Distillation Technology
Multiple Effect Distillation Plants reduce the amount of live steam to the minimum demand.
GEA Distillation is recognized for the high thermodynamic efficiencies, high product yield and high distillate purities achieved.
Multiple-effect distillation permits the repeated use of the energy supplied to a system. Energy consumption is effectively reduced by a factor about equal to the number of effects. Since a temperature difference is required for heat transfer within the reboiler, there are practical limitations to the number of effects that can be used. Maximum and minimum temperatures are, as a rule, determined by the product, or the heating steam pressure and the cooling water temperature.
Where product purities superior to feasible concentrations through rectification are required, one of these technologies come to operation: Molecular Sieve Technology, Distillation with Entrainer, and Pervaporation through Hydrophilic Membranes.
GEA uses different types of reboilers for the energy input to the distillation columns. The choice of the suitable type depends on surrounding process and product parameters.
The thermal vapor recompression applies steam jets to raise the temperature level of vapor flows in the plant. Condensation of these boosted flows is then used for the heating or evaporating of lower temperature process flows. Thereby the steam consumption is minimized.
Production lines with optimized integrated process steps.
GEA's innovative process marks a milestone in the pretreatment of biofuels such as hydro-treated vegetable oil and sustainable aviation fuel. By eliminating the bleaching process, manufacturers benefit from significant savings potential: over 50% lower operating costs and up to 12% less CO2 emissions.
Climate change and a growing world population put increased pressure on the energy-intensive food industry to feed more people without further impacting the planet. George Shepherd, GEA’s Global Technical Sustainability Manager, explains how GEA uses its engineering know-how to help processors produce more sustainably yet increase productivity.
The world's population is growing and with it demand for milk. Dairy is an essential component of many global diets. However, its production can be resource-intensive and impact the environment. GEA’s Christian Müller, Senior Director Sustainability Farm Technologies, sheds light on how technological innovations powered by GEA make milk production more efficient and profitable.