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Thermodynamic assessment of MVR implementation in multistage evaporation plants

Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering volume 40, Article number: 395 (2018) Cite this article

Abstract

A study on process alternatives for reducing steam consumption was carried out in a multistage evaporation system of a chlorine–alkali industrial complex. A phenomenological model was developed, based on the mass and energy balances and on gas–liquid equilibrium correlations for the ternary mixture of caustic soda, sodium chloride and water. The design specifications of the plant were adopted as a reference to validate the mathematical model, which comprises 153 nonlinear equations. Different process conditions were simulated by taking into account the most important process variables and their effect on steam consumption. Differently from previously published studies, in which the conservation laws are mainly focused on the heat exchangers and their optimization, the present study considers the whole multistage evaporation unit. The model also enabled to evaluate the effect of changes in the plant configuration, either by considering a side product stream at a specified concentration, designated to another production unit in the industrial complex, or by including mechanical vapor recompression, which has proven to be a better solution to reduce steam consumption from the energy and exergy points of view. Results indicate an expressive decrease in steam consumption to around 1% of the original configuration. Moreover, from the exergy perspective, if the power generation is considered, the MVR is a better choice from the energy and exergy point of view.

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Abbreviations

b :

Specific exergy (kJ/kg)

B :

Exergy flow rate (kW)

B :

Exergy of the control volume (kJ)

BPE:

Boiling point elevations (°C)

C :

Mass concentration (%)

c :

Specific heat (kJ/kg K)

h :

Specific enthalpy (kJ/kg)

H :

Enthalpy flow rate (kW)

P :

Pressure (kPa)

Q :

Heat transfer rate (kW)

s :

Specific entropy (kJ/kg K)

T :

Temperature (°C/K)

v :

Specific volume (m3/kg)

W :

Performed power (kW)

x :

Mass fraction (kgsubstane/kgsolution)

y :

Molar fraction (kmolsubstance/kmolsolution)

γ :

Activity coefficient

η :

Efficiency

0:

Environment

d:

Destroyed

Cool:

Cooling process

ch:

Chemical

in:

Stream inside the control volume

MVR:

Mechanical vapor recompression

out:

Stream outside the control volume

sol:

Solution

MVR:

Mechanical vapor recompression

TVR:

Thermal vapor recompression

SEC:

Specific energy consumption

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Funding

Funding was provided by Unipar Carbocloro.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Av. Luciano Gualberto 380, São Paulo, 05508-010, Brazil

    Antonio Esio Bresciani, Jose Luis Paiva, Roberto Guardani & Silvio de Oliveira Jr.

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Mendeleyev St., 200, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian Mady

  3. Unipar Carbocloro, Cubatão, SP, Brazil

    Roberto Nicolas de Jardin Jr.

Authors
  1. Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian Mady
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  2. Antonio Esio Bresciani
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  3. Jose Luis Paiva
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  4. Roberto Nicolas de Jardin Jr.
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  5. Roberto Guardani
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  6. Silvio de Oliveira Jr.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian Mady.

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Technical Editor: Jose A. R. Parise.

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Keutenedjian Mady, C.E., Bresciani, A.E., Paiva, J.L. et al. Thermodynamic assessment of MVR implementation in multistage evaporation plants. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 40, 395 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1319-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1319-x

Keywords

  • Exergy analysis
  • Caustic soda production
  • Evaporation process
  • Mass and energy balances