Energy conservation practices - vertical tube foam evaporation

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5555669

Sephton, H H

This paper describes the vertical tube foam evaporation (VTFE) of aqueous liquids which reduces energy requirements by enhancing the evaporation coefficient, which permits the use of a lower temperature difference, to drive the evaporation process. The VTFE method relies on imposing a foamy mode of flow of the evaporating liquid over the heat transfer surface or tube-side wall. This mode of flow is induced by the addition of a few parts per million of a selected foaming agent to the feed, and by introducing the feed on the tube wall as a vapor-liquid foamy annular layer. The heat transfer enhancement mechanism has been evaluated with several pilot plants and with different energy sources including steam within the multiple effect temperature range and vapor compression and turbine exhaust steam (waste-heat). A 190 m/sup 3//d prototype evaporator of VTFE type is in operation using power plant waste-heat to evaporate cooling tower blowdown to a small residual saline slurry for disposal by ponding, and more than 90% of reuseable distilled water. 11 refs.

• Research Organization: Envirotech-Sephton Dev Cent, Emeryville, Calif, USA
• OSTI ID: 5555669
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 77:10; ISSN CEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVAPORATION
EVAPORATORS
FLUIDS
FOAMS
HEAT
HEAT TRANSFER
LIQUIDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
WASTE HEAT
WASTES