DEVELOPMENT OF PLATE EVAPORATOR TECHNOLOGY, THE MARKET PLACE AND THE CHOICE FOR THE SUGAR TECHNOLOGIST

Evaporator technology has been central to the decrease of steam consum ption in sugar manufacture in recent years. The market for evaporators (Robert, falling film tube bundle, rising film plate, falling film pl ate) is described. The characteristics and available options with part icular emphasis on plate evaporators, although not exclusively, are gi ven. Real data and experiences are presented which explain the criteri a for evaporator selection: Thermal performance; operability; juice qu ality; cost and risk. These criteria are further explored to look at t he vision for the ideal evaporators into the future. Results of the in stallation of a falling film plate evaporator at Cantley in 1996/97 an d the reasons for the choice of evaporators at revamping of the evapor ator station at York factory are given.