Describe the prepared liquid, not just the fruit
Whole-fruit intake and evaporator feed are different quantities. Fruit preparation, opening and separation determine how much prepared liquid reaches concentration and what it contains. A purchased-juice supply may begin directly at liquid handling, so the enquiry should make that starting point explicit.
Keep soluble solids, suspended pulp, starch behaviour and viscosity separate in the feed description. The condition of the concentrated product can differ from the inlet condition. Representative material and the relevant process temperatures help establish how the liquid circulates and transfers heat.
Calculate the concentration duty on a consistent basis
The concentration balance connects feed, concentrate and removed water. A simplified retained-solids balance is a useful starting point, with allowances for actual process losses and entrainment assessed separately. Use the same measurement basis for inlet and outlet solids.
Falling-film and forced-circulation arrangements handle the product differently. Film distribution and continued wetting matter in a falling-film system; circulation and pressure losses are central to a forced-circulation system. The actual product and operating range determine suitability.
| Decision | Selection basis |
|---|---|
| Feed | Prepared-liquid rate, temperature and solids basis |
| Outlet | Target solids, viscosity and required concentrate flow |
| Evaporation | Water-removal duty and operating range |
| Utilities | Heating source, cooling conditions and electricity |
Include aroma, thermal treatment and filling
Water vapor can carry volatile flavour components. The condenser, any aroma collection and the return point belong in the process configuration. A vacuum setting alone is not a flavour-retention guarantee, and concentration should not be treated as the validated thermal process for the final package.
Connect the evaporator outlet to the buffer, thermal stage and filler using the required product conditions. The aseptic boundary, bag fitment and cleaning routes need to agree across those interfaces. Send the existing feed analysis and intended bulk package when asking for a line scope.
In practice
Questions about this stage
Is evaporator capacity the same as whole-fruit capacity?
No. Evaporator duty is based on prepared-liquid feed and water removal at stated inlet and outlet conditions. Whole-fruit intake also includes shell, seeds and other separated streams.
