Wastewater Concentration by Evaporation: Fundamentals and How It Works
Wastewater concentration by evaporation is an established thermal treatment process used in industrial wastewater treatment. By applying heat under controlled conditions, water is evaporated while non-volatile substances such as solids, minerals and organic compounds remain in the concentrate. Evaporation can significantly reduce wastewater volume, simplify the handling of residuals and prepare them for disposal or further treatment.
Depending on the required quality of the process water, the resulting condensate can be reused or returned to other process steps. This can help conserve water resources and reduce operating costs.
Evaporation Processes and Evaporator Types
Different types of evaporators can be used for wastewater concentration, depending on the wastewater characteristics and the volume to be treated:
- Atmospheric and vacuum evaporators with vapour compression enable evaporation at comparatively low temperatures and can be suitable for heat-sensitive components.
- Heat pump evaporators recover and reuse process heat, which can reduce energy demand.
- Natural and forced circulation evaporators promote uniform heat distribution and can help reduce scaling and support stable operation.
OKO-tech adapts evaporator systems to the specific characteristics and treatment requirements of the wastewater.
