Reboiler

Description:

A reboiler is distillation systems to boil part of the liquid at the bottom of a column and send vapor back up to drive separation.

Kettle-type reboiler is consists of tube bundles, the tube bundles are supported by a support plates. The structure of tubes can be either straight tubes or U-shaped tubes. The straight tubes are more versatile they make the cleaning easier. The U-shaped tubes have an advantage that they allow for thermal expansion without putting the rest of the exchanger at risk.

The difference with other heat exchangers in structure is that the upper part of the shell is provided with an evaporation space, the size of the evaporation space is determined by the gas production and the required vapor quality.

How a reboiler works

Liquid from the bottom of the distillation column enters the reboiler 

Heat is supplied (steam, hot oil, or other heating medium) 

Part of the liquid vaporizes 

Vapor returns to the column (providing stripping energy) 

Remaining liquid (bottom product) is withdrawn

Key design parameters

Heat duty (kW or kcal/h) 

Boiling temperature & pressure 

Flow rate of bottom liquid 

Heating medium type (steam, thermal oil) 

Fouling factor 

Tube material & layout