Many improvements have been made in evaporator technology in the last half-century. The improvements have taken many forms but have served to effect the following:
- Greater evaporation capacity through better understanding of the heat transfer mechanisms.
- Better economy through more efficient use of evaporator types
- Longer cycles between cleaning because of better understanding of salting, scaling, and fouling.
- Cheaper unit costs by modern fabrication techniques and larger unit size.
- Lower maintenance costs and improved product quality by use of better materials of construction as a result of better understanding of corrosion.
- More logical application of evaporator types to specific services.
- Better understanding and application of control techniques and improved instrumentation has resulted in improved product quality and reduced energy consumption.
- Greater efficiency resulting from enhanced heat transfer surfaces and better energy economy.
- Compressor technology and availability has permitted the application of mechanical vapor compression.
