The Basics of Continuous Evaporation Systems
What is a Continuous Evaporation System?
Evaporation is a process which separates a liquid from a solid by vaporization or boiling. Evaporation concentrates a solution of a solute and a solvent, usually water, creating a more viscous liquid product. It is often used in food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical industries to create liquid concentrates.
Evaporation differs from drying and dehydration as the desired product is a liquid rather than a solid. It differs from distillation as the remaining solution, rather than the condensed evaporate, is the valuable product. Evaporation can either be carried out in a batch process or a continuous process, which this blog will be focusing on.
How Does a Continuous Evaporation System Work?
Every evaporator is made up of two sections, a heating section called a steam chest and a vapor/liquid separation section. Both sections are usually inside a single vessel however the heating section can also be external.
Liquids have a boiling and evaporation point based on their composition and this means that if a solution has more than one liquid within it, each element will evaporate at different points. Using an evaporation system, chemists are able to extract specific compounds from blends by slowly increasing the temperature to set points using rotovaps.
A continuous evaporation is a version of regular, multi-stage evaporation processing which has a continuous feed and product stream with concentrations remaining constant. For a successful, continuous evaporation to be maintained, all the inner components should be able to function interdependently. Continuous evaporation units must be able to heat, separate, cool, and store substances without creating unnecessary waste or overusing critical energy sources.
Applications of Continuous Evaporation Systems
Continuous evaporations are used in a broad range of applications across a variety of research areas for solvent recovery. Evaporation is the best-suited method of extraction for compounds which have a high value.
One area where continuous evaporation systems are invaluable for elemental extraction is within the field of cannabinoid purification. Cannabis is made up of many compounds which are of interest to researchers. Each of these elements has a differing method of action and extraction and purification of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) is critical for the success of a product and its abilities to meet regulations.
Continuous Evaporation Systems from Ecodyst
Ecodyst has been at the forefront of innovation for evaporators, with our table-top and industrial-scale high-speed evaporators which are used in laboratories and commercial settings. Ecodyst’s system employs a disruptive refrigerated cooling technology and offer an eco-friendly, efficient self-cooling metal or Teflon-coated condenser.
All of Ecodyst’s continuous evaporator units are made up of continuous inlet feed valves for autonomous operation without interruption. Our continuous evaporation units have higher levels of activity than batch evaporation systems, with inactive intervals between processes and periods of downtime are eliminated as there is no need for stopping and starting.
Continuous evaporation systems can achieve prolonged processing temperatures in their heating and cooling sections due to the ongoing nature of the operation. This means that requisite thermal levels can be regulated at the optimum level for highly-efficient heat transfer temperatures.
If you would like to learn more about Ecodyst’s continuous evaporation systems simply contact us today.
