluctuation is there.

Never switch main power supply before ensuring that all the switches given on the panel
are at OFF position.

Operate selector switch and temperature indicator switch gently.

Always keep the apparatus free from dust.