LearnChemE

Interactive Self-Study Module: Multi-effect Evaporators

Overview:

This module uses screencasts and an interactive simulation to explain the behavior of energy-efficient systems that evaporate a liquid from a mixture containing a dissolved solid to create a more concentrated solution. Your retention of material in this module will increase if you write down reasons for your answers to ConcepTests, questions in screencasts, and questions to answer before using the interactive simulation, and you try to solve the example problem before watching the screencast solution. We suggest using the learning resources in the following order:

  1.  Attempt to answer the multiple choice ConcepTest and solve the example problem before watching the screencasts or working with the simulations.
  2. Watch the screencasts that describes multi-effect evaporators, and answer the questions within the screencasts.
  3. Review important equations for multi-effect evaporators.
  4. Use the interactive simulation to further understand the behavior of multi-effect evaporators.
  5. Try to solve the example problem before watching the solution in the screencast.
  6. Answer the ConcepTests.
  7. Look at the list of key points, but only after you try to list the key points yourself.
Motivation:
  • Using energy efficiently when evaporating a liquid is important for making a process economical.
  • This module is intended for a separations course.
Before studying this module, you need to be able to:
After studying this module, you should be able to:
  • Solve mass and energy balances for a multi-effect evaporator.
  • Explain why pressure decreases from the first effect to the second effect.
  • Calculate steam economy for a multi-effect evaporator.