Wed

30 Mar

Mass Transfer
↑

CHEG 324 – Spring 2024

4 - Equipment for Gas-Liquid Mass-Transfer Operations

Faisal Abdulla AlMarzooqi

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
Gas-Liquid Operations Spray Tower
Wetted Wall
No need to specifically .
know these , won't be asked
Tower
- In many process systems, gas and liquid are brought into contact to achieve a certain
goal. Such processes include humidification-dehumidification, gas absorption and
desorption and others. Liquid

- The objective is to provide efficient contact between the two immiscible phases to
facilitate diffusion of one component from one phase to the other.

- High surface area of contact is very important in these operations Liquid

- Examples are devices in which liquid is dispersed into thin films or drops, such as
wetted-wall towers, sprays and spray towers and packed towers.

- Pressure drop is an important factor that needs to be considered. gas going

through
↑
& 4
- Wetted wall Towers: thin film of liquid flows down inside a vertical pipe. The gas Liquid Falling
through
Stage L
pressure drop is very low. 1

↑ ↑
gas ↓
- Spray towers: liquid is sprayed through nozzles into a gas stream to form fine Penetrates
through
stage
2

droplets of liquid. Low pressure drop for gas phase, but high pumping cost for liquid these
small holes
↑ ↑ a
through the nozzles. Liquid entrainment in outlet gas is possible, mist eliminator may in which mass
transfer
be needed. occurs

Trays in Tray
- Tray (plate) tower: liquid and gas are brought into contact in trays with holes as Towers
bubble caps Stage =
Tray
2
Gas-Liquid Operations Bubble Coloumn Packed Tower
Random
- Bubble coloumn (sparger): gas is dispersed as bubbles through the liquid phase
Packing
&
- Packed Towers: tower is filled with either random or structured packing with large
surface area.

- Redistributors are used to avoid channeling (nonuniform liquid distribution causing

dry spots)

- In general the ratio of packing diameter to tower diameter should be 1/15 to avoid
channeling.

- Void fraction in packing should be high enough to allow passage and reduce pressure covered
drop of gas. not
- Packing should be chemically inert and mechanically strong to permit easy handling
and installation.
* Packing is a solid material that is
- Packing Types: that enhances
designed in a
shape
and
1. Structured Packing: the contact between gases

• High surface area for contact Liquids .

We need to know how to

• Low pressure drop *

• Relatively more expensive than random packing calculate the height of

• Regular shape with periodicity - over a Cylindrical Packing

.
3
structure Structure Packing
Packed Towers
- Packing Types: (continued)

2. Random Packing:
• Cheaper than structured
• Tower is filled with packing material Random Packing
• Packing size is typically 3 to 75 mm
• Materials are typically clay, porcelain, metal and plastics
• Provides low pressure drop
• Relatively lower surface area for gas and liquid contact
• More advanced packings provide higher separation efficiency with lower pressure drops
• As packing size increases, mass transfer efficiency and pressure drop may decrease (compromise
between the two)
• To minimize channeling of liquid, the nominal packing size should be less than 1/8th of the
coloumn diameter

- Liquid Holdup in Packed Towers: Important !

- The pressure drop of the gas is influenced by the gas and liquid flowrates
- At a fixed gas velocity, the gas pressure drop increases with increased liquid flowrate
- Liquid Holdup: is the quantity of liquid contained in the packed bed
- At a certain limiting gas velocity (an upper limit, called loading point) the liquid holdup is constant for a
constant liquid flowrate and increases with increasing liquid flowrate.
- Loading point: gas flowrate above which liquid downflow starts to be hindered by the gas, and liquid
starts to accumulate and load the bed, replacing gas holdup and causing a sharp increase in gas pressure +
drop.
- Below the loading point the gas phase is continuous I 4
 L &

Liquid Fall ing ,

~

* Because we have Liquid Counter

* The total Liquid amount in volume that Currently passing against the flow
is contained in the tower/Packed bed is
called the Liquid Hold up of the - The Liquid Flow rate
gas
will cause hindrance to the
gas

increasing Liquid
If
* you increase the Liquid flow rate
flow rate Causes
increasing in the
there will be more
pressure drop that
Liquid holdup to be faced
is
going by the
gas/vapor
.

