Characteristics of thermosiphon reboilers

The paper describes the operational characteristics of thermosiphon reboilers on the basis of an experimental and theoretical study. The operational responses to a variation of the driving temperature difference, the operating pressure and the liquid head in the inlet line are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the influence of several design parameters as length and diameter of the pipes is presented. The effects of all these parameters are explained by a simplified model that subdivides the evaporator into a heating and an evaporation zone. The variations of the length of these two zones are decisive for the operational characteristics of thermosiphon reboilers.