VACUUM EVAPORATORS

Andrés Díaz, Nessin Morad, Adriana Correa, Mateo Torres Guerra

andresdiazh@usantotomas.edu.co, nessinmorat@usantotomas.edu.co, adrianacorrea@usantotomas.edu.co,
jaksontorres@usantotomas.edu.co

Universidad Santo Tomás

Bogotá, 2019
VACUUM EVAPORATORS

They are equipment currently used for the minimization and treatment of wastewater from
different industrial processes that, depending on certain characteristics, allows a zero-
discharge system. These equipments have been characterized by generating a drastic
reduction in the volume of liquid waste, in addition to the concentration of corrosive or
incrustating waste and the reuse of recovered water.

Image 1. Vacuum Evaporator

Some of the advantages and possibilities of vacuum evaporation:

 Drastic reduction in the volume of liquid waste

 Concentration of corrosive or scaling residues
 Reuse of recovered water
 Implementation of zero discharge systems

Vacuum evaporators have the purpose of transforming a tributary into two streams, one of
concentrated waste and the other of distilled water. Depending on the type of evaporator,

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the way in which the fluid streams are transported in the system will depend, however, they
share features in their operation which will be explained below.

The evaporators receive the fluid (the fluid is assumed at room temperature for this case) to
be treated by means of a feed line, which is connected to a tank where the fluid.

it will be brought to the boiling point by means of conduction in order to generate the
aforementioned currents, after the fluid reaches the boiling point a part of it flows into a
gaseous state and becomes located in the upper part of the tank and by means of a
condensation process transported as distilled water, while another part of the fluid with a
higher density is located in the lower part and subsequently taken to the concentrated waste
line.

Image 2. Vacuum evaporator process diagram

In the tank the pressure inside it is lower than atmospheric and this makes the boiling temperature
lower and saves energy; In addition, evaporation is a phenomenon that depends directly on the heat
transfer that occurs inside the tank; therefore, the evaporation rate depends on the following factors:

1. Temperature difference between the heating agent and the liquid to evaporate.

2. The boiling temperature of the liquid to evaporate increases as it is concentrated.

3. However, when operating under vacuum conditions, the temperature difference between the
heating agent and the liquid to be evaporated is widened, since the boiling temperature of
the mixture is much lower than that corresponding to atmospheric pressure. The greater the
temperature difference, the higher the evaporation rate.

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 4. Exchange area It depends on the geometry of the equipment and the phenomena
inherent in the concentration of the solution, such as the deposition of solids or scale
on the exchange surface. The greater the area, the greater the heat exchange
capacity and the higher the evaporation rate, the reactor and the liquid to evaporate.

The boiling temperature of the liquid to evaporate increases as it is concentrated.

However, when operating under vacuum conditions, the temperature difference
between the heating agent and the liquid to be evaporated is widened, since the
boiling temperature of the mixture is much lower than that corresponding to
atmospheric pressure. The greater the temperature difference, the higher the
evaporation rate.

5. Overall heat transfer coefficient (u). It depends on the physical properties of the
fluids involved (heating agent and liquid to evaporate), the material of the wall in
which the heat exchange occurs, the design and geometry of the equipment, as well
as the flow parameters (velocities of circulation of fluids, etc.). The larger this
coefficient, the easier the equipment has to exchange heat.

6. Properties of the liquid to evaporate. The viscosity, the possibility of foaming, its ability to
corrode, etc. They influence the practice in the heat transfer rate.

7. Vacuum evaporators are equipment that are positioned in the industry mainly
because of their cost-efficiency ratio, taking into account that they are equipment
that does not need constant maintenance, in addition to operating automatically. The
above are factors that are decisive for the creation of different models of vacuum
evaporators (Tuset, 2015).

TYPES OF EVAPORATORS:

Vacuum evaporators allow to treat an aqueous waste stream efficiently, easily and
without reagents. They are highly effective even when conventional technologies
are not viable. The fact of working in vacuum conditions allows to reduce the
boiling temperature, so that energy consumption is reduced. (Jankowski and Hayes,
2004).

As a summary, it should be noted that vacuum evaporation allows the treatment of effluents
that, due to their composition, their characteristics or their complexity of management,
cannot be treated by conventional physicochemical techniques. Its energy consumption
content makes it possible to severely reduce the volume of waste, recover a large flow of
water for reuse and even implement a zero discharge system with a really affordable
economic cost. They allow to obtain more than 95% of clean water and a concentration of
waste, which can be reused or sold as raw material. (Tuset, 2015)

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1. Multi-effect vacuum evaporators These equipments are the union of two or more
evaporators that are connected in series so that the vacuum is increasing from the first
evaporator to the last one, the above allows the steam generated in the first tank to be
used as the heating liquid of the next tank , allowing a higher evaporation rate. These
equipments are mainly used for high flow rates, in addition to having an energy
advantage such as saving the heating liquid when used as a refrigerant. They use hot
water or steam from an external circuit as energy source, which allows to take
advantage of residual heat flows.

