I know that in a vacuum generation/condensing system where you are trying

to maintain a vacuum, a vacuum condenser is placed upstream of the

compressor, in order to reduce load on compressor. The idea here is that due
to condensation of the vapors in the condenser upstream, a partial vacuum is
created which helps reduce the load in the compressor. The compressor is
then mostly used to pump down the system and remove non-condensable.

But my question is this. enerally, low pressures are for !ashing a liquid into
vapor state, that"s how !ash vessels work. By reducing pressure you
encourage liquid to go into vapor phase. But here, in a vacuum condenser we
seem to be doing the opposite, condensing a vapor into liquid at low
pressures #because compressor is pulling vacuum through the condenser$.
%on"t this require a large surface area and very low temperature cooling
!uids& 'ow is this advantageous& The load that you reduce in the compressor
would be more than negated by the large surface area requirements of the
vacuum condenser, isn"t it& (r am I missing something& )ew point is low at
low pressures, whereas for easy condensation you need a higher dew point.

*o how does this work& +lease help&
The most common purpose for a vacuum system is to reduce the
temperature required to vapori,e a liquid. This may be necessary if the
available utilities are not adequate to provide vapori,ation at atmospheric or
pressuri,ed systems. - vacuum system is also necessary if the chemicals are
unstable at higher temperatures, such as thermal cracking or they become
reactive at higher temperatures making an undesired by-product.

(ne use for a vacuum condenser and compressor are when the liquid is the
desired product and removing the lighter chemicals and non-condensable are
the primary ob.ective. This is the case for vacuum stripper systems. -s for
the si,e of the condenser, cooling mediums and compressor si,ing, that is all
done based on the needs of the process.

- higher pressure, and therefore dew point, does make condensing the steam
easier but it may not be desired due to the process chemicals as described
above or it may not be economically viable. /ou will have to investigate this
further. %ill it cost less to install a larger compressor to handle the full vapor
load and then condense the stream or to remove the condensable 0rst then
use a smaller compressor&
1uote
2ook at it this way3 the vacuum is pulled on the non-condensable, vapor of
your liquid, 0lls the space, and then the chilled condenser drops the vapor.

45ample with water3 2ower the boiling point with vacuum to 6789, boil the
water, now your condenser can be cooled with :89 chilled water and it is not
too e5pensive #depending on volumes$. 2ower B+ liquids #i.e., solvents$ will
require colder chilling units. ;ery 2ow Temp chillers can drive costs up.
1uote
I believe you are looking at vacuum setups for a di<erent system.

If you have enough condensable, it would be advantageous to have a
condenser before the compressor to reduce the load as this removes a lot of
stu< that are easily condensed.

If you have mostly non-condensable, there would be no point to have a
condenser to condense almost nothing unless you make it very cold to get
some stu< to condense.

Take for e5ample, you have a mi5ture of steam and nitrogen at =8/=8. +utting
this mi5ture through a condenser, you can remove >=8? of the stu< and the
remaining duty can be taken by the compressor.

Take the ne5t e5ample@ you have a mi5ture of steam and nitrogen at 6/AA.
)ue to the large percentage of nitrogen, you would have to make it pretty
cold to remove >=8? of the stu<.

/ou have read many setups on the net right& 2ook at the compositions of the
stream and you will see that due to the larger fraction of condensable in their
streams, it is indeed advantageous to have a condenser before their
compressor.
1uote
/es I might have some condensable like water and some highly volatile
organic stu<. If the volatile organic vapor is more than =8-B8? then I might
not use a condenser and use a condenser downstream of compressor,
because you cannot vent this thing to atmosphere. /ou have to condense it
and recycle it in the process, the only question was where to position this
condenser and that"s where all your suggestions have helped.
1uote
Cevertheless, even if the condensable fraction is small, even 68 or D8?, it is
still advantageous to have a condenser before the compressor. If there was a
reduction in condensable, the condenser will .ust condense less stu< since
the cooling water will still be at the same temperature. If the fraction
increases, you save electricity.
i.e.3 you don"t change the temperature of the cooling medium but rather the
amount of condensed stu< changes during operation.
1uote
(pen, read, and study the attached workbook #especially the ;ent Eondenser
sheet$ that I have uploaded in our 9orums3 +roducing and Faintaining a
;acuum. ,ip =B.G6HB G6G downloads
%hen vapor stream is condensed in the vacuum conditions, it is a tradeo< of
larger condenser surface area with other bene0ts.
9or e5ample, it will generate more power, which is worth more money than
additional condenser surface area cost in the turbine life, for a condensing
turbine steam to e5haust to vacuum conditions.