Vapor compression evaporator concentrates, recovers alcohol
- Monsanto, Seattle
This article focuses on presenting a solution to the high energy cost of operating a steam heated, single effect evaporator used by Monsanto Industrial Chemical Company at a plant in Seattle, Wash., to produce vanillin from pulp and paper mill sulfite. Use of the single effect flash evaporator resulted in high energy usage due not only to the ''single effect'' use of steam, but also because energy consumption was reduced only slightly at low operating rates. The solution to this problem was the replacement of the single effect evaporator with a vapor recompression evaporator. Operating for over 1 1/2 years, the vapor recompression evaporator system has had no significant maintenance problems. The system operates with only 1/60th the steam consumption and 15% of the total energy consumption of the previous evaporator and has had no tube fouling. Also, since the distillate is condensed within the evaporator, less cooling water is required, allowing two heat exchangers to be taken out of service. When operating at less than design capacity, the energy consumption drops almost linearly with the feed rate. At low feed rates, a by-pass valve unloads the compressor to reduce energy consumption. Total energy consumption, now 15% of the previous level, results in an estimated pay-back of less than three years.
- OSTI ID:
- 6318108
- Journal Information:
- Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States), Vol. 45:12
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALCOHOLS
RECOVERY
EVAPORATORS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
COMPRESSORS
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
EFFICIENCY
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes