MARCH 2023

TECHNOLOGIES ECOVIN^® AND ECOVIN JL^®

Get to know the Ecovin^® and Ecovin JL^® equipment, developed by Citrotec^® for vinasse concentration in the case of the Ecovin^® and vinasse concentration for ethanol production with the Ecovin JL^®.

The principle of evaporation by descending turbulent mist is applied by Citrotec^® in two vinasse concentrating equipment: Ecovin® and Ecovin JL^®.

Ecovin^® is a powerful evaporator of concentration of vinasse that, using the principle of descending turbulent mist, reduces the volume of vinasse by 10 times.

This allows the concentrated vinasse to be used for various purposes, such as organic liquid fertilizer, which brings great savings in transportation and fertilization in the field. Furthermore, it allows the use of low pressure steam (V1).

Ecovin^® is also used in the concentration of corn vinasse. The benefit of operating a corn ethanol vinasse concentration plant is to turn the plant into a closed circuit, where there is no vinasse going to the field. Vinasse is incorporated into the DDG.

Ecovin JL^®, on the other hand, had its project developed in a partnership between Citrotec^® and ETECH, of the distillery scientist Jaime Lacerda, an icon in the sugar-energy sector. Potent evaporator of concentration of vinasse, Ecovin JL^® is a concentration system that, using the principle of descending turbulent mist and coupled to the distillation columns, allows the production of alcohol with the vinasse already concentrated, without additional consumption of steam. Ecovin JL^®, maintains continuous improvements in partnership with ETECH. Its system of concentration of vinasse for corn, also uses the principle of descending turbulent mist, coupled to ETECH distillation columns, to produce corn ethanol with concentrated vinasse without additional steam consumption. Corn vinasse is incorporated into the DDG.

The implementation of this technology is aligned with the production cost of concentrated vinasse versus the cost of road transportation to be used in the field, depending on the degree of concentration associated, which will indicate the size of the equipment and the energy expenditure.

The concentration of vinasse, in addition to the production of an organic fertilizer with management similar to the mineral fertilizer, it also produces a vegetable condensate, which depending on its quality, can be reused in the process, allowing the use of the liquid from the sugar cane itself, and consequently reducing the capture of water from water resources.

Descendent Turbulent Mist

The turbulent mist is formed in the Topcones, where the high pressure in the upper part and the low pressure in the lower part (vacuum) promotes the formation of mist (“flash”). The mist is thermally accelerated to high speeds, resulting in a flow with high turbulence, so avoiding incrustation.