Triple Effect Evaporator Simulation

CHEN 4130

Senior Lab

MEMORANDUM for: Process Engineering Teams, CHEN 4130

From: The Instructors, CHEN 4130
The triple effect evaporator uses a saturated steam input to heat solutions to
boiling. As the solvent is boiled off, the solution becomes more concentrated in
each successive evaporator, and the boiling point elevation caused by the increase
in solute concentration can become an important issue. Evaluate the flow rate
needed to achieve a product composition of 15% (wt.) for the following
feed stocks: 8% (wt.) sucrose / 92% (wt.) H2O and 8% (wt.)/ 92%(wt.)
Na2OH.
1. Using AspenPlus or HYSYS, simulate the sucrose experiment using
to specify the heat duty and pressure of each effect for the range of
feed rates specified below. Note the heat duty and pressure of each
effect.
In reporting your investigations, please address the following items, including any
additional points based upon your study of the problem:
Compare the boiling point elevation when operating with sucrose and
sodium hydroxide.
Compare the results of your simulations with
information from the literature. Discuss the operating conditions (T i, Pi,
qfeed, qcool,) needed to run the process with each solution.
Simulate the operation with two effects at the same flow rate obtained
in Part 1 above for both the aqueous sugar and sodium hydroxide feeds?
Can it be operated in a countercurrent flow configuration?
Can the unit be operated under vacuum? Would a vacuum configuration
be helpful in reaching the target composition for any of the feeds?
Aspen Plus and HYSYS Notes
AspenPlus is available on the computers in the Borgmann Lab. HYSYS is available
on the the computers in the Borgmann and ITLL-HP Labs.
View the AspenPlus and HYSYS tutorials, which can be found on the web at:
http://optimal.colorado.edu/aspen
http://optimal.colorado.edu/hysys
Use the University of Colorado Plus System to create your student accounts in the
Magellan computing center. *HYSYS will be available on the computers in the
Borgmann and ITLL-HP lab, but it is unable to model electrolytes. Consult with the
instructor before attempting to use HYSYS. (HYSYS hint: each effect can be
modeled using an appropriate combination of a cooler and a separator.)
Operational Guidelines:

Use a steam pressure of 30 psig. Do not exceed steam pressures of 40 psig.

Use a feed flow rate from 0.2 to 0.4 gpm to achieve the targeted product for the
sugar solution.
Other data that may be useful for the sugar solution:
Patm = ~13 psia
T1 = ~122.1C
Water Density: 998.23 kg/m3 at 20C

Reference:

Felder, R.M. and Rousseau, R.W., Elementary Principles of Chemical

Processes, Wiley (1986).