Evaporator

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Evaporator \E*vap"o*ra`tor\, n.
     1. An apparatus for condensing vegetable juices, or for
        drying fruit by heat.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any device designed to evaporate a fluid.


        [PJC]
  
     3. Specifically: The portion of a refrigeration system in
        which the refrigerant evaporates and thus absorbs heat.
        [PJC]
  
     {rotary evaporator} (Chem.) a device used in laboratories in
        which a liquid is evaporated by reducing the pressure and
        applying heat, while rotating the liquid in a vessel such
        as a round-bottomed flask. The reduced pressure speeds the
        evaporation process and allows the evaporation to be
        conducted at temperatures lower than would otgherwise be
        possible, thus reducing decomposition of unstable
        substances. The rotation also serves to increase the
        surface area from which evaporation takes place and to
        reduce the effect of "bumping", the sudden burst of
        vaporization that can scatter liquid exposed to reduced
        pressure.
        [PJC]