DESIGN OF ABSORBER

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
ABSORPTION
The removal of one or more component from the mixture of gases by using a
suitable solvent is second major operation of Chemical Engineering that based on mass
transfer.
In gas absorption a soluble vapors are more or less absorbed in the solvent from its
mixture with inert gas. The purpose of such gas scrubbing operations may be any of the
following;
a) For Separation of component having the economic value.
b) As a stage in the preparation of some compound.
c) For removing of undesired component (pollution).

TYPES OF ABSORPTION
1)

Physical absorption,

2)

Chemical Absorption.

Physical Absorption:
In physical absorption mass transfer take place purely by diffusion and physical
absorption is governed by the physical equilibria.

Chemical Absorption:
In this type of absorption as soon as a particular component comes in contact with
the absorbing liquid a chemical reaction take place. Then by reducing the concentration
of component in the liquid phase, which enhances the rate of diffusion.

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

TYPES OF ABSORBER
There are two major types of absorbers which are used for absorption purposes:
Packed column
Plate column

COMPARISON BETWEEN PACKED AND PLATE

COLUMN
1)
2)

3)

4)
5)

The packed column provides continuous contact between vapor and liquid phases
while the plate column brings the two phases into contact on stage wise basis.
SCALE: For column diameter of less than approximately 6 ft. It is more usual to
employ packed towers because of high fabrication cost of small trays. But if the
column is very large then the liquid distribution is problem and large volume of
packing and its weight is problem.
PRESSURE DROP: Pressure drop in packed column is less than the plate column.
In plate column there is additional friction generated as the vapor passes through
the liquid on each tray. If there are large No. of Plates in the tower, this pressure
drop may be quite high and the use of packed column could effect considerable
saving.
LIQUID HOLD UP: Because of the liquid on each plate there may be a Urge
quantity of the liquid in plate column, whereas in a packed tower the liquid flows
as a thin film over the packing.
SIZE AND COST: For diameters of less than 6 ft, packed tower require lower
fabrication and material costs than plate tower with regard to height, a packed
column is usually shorter than the equivalent plate column.

From the above consideration packed column is selected as the absorber, because
in our case the diameter of the column is less than 6 ft. As the solubility is infinity so the
liquid will absorb as much gases as it remain in contact with gases so packed tower
provide more contact. It is easy to operate.
Packing:
The packing is the most important component of the system. The packing provides
sufficient area for intimate contact between phases. The efficiency of the packing with
respect to both HTU and flow capacity determines to a significance extent the overall size
of the tower. The economics of the installation is therefore tied up with packing choice.

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
The packings are divided into those types which are dumped at random into the
tower and these which must be stacked by hand. Dumped packing consists of unit 1/4 lo
3 inches in major dimension and are used roost in the smaller columns. The units in
stacked packing are 2 to about 8 inches in size, they are used only in the larger towers.
The Principal Requirement of a Tower packing are:
1)
It must be chemically inert to the fluids in the tower.
2)
It must be strong without excessive weight.
3)
It must contain adequate passages for both streams without excessive liquid
hold up or pressure drop.
4)
It must provide good contact between liquid and gas.
5)
It must be reasonable in cost.
Thus most packing is made of cheap, inert, fairly light materials such as clay,
porcelain, or graphite. Thin-walled metal rings of steel or aluminum are some limes used.
Common Packings are:
a) Berl Saddle.
b) Intalox Saddle.
c) Rasching rings.
d) Lessing rings.
e) Cross-partition rings.
f) Single spiral ring.
g) Double - Spiral ring.
h) Triple - Spiral ring.

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

DESIGNING STEPS FOR ABSORPTION COLUMN

Selection of column.
Selection of packing and material
Calculating the size of packing
Calculating the diameter of column
Determining the no. of transfer units (NOG)
Determining the height of packing
Determining the height of the column
Calculate the operating velocity
Calculate the flooding velocity
Determine the pressure drop.
Select and design the column internal features: packing support, liquid
distributor and redistributor.

SELECTION OF COLUMN:
According to problem statement and the condition in the lab, the material we use for
the packing is Raschig ring
Size of packing:

For column diameter of greater than 0.9m,recommended packing size is 2in. to

3in.

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

Steps for Design of Absorber

1.

Material Balance:
Lm + Gm = Ln+ Vn
Lm(X1) + Gm(Y1)= Ln(X2)+Gn(Y2)

Gm=flow rate of gas entering (Kg moles/hr) = 1m3 /hr (at STP) = 12.648 Kg/hr
Lm = flow rate of solvent entering (Kg moles/ hr) = 0.9 L/hr = 0.952 kg/hr
Gn = flow rate of gas leaving (Kgmoles/hr)
Ln = flow rate of solvent leaving (Kgmoles/ hr)

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Y1=Mole fraction of CO2 in entering streams = 0.08
Y2= Mole fraction of CO2 in leaving streams = 0.005
X1= Mole fraction of CO2 in entering solvent stream = 0
X2== Mole fraction of CO2 in leaving solvent stream = 0.02
BM campuran gas masuk = (0.92 x 27) + (0.08 x 44) = 28.68
2.

