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Design of Absorption Columns

The document describes the design of packed absorption columns. It discusses: 1) The cross-sectional view of a packed column containing packing materials to provide contact between gas and liquid. 2) Equations for determining the height of the packed column based on mass transfer between gas and liquid phases. 3) A graphical procedure for determining the minimum liquid flow rate using equilibrium and operating lines on a mole fraction diagram to identify the pinch point where driving force for absorption is zero.

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245 views3 pages

Design of Absorption Columns

The document describes the design of packed absorption columns. It discusses: 1) The cross-sectional view of a packed column containing packing materials to provide contact between gas and liquid. 2) Equations for determining the height of the packed column based on mass transfer between gas and liquid phases. 3) A graphical procedure for determining the minimum liquid flow rate using equilibrium and operating lines on a mole fraction diagram to identify the pinch point where driving force for absorption is zero.

Uploaded by

sireeshagreen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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DESIGN OF ABSORPTION COLUMNS

Design of packed tower The cross sectional view of the packed tower is shown . (I) on the basis of
individual mass transfer coefficients or (II) on the basis of overall mass transfer coefficient.
Figure 4.5: Cross sectional view of packed tower. The column is packed with packing materials (any type)
to provide more contact between gas and liquid.
hT dh
1 /, y1
2 /, x2
2 /, y2
1
2
1 /, x1
Packing sructure Page 2 of 4
Let, G/ and L/ are gas and liquid flow rate per unit area basis, mol/h.m2. is specific interfacial contact
area between gas and liquid, m2/m3. The mole fraction of solute in gas is y. Hence, solute flow rate in
gas= G/y mol/h.m2 The decrease in solute flow rate over the thickness dh=d(G/y) (4.1) For a unit
cross-sectional area (1m2), volume of differential section=1dh m3 and interfacial area of contact in
differential section= 1dh m2 If NA is solute flux and ky is individual gas-phase mass transfer
coefficient, solute transfer through differential section= dhNA. Therefore, -*G/dy+ y dG/+= dhNA
(4.2) -G/dy- y dG/= dhNA (4.3) The change in total gas flow rate (dG/) is equal to rate of solute
transfer (dhNA) as carrier gas is not soluble, i.e., - dG/= dhNA (4.4)
Putting the value of dG/ in Equation 4.3, we have,
-G/dy+dhNA y= dhNA (4.5) -G/dy = dhNA(1-y) = / 1 = / 1
() (4.6) Boundary conditions: h=0; y=y1 h=hT; y=y2 Integration of Equation 4.6 gives the
height of packed column as follows:
= 0 = / 1 ()
= / 1 () 1 2
2 1
(4.7)
Interfacial solute concentration, yi is not known; hence the integration of the right hand side of Equation
4.7 is complicated. Page 3 of 4
STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE (1) For a particular gas-liquid system, draw equilibrium curve on X-Y plane.
(2) Draw operating line in X-Y plane (PQ) using material balance Equation. Lower terminal Q (X2, Y2) and
upper terminal P (X1, Y1) are placed in x-y plane. Overall mass balance Equation for the absorption
tower is as follows: 1 2 = 1 2
1 11
2 12
= 1 11
2 12
(4.8)
If liquid mass flow rate, Ls is not known, minimum liquid mass flow rate (Ls)min is to be determined. Ls is
generally 1.2 to 2 times the (Ls)min.
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Y1
X
Pinch point
P
Q
P/
Equilibrium line
Operating line with slope=Ls/Gs
X2
Y
Slope=(Ls)min/Gs
X1
Y2
Xmax
A(X,Y)
B(Xi,Yi)
Tie line
Figure 4.6: Graphical determination of (Ls)min for absorption.
In Figure 4.6, lower terminal of absorption tower is represented by Q (X2, Y2); i.e., bottom of the tower.
Operating line is PQ. If liquid rate is decreased, slope of operating line (Ls/Gs) also decreases and
operating line shifts from PQ to P/Q, when touches equilibrium line. This operating line is tangent to
equilibrium line. Page 4 of 4
Slope of / =
() The driving force for absorption is zero at P/ and is called PINCH POINT. (3) A point A (x, y)
is taken on the operating line. From the known value of kx and ky or kx and ky, a line is drawn with
slope of kx /ky to equilibrium line, B(xi,yi). Line AB is called TIE LINE and xi and yi are known for a set of
values of x and y. (4) Step (3) is repeated for other points in the operating line to get several (xi,yi) sets
for y1yy2. (5) Calculate flow rate of gas G (kg/h) at each point as G=Gs(1+y). (6) Calculate height of the
packing hT of Equation 4.7 graphically or numerically. The height of the stripping column is also
obtained in a similar way. For stripping, y2>y1 and driving force is (yi-y). The corresponding design
Equation will be = / 1 () 2 1 (4.9)

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