1

A STUDY OF DIFFERENT MULTI EFFECT EVAPORATORS DESIGNED FOR

THERMAL PROCESSING OF TOMATO PASTE: OPTIMIZATION AND QUALITY
EVALUATION
Nuez
1
, H., Simpson
1,2
, R., Almonacid
1,2
, S., and Abakarov
1
, A.
1
Departamento de Ingeniera Qumica y Ambiental Universidad Tcnica Federico Santa
Mara, Chile
2
Centro Regional de Estudios en Alimentos Saludables, Valparaso, Chile
ricardo.simpson@usm.cl

INTRODUCTION
Process optimization has always been a noble objective of engineers entrusted with the
responsibility for process development and improvement throughout the food industry.
Examples of sophisticated mathematical approaches to process optimization, in which some
objective function is maximized or minimized subject to chosen constraints, are widely
published in literature (Douglas, 1988). On the other hand, the chemical industry has used
cost analysis in several cases in relation to design and process optimization. A classical
example in the chemical industry is the determination of the optimal number of effects in a
evaporation system, were the optimum is found when there is an economic balance between
energy saving and added investment, this is, a minimization of the total cost (Kern, 1999). In
this vision, although correctly, quality is not considered as a parameter in the determination of
the optimum number of effects, so the process specifications and operating conditions are
assumed independent of both product quality as its sale price.
The main purpose of this research is the development of a model for optimizing multiple
effect evaporator systems for tomato paste concentration, in which the diluted food enters at
5 Brix and must be processed to 30 Brix.

METHODOLOGY
The mathematical model developed in this research study included specific relationships for
lycopene degradation. The general system that must be solved operates on countercurrent and
the total number of effects varies from 1 to n. The value of n and the operating conditions
will be determined at the end of this work through the maximization of the NPV.
The total mass balance in evaporator effect i is:

(1)
( )
1
d M
i
F F v F
i i i
d t
=
+

2
Where:
F: Mass flowrate, [kg/h].
M: Mass in the evaporator, [kg]
i: Evaporator effect i..
v: Steam phase

To estimate lycopene degradation (or retention) in each evaporator effects, a mass balance at
effect i was carried out as follows:

(2)

Where:
X: Concentration of soluble solids, kg ss/kg
t: Time, h..
Assuming steady state, perfect mixing and first order lycopene degradation rate, the following
expression is obtained.
(3)

Solving for Yi.
(4)

Where:
Y: Lycopene concentration [kgL/kg ss].
The first order kinetic for lycopene degradation has been confirmed by Goula (2006). In the
same research study an equation was obtained to determine the reaction rate in the lycopene
degradation, as a function of temperature and soluble solids concentration X expressed in
Brix.
(5)
Where:
k: Reaction rate constant, [1/h]

Combining equations (4) and (5) the following equation is obtained.

(6)
( )
1 1 1
( )
+ + +
| |
+ = |
|
\ .
i i i i i
i i i i i i i
d X Y d M X Y
F X Y F X Y M
dt dt
1 1 1
0
+ + +
=
i i i i i i i i i i
F X Y F X Y M X k Y
1 1 1 + + +

=
+
i i i
i
i i i i i
F X Y
Y
F X M X k
1
2207
k 0.275exp( 0.00241X )exp (min )
T 273.15

| |
=
|
+
\ .
( )
i 1 i 1 i 1
i
i i i i i
i
F X Y
Y
2207
F X M X 0.275 exp 0.00241 X exp
T 273.15
+ + +

=
| | | |
+
| |
+
\ . \ .

3
With the previous equation (equation 6), lycopene concentration for the output flowrate in
each evaporator effect can be estimated knowing the steady state values
The economic evaluation included a quality parameter that influences final price, modifying
the classical chemical engineering view that considers only cost minimization for the best
system design. In this particular case, the sale price will be considered directly dependent
upon the final lycopene retention.

RESULTS AND DISCUSION
The input values to the model, shown in Table 1, were the same for all of the systems and
obtained from an actual industrial plant, complemented with available online information
from manufacturers.
Lycopene retention
Lycopene retention in the final product was estimated for each one of the alternative systems
from the data obtained under steady state operation. From the results shown in Figure 3, it is
clear that lycopene concentration in the final product has a linear decay when augmenting the
number of effects in the evaporation system.

CONCLUSION
A mathematical model was successfully developed, and then an economic evaluation of the
optimum design and operating conditions of the evaporation system (1 to 7 effects operated
under countercurrent) was carried out.
When analyzing the behavior of a 5 effect evaporator system, an increase in the processing
capacity from 50 Ton/h to 75 Ton/h augments the lycopene retention in the final product from
95.25% to 96.27%.
With the inclusion of lycopene as a quality parameter the optimum number of effects
decreases from 4 to 3. In addition, it was also possible to determine the optimum operating
conditions of the 3 effects system at 260 kPa.
It appears of extreme relevance to consider quality as an intrinsic and integral part of the
process design, as it will then be possible to identify several potential improvements in
different food processes.

REFERENCES
Douglas, J. M. 1988. Conceptual Design of Chemical Processes. McGraw-Hill International
Editios. Chemical Engineering Series.

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Kern, D. 1999. Procesos de Transferencia de Calor. Editorial Continental S.A. Mxico.

Goula, A., and Adamopoulos, K. 2006. Prediction of Lycopene degradation during a drying
process of tomato pulp. J. of Food Eng. 74(1): 37-46.

Table1. Input data for mathematical model implementation.
Name Variable Value
Input flowrate F
Al
kg/h 50000
Input temperature T
Al
C 98
Initial soluble solids concentration X
Al
kg ss/kg 0.05
Input concentration of lycopene Y
Al
kg Lic/kg SS 0.01
Final soluble solids concentration X
1
kg ss/kg 0.3
Steam inlet pressure Pv
0
kPa 143.4
Temperature change in condensator Tv
n
- T
d
C 2
Operation pressure in evaporator n P
n
kPa 16.5


Figure 3. Lycopene retention % v/s Number of effects for an input of 50 Ton/h.