Thin-Film Evaporator Technical Details
I. Equipment Overview
A thin-film evaporator is a high-efficiency evaporation device that uses a rotor to spread liquid into an ultra-thin film (0.1-1.0 mm) on a heated surface for rapid evaporation and separation. Its key features include:
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High Heat Transfer Efficiency: Thin film enables heat transfer coefficients of 2000-6000 W/(m²·K)
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Short Residence Time: Material exposure to heat is seconds-long (typically <10 seconds)
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High Vacuum Compatibility: Stable operation at ≤1 mbar high vacuum
2.Core Structure
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1.Heating Jacket: Typically heated by steam, thermal oil, or hot water
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2.Rotor System:
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o Wiper types: Hinged/fixed/sliding blades
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o Speed range: 100-800 rpm (frequency-controlled)
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3.Separator: Internal/external vapor-liquid separation device
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4.Material Combinations:
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o Product contact parts: SS316L, Hastelloy, titanium
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o Heating jacket: Carbon steel (Q345R), SS304
3.Technical Parameters
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Parameter
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Typical Range
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Remarks
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Evaporation Capacity
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5-5000 kg/h
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Depends on material properties and ΔT
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Operating Pressure
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Atmospheric ~ 0.001 mbar
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High vacuum models require booster pumps
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Operating Temperature
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50-300°C
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High-temperature models up to 350°C
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Heat Transfer Area
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0.1-100 m²
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Custom designs available
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Wiper Tip Speed
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2-15 m/s
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Affects film thickness and heat transfer
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Motor Power
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1.1-55 kW
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Correlates with rotor diameter and viscosity
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Viscosity Range
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1-50,000 cP
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High viscosity requires special wipers
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4.Unique Advantages
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1.Thermal Sensitivity Handling:Short residence time + high vacuum ideal for antibiotics, vitamins, plant extracts
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2.High Viscosity Processing:
Handles materials up to 50,000 cP (e.g., polymers, resins)
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3.Self-Cleaning Capability:
Continuous wall scraping prevents fouling and scaling
5.Application Fields
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Pharmaceutical Industry: Antibiotic concentration, solvent recovery (e.g., methanol, DMF)
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Food Industry: Juice concentration, flavor extraction
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Chemical Industry: Polymer devolatilization, monomer purification
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Environmental Protection: High-concentration wastewater reduction
6.Selection Considerations
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1.Material Properties: Viscosity, thermal sensitivity, boiling point, solid content
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2.Process Requirements: Evaporation rate, inlet/outlet concentration, temperature sensitivity
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3.Material Compatibility: Corrosive/abrasive materials require special alloys
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4.Energy Optimization: Multi-effect integration or MVR (Mechanical Vapor Recompression) systems
Thin-film evaporators are the preferred choice for high-value material separation. Although initial investment is high, cost recovery is typically achieved within 1-3 years through energy savings and product quality improvements.
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