Mechanical Vapor Recompression Evaporators
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Increasing energy costs have justified the increased use of mechanical recompression evaporators. The principle is simple. Vapor from an evaporator is compressed (with a positive-displacement, centrifugal or axial-flow compressor) to a higher pressure so that it can be condensed in the evaporator heat exchanger. Various combinations are possible, including single-effect recompression, multiple-effect recompression, multiple-stage recompression, and single-effect recompression combined with a multiple-effect evaporator.
Based upon a 75% isentropic (adiabatic, reversible) compressor efficiency and a combined electric drive motor and gear reducer efficiency of 92%, the energy required to compress a single pound of vapor from 14.1 to 22.8 psia is only 49.3 BTU. To produce the equivalent steam from one pound of 234 oF evaporator condensate requires 999 BTU. The energy savings possible through the use of a recompression evaporator are signficant. In some cases multiple-effect evaporators have been converted to MVR to take advantage of changes in the relative cost of electric power and steam.