Le
-
upwards
:
going

With
--
certain amount If the velocity is Constant and going
a I gas
of Liquid being held at up
, Liquid flow rate the pressure
the
up as
you increase

certain flow drop of the gas increases because there is more

a Liquid rate
-//////// resistance to flow by the Liquid
.
-
a
Loading Point 8 The
V
First
the
point at which you get
of
layer
Jas Rising
Liquid starts to
accumulate in the tower
 L
Liquid Holdup was the -
Liquid Falls flooding
Point
- As the gas flowrate continuous to increase a gas velocity is reached at which a continuous liquid surface exists down , the -

Layer rises
at the top of the packing and the coloumn is flooded. This is the flooding point. as the
Velocity
which
at

velocity flooding
alld Point

- A region exists between the flooding point and the loading point, called the loading region. This region is rises
reach the
happens

characterized by: top of the

af

- Significant liquid entrainment Packing we I

will have the (ICU

- Liquid holdup increasing sharply Flooding Point
- Mass-transfer efficiency decreases & -

- Large gas pressure drops Va

- Unstable coloum operation * as
you increase
vapor
Velocity
- Coloumns/Towers are typically designed to be operated below the loading point/loading region (preloading
region)

- Flooding Velocity (VF): upper limit of the gas flowrate, above which liquid can no longer flow down the tower.

- Optimum V is: 0.5VF < V < VF

- For each type of packing there is a minimum liquid velocity below which some of the packing becomes
unwetted and mass transfer efficiency decreases. In these cases liquid distributors and redistributors are used.

5
 L -
Liquid Holdup – in the preloading region - before the loading region occurs
↓ ↑
- Specific liquid holdup, hL: volume of liquid in bed per unit volume of bed in the preloading region (below the loading point)

↓
/
/
/↓
= he x

↑
volume of the packed bed
↓ /
// /
↑
&
d V

&
If take any instant

1
we

will
of time then there
in this
be some Liquid
Column the volume of the
,

Liquid the Liquid holdup

we

need to calculate.

.. Find an through these

correlations

Example: An absorption column is to be designed using an absorbent oil with a kinematic viscosity of 3.0x10-6 m2/s. The
superficial liquid velocity will be 0.01 m/s , which is safely above the minimum value for good wetting. The superficial gas
velocity will be such that operation will be in the preloading region. Two random packings are being considered: (1) 50-mm
metal Pall rings and (2) 50-mm metal Hiflow rings (resembling the Pall ring, but with wider openings). Estimate the specific
liquid holdup for each of these two packings. Answers: (1) hL = 0.0663 m3/m3 (2) hL = 0.0637 m3/m3 6
 Kinematic viscosity = 30 .
x 10% mys =
Viscosity
city-
Superficial Liquid Velocity , V = 0 . 01M/s

Two Random Packings & & 30mm metal Pull rings

& 30mm metal Hiflow

rings
ht = !!

① 50mm metal Pall rings & 50mm Hiflow rings

01 M/s 01 M/s
=
0
Rec =
0
29 603 Ren 36 114
. .

=
. >5 =
> 5
= - = .

(112 .

63) L OX10t . (3 .

0x100
Fr = ) -
Fr = ) 1
2.
= =
1 1478
. x 10 = =
9 408
. x

fo fo
23 23
ChRe0 ChRe0
. .

an = 0 . 85
an = 0 . 85

25 25
603(0 1478x103) (0 (9 408x10-7 ;
- -

= 0 .
85 (0 784) 229
.
. (1 . = 0 . 789 = 0 .
85 (0 876) 236 114
. . . = 0 .
909

h =

[12ET's / h =

[12ET's /
=
[12 1703 J's 7897 0 .
=
0 .
066 =
[12 400- Js 09097 = 0 . 0636
Pressure Drop
- Packed coloumn diameter is determined such that flooding is avoided and operation is done in the preloading region, with a pressure
-

drop < 1200 Pa/m of packing height.

