Problem / Discussion

Evaporation - Refrigeration
Robi Andoyo, STP., M.Sc., Ph.D

Tomato juice at 5.5 kg/s feed flow rate and 60 0C inlet

temperature is concentrated in a double-effect forward feed
evaporator using steam in the first effect at a pressure of
198.5 kPa (absolut). The heat transfer area, the overall heat
transfer coefficient, and the pressure in each effect are shown
in the following table. The solids content and the heat
capacity of the feed are 11% and 3900 J/kg 0C respectively.
Calculate the steam flow rate, the solids content at the exit of
each effect, the steam economy, and the flow rate of cooling
water in the condenser.

Assume :
The condensate in each effect exits at the condensation temperature.
The operation is steady state.

Step 1
Draw the process diagram

Step 2
Combine the heat transfer rate equation with an enthalpy
balance in the first effect to calculate the steam
consumption

= 198.5 kPa

 The saturation temperature in the 1st effect, Tsat1,

is found from steam tables for
Psat = 90 kPa to be equal to 97 0C = Tb1
Substitute values, and calculate ms

Step 3
Calculate the solids content

Hv1 equal to the enthalpy of saturated steam,

Hv1 saturated. Thus:
Hv1 at 97 0C = 2671 kJ/kg (from Steam tables)

 Find mv1: A mass balance on the product gives

mf = mo1 + mv1 or mv1 = mf - mo1
Find the enthalpy of liquid streams
Using 0 0C as a reference temperature, the
enthalpy of the liquid streams is:
H = c pT
Thus :

Solve mo1, substitute values, and calculate the

mass flow rate at the exit of the first effect

mo1 = 3,6 kg/s

Calculate the solids content at the exit of the

first effect from a solids mass balance

0,16
3,6

At the exit of the second effect

Write an enthalpy balance around the second
effect

3,6
3,6
1,9

970

1,9

 The saturation temperature in the second effect,

Tsat2, is found from steam tables for Psat = 17.9
kPa to be equal to 57.6 0C.

3.6

1.9

3.6

1,8

 Substitute values and calculate the evaporation

rate in the second effect
mv2 = mi2 - mp = 3,6 1,8 = 1,8 kg/s

Calculate the solids content at the exit of the

second effect from a solids mass balance

0,16

3,6
1,8

Step 4
Calculate the steam economy
1,9

1,77

It wished to freeze 15 ton of fish /day

from an initial temp. of 10 0 C to a final
temp. of -8 0C using a stream of cold air.
Estimate the max capacity of ref. Plant
required. If the heat transfer-coefficient
from the air to evap. Coil (over all) is 22
J.m-2.s-1.0C-1. Calculate the surface area of
evaporator coil required if the logarithmic
mean temp drop across the coil is 12 0C.
Spesific heat of fish is 3.18 kJ/kg.0C above
freezing and 1.67 kJ/kg.0C bellow freezing
& latent heat is 276 kJ/kg

Enthalpy change in fish:

(10 x 3.2) + (8 x 1.67) + 276 = 31.8 + 13.4 + 276
CpL.(TL-Tref) + Cpf.(Tf-Tref) + = 321.2 kJ kg-1

Heat removed in freezing:

15 x 1000 x 321.2 = 4.82 x 106 kJ day-1

Average rate of heat removal:

(4.82 x 106)/(24 x 60 x 60) = 55.8 kJ s-1

Step 6
Calculate the cooling water flow rate in the
condenser
Write an enthalpy balance in the condenser

Rate of heat transfer

q = U A TLM
A = q / U TLM
= (55.8) / (22 x 12)
= 0.21 x 103 m2
= 210 m2.