A triple effect evaporator with forward feed is evaporating a sugar solution with negligible BPR and containing 5% wt solids to 25% solids. Saturated steam at 205 kPa abs is being used. The pressure in the vapor space of the third effect is 13.65 kPa. The feed rate is 22860 kg/h and the temperature 299.9 K. The liquid heat capacity is cp = 4.19 – 2.35x, where cp is in kJ/kg-K and x in wt fraction. Calculate the surface area of each effect is each effect has the same area, and the steam rate.

Use the following overall heat transfer coefficients:

1st effect: 3123 W/m^2-K

2nd effect: 1987 W/m^2-K

3rd effect: 1136 W/m^2-K