Wiped Film Evaporator

High-Efficiency Petrochemical Distillation Separation Equipment | Specialized Evaporation System for Heat-Sensitive Materials

Ruike wiped film evaporator using in distillation machine

Ruike Wiped Film Evaporator Manufacturing

At Ruike Petrochemical, we engineer advanced Wiped Film Evaporators (WFE) designed to tackle your most challenging separation tasks. Whether you are processing re-refined oil, stripping solvents, or purifying chemical intermediates, our systems deliver low residence time and high heat transfer efficiency—ensuring your product quality remains uncompromised.

Equipment Structure & Working Principle

High-Performance Wiped Film Evaporators (WFE) for processing re-refined oil, stripping solvents, or purifying chemical intermediates

The wiped film evaporator adopts a three-layer structural design

Power System

Motor + Reducer: Precision control of scraper blade rotation speed (5-300 rpm adjustable)

Evaporation Chamber
  • Steam Jacket Shell: Provides uniform heat distribution.
  • Rotor + Scraper Assembly:
    Features four patented scraper types (sliding, hinged, fixed, and adjustable).
  • Forces feed into 0.1–1 mm turbulent liquid film for rapid evaporation.
  • Feed Distributor + Separator Drum: Ensures uniform material distribution for consistent film formation.

Separation System

Gas-Liquid Separator: High-efficiency droplet capture. Bottom Head: Allows rapid discharge of high-temperature residues.

How It Works: The Wiped Film Principle

Feed Entry:

Liquid feed enters above the heated zone and is distributed evenly.

Thin Film Formation:

Rotating wiper blades spread the liquid against the heated inner wall, creating a highly turbulent thin film.

Rapid Evaporation:

Volatile components evaporate instantly and travel to the condenser.

Residue Discharge:

The concentrated heavy fraction flows down the wall and is discharged at the bottom with minimal holdup.

Key Applications in Petrochemical & Chemical Industries

Our equipment is trusted by engineers for critical processes, specifically optimized for:

Complete Process Analysis in Petrochemical Plants

Seamless Integration into Your Continuous Production Line

A Wiped Film Evaporator (WFE) is rarely a standalone unit; it is the heart of a sophisticated separation stage. At Ruike Petrochemical, we design our systems to integrate flawlessly into existing petrochemical workflows, optimizing mass transfer and thermal efficiency from feed to discharge.

Here is a breakdown of the typical continuous processing loop using Ruike technology:

The Preparation Stage: Raw material (such as waste lube oil, crude chemical intermediates, or polymer melts) is first pumped through a filtration system to remove solid particulates.

  • Degassing: Before entering the main evaporator, the feed often passes through a degassing stage to remove light volatiles (water, air, light solvents).

  • Pre-heating: The feed is brought close to the boiling point to maximize the efficiency of the WFE’s surface area immediately upon entry.

The Critical Separation Stage: The pre-heated fluid enters the Wiped Film Evaporator under high vacuum conditions.

  • Mechanical Distribution: Our precision rotors spread the fluid into a thin, turbulent film (0.1–0.5 mm thick).

  • Vapor-Liquid Separation: Heat is applied through the jacket. The turbulent film ensures rapid heat transfer, causing the target volatile component to evaporate instantly while heavier residues flow downwards.

  • Prevention of Fouling: Because the wiper blades are continuously agitating the film, “burn-on” or surface fouling—common in petrochemical processing—is virtually eliminated.

The Product Collection Stage: The evaporated vapors travel to a condenser (either internal or external, depending on the specific model and vacuum requirements).

  • Efficiency: The vapors are condensed back into liquid form and discharged continuously as the Distillate (e.g., purified base oil or recovered solvent).

  • Vacuum System: A robust vacuum pump system maintains the pressure differential, ensuring the boiling point remains low to protect the product.

The Bottoms Handling Stage: The heavier components that did not evaporate flow down the heated wall to the bottom discharge cone.

  • Continuous Output: The Residue (e.g., asphalt/bitumen extenders or heavy polymers) is pumped out continuously without breaking the vacuum.

  • Secondary Pass: For complex mixtures, the residue can be re-routed to a second WFE stage for further stripping, maximizing overall yield.

wiped film evaporator flow chart dragram

Process Flow Advantages

"Four-Step High-Efficiency Separation" Technology

Instantaneous Film Flash Evaporation

Rotating Scraper + Vacuum Synergy: 0.1-1mm liquid film thickness, 50%+ boiling point reduction

Light Component Deep Purification

Column-Equipment-Tank Three-Stage Control: Gasoline/diesel fraction entrainment <0.01%

Heavy Component Precision Control

Dual Reflux Technology: Intermediate draw temperature fluctuation ≤±2℃

Residue Resource Recovery

Bottom Head Direct Discharge Design: Residue residence time <10 seconds, prevents secondary coking

Technical Specifications

Custom configurations are available to meet your specific throughput and material requirements.

Feature

Specification Range

Evaporation Area

0.1 m² to 50 m² (Lab to Industrial Scale)

Operating Temperature

Up to 350°C (Thermal Oil / Steam)

Operating Pressure

Atmospheric down to 0.1 Pa (High Vacuum)

Material of Construction

SS304, SS316L, Titanium, Hastelloy (Optional)

Viscosity Range

Up to 100,000 cP

Heating Method

Jacketed for Steam or Thermal Oil

Why Choose a Ruike Wiped Film Evaporator?

Consult with our technical engineers today to determine the right Wiped Film Evaporator configuration for your project.

Traditional evaporation methods often fail when handling high-viscosity fluids or thermally unstable compounds. Our Agitated Thin Film Evaporator technology solves these issues by mechanically generating a thin, turbulent film.

Minimal Thermal Degradation:

The extremely short residence time (seconds) protects heat-sensitive components from decomposition.

Handle High Viscosity:

Our precision-engineered wiper blades effectively process materials with viscosity up to 100,000 cP, preventing fouling and buildup on heat transfer surfaces.

High Vacuum Operation:

Operate at deep vacuum levels to significantly lower boiling points, ideal for high-boiling petrochemical fractions.

Continuous Operation:

Designed for 24/7 industrial use with robust mechanical seals and reliable drive systems.

General Manager Nancy

Customized Project

The Ruike Advantage: Engineering You Can Trust

We are not just an equipment supplier; we are your process optimization partner.

  • Factory Direct: Direct manufacturing ensures competitive pricing and quality control.

  • Customization: We tailor the rotor type (fixed clearance, hinged, or rolled) to your specific material properties.

  • Global Standard: Our pressure vessels comply with ASME and PED standards upon request.

Ask for Technical Proposal & Project Videos

we take a personalized approach to provide tailored solutions that align perfectly with your specific requirements.