INFLUENCE OF VAPOR AND CRYSTAL FORMATION PROCESSES ON HEAT EXCHANGE IN FILM VAPORATORS

Abstract

Evaporators for changing the concentration of solutions have a different design, depending on the type of processed substance. Significant energy consumption in such equipment is associated with the need for removing large quantity of liquid phase. Multiple-effect evaporators are used to reduce the energy consumption of the evaporation process, but such equipment is quite expensive. Evaporators with secondary vapor heat reusing that operate in film mode can be an alternative to multi-effect evaporators. This equipment can operate efficiently across minimal temperature differences due to secondary vapor compressors. The disadvantage of this device is strict requirements for impurities in solutions. Impurities create deposits (incrustations) of various substances on the heat transfer surfaces, which worsens the operating conditions. If crystallizing solutions are used in evaporators with reusing of secondary vapor heat, then one of the ways to reduce the rate of heating surfaces incrustation is to add a solid phase to the initial solution. A mathematical model is proposed to describe the processes of heat and mass transfer during the film flow of crystallizing solutions, which are accompanied by a change in the physical characteristics of the solution and the formation of deposits. The model considers a three-phase liquid suspension with a varying phase content. Two stages of vaporization including vaporization on the surface of the liquid and on the surface of heat exchange are presented. The mathematical model involves the equations of continuity, energy and heat transfer, as well as the equations of motion of a three-phase flow with a changing phase content for both stages of vaporization, taking into account that solid phase turbulizes the flow and intensifies the heat transfer process. This mathematical model makes it possible to study the effect of the solid phase on heat transfer processes and the rate of incrustation in evaporators with reuse of secondary vapor heat.