Question : 1.9 kg/s of a liquid containing 10 per cent by mass of disso...

1.9 kg/s of a liquid containing 10 per cent by mass of dissolved solids is fed at 338 K to a forward-feed double-effect evaporator. The product consists of 25 per cent by mass of solids and a mother liquor containing 25 per cent by mass of dissolved solids. The steam fed to the first effect is dry and saturated at 240 kN/m^{2} and the pressure in the second effect is 20 kN/m^{2}. The specific heat capacity of the solid may be taken as 2.5 kJ/kg K,both in solid form and in solution, and the heat of solution may be neglected. The mother liquor exhibits a boiling point rise of 6 deg K. If the two effects are identical, what area is required if the heat transfer coefficients in the first and second effects are 1.7 and 1.1 kW/m^{2} K respectively?

The Blue Check Mark means that this solution has been answered and checked by an expert. This guarantees that the final answer is accurate.
Learn more on how we answer questions.

The percentage by mass of dissolved and undissolved solids in the final product = (0.25 × 75) + 25 = 43.8 per cent and hence the mass balance becomes:

Solids (kg/s) Liquor
(kg/s)
Total (kg/s)
Feed 0.19 1.71 1.9
Product 0.19 0.244 0.434
Evaporation __ (D_{1}+D_{2})=1.466 1.466

At 240 kN/m^{2}: T0 = 399 K At 20 kN/m^{2}, T_{2}=333 K

Thus: T'_{2}= (333 + 6) = 339 K

and, allowing for the boiling-point rise in the first effect:

\Delta T_{1}+\Delta T_{2}= (399 – 339) – 6 = 54 deg K

From equation 14.8: 1.7\Delta T_{1}=1.1\Delta T_{2}

and: \Delta T_{1} = 21 deg K and \Delta T_{2} = 33 deg K

Modifying these values to allow for the cold feed, it will be assumed that:

\Delta T_{1} = 23 deg K and \Delta T_{2} = 31 deg K

Assuming that the liquor exhibits a 6 deg K boiling-point rise at all concentrations, then, with T'_{1} as the temperature of boiling liquor in the first effect and T'_{2} that in the second effect:

T_{0} = 399 K at which \lambda _{0} = 2185 kJ/kg

T'_{1}= (399 – 23) = 376 K

T_{1} = (376 – 6) = 370 K at which \lambda _{1} = 2266 kJ/kg

T'_{2}= 339 K

T_{2} = 333 K at which \lambda _{2} = 2258 K

Making a heat balance over each effect:

(1) D_{0}\lambda _{0}=WC_{p}(T'_{1}-T_{f})+D_{1}\lambda _{1}

or 2185D_{0} = (1.90 × 2.5)(376 – 338) + 2266D_{1}

(2) D_{1}\lambda _{1}+(W-D_{1})C_{p}(T'_{1}-T'_{2})=D_{2}\lambda _{2}

or 2358D_{2} = (1.90 – D_{1})2.5(376 – 339) + 2266D_{1}

Solving: D_{0} = 0.833 kg/s, D_{1} = 0.724 kg/s, and D_{2} = 0.742 kg/s

The areas are then given by:

A_{1}=D_{0}\lambda _{0}/U_{1}(T_{0}-T'_{1})=0.833 × 2185/[1.7(399 – 376)] = 46.7 m^{2}

A_{2}=D_{1}\lambda _{1}/U_{2}(T_{1}-T'_{2})=0.724 × 2266/[1.1(370 – 339)] = 48.0 m^{2}

which are close enough for design purposes.

The area to be specified for each effect is approximately 47.5 m^{2} .

 

 

equation 14.8: U_{1}\Delta T_{1}=U_{2}\Delta T_{2}=U_{3}\Delta T_{3}