Application

Evaporation and concentration under vacuum

In evaporative concentration, water is evaporated from a solution so that the raw material remains – sugar, juice or milk, as Atlas Copco describes it. Under vacuum the liquid boils at a lower temperature; for milk evaporation Busch names a maximum of 72 °C. Below you can see how the application works, what vacuum the manufacturers name and which of their series are intended for it – 293 models from 3 manufacturers.

Compare 293 modelsHow it works

  • 293Models
  • 12Series
  • 3Manufacturers
  • max. 72 °CMilk evaporation (Busch)
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Touch the points: each part of the system explains itself.

In short

Evaporation and concentration: the key facts

  • Boiling temperatureBusch describes evaporation for milk powder: under vacuum, milk boils at a low temperature, at most 72 °C.
  • ConcentrationAtlas Copco: water is evaporated and the raw material concentrated – for sugar, juice and milk; in the manufacture of medical devices, water, ethanol, methanol and other solvents are evaporated.
  • Liquid ringFor evaporation the manufacturers name liquid ring vacuum pumps: Atlas Copco AWS and LRP VSD+ (LRP 700–1000 VSD+ for milk evaporation), Busch DOLPHIN, Edwards LR.
  • Further seriesFor evaporation in analytics and laboratories, Busch names COBRA and R5 and lists DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK, MINK, PANDA/PUMA and R5 in its product data; Edwards lists E2M Ex, Elmo Rietschle thin-film evaporation.
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  • Air and gas (vacuum)
  • Exhaust

Operating principle

How it works: Evaporation and concentration

The drawing shows the basic principle in section. The systems and pumps of the individual manufacturers differ in detail.

  1. EvacuationThe vacuum pump lowers the pressure in the evaporator and condenser. The lower the pressure, the lower the temperature at which the solution boils.
  2. EvaporationThe solution is heated and boils under vacuum – milk at a maximum of 72 °C according to Busch. The water evaporates and the raw material remains in concentrated form (Atlas Copco).
  3. CondensationThe vapours are condensed and collected in the condenser; non-condensable gases pass through the pump to the exhaust. For the vapours Atlas Copco also names mechanical vapour recompression (MVR), which is not part of our range.

Vacuum and sizing

Evaporation and concentration: how much vacuum is needed

What the manufacturers say about pressure, pumping speed and sizing.

Which vacuum

Busch states the temperature: under vacuum, milk boils at a low temperature, at most 72 °C. The pressure follows from the temperature the product can tolerate.

Which pumps

For evaporation the manufacturers mainly name liquid ring vacuum pumps: Atlas Copco AWS and LRP VSD+, Busch DOLPHIN, Edwards LR. In addition there are Busch COBRA and R5 (analytics and laboratories), Busch HUCKEPACK, MINK and PANDA/PUMA from the product data, and Edwards E2M Ex.

Vapours and solvents

What evaporates determines the sizing: Atlas Copco names water for sugar, juice and milk, and in medical device manufacturing water, ethanol, methanol and other solvents. Elmo Rietschle lists thin-film evaporation for the chemical industry, Edwards concentration for food as well.

Technology

Evaporation and concentration: the vacuum pumps the manufacturers name

Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this application. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.

Elmo Rietschle names the application without naming a series for it.

Product overview

Evaporation and concentration: all 293 models compared

Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection – by manufacturer, technology and the models’ key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.

Atlas Copco AWS series 22 models

AWS 180Pumping speed 168 m³/h 50 Hz202 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWS 280Pumping speed 246 m³/h 50 Hz290 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz11 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWS 360Pumping speed 340 m³/h 50 Hz412 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWS 450Pumping speed 450 m³/h 50 Hz535 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz22 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 600Pumping speed 600 m³/h 50 Hz700 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 800Pumping speed 750 m³/h 50 Hz888 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 1100Pumping speed 1,080 m³/h 50 Hz1,320 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz45 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 1300Pumping speed 1,230 m³/h 50 Hz1,452 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz55 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 1600Pumping speed 1,700 m³/h 50 Hz2,000 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 45 kW 50 Hz75 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 2500Pumping speed 2,450 m³/h 50 Hz2,780 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz90 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 3300Pumping speed 3,200 m³/h 50 Hz3,840 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz110 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 3800Pumping speed 3,750 m³/h 50 Hz4,520 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 90 kW 50 Hz132 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 5500Pumping speed 5,300 m³/h 50 Hz5,850 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 160 kW 50 Hz185 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 6500Pumping speed 6,510 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 169 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 8000Pumping speed 8,100 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 200 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 10000Pumping speed 9,450 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 235 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 12000Pumping speed 11,652 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 305 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 12500Pumping speed 11,820 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 253 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 16000Pumping speed 16,380 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 420 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 19000Pumping speed 18,250 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 430 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 23000Pumping speed 22,800 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 555 kW 50 HzVariants
AWS 26000Pumping speed 26,000 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 160 mbarRated motor power 590 kW 50 HzVariants

