Operation cost of Evaporator: how to reduce operation cost

    The cost of an evaporator consists of two parts: the equipment investment and the operation cost. And the equipment investment is a one-time investment while the operation cost is a long-time cost.

    The operation cost of the evaporator system includes power consumption and steam consumption, and the energy saving is generally aimed at reducing steam consumption. Below are some common methods used to save energy consumption in evaporator design.

• 1. A multiple-effect evaporation process is adopted, with each additional effect, the energy consumption cost goes down, and on the other hand, the equipment investment goes up. For the evaporation of salted wastewater, generally no more than triple-effect is adopted, and four-effect maximum.
• 2.  Thermal vapor compression TVR can reduce the energy consumption, and the energy-saving effect of the TVR is equivalent to one additional effect. For example, the steam consumption per ton water evaporation capacity of one double-effect evaporator with TVR is equivalent to one triple-effect evaporator without TVR. 
• 3.  Mechanical vapor compression MVR, greatly reduces the energy consumption, the performance is equivalent to a Ten-effect evaporator system. 
• 4. Do a good job of thermal insulation of evaporation equipment to reduce the heat loss, which is able to reduce the energy consumption as well. 
• 5. Utilization of sensible heat and latent heat of condensate. Preheaters can be added to recover the sensible heat of the condensate and increase the input temperature of the feed material; And a flash system can be used to recover the latent heat of condensate.

    In conclusion, an appropriate evaporator system shall be designed and chosen according to the site condition and local energy cost.