Equipment - Distillation
What is a Wiped Film Evaporator or WFE?
A WFE is a type of evaporator used for separation and/or concentration of liquids. The WFE consists of a vertical cylindrical evaporator body that utilizes a rotor, that turns at a variable speed, to wipe the feed liquid into a thin film on to the internal heated surface of the evaporator. The feed liquid is fed near the top of the cylinder. This is accomplished under vacuum to reduce the boiling point of the feed liquid. The WFE utilizes an external condenser to condense the volatile components of the separation for collection in a receiver. Typically, only a vacuum pump is utilized for reduced pressure inside the evaporator.
What are the advantages of using a WFE or SPD for Distillation?
- The equipment has a low residence time for the feed liquid. Typically, less than a minute. This is important for products that may be sensitive to heat over an extended period.
- Allows for effective heat transfer by spreading the material into a thin film.
- Allows for a continuous feed of material through the unit.
- There is a low volume of material inside the evaporator at any time.
0.15m2 WFE/SPD
- Temp capability to 295C
- 0.05 mbar
- 15-20 kgs/hr
- Controlled via PLC
- Units can be run separately or in sequence
Our pilot distillation equipment is actually two different units. A 0.2m2 WFE (with an external condenser), and a 0.15m2 SPD (with an internal condenser). Both units are heated on the same hot oil loop, and can reach a maximum temperature of 295C. The primary difference between the units is the location of the condenser. The first 0.2m2 WFE has an externally located condenser. This limits the vacuum capability to approximately 0.5mbar due to the slightly longer vapor path required for distillate to reach the condenser. The 0.15m2 SPD’s condenser is mounted on the inside of the unit. This means that any distillate only has to travel a few inches from the interior wall of the evaporator until it reaches in internal condenser. That short vapor path for distillate allows the unit to pull vacuum as deep as 0.05mbar. These units will process feedstock at approximately 15-20kgs / hr. Additionally, because the materials of construction, and heating medium, and heat transfer across the same as on our 2m2 SPD, any process data generated on the pilot plant can be applied directly to the 2m2 unit. We can trial 1 drum of your material, and then tell you exactly how it will process at the commercial scale!
2m2 SPD
- Temp capability to 295C
- 0.5 mbar vacuum
- 180 – 250 kgs/hr input
- Controlled via PLC
The 2m2 unit, along with almost all the equipment on site, is constructed of 316ss and is located in a class I Div II area. Which means that it is capable of handling flammable, toxic, and corrosive materials. The 2m2 is a short path distillation (SPD) unit. Which means that the condenser is mounted inside the rotor. This gives the unit a much shorter vapor path than a traditional wiped film evaporator with an externally mounted condenser, and as a result we can pull a deeper vacuum. It can pull vacuum to approximately 0.5mbar, and the jacket can heat the unit to 285C. Output will vary depending on product splits, and the customers desired finished product specifications, but in general the 2m2 can process between 180 and 250 kgs/hr of input. We have also installed heated lines from the nearby tanker unloading bay, giving us the ability to receive in a tank truck of crude material, pass it through the SPD to the desired specification, and then load it directly back onto a clean empty tanker. We can also process material into drums and IBC’s.
