EPDC/C Computer Controlled Falling Film Evaporator

The objective of the evaporation is to concentrate a non-volatile solute, carrying out the elimination of a volatile compound.

Water is the volatile compound used in most evaporations.

The rising or falling film evaporators are very useful if high temperatures can degrade the product that we want to concentrate, so these evaporators work at less temperature. They can be used, for example, for the concentration of fruit juices, milk and dairy products, effluents, etc.

Basically, the unit consists of the following circuits:

• The feed circuit that consists on a feed pump that introduces the product in a double jacket column, which has temperature sensors. The feed is done through the top of the column, where a joint with a pressure sensor has been assembled. The concentrated product leaves the tank through a cyclone placed at the bottom of the column and it is collected in a 500 ml graduated vessel. This vessel is also connected to a 10 liters tank for the storage of the concentrated product.
• The distillation circuit starts at the bottom of the column. It is also connected to the cyclone to separate the concentrated product and the distilled product. This last one goes through a Liebing West condenser. The distilled product is stored in a 500 ml graduated vessel that is connected to a 10-liter collection tank.
• The steam circuit, introduced in the external jacket of the column, contains a pressure sensor for the control of the steam pressure. This sensor is connected to a high-pressure cutout control that opens or closes a control electrovalve for the steam inlet.
• The vacuum circuit consists on a vacuum pump and a vacuum trap.

This Computer Controlled Unit is supplied with the EDIBON Computer Control System (SCADA), and includes: The unit itself + a Control Interface Box + a Data Acquisition Board + Computer Control and Data Acquisition Software Packages, for controlling the process and all parameters involved in the process.