Patent ID: 10955203

Abstract:
A method and system for cleaning a multistage evaporator, the evaporator having a normal operational mode and a cleaning mode and having at least two groups of effects (2, 4), each group having one or more effects. In a normal operational mode, input vapor is introduced to a first group of effects (2), the first group comprising the hottest effects, and then vapor is delivered from the first group to a second group of effects (4), and optionally, from the second group of effects to a third group of effects (6) and so on depending on the total number of effects. Upon detection of a predetermined level of scale formation in the first group of effects, the evaporator is switched to a cleaning mode wherein the first group of effects (2) is physically separated from the other groups of effects and the input vapor is re-directed into the second group of effects (4). A cleaning agent is introduced into the physically separated first group of effects (2) until a predetermined level of cleanliness is achieved.