Image 3. Vacuum evaporator with multiple effects

Its main advantage over a single evaporator lies in saving both heating fluid and cooling
fluid. To treat high flows, this is one of the most competitive options at the economic
level.. (Tuset, 2015)

2. Vacuum evaporators by heat pump The principle of operation of this equipment is

based on the gas cycle of a refrigerator in a closed system, where the gas moves through
a compressor which decreases or increases its temperature and pressure. The liquid found
in the heat exchanger is decompressed and cooled by the effect of a pressure valve, then
it is directed towards a second heat exchanger and it is where the condenser causes the
vapor that formed in the evaporator to condense and At the same time, the liquid increases
its temperature before going back through the compressor and repeating the cycle. This
equipment is characterized by being used for low-value flows of viscous, encrusting or
corrosive liquids. The operation of this system is based on the refrigeration cycle of a
gas, which is in a closed circuit. The refrigerant gas is compressed by the action of a

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 compressor increasing its pressure and temperature. It circulates through the heat
exchanger of the evaporator itself, heating the food.

Image 4. Vacuum evaporator by heat pump

When working under vacuum, the boiling temperature is of the order of 40 ° C. The coolant
leaves the evaporator exchanger and, by means of an expansion valve, decompresses and
cools. When passing through a second heat exchanger, the condenser causes the vapor
formed in the evaporator to condense, while increasing its temperature just before going
back through the compressor and thus repeating the cycle. (Tuset, 2015)

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 Vacuum evaporators by mechanical steam compression.

Image 5. Vacuum evaporator by mechanical steam compression.

The purpose of this equipment is to recover the heat that is generated in the condensation of
the distillate in order to reuse it in the evaporation process, this process is carried out when
the temperature of the steam generated in the evaporation is increased by compressing it
mechanically, so Therefore, when said steam travels through the evaporator, it manages to
heat the liquid to be evaporated and also helps to condense. This equipment is characterized
by the economy it offers by optimizing the use of the coolant. There are three main
categories of vacuum evaporators by mechanical steam compression:

Evaporators of natural circulation. These are very competitive equipment suitable for
those cases where low steam production is required. These systems work with electric
power and are easy to use and maintain. In addition, they represent an excellent investment
due to their combination of distillate quality, high technology and robustness.

 Evaporators of falling film or falling film. It is a very efficient technology for

obtaining high quality water from an effluent with a high concentration of pollutants.
Falling film evaporators use thermal energy, but when operating under vacuum conditions
the boiling temperature is reduced, so energy consumption is also reduced.

 Forced circulation evaporators. They are the equipment for mechanical compression of
the steam with lower energy consumption and those that allow to treat the higher flows.
(Tuset, 2015)

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PARAMETERS: The exchange area required for evaporation is key to the evaporator
design.

Image 6. Parameters in vacuum evaporation: Evaporator that feeds on a current F and in turn,
current is extracted from concentrate S and distillate E

Global Matter Balance

𝐹 =𝐸+𝑆

𝑉=𝐶

For the solute

𝐹𝑋𝐹 =𝑆𝑋𝑆

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Energy balances

V HV + F hF = C hC + E HE + S hS
Q = V HV – C hC = V (HV – hC) = U A ΔT

 Q: heat flow transmitted through the evaporator heating surface.

 U: the global heat transfer coefficient.
 A: the area necessary for evaporation
 ΔT: the temperature difference between the heating agent and the liquid to evaporate

Bibliografía

Tuset, S. (10 de 02 de 2015). Condorchem Envitech ( Smart ideas for wastewater & air treatment ).
Recuperado el 26 de 08 de 2019, de The basic of vacuum evaporation: https://blog-
en.condorchem.com/basis-vacuum-evaporation/#.XWbCcaNDmYU

Tuset, S. (s.f.). CONDORCHEM ENVITECH. Obtenido de

https://blog.condorchem.com/fundamentos-evaporacion-al-vacio/

Baker, R.A., Corning Glass Works, (1987), “Evaporative Recovery of Hazardous Materials”,
HAZTECH International Conference, August 26- 28, 1987, St.Louis, MO

Imagen 1. Tomado de: http://evaporadoresindustriales.grupovento.com/wp-

content/uploads/2017/10/Evaporadores-al-vac%C3%ADo.jpg

Imagen 2. Tomado de https://www.controlgraf.com/images/tratamientoresiduos/esquema-interior-

evaporador-al-vacio.jpg
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