Multi-Effect Evaporation & Concentration — Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger
Engineer-to-order multi-effect evaporation (MEE) train built around shell-and-tube heat exchangers for efficient concentration of liquids across food, chemical, and environmental applications. Staged effects reuse vapor energy, reducing utility consumption while maintaining stable capacity and product quality. Options include TVR or hybrid MVR for further energy savings.
Key Benefits
- Thermal economy: Cascaded effects cut steam use; TVR/MVR options lower OPEX further.
- Robust duty: Shell-and-tube exchangers tolerate scaling, solids, and erosion better than narrow-gap plates.
- Quality protection: Vacuum operation and optimized ΔT preserve color, flavor, and actives.
- Easy maintenance: Removable bundles, mechanical cleaning, and CIP-ready design.
- Scalable: Modular effects to match evaporation load and future expansion.
Process & Thermal Economy
Live steam heats the first effect; generated vapor drives subsequent effects in sequence, each at lower pressure/temperature. Optimized ΔT/LMTD, residence time, and circulation keep heat-transfer coefficients high and fouling low.
Materials & Cleanability
Wetted parts in SS316L/duplex (Ti/Hastelloy available for corrosives). Straight-tube or U-tube bundles, sloped/drainable layouts, and validated CIP enable long campaigns and fast turnarounds.
Process Overview — MEE with Shell-and-Tube
- Feed conditioning: screening/filtration, softening or pH trim to mitigate scaling/corrosion.
- Multi-effect evaporation (vacuum): shell-and-tube heaters with effect-to-effect vapor reuse.
- Energy recovery: optional TVR ejectors or hybrid MVR compressor for reduced utilities.
- Condensate management: polishing (filters/RO/AC) to reuse or compliant discharge.
- Concentrate routing: to finishing, crystallization, or ZLD solids handling as required.
Key Components
- Shell-and-tube heaters (straight/U-tube) per effect with vapor–liquid separators
- Preheaters, inter-effect vapor lines, surface condenser, vacuum/NCG handling skid
- Options: TVR ejectors, hybrid MVR compressor, heat-recovery exchangers
- PLC/HMI/SCADA; instruments (T/P/flow/cond/level)
- CIP skid; anti-scale dosing and inline monitoring
Performance & Sizing
| Parameter | Typical Range* |
| Effects | 2–7 (duty/capacity dependent) |
| Steam economy (SE) | ~2.0–7.0 (↑ with more effects / TVR / MVR) |
| Operating mode | Vacuum, continuous |
| Film/loop ΔT | Low to moderate for gentle evaporation |
| Materials | SS316L / duplex; Ti/Hastelloy on request |
*Performance depends on feed composition, fouling tendency, compression ratio (if TVR/MVR), and exchanger design.
FAQ
When choose shell-and-tube over plate?
For scaling, particulates, or erosion risk, shell-and-tube offers higher robustness and easier mechanical cleaning.
Can we upgrade to MVR later?
Yes—start with pure MEE or MEE+TVR and add a mechanical vapor compressor to create a hybrid train with lower OPEX.
How do you control fouling?
By managing ΔT/LMTD and velocity, dosing antiscalants, scheduling CIP, and selecting materials suited to the chemistry.
Application