Atlas Copco LRP VSD+ series 3 models

LRP 700 VSD+Pumping speed 740 m³/h 50 Hz740 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 25 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz18.5 kW 60 HzVariants 10
LRP 900 VSD+Pumping speed 940 m³/h 50 Hz940 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 25 mbarRated motor power 26 kW 50 Hz26 kW 60 HzVariants 10

Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models

Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models

Busch HUCKEPACK series 4 models

Busch MINK series 32 models

Busch PANDA/PUMA series 26 models

Busch R5 series 58 models

Edwards E2M series 9 models

Edwards LR1A series 12 models

Edwards LR1C series 9 models

Edwards LR1D series 12 models

Model comparison

Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.

Industries

Evaporation and concentration: where the manufacturers name it

The manufacturers list these uses on their own pages.

Dairy

Busch describes evaporation for milk powder: under vacuum, milk boils at a maximum of 72 °C; DOLPHIN is named, and in the product finder also PANDA/PUMA and R5.

Industry page: Dairy →

Food and beverage

Atlas Copco describes the concentration of sugar, juice and milk: water is evaporated and the raw material concentrated; for milk evaporation Atlas Copco names LRP 700–1000 VSD+.

Industry page: Food and beverage →

Chemicals

Edwards lists evaporation and concentration for the chemical industry with LR and E2M Ex, Elmo Rietschle thin-film evaporation; Busch names evaporation with DOLPHIN, HUCKEPACK, MINK, PANDA/PUMA and R5.

Industry page: Chemicals →

Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Busch lists evaporation in its product data for the pharmaceutical industry; Atlas Copco describes the evaporation of water, ethanol and methanol in the manufacture of medical devices.

Industry page: Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology →

Research, laboratory and analytics

For analytics and laboratories, Busch names evaporation with COBRA and R5.

Industry page: Research, laboratory and analytics →

Frequently asked questions

Evaporation and concentration: frequently asked questions

How does evaporation under vacuum work?

The vacuum pump lowers the pressure in the evaporator, and the solution boils at a lower temperature than at atmospheric pressure. The water evaporates and the raw material remains in concentrated form – this is how Atlas Copco describes it for sugar, juice and milk. The vapours are condensed in the condenser; the pump removes the non-condensable gases.

At what temperature does milk evaporate under vacuum?

For evaporation in milk powder production, Busch names a maximum of 72 °C: under vacuum, milk boils at a low temperature. For this Busch provides the liquid ring vacuum pump DOLPHIN, and in the product finder also PANDA/PUMA and R5.

How much vacuum does an evaporator need?

For milk, Busch names a maximum of 72 °C. The required pressure follows from the temperature the product can tolerate – the lower the pressure, the lower the boiling temperature.

Which vacuum pump for evaporation?

The manufacturers mainly name liquid ring vacuum pumps: Atlas Copco AWS and LRP VSD+, Busch DOLPHIN, Edwards LR. Busch also names COBRA and R5 for analytics and laboratories and lists HUCKEPACK, MINK and PANDA/PUMA in its product data; Edwards lists E2M Ex.

Why liquid ring vacuum pumps for evaporation?

Atlas Copco, Busch and Edwards name liquid ring vacuum pumps: Atlas Copco AWS and LRP VSD+ for evaporation and evaporative concentration, Busch DOLPHIN for milk evaporation, Edwards LR. The operating liquid in the pump chamber tolerates the vapours that enter the pump with the gas.

How are juice or sugar concentrated under vacuum?

Atlas Copco describes it for sugar, juice and milk: water is evaporated and the raw material concentrated. For this Atlas Copco names mechanical vapour recompression (MVR), which is not part of our range, as well as AWS and LRP for evaporation and evaporative concentration.

Which solvents are evaporated under vacuum?

For the manufacture of medical devices, Atlas Copco names water, ethanol, methanol and other solvents. Edwards lists evaporation and concentration for the chemical industry, Elmo Rietschle thin-film evaporation – both without naming the substances.

What is thin-film evaporation?

Elmo Rietschle lists thin-film evaporation for the chemical industry without describing it or naming a series. In general, the solution runs as a thin film over a heated surface, so that it is heated only briefly.

A single pump or a central vacuum system?

A central system in a room of its own keeps noise and heat away from production and matches its output to the demand. Central vacuum systems are planned and built by Eugen Theis Vakuum, a company of the Ehrler & Beck group – more under Central Vacuum.

Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?

Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.

Which pump suits your process?

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