Equation For Equilibrium Curve:

Gm(y1 y2) = Lm(x1 x2)

12.648 (Y-0.005) =0.952 (X-0.02)
Equations (1) and (2) are the operating line equations.
X=0.086 +13,286 Y .... (1)
Y= 0.0065 + 0.0753 X (2)
Equations (1) and (2) are the operating line equations.
LET

Y1=Mole fraction of CO2 in entering gas stream=0.08

Y2= Mole fraction of CO2 in leaving gas stream=0.005
Y1/Y2 = 0.08/0.005= 16
AS
Gm (y1 y2) = Lm(x1 x2)
y1 y2 = (Lm/Gm)( x1 x2)
The above equation is in the form y = mX + 0
3.

Determine NOG
From figure below, we can find out the NOG using Y1/Y2 & mGm/Lm. Where m is
slope of equilibrium line.
Colburn has suggested that the economic range for mGm/Lm lies from 0.7 to 0.8.For our
system,
m=0.0753
Gm/Lm = 12.648 Kg/hr /0.952 kg/hr =13.286
m Gm/Lm =1.0004

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

FROM GRAPH
Area Under the curve= NOG=13
4.

Calculation Of Diameter Of Column:

Flow rate of entering gases = G =12.648 Kg/hr
Flow rate of entering solvent = L= 0.952 Kg/hr
Temperature of entering gas = Tg = 32 oC =305 K
Temperature of entering Solvent = TL= 29oC = 302 K
Pressure of entering gases = P = 1.7 atm
Average molecular weight of entering gases = 28.68
Density of gas mixture = g = PM /RTg
= (1.7 28.68) / (0.08205 305)
=1.948 Kg/m3
Density of liquid solvent at 29oC = L = 1017.64 Kg/m3
Viscosity of liquid solvent at 29oC = L = 0.05 cp
Viscosity of Gaseous mixture at 32 oC = g = 0.0187 cp (CO2 & air)

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Now with value of:
L
G

g
L

= 0.104

For pressure drop 10 mm of H2O /m of packing

From fig 11.44 (Coulson& Richardson volume-6)
K4 = 0.016
Also from table 11.2 Coulson& Richardson volume-6
Packing factor for Raschig Ring size 51mm =Fp=210
From Coulson & Richardson volume-6:
G* = [k4 g (L-g) / 13.1Fp (L /L) 0.1]
G*= [0.0161.948 (1017.64 -1.948Kg) /13.1210 (0.05/1.01764)0.1]1/2
G*=0.125 Kg/m2-sec.
Flow rate of gas entering =Gm =12.648 /3600
=0.0035 Kg/sec.
As
Area =A= G / G* =0.028 m2
Diameter of column=D= 4[A]
[3.14]
So

5.

Diameter of column= 0.189 m

Calculation Of Height Of Transfer Units:

From coulson & Richardson volume-6

Equation for calculation of effective interfacial area is given as.

Where

aw
1 exp 1.45 c
a

0.75

Lw

a L

0.1

0.05

Lw 2 a
2g
L

Lw

a
L L

aw = effective interfacial area of packing per unit volume m2/m3

0.2

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Lw = liquid mass velocity = 0.952 /3600= 0.00026 kg/m2s
a = actual area of packing per unit volume m2/m3
c = critical surface tension for particular packing material
L = liquid surface tension N/m
a = 95 m2/m3 (size 51 mm=0.0051m)
Lw = 0.952 Kg/hr
c = 61 x 10-3 N/m (for ceramic)
L = 0.02 N/m
L=0.05 cp
L =1017.64 Kg/m3

aw
6.1
1 exp 1.45

95
2

0.75

0.00026

2
95 5 10

0 .1

0.00026 2 95

2
1017.64 9.8

0.05

0.00026 2

2
1017.64 5 10 95

= 3,22 m2/m3

aw
-

Calculation Of Liquid Film Mass Transfer Coefficient:

K L

L g

1
3

Lw
0.0051
aw L

2
3

L DL

1
2

ad

0 .4

KL = liquid film coefficient m/s

dp = packing size =51 x 10-3 m (From table 11.4 Coulson & Richardson) (diameter richig
ring)
DL = diffusivity of liquid = 1.042 x 10-10 m2/sec (From Coulson & Richardson)
Then, by substituting the values,
KL = 1.83 x 10-6 m/s

Calculation Of Gas Film Mass Transfer Coefficient:

1

0 .7

Vwkmol/m

2s.bar
3
K G RT
Where KG = Gas film
coefficient,
g
g

ad p 2
K5

aD g

a g

g Dg

0.2

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
VW= Gas mass velocity = 12.648 /(3600x0.028)=0.1255 Kg m2/sec
K5= 5.23 (For packing size above 15mm,Coulson & Richardson)
Dg =Diffusivity of gas = 2.69 x 10-5 m2/se (MCcab & Smith 5th-Ed/courlson
pg.331))
Then, by substituting the values,
KG =6.46 x 10-4 kmol/m2s.bar
Now,

