Brine vapor-recompression evaporation

Water is evaporated from purified brine using multiple-effect or vapor recompression evaporators (Figs. 3 and 4). Multiple-effect systems typically contain three or four forced-circulation evaporating vessels (Fig. 4) connected together in series. Steam from boilers suppHes the heat and is fed from one evaporator to the next to increase energy efficiency in the multiple-effect system. 

In Texas, subterranean sulfate brines are pumped to the surface where the brines are first saturated with NaCl before they are cooled by mechanical refrigeration to form Glauber s salt (7,8). This salt is then separated from its mother Hquor, melted, and dehydrated with mechanical vapor recompression evaporators (9). 

Evaporation is energy-intensive. The latent heat associated with separation of a ton of dry NaCl from saturated solution is about 6.5 GJ. With KCl, the equivalent figure depends more on the temperature assumed for the brine as produced but is in the range of 3.5-4 GJ. Energy economization is therefore a major consideration in evaporation process design. Two different approaches are in widespread use, multiple-effect evaporation and vapor recompression. 

G. Materials of Construction. Evaporator materials of construction and their costs play a large role in determining the optimum compression ratio. Monel is a standard material of construction for brine evaporator bodies. Stabilized titanium (e.g.. Grade 12) is a frequent choice for heater tubing and Type 316 stainless steel for the circulating pumps. The evaporator normally will be of the forced-circulation type described in Section 9.3.3.2. It will either contain a number of effects or operate with vapor recompression. Salt-recovery centrifuges may be Monel or stainless steel. 

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