CLIMBING FILM

EVAPORATOR

Climbing Film Evaporator

1.

THEORY
Evaporation is a process where the vapor from the boiling point solution is removed and a

more concentrated solution remains. In the majority of cases the separation process called evaporation
refers to the removal of water from a boiling aqueous solution. The apparatus to perform evaporation is
called evaporator. Typical examples of evaporation are concentration of aqueous of sugar, milk, sodium
hydroxide, and orange juice.
The climbing film evaporator (CFE) is a special type of evaporator, which provides a high heat
transfer coefficient and a short residence time for the solution being evaporated. Multitube CFEs are
used to concentrate solutions such a fruit juices that can be damaged by prolonged heat. They are
usually operated under vacuum, which reduces the evaporation temperature and increases the heat
flux. The climbing film evaporator is designed to operate as either a batch or continuous
evaporator. The pilot plant apparatus is used to study the evaporation and concentration of sensitive
products such as milk, fruit juices and for desalination studies.
The unit enables to demonstrate the following studies:
-

Influence of vacuum levels on evaporation rates

Influence of steam flow rate on evaporation rates

Influence of feed flow rate on evaporation rates

Influence of evaporation time on evaporation rate

To determine the concentration of product concentrate of a once through experiment of grape juice
(simulated with KMnO4) and water mixture. A material balance should be performed on water mixture.
Also, the thermal efficiency of the evaporator can be calculated by collecting the product condensate
and steam condensate during experiment.
2. APPARATUS
1. Set of climbing film evaporator apparatus (refer to figure 1)
2. Refractometer
3. Measuring cylinder
4. Sets of beaker glass

CYCLONE
Steam
out

CONDENSER

EVAPORATOR

V-9

Steam
in

Recycle

CONCENTRATE
RECEIVER

100
Feed

water

vacuum

75

CONDENSATE
RECEIVER 1

50
V-8

FEED
TANK

25
Water
purge

CONDENSATE
RECEIVER 2

V-5

V7

V3

V6
V1

V4

V2

FEED
PUMP

V-11

V14

V9

V12

TRANSFER
PUMP

Figure 1. Climbing film evaporator equipment

3. EXPERIMENT
3.1. Pre Experiment
Prepare 20 L of KMnO4 solution at calibration standard concentration 0.00477 M. The corresponding to
the refractive index is 1.33449. This solution has already been prepared for the lab by the technician.
Student must recheck the concentration. The calibration of KMnO4 concentration against refractive
index value is given in the figure below. The refractive indexes that are record in this experiment is the
nDt refractive index.

0.018

KMnO4 Concentration (M)

0.016
0.014
0.012

y = 20.837x - 27.802
2
R =1

0.010
0.008
0.006
0.004
0.002
0.000
1.33420

1.33430

1.33440 1.33450

1.33460

1.33470

1.33480 1.33490

1.33500

1.33510

Refractive index value

3.2. Main Experiment

Batch (once through) Climbing Film Evaporator Operation
3.2.1 Effect of evaporator pressure
a. Open the valve for main cooling water supply. Subsequently, turn on cooling water valve to
allow flow into the condenser. Ensure that circulating cooling water flow rate is 6 L/min.
b. Before the experiment is started, ensure that V7, V9, V11, V12, V14 are closed.
c. Open valve V2, V3, V5, and close V1, V4, V6. Turn on the feed pump and in order to circulate
the KMnO4 solution. Wait until the solution homogenous.
d. Collect a sample of feed from the feed tank by using V1. And measure its corresponding
refractive index. Record this value.
e. Now with the feed pump turned on, open V6 in order to set the level of KMnO4 to 25 cm level.
f.

Measure the volume of the KMnO4 solution inside the column by transferring into volumetric
cylinder by opening the valve V14.

g. Repeat the column filling process by opening valve V6 and set to the level 25 again.
h. Starting at atmospheric pressure [vacuum pump is not used]
i.

Turn on the steam supply. Open the steam condensate purge valve to allow purging of
condensate.

j.

Before the steam is transferred, the purge valve is open, and main steam valve and steam
supply valve are closed. Very carefully [ensure that you have put on your glove] open the main
steam valve to 1/2 open. At the same time of opening the main steam valve and closed steam
purge valve, start the stopwatch timing. Refer to figure 2.

To
evaporator

Main
steam
valve

Steam
from
boiler
Steam
supply
valve

Steam
purge
valve

There is NO NEED to
regulate this valve

Figure 2
k. Observe the first bubble appearance and record the time taken.
l.

