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Chapter 12
Coulson & Richardson’s
Chemical Engineering
Vol.2, Fifth Edition
Contents
Process description
Equilibrium conditions
Mechanism of absorption
Wetted wall column
Packed column
Spray towers
Plate towers
Vessels with agitation
Centrifugal absorbers
Exothermic absorption
Process description
Definition:Removal of one or more selected
components (SOLUTE) from a mixture of
gases gases by absorption into a suitable
liquid (SOLVENT)
2nd major operation of chemical engineering
Examples:
removal
of CO2 from Syn gas
Removal of SOx and NOx from flue gases
General scheme
Pur Solut
e e gas
gas
solve
nt
Absorpti Recover
on in a y in a
contacto contacto
r- r-
Fee
Absorbe Stripper
d r
gas
Difference in
Theory partial pressure
makes the
difference
Conditions of equilibrium
Solubility of gas is not substantially affected by
pressure
Solubility decreases with temperature
PA = HC A
Mechanism of absorption
CA
PA
liquid
WHITMAN film
PAG
OR N = kG [ PA1 − PA 2 ]
'
A
Where DV DV P
k =
'
G , kG =
RTzG RTzG PBm
In most cases the film thickness is not known, therefore, kG is used more
frequently as a measure of rate of gas absorption per unit area per unit partial
pressure diference
Diffusion in the Liquid phase
Diffusion in liquids is
slow dCA
No theoretical basis N = − DL
'
A
available for rate of dz
diffusion comparable C A2 − C A1
to kinetic theory of N A = − DL
'
gases: the basic eq.
Is
zL
For unknown film
N = k L [ C A1 − C A2 ]
thickness '
A
Rate of Absorption
At steady state
Rate of mass transfer Rate of mass transfer
= through liquid film
through gas film Slope of the
A
kG C Ai − C AL PAG
D
PAG -PAi
Partial Pressure (PA)
k L PAG − PAi E
PAi B
F
PAe
CAi -CAL
CAL CAi CAe
Overall Mass Transfer Coefficients
It is normally difficult N = K G ( PAG − PAe )
'
A
to have values of CAi N A' = K L ( C Ae − C AL )
or PAI, therefore, rate
of mass transfer is 1 1 Η
related to over all = +
K G kG k L
transfer coefficients
as; 1 1 1
= +
When the equilibrium K L k L Η kG
line is nearly straight,
and Henreys law 1 Η
=
applies: KG K L
Rate of Absorption in terms of mole
fractions
Forslope of the N =K
'
A
''
G ( y A − y Ae )
equilibrium line m N A' = K L'' ( x Ae − x A )
M=(yAi-yAe)/(xAi-xA)
1 1 m
The over all gas ''
= '' + ''
KG k G k L
coefficient is
Factors affecting the mass transfer
coefficient
Verysoluble gas
Almost insoluble gas
Moderately soluble
gas D A
PAG
PAG -PAi
Partial Pressure (PA)
PAi E B
F
PAe
CAi -CAL
CAL CAi CAe
Wetted Wall Column
Other
h d P
solvent D P Sc −0.44
D BM
s
hD d PBM hD d PBM
Sc −0.44 = B ' Re 0.83 Sc −0.44
200
DV P DV P
wate
hD d PBM
r
= B' Re 0.83 Sc −0.44
hD d PBM
DV P
= B ' Re 0.83 Sc −0.44
DV P
8
1000 Re
40000
0.56
hD PBM µ
= B' Re −0.17 = jd
u P ρDV
Chilton &
Colburn
Coefficients in Packed Towers
A: Gas Film Controlled Processes
Sh = β ( Re ) ( Sc )
a c
where
hD d p
Sh =
DG
G' d p
Re =
µ
µ
Sc =
ρDG
Coefficients in Packed Towers
B: liquid Film Controlled Processes
0.50
kLa L' µ L
= β
DL µ L ρ L DL
kLa
Fig. 12.7
L’
Equipment for Gas Absorption
Wetted wall column
we have discussed it already
Packed Towers
Plate Towers
Vessels with Agitators
Centrifugal Absorbers
Spray Towers
Centrifugal Spray Towers
Wetted wall column
we have discussed it already
Equipment for Gas Absorption
Gas
out
Packed Towers Liquid
in
Distributor
25 mm-4.5 m diameter Hold-
down
30 m or more height plate
Packed
bed
D C B
Y Y A
Pressure drop
Wet drained
te
Packing
ra
x x Gas support
packing
d
in
ui
te
liq
ra
Dry
gh
d
ui
Hi
packing
l iq
Liquid out
w
Lo
Gas velocity
Height of packed tower
Gm: moles of inert gas/(unit
time)(unit cross-sectional
Gm Y 2 dY
kG aP ∫Y 1 Yi − Y
area) Z=
Lm: moles of solute free
liquor/(unit time)(unit cross-
sectional area)
Y: moles of solute gas
A/mole of inert gas B in gas
phase, Lm Y2 dX
X: moles of solute A/mole Z=
k L aCT ∫
Y1 X − Xi
of inert solvent in liquid
phase,
Plate Towers for gas absorption
Bubblecaps or sieve tray columns are
some times used when:
Loads can not be handled in packed column of
1m diameter
When deposition of solids may take place
Spray Towers
Gas enters at the bottom and liquid
liquid is introduced at the top as
series of sprays
Performance is poor because the
droplets tend to coalesce after
they have fallen through a few
meters
Thus reducing interfacial area
Resistance of equivalent liquid film
is high
Therefore, these units are useful
when major resistance lies within
the gas film
Used for absorbing Ammonia in
Water with moderate success
Also used as humidifiers
gas
liquid
Centrifugal Spray Towers
Anti-spin
Gas enters tangentially at valves
the bottom
Core
Liquid is sprayed into the buster
gas stream from a spray disc
manifold
Liquid drops are Gas
subjected to centrifugal inlet Liquid
force before they are spray
taken out of the gas manifold
Centrifugal force tends to
reduce the resistance in
the liquid film
One illustration of the
principle is shown here damper Liquid
inlet