- Finding the pressure drop: Liquid

& entering gaentering

"
"! = #!
&
$ = %$
$ $%
Actual superficial gas velocity
- The flooding curve can be accurately described by the polynomial regression:
we can

T
this
find the
Flooding
velocity from
, VaF
Generalised pressure drop correlation for packed
beds
convert to volumetric flow
rate
m use gas
*
entering
->
which will give you 7the
J
Packing diameter
.
Pressure Drop
- Typically the coloumn is designed in such a way that the pressure drop is 200 to 400 Pa/m of the packed depth, atmospheric
fractionators from 400 to 600 Pa/m and vacuum still for 8 to 40 Pa/m.

- The correlations and curve can be used to find the coloumn diameter and actual pressure drop in the coloumn.

- The procedure to find the coloumn diameter and pressure drop:

1. Find X and use it to find Yflood. Using Yflood , find Cs,flood. Using Cs,flood find vGF.
2. Find packed tower diameter D
3. Find superficial gas velocity vG = f⋅vGF
4. Use the figure with X and Y to find the pressure drop

Example: Air containing 5 mol% NH3, at a total flow rate of 20 kmol/h enters a packed column operating at 293 K and 1 atm where 90% of
the ammonia is scrubbed by a countercurrent flow of 1500 kg/h of pure liquid water. Estimate the superficial gas velocity and pressure
drop at flooding, and the column inside diameter and pressure drop for operation at 70% of flooding for packing material: 25-mm ceramic
Raschig rings (Fp = 179 ft2/ft3). Liquid viscosity = 0.001 Pa.s = 1 cp. Liquid density = 1000 kg/m3. For operation, gas phase velocity = 70% of
the flooding velocity.
Detailed Answer
From Table on Raschig ring: uploaded in Bb

8
 20 Mar
Wed

Mass Transfer
CHEG 324 – Spring 2024
5 - Absorption and Stripping – Packed Towers
Faisal Abdulla AlMarzooqi
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
Absorption and Stripping units
- Examples of absorption and stripping processes in industry:
Tray Tower Packed Tower
- Removal of Ammonia
- Removal of Benzene and Toluene L2 V2 L2 V2
- Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide xA2 yA2 xA2 yA2

- Absorption and Stripping are usually conducted in: 1

1. Packed Towers 2
2. Tray Towers 3
∆P
4 Z
- Packed Towers are preferred when: 5

1. The pressure drop must be low 6

N
2. Corrosion consideration favor the use of ceramic or polymeric materials D
3. Low liquid holdup is desirable
L1 V1 L1 V1
- Trayed Towers are preferred when: xA1 yA1 xA1 yA1
1. The liquid/gas ratio is very low (i.e. amount of gas is much higher than liquid) Volume = Cross section area
2. Frequent cleaning is required
(Height
- In section 3 we learned how to find the number of trays in a trayed tower, here we will learn how to find the required height of a packed
tower

2
Packed Towers
Definitions: where mass transfer will be happening(Packing is
facilitating the transfer of mass between LandV]
X
A = Total interfacial area (m2) - Total Surface Area that is available based on the packing Packed Tower
2 3
a = Interfacial area per unit volume of packing or Specific surface area of packing (m /m )
LS VS
S = cross sectional area of packing (m2)
S
Pv2 -
III
LS /S
/ We will alway L2 V2
Z = Packing / Bed height (m) that our assume xAL2 yAG2
OM
! = $×&×' Constant
↓
Since a and S are constant with Z, (! = $ × & × ('
changing
across the
↓ tower
11//////
↑
Z
Packing isCylindrical

↓ Z

↑
Vol

A]
= 2x S

Constant
Material balance: volxa =

M2 Why?
xm3 =

* All
the A that
the gas
needs
Rate of mole change in gas phase = Rate of mole change in liquid phase leaves
Liquid
to go to the

((*+!" ) = ((-.!# )
and viceversa
.