Take the reading of steam flow rate and pressure

m. After 20 minutes, close steam supply valve, and open steam purge valve at the same time. No
need to close the main steam valve to obtain the same steam flow rate and pressure for the
next running.
n. Collect he samples of the Evaporator (via V14), concentrate and condensate (via V12).
Concentrate and condensate samples may be taken afterward. But, the evaporator sample
have to wait for a while ( 15 minutes).
o. The first sample taken is condensate. Easily, open V12. The second is concentrate. Use
vacuum pump to collect the sample. Close V12 and Open V7 to let the liquid flow to the inlet
transfer pump. Then close V7 and open V9. Turn on the vacuum pump and the liquid will be
transferred to the condensate receiver tank 2. After all the liquid has been transferred, close V9
and easily, open V12 to collect the concentrate sample. Redo the vacuuming if the liquid is still
remaining in the inlet transfer pump line.
p. The third sample is evaporator sample (read Safety Consideration (d)!!)
q. Measure the volume and record the refractive index of all samples.
r.

Return all the samples to the feed tank. (Before executing check with the lecture and ensure
that you are cleared by the lecture to conduct these procedures).

s. Set the height of feed at 25 cm again.

t.

Turn on the vacuum pump and set the at negative pressure 200 mmHg. (see the pressure
gauge)

s. At this pressure, repeat step i through r. And similarly for negative pressure 400 mmHg, 600
mmHg, and 700 mmHg. (Ask the technician to demonstrate on how to relief the negative
pressure in evaporator system)
No

Pressure

Level of

Time

Time

(mmHg)

KMnO4

(first

(to

(cm)

bubble)

boil)

Atm press

25

-200

25

-400

25

-600

25

-700

25

Evaporate

RI

volume

Concentrate

RI

volume

Condensate

RI

volume

3.2.2 Effect of evaporator feed level

Steps (a) to (r) are the same as experiment 4.2.1
s. Set the height of feed at 50 cm again.
t.
No

At this height, repeat step i through r. And similarly for height 75 cm and 100 cm.
Pressure

Level of

Time

Time

(mmHg)

KMnO4

(first

(to

(cm)

bubble)

boil)

Atm press

25

Atm press

50

Atm press

75

Atm press

100

Evaporate

RI

volume

Concentrate

RI

volume

Condensate

RI

volume

3.2.3 Effect of steam flow rate

Steps (a) to (i) are the same as experiment 4.2.1
j.

Before the steam is transferred, the purge valve is open, and main steam valve and steam
supply valve are closed. Very carefully [ensure that you have put on your glove] open the main
steam valve to 1/4 open. At the same time of opening the main steam valve and closed steam
purge valve, start the stopwatch timing. Refer to figure 2.

Steps (k) to (r) are the same as experiment 4.2.1

s. Set the height of feed at 25 cm again.
t.

At this height, repeat step i through r, but open the main steam valve at and similarly for
height opening of main steam valve.

No Level of

Steam

Time

Time

KMnO4

Flow rate

(first

(to

(cm)

(SLPM)

bubble)

boil)

25

25

25

Evaporate

RI

Concentrate

volume

RI

Condensate

volume

RI

volume

3.2.4 Effect of evaporation time

Steps (a) to (r) are the same as experiment 4.2.1. Set the evaporation process for 20, 25, 30 and 35
minutes at constant evaporation pressure, constant height of feed and constant steam flow rate.
No

Pressure

Level of

Running

Time

Time

(mmHg)

KMnO4

Time

(first

(to

(cm)

(min)

bubble)

boil)

20

25

30

35

Evaporate

RI

volume

Concentrate

Condensate

RI

RI

volume

volume

4. Safety Considerations

a. Do not temper the steam line without glove

b. Use glove in this experiment
c. KMnO4 is a strong oxidator. Contact with other material may cause fire. Corrosive.
Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Use glove while using this substance.
d. While taking the sample from the evaporation column, make sure that the pressure
inside the equipment is atmospheric. Vacuum pressure inside the equipment will cause
the liquid pushed up to the top of the column by the air from the outside when V14 is
opened. Simply, open valve V11 for a while, and then you can take the sample from
V14.
5. Discussion
1. Construct the graphs according to the result of the experiments. Convert the value of RI to the
concentration.
2. Explain why.
REFERENCES
1. McCabe, W. L., Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall PTR, 1993.
2. Geankoplis, C.J., Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles , 4th edition, Prentice
Hall PTR, 2003.