Reboilers & Vaporisers

Reboilers and Vaporisers

Reboilers:
Vaporise a fraction of the feed (bottom product
of the distillation column).

Vaporisers:
All feed is vaporise.
 Types of Reboilers
1. Forced Circulation

2. Thermosyphon
(Natural Circulation)

3. Kettle
(Submerged Bundle)
 Types of Reboilers
1. Forced Circulation

2. Thermosyphon
(Natural Circulation)

3. Kettle
(Submerged Bundle)
 Types of Reboilers
1. Forced Circulation

2. Thermosyphon
(Natural Circulation)

3. Kettle
(Submerged Bundle)
 Types of Reboilers
1. Forced Circulation

2. Thermosyphon
(Natural Circulation)

3. Kettle
(Submerged Bundle)
 Choice of Type
1. The nature of the process fluid, particularly
its viscosity and propensity to fouling.

2. The operating pressure: vacuum or pressure.

3. The equipment layout, particularly the

headroom available.
 Forced Circulation
Suitability Disadvantage

Viscous fluid High pumping cost

Heavily fouling fluid Pump gasket leakages
Low vacuum operation
Low rate of vaporisation
High velocities
 Thermosyphon Reboiler
Unsuitability Disadvantage

Viscous fluid Hydrostatic head required

High vacuum operation (Column base elevated)
Pressure < 0.3 bar High construction cost

High velocities

Note: Horizontal exchangers are more easily maintained than vertical, as tube
bundle can be more easily withdrawn.
 Kettle Reboiler
Suitability Advantage
Vacuum operation Disengagement vessel
High rate of vaporisation
(i.e. up to 80% of feed)

Unsuitability Disadvantage
Fouling fluids High residence time
Expensive (large shell)
(May install at column base)
Note: It have lower heat transfer coefficients than the other types, as there is no
liquid circulation.
 Boiling Heat Transfer Fundamentals
Natural Convection
Low T
Liquid < boiling point
Boiling Heat Transfer Fundamentals
Nucleate Boiling
Surface Temperature Rise

Bubbles Forming at surface

Loosing from surface

Agitation

Rate of heat transfer high
Boiling Heat Transfer Fundamentals
 Pool Boiling
Forster and Zuber (1955);
 Pool Boiling
Mostinski (1963);

Note: Eq. 12.62 and 12.63 are for boiling single component fluids; for mixtures
coefficient will be lower than predicted by theses eqs. Also eqs. can be use for close
boiling range mixtures (<5 oC).
 Film Boiling
Bromley (1950);
Convective Boiling