Calandrias Forced circulation

FIG. 11-122 Evaporator types, a) Forced circulation, (h) Siibmerged-tiihe forced circulation, (c) Oslo-type crystallizer, (d) Short-tube vertical, (e) Propeller calandria. (f) Long-tube vertical, (g) Recirculating long-tube vertical, (h) Falling film, (ij) Horizontal-tube evaporators. G = condensate F = feed G = vent P = product S = steam V = vapor ENT T = separated entrainment outlet. 

Major evaporator designs include forced-circulation, long-tube vertical (both rising and falling film), and calandria-type evaporators. The economics of a particular process will dictate the evaporator style and model best suited to a particular application. Forced-circulation and calandria evaporators are required for processes where crystals are formed. These evaporators are designed to keep crystals suspended in solution to prevent scaling of the equipment. Long-tube vertical evaporators are used to concentrate a liquid that does not have solids present. 

A single-effect evaporator is used to concentrate 0.075 kg/s of a 10 per cent caustic soda liquor to 30 per cent. The unit employs forced circulation in which the liquor is pumped through the vertical tubes of the calandria which are 32 mmo.d. by 28 mmi.d. and 1.2 m long. Steam is supplied at 394 K, dry and saturated, and the boiling-point rise of the 30 per cent solution is 15 degK. If the overall heat transfer coefficient is 1.75 kW/m2 K, how many tubes should be used, and what material of construction would be specified for the evaporator The latent heat of vaporisation under these conditions is 2270 kJ/kg. 

Figure 8.16. Some types of evaporators, (a) Horizontal tube, (b) Calandria type, (c) Thermocompressor evaporator, (d) Long tube vertical, (e) Falling film, (f) Forced circulation evaporator-crystallizer, (g) Three types of Oslo/Krystal circulating liquid evaporator-crystallizers.

The most common evaporator design is based on the use of the same heating surface in each effect. This is by no means essential since few evaporators are standard or involve the use of the same patterns. In fact, there is no reason why all effects in an evaporator must be of the same type. For instance, the cheapest salt evaporator might use propeller calandrias for the early effects and forced-circulation effects at the low-temperature end, where their higher cost per unit area is more than offset by higher heat-transfer coefficients. 

Two general types of evaporators are used, and their names refer to the type of circulation used to transfer heat to the liquor for evaporating the water. Natural circulation evaporators rely on a thermosiphon to circulate liquors while forced circulation units use a pump to achieve the required circulation. The heating tubes may be inside or outside the evaporator body, but most designs, especially the older calandria style evaporators, use internal tubes for heating (Figure 2). 

Natural circulation in the standard short tube evaporator depends upon boiling. Should boiling stop, any solids suspended in the liquid phase will settle out. The earliest type of evaporator that could be called a forced-circulation device is the propeller calandria illustrated in Fig. %(e). Basically a standard evaporator with a propeller added in the downcomer, the propeller calandria often achieves higher heat transfer rates. The propeller is usually placed as low as possible to avoid cavitation and is placed in an extension of the downcomer. The propeller can be driven from above or below. Improvements in propeller design have permitted longer tubes to be incorporated in the evaporator. 

Used solvent is liable to foul heat exchanger surfaces and so will almost always be on the tube side of a shell and tube heat exchanger with steam on the shell side. While it is possible to use a natural circulation external calandria if the solvent to be evaporated is clean, forced circulation is more reliable if the solvent contains residue (Fig. 4.1) despite the fact that it may be a diliicult duty as regards both cavitation and seal maintenance. 

Most evaporation units are steam heated and a typical evaporator body used in evaporative crystallization is the short-tube vertical type in which steam condenses on the outside of the tubes Figure 8.41). A steam chest, or calandria, with a large central downcomer allows the magma to circulate through the tubes during operation the tops of the tubes are just covered with liquor. To increase the rate of heat transfer, especially in dealing with viscous liquors, a forced circulation of liquor may be effected by installing an impeller in the downcomer. 

Forced circulation and falling film evaporators offer characteristics that make them attractive for vapor compression systems. Falling film calandrias are particularly well-suited for vapor compression systems ... 

Calandrias heeted with sensible heat from a hot liquid are normally controlled by throttling the liquid flow. Sometimes control may be achieved by controlling the temperature of the heating medium. Forced circulation calandrias heated with hot liquid may present control problems. 

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