L1 V1
xAL1 yAG1
now ?
( *+!" = /! (! = /! $&(0 NAA =A
>
-
-

Flow
>
-
YAG = NA

rate
"
&! &'" '($#( ( '($#$
/! = 1$ +!" − +!% = '($# $%&
+!" − +!% = 1) .!% − .!# = '()# $%&
.!% − .!# 1 − +! %#* = )*!#(
- +,
I )*!#$

↓ A is the only one traveling between

Assuming: 1) Diffusion of solute through a non-diffusing solvent the phases. [To simplify ]
3
2) Absorption case (if stripping, !!" − !!# and #!$ − #!"
 Packed Towers
( *+!" = /! (! = /! $&(0
T can be redefined through Vs
"
&! &'"
/! = 1$ +!" − +!% = '($# $%&
+!" − +!% = 1) .!% − .!# = '()# $%&
.!% − .!#

'($#( ( '($#$
1 − +! %#* =
+,
)*!#(
)*!#$
Packed Tower
Total
Volume
&
LS VS
*=
-+
∴ ( *+!" = (
-+
+!" =
-+
(+!" =
-
(+!" L2 V2
'($#( '($#( '($#( , '($#(
xAL2 yAG2
>
- Vs = V (1-YA2)
( *+!" = /! $&(0

* 1$.
(+!" = +!" − +!% $&(0 Z
1 − +!" 1 − +! %#*

1 − +! %#* *(+!"
(0 =
1$. $& +!" − +!% 1 − +!" L1 V1
xAL1 yAG1
Replace +!" = + and +!% = +%

0 $)
* $) *
' = 5 (0 = 5 (+ = 5 ∗ (+
/ $, 1 . $& 1 − + + − +% $, 6 . $& 1 − + + − +
$ $ 4
1 − + %#* 1 − + ∗#*
Packed Towers Design

0 $ - '($ $%& 4$ $ - '($ ∗%& 4$ '($#( ( '($#$ Packed Tower

'= ∫/ (0 = ∫$ ) &" 23 '($ ×
$($$
= ∫$ ) 5" 23 '($ ×
$($∗
1−+ %#* = )*! L2 V2
, ! , ! +, )*!#(
#$
xA2 yA2
in terms of liquid phase we can write this as:

0 ) # '() $%& 4) ) # '() ∗%& 4) '()#% ( '()#$

' = ∫/ (0 = ∫) ) &" 23 '()
× )$ ()
= ∫) ) 5" 23'()
× )∗()
1−. %#* = )*'#(
∆P
, ' , ' +, Z
)*'#$

To find the general solution of Z, we can either use numerical integration or graphical method to find the area
under the curve in the integral. D

L1 V1
An analytical solution is possible with some simplifications:
xA1 yA1
For dilute gas mixtures: i.e. x, y < 10% = dilute. Some of the the terms can be taken out of the integral since
we can use their average values (from top to bottom of the coloumn): if the question
In 5
* Chapter ,
even
dilute
that it is a

* 1 − + %#* $) (+ - 1 − . %#* )) (. did not tell

'= ×5 = . ×5 the it
assume
1$. $& 1 − + $, + − +% 1) $& 1 − . 26 ), .% − . system You alway
26 towers]
is dilute [for packed
$) ))
* 1 − + ∗#* (+ - 1 − . ∗#* (.
= . ×5 = × 5 dilute
6$ $& 1 − + 26 $, + − +∗ 6). $& 1 − . 26 ∗
), . − .
* in
S
R R,
, k';
=
= i

5
Packed Towers Design
For dilute mixtures:
Packed Tower

I
L2 V2
J
'($ $%& $ 4$ $)($, -
= 1 and ∫$ ) = ∴ +' − +7 = 1$. $' + − +% #* = 6$. $' + − + ∗ #*
'($ 26 , $($$ $($$ %& 3 xA2 yA2
#
3
.' − .7 = 1). $' .% − . #* = 6). $' . ∗ − . #*

$)($$) ( $,($$, $)($)∗ ( $,($,∗

+ − +% #* = ! *!
+ − +∗ #* = ! *! ∗
+, ) $) +, ) )∗ ∆P
!,*!$, !,*!,
Z
For .% − . #* and . ∗ − . #* replace y by x in the above equations

-)8-, #)8#, D
For V and L take the averages: *= and - =
7 7
L1 V1
For a very dilute systems, 1 − + %#* = 1 remember 1$. = 1$ xA1 yA1

6
Packed Towers Design
Steps to follow:

1. Plot the operating line as a straight line. Find V1, V2, V, L1, L2 and L.
2. Using the mass transfer coefficients, find the interfacial compositions (xi1, yi1) and
(xi2, yi2) by plotting the lines P1M1 and P2M2.

