Characteristics of thermosiphon reboilers

The paper describes the operational characteristics of thermosiphon reboile rs on the basis of an experimental and theoretical study. The operational r esponses to a variation of the driving temperature difference, the operatin g pressure and the liquid head in the inlet line are discussed in detail. F urthermore, the influence of several design parameters as length and diamet er of the pipes is presented. The effects of all these parameters are expla ined by a simplified model that subdivides the evaporator into a heating an d an evaporation zone. The variations of the length of these two zones are decisive for the operational characteristics of thermosiphon reboilers. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.