A reboiler is a heat exchanger that is used to generate the vapor supplied to the bottom tray of a distillation column. The liquid from the bottom of the column is partially vaporized in the exchanger, which is usually of the shell-and-tube type.
Key Features:
A reboiler is a heat exchanger that transfers heat to a liquid mixture in a distillation column to generate vapor. Some key features of a reboiler include:
- Design : Reboilers come in a variety of designs, including kettle-type, thermosyphon-type, fired, and forced recirculation.
- Function : Reboilers are used to replenish heat lost by a process commodity and to return vapor to the column to drive the distillation separation.
- Location : Reboilers are often positioned at the base of the distillation column.
- Heating medium : The heating medium is often condensing steam, but other process streams can also be used.
- Liquid flow : In a kettle-type reboiler, liquid is fed by gravity from the column sump and enters at the bottom of the shell. In a thermosyphon-type reboiler, the density difference between the inlet liquid and the outlet vapor/liquid mixture drives the natural circulation of the liquid.
Applications:
- Distillation: Reboilers are used to heat the liquid at the bottom of a distillation column, which turns it into vapor that's then sent up the column. This vapor drives the distillation separation process.
- Replenishing heat: Reboilers can replenish heat lost by a process commodity.
- Pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech, food and beverage, lube oil, paints, dyes, and pigment industries: Kettle reboilers are used in these industries.