The slope of the line P1M1 is: ⑳

."'/ ."'/
& 2 )*' $%& )*')
Slope = − &' 2 = − ."!/
=− ."!/
(Approximation for dilute solutions) ↓
! lead to
)*! $%& )*!)
crossing
Point in the
The slope of the line P2M2 is:
&

equilibrium
."'/ ."'/
& 2 )*' $%& )*',
Slope = − &' 2 = − ."!/
=− ."!/
(Approximation for dilute solutions)
!
)*! $%& )*!)

3. If the overall mass transfer coefficients 6). 896$. are being used then +'∗ , +7∗ , .'∗
and .7∗ are determined.
4. Calculate the appropriate log mean driving force, [e.g. (y-yi)LM]
5. Get the coloumn height for packing, Z.

7
Packed Towers Design
·
Only for Absorption
- $)($,
Note: use ah instead of a
- $)($,
Last time we solved the equation to find Z: ' = &" 2 3
× $($$ %&
we can re-write this as, ' = :" × /" where :" = &" 2 3
and /" = $($$ %&
! 0 ! 0
General Equations You
start with to
In general we can write, ' = :" × /" = :# × /# = :9" × /9" = :9# × /9# : find []

We are
- - $)($, - - $)($,
:" = "
&!203
= &!20 '($ $%&3
using
/" = $($$ %&
| :9" = 5" 2 3
=5 /9" = $($∗ %&
- an and ! 0 !20 '($ ∗%&3
= =
-
-
-

not a
# # ))(), # # ))(),
:# = &" 2 3
=& /# = | :9# = 5" 2 =5 /9# = )∗() %&
' 0 '20 '() $%&3 )$ () %& ' 0 3 '20 '() ∗%&3
=
--
= - -

∗
'($#( ( '($#$ '($#( ( '($#
1−+ %#* = | 1−+ ∗#* =
)*!
+, )*!#(
#$
+,
)*!#(
)*!∗#
for stripping
You Flip the
$)($$) ( $,($$, $)($)∗ ( $,($,∗
+ − +% #* = ! *!
| + − +∗ #* = ! *! ∗ equations
+, ) $) +, ) )∗
!,*!$, !,*!,
Ex : Abs stripping
Yai Yac
∗
'()#% ( '()#$ '()#% ( '()#
1−. %#* = )*'#% | 1−. ∗#* = )*'#% Yaa-Yai - -

+, +,
)*'#$ )*'∗#
YAG-YA * -> -YAY
)$)()) ( )$,(), ))∗()) ( ),∗(), Y
,
.% − . #* = '$)*')
| .∗ −. #* = '∗)*') Y, -
%i) - Yil -

+, +,
'$,*', '∗,*',
y* Y
,
y y*
-

- -
,

8
Example
S T P
Acetone is being absorbed by pure water in a packed tower with cross sectional area = 0.186 293 K and 1 atm m2 at
pressure. The inlet gas mixture of air and acetone contains 2.6 mol% acetone, and outlet gas contains 0.5 mol%
acetone. The gas flow rate is 13.65 kmol/h, and water flow rate is 45.36 kmol/h. Given: kyah = 0.0378
kmol/s.m3.mol frac. kxah = 0.0616 kmol/s.m3.mol frac. Equilibrium line: y = 1.186 x (Dilute system: equilibrium line
will be straight line following Henry’s law)
0.03
Find:
gas outlet
1- Tower height using kyah Liquid inlet 7 %
,
5 moly. Acetone 0 005 - -

0.025
=

2- Tower height using kxah

0 2
.
· .

flow water

Knol rate D
U2 = ?

Kx9n = 0 . 0016
sm3 molfrac Le 45
Kmol
0.02
= .

36 T
Knol
Kyan = 0 .

0378 moltrac ?) Absorption

↓ 0.015

y
y 1 186 X Pure water A 186 m
= .

= 0 .

# T = 293K 0.01
P = 1 atm
·
Dilute System Y2
0.005
P2
D

Ky' =
Ky
kx = kx
0
gas flow rate 0 0.005 0.01 0.015
V 65
- Kmol X2
x
= 13 .

