Modeling and simulation of direct contact evaporators

Abstract

A dynamic model of a direct contact evaporator was developed and coupled to a recently developed superheated bubble model. The latter model takes into account heat and mass transfer during the bubble formation and ascension stages and is able to predict gas holdup in nonisothermal systems. The results of the coupled model, which does not have any adjustable parameter, were compared with experimental data. The transient behavior of the liquid-phase temperature and the vaporization rate under quasi-steady-state conditions were in very good agreement with experimental data. The transient behavior of liquid height was only reasonably simulated. In order to explain this partial disagreement, some possible causes were analyzed.