Apple Juice Falling Film Evaporator
Use a falling-film evaporator for apple juice concentration where short residence time, multiple effects and controlled aroma handling suit the product.
Concentration & aroma · Stage 08
Apple Juice Concentration Systems
Size a concentration system from feed flow, inlet and target soluble solids, operating hours, energy and aroma requirements.
THE PROCESS DUTY
Remove water to the target concentrate specification and manage the associated aroma and utility streams.
Concentration is a water-removal duty. The feed flow, inlet soluble solids and target concentrate specification define the mass balance; the evaporator type, effects, energy source and aroma strategy define the equipment. Feed flow is not the evaporation rate, and an NFC product does not need an evaporator merely because it is clear.
This is a process section, not a single machine. The pages below cover the equipment choices inside it. Use the route pages to see how the section connects to the rest of the line.
EQUIPMENT IN THIS SECTION
Choose the machine
inside the duty.
The section page defines the process boundary. The product page defines the equipment choice.
Apple Juice Aroma Recovery System
Capture volatile apple aroma from evaporation or deaeration, concentrate it and decide how it is returned to the product.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
How the section works.
The explanation starts with the material and the process, not a catalogue description.
Set the mass balance first
Concentrate mass equals feed mass times inlet solids divided by outlet solids under a simplified compatible basis. The difference is removed water. Use the calculator to test assumptions before discussing evaporator size. A change in target solids changes the duty more than many buyers expect.
Choose the evaporation architecture
Falling-film, rising-film, forced-circulation and plate evaporators have different residence times, fouling behaviour and energy arrangements. Multiple effects and thermal or mechanical vapour recompression change steam demand. The architecture should follow the product and utilities, not a catalogue preference.
Manage aroma deliberately
Apple aroma is volatile and can leave with the vapour. A recovery system may condense and return aroma, or the project may accept a different aroma profile. The decision belongs in the product specification and the evaporator design.
Plan cleaning and turndown
Concentrate viscosity, fouling and the operating range affect cleaning and minimum stable flow. A system that runs well at one design point may not handle a wide seasonal range. Discuss turndown, cleaning and product changeover before fixing the configuration.
WHERE IT FITS
Good fit when...
- Clear or cloudy apple juice concentrate projects
- Existing evaporators with fouling, aroma or energy problems
- Projects comparing multiple-effect and vapour-recompression systems
WHAT TO WATCH
Not the right answer when...
- The product is NFC and does not require concentration
- Feed flow, inlet solids and target solids are not defined
- The aroma strategy and available utilities are still open
CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
The machine is configured,
not picked from a shelf.
These are the choices that change the equipment scope. The approved datasheet fixes the final selection.
Evaporator type
Falling film, rising film, forced circulation or plate, selected around the product.
Effects and energy
Multiple effects, TVR or MVR matched to available steam and power.
Aroma recovery
Recovery, concentration and return options evaluated with the product.
Vacuum and condensate
Vacuum system, cooling and condensate handling included in the battery limits.
Cleaning
CIP circuits, chemical compatibility and fouling access.
SELECTION FACTORS
What actually changes
the recommendation.
Bring these points to the equipment discussion. They are more useful than a single throughput number.
01
Mass balance
Feed flow, inlet solids and target solids define the water removal.
02
Product behaviour
Viscosity, fouling and thermal sensitivity change the architecture.
03
Utilities
Steam, power, cooling and vacuum availability can favour different systems.
04
Aroma
Whether aroma is recovered, returned or allowed to change.
SPECIFICATIONS
The datasheet starts
with the duty.
No catalogue model or performance figure is shown until the configuration is approved. The final datasheet fixes these items.
| Specification area | What is defined in the approved datasheet |
|---|---|
| Capacity basis | Feed flow, inlet solids and target concentrate solids |
| Water removal | Calculated from the agreed mass balance |
| Energy | Steam, power and cooling requirements defined by the selected architecture |
| Aroma | Recovery or discharge route included where required |
| Cleaning | CIP and fouling access included |
| Documentation | Heat and mass balance, P&ID and approved datasheet |
Provide your product, capacity basis and available utilities to move from this selection framework to a project-specific datasheet.
TECHNICAL FAQ
Questions buyers
actually ask.
If your question depends on the fruit, product or site, include the conditions in the enquiry rather than relying on a general answer.
Send a project enquiryHow do I calculate evaporator capacity?
Start with feed flow and compatible inlet and outlet soluble solids. Calculate concentrate mass and removed water, then account for operating hours and turndown. The calculator on this site performs the simplified balance; the evaporator design still needs product properties and utility conditions.
Should I choose MVR or multiple effects?
It depends on steam and power availability, operating hours, product behaviour and capital constraints. MVR can reduce steam demand but uses electrical power and has different maintenance needs. Compare total operating requirements at your actual utility prices.
Is aroma recovery always needed?
No. It depends on the product specification and market. Some concentrates are valued for a recovered aroma fraction; others accept the profile after concentration. Decide before fixing the evaporator scope.
Can I concentrate cloudy juice?
It is technically possible but requires product-specific evaluation. Cloud behaviour after concentration and reconstitution is different from clear concentrate. Treat it as a development case, not a standard configuration.