DESIGN OF HEAT EXCHANGERS TO INTENSIFY THE GLUCOSE PROCESS IN THE ʺCHIQUITICO FABREGATʺ MILLING

Abstract

Introduction:
It’s proposed to obtain glucose from the enzymatic inversion of sucrose, using immobilized invertase in “Chiquitico Fabregat” UEB. The process requires a multieffect evaporation step that reports low steam economy and produced liquor presents high temperature which makes difficult the crystallization speed.
Objective:
To design a tube and shell exchanger liquid-steam and a liquid-liquid exchanger, to place them respectively at the entrance and exit of multiple effect, in order to improve the steam economy and intensify the next stage crystallization speed in glucose obtaining process.
Materials and Methods:
The methodology proposed by Kern (1988) was applied for exchangers design, based on the traditional method of logarithmic mean of temperature difference and the total equipment and investment costs were determined applying the methodology proposed by (Peters et al., 2003).
Results and Discussion:
Heat exchangers, liquid-steam and liquid-liquid are designed and intercalated in the multiple effect, achieving an steam economy of 2.63 to 3.59; the liquor is cooled to
30oC favoring crystallization speed.
Conclusions:
Design of heat exchangers of tubes and shells of liquid type -vapor and liquid-liquid with areas of 18,09 m2 and 10,5 m2 respectively, intercalated in evaporation stage of the glucose production plant requires a budget of $ 98 753.79.