H
Where,

G
m
K a P
G w

HG = Gas-film transfer unit height

Gm = 0.0035 /0.28 = 0.00125 Kmol/m2.sec
Then,
HG = 0.00125/(6.46 x 10-4 3.221.7)
= 0.35 m (From Coulson & Richardson,table 11.2,for ceramic randon
packing,it is almost 0.48 m)

And

L
m
L K a C
L w t
H = Liquid-film transfer unit height

Lm= 0.00026 /0.28 = 0.000093 Kmol/m2.sec

Ct = Concentration of solvent = 2% NaOH =50.87 Kmol/m3
Then,
HL = 0.000093/(1.83 x 10-6 3.22 50.87)
= 0.33 m
Calculation Of Height Of Transfer Units:
As,
H oG H G

mGm
HL
Lm

HG = 0.35 m

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
HL =

0.33 m

So,
Height of transfer units=HOG = 0.35 + ((0.0753x0.00125 /0.000093 ) 0.33)
HOG = 0.684 m (From Coulson & Richardson, range is 0.6
to 1m, topic 11.14.3)

Calculation Of Height Of Tower:

6.

Total height of packing =Z= NOG HOG

Z = 13 0.684 = 8.89= 9 m
Allowances for liquid distribution = 1m
Allowances for liquid Re-distribution =1m
Total height of tower = 9 + 1 + 1
Zt = 11 m
Total height of tower = 11 m
Calculations of Operating Velocity:

7.

The abscissa of fig 11.44

L
G

g
L

= 0.104

Operating velocity of gas

G2 FpL0.1 / g (L - g)g = 0.104
G = 3.5995 m/sec

8.

Calculation Of Flooding Velocity:

g
L
G
g
L

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
= 0.033

Operating velocity at flooding for dumped packing,

G2 FpL0.1 / g (L - g)g = 0.033
G = 6.4 m/sec
Operating velocity as

= (3.5995/6.4) 100%= 56.24%

% of flooding velocity
(Operating velocity must be 50-90% of flooding velocity,Mc-Cabe & Smith)

9.

Calculation of wetting rate:

If very low liquid rates have to be used the packing wetting rate should be checked to
make it sure it is above the minimum recommended by packing manufacturer Wetting
rate is defined by following relation.
Wetting rate = Liquid volumetric flow rate per unit cross-sectional area
Specific area of packing per unit volume
Liquid volumetric flow rate/Unit cross-sectional area = Lm (kg/s) / ( L A)
= 0.952 /(3600 1017.64 0.028)
=9.28 10 -6 m3/m2-sec
Specific area of packing = 95 m2/m3
Wetting rate = 9.7710-8 m3sec-1/m2
.

10.

Calculation Of Pressure Drop At Flooding:

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
From McCabe & smith 5th edition,Eq.22.1,
Pressure drop at flooding is given by relation.
Pflooding =0.115Fp 0.7
Where
Pflooding = pressure drop at flooding.
Fp = packing factor for raschig ring = 210
Pflooding = 0.115(210)0.7
= 4.86 in.H2O/ft of packing
Pflooding = 3.97 kPa/m of packing

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

8.8 SPECIFICATION SHEET FOR LAB SPEC.

DESIGN:
Identification:
Item:

Packed Absorption Column

Function: To absorb CO2 in a mixture gas stream with NaOH as the solvent
Operation: Continuous
Entering gas

Exit gas

Liquid

Liquid leaving

Kg/hr

Kg/hr

entering

Kg/hr

12.4037

Kg/hr
0.952

1.1963

12.648

Design Data:
No. of transfer units = 13
Height of transfer units = 0.684 m
Height of packing section = 9 m
Total height of column

= 11 m

Diameter = 0.189 m
Pressure drop = 3.97 kPa/m of packing
Internals:
Size and type = 51 mm
Material of packing:
Packing arrangement:

Raschig ring
Ceramic
Dumped

DESIGN OF ABSORBER

8.9 SPECIFICATION SHEET FOR ACTUAL

DESIGN:
Identification:
Item:

Packed Absorption Column

Function: To absorb CO2 in a mixture gas stream with NaOH as the solvent
Operation: Continuous
Entering gas

Exit gas

Liquid

Liquid leaving

Kg/hr

Kg/hr

entering

Kg/hr

12.4037

Kg/hr
0.952

1.1963

12.648

Design Data:
Total height of column

= 128 cm = 1,28 m

Diameter = 5,730 cm = 0,05730 m

Pressure drop = 10 kPa/mm H2O of packing
Internals:
Size and type = 51 mm
Material of packing:
Packing arrangement:

Raschig ring
Ceramic
Dumped