,
h
Liquid outlet

F
gas inlet
7 026
2 6 mol %.
Acetone ->
= 0 .

9
· .
 ① For Kyan

= =e 164-0026 andend
=

Ha
noth min 2
=
13
361
.

X X
-
Knol
-

13 50595
. h 60 min 60S 13 50595
-
. -
=
h
0 .

0378kml - 0 . 186 m2
Frac

= 0 .
53360M V1 + 22 = Vz + L
, V Y.
.
+ 122 = Vale + L, X ,

Y = 1 186X
. ?
L = Vi + Le V= -

X1 + 2 VeYz
4 ,
-

Yiel
=

= , -Yi ; P = (, ) = e 26) ; = 13 05 + 45
. . 36 13 3619
- .
Li
**
(1 65 (0 026) 3619
(x2 , (2) (0 005) 245 36 (0)
Pz 213 20 005)
m
+

45 6481
.
-

0
. .

=
. .

= . =
, = .
Kmol
45 6481
.

Th

(Yc Yiz)

-any
10-3
-

-yes
~ ~
=
6 311
.
x

slope -an
-an
an
= =
slope = = -

Ky9n Ky9n
V V

Y= 1 186 Xi
026-21 .1xil)
0 =0 31 186 Xin
.003-11 .16) 06
.

0
-
=
.

-
.

10 .
026 -
1 186
.
xi) (0 .
037) =
(-0 0616) (6
.
.
311x10- -
Xi)) ↑ ic = 0 . 0017758

9 . 62x10-4 - 0 .

043882Xi1 = -3 . 887576x10" + 0 .
0616 Xi) Yi z =
1 186
.
(0 .
0017758) = 0 . 0021061

-ii)
9 62 . x 10-4 + 3 887576
. x10Y =
Xi 20 0616 .
+ 0 .
043882) (4-7 : ) = =
10 026-0015187)
. -
10 005 : -0 .

00200le

In (0 026-0 015187)
.
.

Xi1 0 01281
(Yc Yiz)
= .

-
20 005-0 0021061)
.
.

↑i = 1 186
.
(0 01281) . = 0 .
015187 = 0 . 008
Na =
(Y, -
Y2( 0.
026 -
0 .

005 35
.

=> =

( Y ; SLM
-
0 .
006

z = Hax Na = 0 53360 x 3 5
. .
= 1 8676
.

Do the same procedure for Kx9h

Bb
Uploaded in
Example

It is desired to reduce the ammonia content of 2.031 mol/s of an ammonia-air mixture (300 K and 1
atm) from 5.0 to 0.04 mol% by water scrubbing. A 0.3-m-diameter tower packed with 25-mm ceramic
Raschig rings to a depth of 3.5 m is available. Is the tower satisfactory, and if so, what water rate
should be used? At 300 K, ammonia-water solutions follow Henry's law up to 5 mol% ammonia in the
liquid, with m = 1.414.

f = 0.59 | ah = 49.6 m2/m3 | $ = 0.68 | ky = 3.469 mol/m2.s | kx = 10.43 mol/m2.s | Ch = 0.577

0.05

0.04

0.03

y
Bb 0.02
Uploaded in

0.01

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
x 10
Example

In the Fertil Company in UAE, a waste gas stream from a processing plant contains 96 mol% air and 4
mol% ammonia. Pure water with a flow rate of 2×Ls,min is to be used as a solvent to reduce its
ammonia content in a packed absorption tower being operated at 293 K and 1 atm pressure. It is
desired to have the outlet gas stream with 99.5 mol% air and 0.5 mol% ammonia. The inlet gas flow
rate is 57800 mol/h. Find the height of packed tower.

