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Thin film evaporator
Agitated Thin Film Evaporator (ATFE), also known as wiped Film Evaporator, is a vertical cylindrical heated body with an internal rotor. The feed is introduced above the heated zone and is distributed as a thin layer on the inner surface of wall through rotating blades. By the action of rotor, highly turbulent flow is generated. Volatile components are easily evaporated and non-volatile components are discharged at the outlet. In short-path wiped film evaporators there is an internal condenser and in such a case the average distance travelled by vapors to collide the condenser is significantly shorter. Therefore, a large portion of vapors are condensed and high efficiency is achieved.
– short residence time (in order of magnitude of 10 seconds) by mechanical agitation of oil on the heat transfer surface;
– high heat transfer rate through the film;
– efficient and regenerative cleaning of the contact surface
* Cracking and fouling problems are avoided by keeping low residence time, low wall temperature and high flow turbulence. Lube oil is recovered as distillate while heavy components, additives, metals and degradation products are concentrated in the bottom residue.