CHEN 3787L: Unit Operations Lab 1

Experiment E: Single Effect Evaporator

Objective
1. Determine the effect of changing feed flow on capacity and steam economy of the single
effect evaporator operating at a constant steam pressure (10 psig) and constant evaporator
pressure (atmospheric).
2. Determine the effect of changing evaporator pressure (operating at atmospheric and at
different vacuum conditions) on capacity and steam economy of the single effect evaporator
operating at a constant feed flow and steam pressure.
3. Calculate the system heat loss for all runs on an absolute basis and as a percentage of actual
steam heat input. Comment on values and any observed trends.
4. Calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient U in Btu/(hr·ft2·oF) and in W/(m2·K) for the
boiler (steam heater), assuming the heat transfer area is 0.5 m2. Comment on values and any
observed trends.

Deliverables
1. Use the designated format for this report.
2. Use SI units. Show your equations, tables, and graphs in your report. Make sure to take multiple
measurements for each data point, calculate the mean value and include standard deviation in
your graphs.
3. Discuss your expectations for how steam economy, capacity, and heat loss should vary (if at
all) with the varying feed rate and system operating pressure and reasons for the expectations.
Compare the actual variations to the expected values. Discuss reasons for any discrepancy.
CHEN 3787L: Unit Operations Lab 1

Tips for Mass and Energy Balance

You will need the following information:

• Feed water flow and the feed temperature
• Steam pressure
• Steam condensate flow and temperature
• Evaporator liquid product flow (the “concentrated liquid”) and the temperature
• Evaporator vapor product flow and the temperature of the condensed liquid after the
condenser exchanger
• System pressure

For the mass balance, the feed mass flow in should equal the sum of the liquid product flow out
(the “concentrated liquid”) and the condensed vapor flow out (i.e. what goes in must come out
without any loss or gain in mass).

For the energy balance:

system heat loss + heat flow of liquid
product out + heat flow of vapor product
heat flow of feed in + heat flow of steam in =
out (before condenser)

The system heat loss cannot be directly measured, it must be calculated.

A “theoretical” amount of steam (ST) can be calculated by ignoring the system heat loss and
rewriting the above equation without this term:

!"! + %" ("# − "$ ) = *"% + +"& (1)

Where,
F = Mass flow of water feed in
ST = Mass flow of steam (theoretical – the “unknown”)
L = Mass flow of liquid product out
V = Mass flow of vapor product out
Hf = Enthalpy of the feed (based on feed phase and temperature)
HS = Enthalpy of the steam in (based on actual steam pressure and temperature)
HC = Enthalpy of the steam condensate (based on condensate phase and temperature)
HL = Enthalpy of the liquid out (based on phase and temperature)
HV = Enthalpy of the vapor out (based on vapor pressure and temperature)

NOTE: The system condenser is EXCLUDED in the above calculation (outside of the energy
envelope). Therefore, you must determine the pressure and temperature of the vapors leaving the
flash vessel to determine the enthalpy value.

Use Equation (1) to solve for ST.

Assume SA is the actual condensate rate measured during the experiment (i.e. the actual mass
flow of steam used). Typically, SA should be greater than ST calculated above. So the amount of
heat unaccounted for is given by (SA – ST)(HS – HC), which is the heat loss from the system.
CHEN 3787L: Unit Operations Lab 1

IMPORTANT: The water levels should be observed carefully throughout the experiment.
If levels get too high or too low, please call the instructor.

Week 1
• The system should be in operation, hot and at equilibrium with a feed flow at 8 GPH.

Follow the water line to the single effect evaporator, closing and opening valves as you go to
ensure the water reaches the correct evaporator
Turn on the water and turn up the flow valve. While the water is filling up the system, follow the
steam line through the single effect evaporator, closing and opening valves as you go to ensure
the steam reaches the correct evaporator
Once the water has filled up the system to the black line between the two pieces of duck tape on
the flash tank (above the heat exchanger), turn the flow meter down to the starting flow (the
highest of the three to use)
Turn on the steam. Allow the system to reach equilibrium – it typically takes 30 minutes after big
bubbles form for it to reach equilibrium (or after the flow rate has been changed)
After the system has reached equilibrium, collect your first sample. While the liquid is coming
out of the tube, obtain the temperature. Set a timer and collect the sample for 2 minutes.
There will be three samples – liquid, vapor, and steam. Collect one for the desired time, then
move to the second, then move to the third (i.e. steam, liquid, vapor).
After collecting the sample, the students will get the amount collected in that time and move to
the next position.
For vapor, MAKE SURE the line leaving the collection is EMPTY BEFORE beginning to
collect and start time.
There should be three data points for each of the three samples (i.e. 3 samples of liquid, 3
samples of vapor, 3 samples of steam), for a total of nine data points.
After all data points have been collected for a single flow, lower the flow.
Follow steps 7 – 10 through the second flow and the third flow.
After the nine collections for each flow (a total of 27 data points) have been collected, turn off
the steam and turn the water flow up to 10
Wait to turn off the water until you can place the palm of your hand on the bottom of the flash
tank and hold it there or until the temperature in the liquid collection unit is between 100 and 120
o
F. Once there, turn off the water.
CHEN 3787L: Unit Operations Lab 1

Week 2

Follow the water line to the single effect evaporator, closing and opening valves as you go to
ensure the water reaches the correct evaporator.
Turn on the water and turn up the flow valve.
While the water is filling up the system, follow the steam line through the single effect
evaporator, closing and opening valves as you go to ensure the steam reaches the correct
evaporator.
Once the water has filled up the system to the black line between the two pieces of duck tape on
the flash tank (above the heat exchanger), turn the flow meter down to the starting flow (the
highest of the three flows).
Turn on the steam.
Allow the system to begin producing vapor.
Turn on vacuum pump
Gradually turn valve until desired vacuum is reached.
Allow the system to reach equilibrium – it typically takes 30 minutes after the desired vacuum
has been reached (or after the flow rate has been changed)
While system is reaching vacuum, maintained collection vessels, draining as needed
***For both collection vessels, draining should occur when vessel reaches half way.
After the system has reached equilibrium, set system up to collect in the collection vessels for
three minutes
***Both vessels will be run at the SAME time and drained when the appropriate time for each
(individually) is reached
After three minutes is up, set system to drain, collecting the liquid in the collection vessels in
graduated cylinders and taking the temperature as the liquid comes out of the tube.
***If not enough liquid comes out to get the temperature while it is leaving the system, take the
temperature of the liquid in the tube
Set system back up for vacuum and start time
***Do this BEFORE reading the liquid amount AND collecting temperature if you could not get
it as it came out of the tube
Continue Steps 15 and 16 for at least three collections – your data should be within 10% of the
other ones
***i.e. if you have 300, then 330 works, but 350 is too much, so one of the two does not count.
If your third collection is 380, then 300 is out, and you need a fourth collection.
You will also need to collect three samples of the steam, including flow and temperature.
There should be three data points for each of the three samples (i.e. 3 samples of liquid, 3
samples of vapor, 3 samples of steam), for a total of nine data points
Change flow rate
CHEN 3787L: Unit Operations Lab 1

Follow steps 12 through 20 through two more values

After the nine collections for each flow (a total of 27 data points) have been collected, turn off
the steam, turn the water flow up to 10, and gently open up the vacuum
***Once vacuum gauges are at 0, turn off vacuum pump
Return all valves around the collection vessels to open
Wait to turn off the water until you can place the palm of your hand on the bottom of the flash
tank and hold it there or until the temperature in the liquid collection unit is between 100 and 120
oF. Once there, turn off the water.