GIVEN:
Water density = 1000 kg/m3. Water viscosity = 0.8 cP = 0.8 × 10-3 Pa.s.
Gas viscosity = 0.0184 cP = 1.84 × 10-5 Pa.s.
Molecular weights of water, NH3 and air are 18, 17, and 29 g/mol, respectively.
Packing material is 25-mm Raschig rings with specific surface area, a = 190 m2/m3, ah = 49.6 m2/m3,
and packing factor, Fp = 179 ft2/ft3.
Fraction of flooding = 0.6.
Equilibrium line equation: y = 1.5x.
OVERALL mass transfer coefficients,%&% = %% = 0.3 mol/s.m2, and %&' = %' = 0.2 mol/s.m2

Bb
Uploaded in

11
 for information
Tray Towers considerations: * Just
-
our

- A Tray in a Tray tower is a stage

- The fraction of component absorbed in a counter current operation depends on the number of stages and the absorption factor, A = Ls/mVs

- The larger the value of A the fewer the number of stages required, however very large values of A will correspond to very large flowrates of
liquid solvent, which may mean that the operation can be economically infeasible. From an economic standpoint 1.25 < A < 2 is typically
used.

- In an ideal stage/tray the gas and liquid leaving the stage/tray are in equilibrium and Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) laws can be applied.

- To determine the ideal number of trays we can use the graphical method which is called McCabe Thiele method

- For a dilute mixture, the equilibrium relationship is linear (Henry’s law) and the total liquid and vapour flowrate are very similar to the
solvents liquid and vapour flowrates (LS ∼ L and VS ∼ V) ∴ A = Ls/mVs ≃ L/mV.

- To allow for the small variations in A from one end of the tower to the other due to the change in L/V as a result of absorption or desorption
can be roughly considered using the geometric mean of A, !26 = !:;< !=;::;>

- For these cases modified Kremser equations are used with L and V, to calculate the number of ideal stages.

12
 * Important
Tray Efficiency:
- Insufficient contact time may not allow equilibrium to be achieved, in such cases the tray/stage
is not ideal and actual number of stages needs to be calculated following the overall tray
oa -
eff =
xideal
trasa
efficiency equation:
overall efficiency of all
-always between
tray, ·
Efficiency is 100%

[ I a
ifthetrayten
↑
Number of ideal trays
=9 = trays
= stages
Number of actual trays
- -
- this
in
Real reality
- Another efficiency definition is Murphee tray efficiency (varies across the tower):

!? $ ($
=* = !@ = $1∗ ($12)
1 12)

+A∗ = concentration of solute in vapour that would be in equilibrium with liquid of

not
concentration .A
covered
- Use dashed line to complete tray construction and find the number of real trays

- Relationship between tray efficiencies:

1
Number of ideal trays ln 1 + =* ! − 1
=9 = =
Number 1
ln
!
#
!= P = slope of equilibrium line, =9 is valid only when m and L/V are constant 13
>-
CHEG324 Mass Transfer
Faisal Abdulla AlMarzooqi

Chapter 6 Flash Drums

1
Single-Stage Operation – Flash Vaporisation

Components in a binary mixture (two component mixture) can be separated if their volatility is significantly different.

Volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize:

- Most volatile: Higher vapour pressure and lower boiling point temperature
- Least volatile: Lower vapour pressure and higher boiling point temperature

This separation can be achieved via flash vaporization / distillation, in a single-stage operation

The binary feed mixture is partially vaporized and is allowed to reach vapour-liquid
equilibrium (VLE) in the flash drum. Vapour phase composition of the most volatile
component (yD) and liquid phase composition of the most volatile component (xW) Flash Drum
leaving the unit are in equilibrium.

This process can be either batch or continuous

Partial vaporization is achieved by a heat exchanger

The pressure is reduced in the flash drum, causing vapour formation from the liquid in an adiabatic condition. The more
volatile component vaporizes more than the less volatile component.

Product D is entirely vapour and is rich in the more volatile component, product W is liquid and is lean in the more volatile
component.

To better understand this process we need to establish Equilibrium Relationships and Boiling-Point Diagrams 2
Single-Stage Operation – Flash Vaporisation

Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium (VLE): Binary mixture of components (A) and (B) and two phases Vapour and Liquid
𝐵 T = Temperature
Objective is to separate (A) and (B) Antoine’s equation log10 𝑃𝐴 = 𝐴 − A, B and C = Constants of
𝐶+𝑇
chemical
Raoult’s law: pA = PAxA pA = partial pressure of component (A) PA = Vapour pressure of component (A)
xA = composition of (A) in liquid phase
Dalton’s law: pA = yAPTotal yA = composition of (A) in vapour phase PTotal = Total pressure

Boiling Point Diagram:

Boiling Point Diagram
On the right is the boiling-point diagram for a Benzene (A) – Toluene
(B) binary mixture at a total pressure of 1 atm. This boiling point
diagram shape shows an ideal mixture behaviour

From the diagram find the boiling temperature of pure (A) and pure
(B)?

