Tubular TVR evaporators use steam to compress vapor, making them ideal for multi-effect evaporation processes in steam-heavy operations. Tubular MVR evaporators, on the other hand, rely on mechanical vapor recompression, significantly reducing steam consumption and offering higher energy efficiency, especially in facilities with low-cost electricity. MVR evaporators are often executed as single-effect systems (calandrias), while TVR evaporators typically operate with multiple effects to further reduce steam consumption. TVR evaporators are often the preferred choice for products with a high boiling point elevation or as finishers for final evaporation duties. Learn more about our TVR evaporators and MVR evaporators here.

Flash coolers provide precise final cooling while also enabling additional water removal. They are particularly useful for initiating and controlling crystallization processes, such as in sweetened condensed milk, where crystal size impacts mouthfeel, or in whey, permeate and lactose production lines, where crystal size affects purity and flowability. Flash coolers ensure consistent quality and improve processing efficiency.

Forced circulation evaporators handle higher viscosities, making them suitable for achieving higher final solids concentrations compared to standard falling film evaporators. While they consume more energy than falling film designs, their robust performance is ideal for challenging applications.

Plate evaporators are ideal for industries requiring compact, energy-efficient equipment that enables short residence times during the concentration process. They are commonly used for products such as soups, gelatin, sugar, syrups, fruit concentrates and in the pharmaceutical sector. These evaporators are particularly suited for operations with space constraints and applications requiring high energy recovery.

SPX FLOW’s evaporators, including TVR and MVR systems, are designed to recycle vapor, minimizing steam usage. By leveraging thermal and mechanical compressors, they reuse excess energy streams from vapor and condensate for preheating and heat treating feed products. This approach lowers operational costs while supporting sustainable production practices.

Yes, evaporation can significantly improve sustainability in the food and beverage industry by: Reducing energy consumption: Concentrating liquids reduces the energy required for transportation and storage, with heat recovery further cutting energy usage. Minimizing waste: Recovering valuable components like proteins, sugars and salts from waste streams improves resource efficiency. Lowering transportation impacts: Concentrated products require less transportation, reducing carbon emissions. Enhancing product quality: Concentration reduces water activity, extending shelf life and reducing the need for additives.

Evaporation is widely used for producing evaporated milk, condensed milk, concentrated juices, and coffee and tea extracts. It is also integral to optimizing drying processes by concentrating products to the correct solids level before entering the dryer.

Evaporation primarily removes water, with minimal impact on nutritional content, as the process operates under vacuum to protect valuable components like proteins and vitamins. However, some volatile compounds may be lost, potentially affecting flavor profiles.

Challenges include managing temperature and preventing quality degradation during concentration. At SPX FLOW Innovation Centers, our experts optimize conditions tailored to your product, analyzing properties such as foaming, viscosity, stability and boiling point elevation to ensure the best results.

Evaporation is versatile but works best for homogeneous liquids. Specialized adjustments may be needed for particulate, hydrolysate or sensitive products. Our experts can analyze product behavior to determine the most suitable process.

Yes, evaporation can lower transportation costs and save storage space. SPX FLOW offers various concentration technologies, from RO membranes for low-concentration needs to MVR evaporators for high-volume, high-solids processes.

Producers must comply with regulatory standards for food safety and quality. SPX FLOW’s systems are designed to meet these requirements, ensuring the final product maintains its integrity throughout the process.