Abstract: A falling film evaporator includes a shell with a number of heat transfer elements within the shell. Each heat transfer element has two opposed essentially rectangular plates joined together along upright sides and along seams substantially parallel to the upright sides. The seams form with each other, and the upright sides, a number of vertical flow channels through which steam (heating fluid) flows in the interior of the heat transfer elements to evaporate evaporable liquid flowing downwardly in a film over the outer surfaces of the heat transfer plates.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controlling crystallization (and thus preventing harmful fouling of heat transfer surfaces) during the treatment of black liquor. The black liquor is concentrated to a high dry solids content (at least about 70%, e.g. about 75-90%) in a falling film crystallizing apparatus (e.g. falling film evaporator). A part of the liquor flowing from the heat transfer surfaces and collected in a retention vessel (e.g. an interior volume of the evaporator) is recirculated to the heat exchange surfaces and a part of the liquor is discharged for further treatment (e.g. combustion in a recovery boiler). A part of the black liquor in the recirculation system is returned directly to the retention vessel in order to facilitate mixing and thus to bring about, in the retention vessel, crystallization of inorganic salts of the black liquor that is as complete as possible.

Abstract: A process and apparatus provide for the evaporation of spent liquors in several stages, and recovery of volatile substances from spent liquors of organic solvent pulping processes. The recovery system for volatiles is integrated with the evaporation of spent liquors. Heating condensation is carried out in each evaporator effect on several heat surfaces separated from each other. Pure water, vapor condensate, or steam may be injected to the warmer side of an evaporator effect in order to increase the condensing temperature of the vapor. The volatiles are typically alcohols (methanol and/or ethanol) used as the cooking liquor in organic solvent pulping.