Which component is most volatile? Why?

At a given temperature and pressure the boiling point diagram gives

us the liquid phase composition (xA) and vapour phase composition
(yA) which are in equilibrium, from the bubble point and dew point
lines.
3
It can also give us a boiling point and dew point of given mixtures
Single-Stage Operation – Flash Vaporisation
= yA1
Boiling-Point Diagrams:
T1
If the feed composition of (A), zF is given and either yD or xW, then the temperature Flash Drum
and the composition of the other phase can be determined from the boiling point
diagram.

Azeotropes: for certain binary mixtures (e.g. ethanol-water) the boiling point diagram
is not ideal as the one on the right hand side here. Instead it follows the trend shown
= xA1
below:
Minimum-boiling Azeotrope
Boiling Point Diagram

4
Single-Stage Operation – Flash Vaporisation
= yA1
Boiling-Point Diagrams:
T1
Azeotropes: Nitric acid and water form a maximum-boiling azeotrope. Flash Drum
Depending on where the initial starting composition of the azeotropic mixture is, it is
possible to get a pure sample of one of the components and impossible to get a pure
sample of the other.
= xA1
Maximum-boiling Azeotrope
Boiling Point Diagram

5
Single-Stage Operation – Flash Vaporisation
How to draw a boiling point diagram: = yA1

1. Plot the boiling points of the pure components using the boiling point
T1
temperatures of the two pure components (TbA and TbB) Flash Drum
2. Choose a temperature T between TbA and TbB
3. Calculate PA and PB for the chosen T using Antoine’s equation
4. Calculate xA using PAxA + PB(1-xA) = PTotal
5. Calculate yA using PAxA = yAP
6. Plot the two points using the calculated coordinates (T,xA) and (T,yA)
= xA1
7. Repeat steps 2 to 7 using a different temperature each time

Boiling Point Diagram

Lever-rule:

Mixture M1 will have a vapour phase amount, VP in

equilibrium with a liquid phase amount, LP. a
b
𝑉𝑃 𝑎
=
𝐿𝑃 𝑏

M1

6
Single-Stage Operation – Flash Vaporisation

Material balance:

𝐹 =𝐷+𝑊 and 𝐹𝑧𝐹 = 𝐷𝑦𝐷 + 𝑊𝑥𝑊

−𝑊 𝐹 −𝑊 𝐹
𝑦𝐷 = 𝑥𝑊 + 𝑧𝐹 or arbitrarily 𝑦= 𝑥+ 𝑧𝐹 = yA1
𝐷 𝐷 𝐷 𝐷

when 𝑥 = 𝑧𝐹 ⟶ 𝑦 = 𝑧𝐹
T1
−𝑊 𝐹 Flash Drum
∴ line 𝑦 = 𝑥+ 𝑧𝐹 is a straight line that crosses coordinates 𝑧𝐹 , 𝑧𝐹
𝐷 𝐷
−𝑊
and 𝑥𝑊 , 𝑦𝐷 and has a slope of
𝐷

equilibrium
−𝑾 𝑭
𝒚= 𝒙+ 𝒛 = xA1
𝑫 𝑫 𝑭 y=x

𝒚𝑫 𝒙 𝑾 , 𝒚𝑫

𝒛𝑭
𝒛𝑭 , 𝒛𝑭

7
𝒙𝑾 𝒛𝑭
Example 1
A stream of a heptane-octane mixture, containing 70 mol% heptane is continuously flashed in a flash distillation drum at 1 bar, such that 70% of
the feed is vaporized. Find out the compositions of the vapour and liquid streams leaving the flash distillation drum. What is the Temperature of
the streams leaving the unit?

The heptane-octane system can be assumed ideal.

A B C
𝐵
𝐴− Heptane 4.02832 1268.636 -56.199
Antoine equation: 𝑃𝐴 = 10 𝐶+𝑇
Octane 4.04867 1355.126 -63.633
Answer: T = 380.5 K