Practice problems in ABSORPTION

1. CO2 Air Water

V1 V2
yA1 yA2
P = 1.0 atm
T = 293 K
L0 L1
xA0 xA1
Given:
L0 300 kmol/h
x A0 0
V2 100 kmol/h
y A2 0.20
Find:
L1, V1, xA1 and yA1

x y x y
L ' A0 V ' A2 L ' A1 V ' A1
1 x A0 1 y A2 1 xA1 1 y A1
(1) Inlet compositions
(Feed liquid is pure water and inlet gas composition is given.)
x A0 0
y A2 0.20
(2) Solute free (inlet) flows
(Feed liquid is pure water and inlet gas is 20% CO2/80% air)
L ' L0 300 kmol / h
V ' V2 1 y A2
100 kmol / h 1 0.20
80 kmol / h
(3) Equilibrium relationship
From table A.3-18 at 293.2K, CO2 - water:
H 0.142 104 atm / mol frac
H 0.142 104 atm / mol frac
H'
P 1.0atm
mol frac gas
0.142 104
mol frac liquid
y A H ' xA
y A1 0.142 104 x A1
(4) Substitute and solve

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 0.2 x A1 0.142 104 x A1
300 0 80 300 80
1 0.2 1 x A1 1 0.142 10 x A1
4

x A1 1.41 104

y A1 0.142 104 1.41 104 0.20
L' 300
L1 300 kmol/h
1 x A1 1 1.41 104
V' 80
V' = =100 kmol/h
1 y A1 1 0.20
Liquid solution is very dilute, so L1 L0
-Henrys Law assumption OK.
Is the separation useless?
-Stages
-Application
-Solvent selection

2. Mass transfer coefficient

Given:
y AG 0.20
Bulk mole fractions
x AL 0.25
y Ai 0.15 Interface concentartion
y A x A2 / 1 x A Equilibrium relation
yA
P
yAG
Equilibrium line
m

yAi
M
m
yA*

xA
xAL xAi xA *

1 1 m' 1 m'

K y '/ 1 y A iM k y '/ 1 y A iM k x '/ 1 x A iM k y kx

Overall resistance Resistance Resistance
in gas phase in liquid phase

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 k x '/ 1 x iM k x y AG y Ai
Slope PM
k y '/ 1 y iM ky xAL x Ai
a. Find xAi and slope PM k x =f k y
b. Substitute and find resistance conditions
c. Find m and yA* a.
x Ai 2
y Ai 0.15
1 x Ai
0.15 0.15 x Ai x Ai 2
x Ai 2 0.15 x Ai 0.15 0
0.15 0.152 4 0.15
x Ai
2
0.319 or -0.469
0.15 0.2 k
Slope PM 0.725 x
0.319 0.25 ky
k x 0.725k y
x AL 2 0.252
yA* 0.0833
1 x AL 1 0.25
y Ai y A * 0.15 0.0833
m' 0.959
x Ai x AL 0.319 0.25
1 1 m' 1 0.959 1
2.323
K y k y k x k y 0.725k y ky
1 / ky
Gas side resistance: 43%
2.323 / k y
1.323 / k y
Liquid side resistance: 57%
2.323 / k y

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

3. Cream - steam

V1 L0 L0 100, x0 20 ppm, xN 1 ppm, VN 1 50, yN 1 0

y1 x0 Eqm : y A 10 x A in ppm
Assume steam doesn't condense.
Assume:
V1 50
L0 LN 100
Balance : L0 x0 VN 1 yN 1 LN xN V1 y1
100 20 100 1 50 y1
VN+1 LN
YN+1 xN y1 38 ppm

Plot: a. Operating line from xN , yN 1 1, 0

to x0 , y1 20, 38
b. Equilibrium line y A 10 xA
c. Step down from top of colume

N = 1.85 stages

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CHG 3111 Winter 2017
4.
V1 L0
y1 Given: VN+1 = 100 kmol/h
x0
yN+1 = 0.022

x0 = 0 (pure water feed)

Calculate V: V V N 1 1 y N 1
100kmol / h 1 0.022
VN+1 LN
97.8kmol / h
YN+1 xN

Ethanol flows:

Ethanol entering in VN+1: VN 1 y N 1 100kmol / h0.022 2.2kmol / h

Ethanol leaving in V1: 0.12.2 0.22kmol/ h

Ethanol leaving in LN: 0.92.2 1.98kmol/ h

Calculate V1 and y1: V1 97.8 0.22kmol / h 98.02kmol / h

0.22
y1 0.002244
98.02

At Lmin, yN+1 and xN,max are in equilibrium: y N 1 0.022 0.68 x N ,max

x N ,max 0.03235

Use the solute balance with xN,max to calculate Lmin, then calculate L:

x0 y x N ,max y

Lmin V N 1 Lmin
V 1
1 x0 1 y N 1 1 x N ,max 1 y1
0 0.022 0.03235 0.002244

Lmin 97.8
Lmin 97.8
1 0 1 0.022 1 0.03235 1 0.002244
59.23kmol / h
Lmin

1.359.23kmol / h 76.99kmol / h
L 1.3Lmin
Use the solute balance with L to calculate xN:

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 x0 y x y
L V N 1 L N V 1
1 x0 1 y N 1 1 xN 1 y1
0 0.022 x 0.002244
76.99 97.8 76.99 N 97.8
1 0 1 0.022 1 xN 1 0.002244
x N 0.02507

Because the system is dilute, the operating and equilibrium lines will be straight. Plot the
equilibrium line using the equation given. Plot the operating line from (x0,y1) to (xN,yN+1).
Stepping up between the operating and equilibrium lines will give around 5.4 stages.

yN+1

1
xN

For the analytical solution, we need the absorption factor:

L0 76.99
Atop 1.155
mV1 0.6898.02
LN 78.97
Abottom 1.161
mVN 1 0.68100
A Atop Abottom 1.1551.161 1.158

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

Use the analytical solution for an absorption tray tower to find N:

y mx0 1 1
ln N 1 1
y mx0 A A
N 1
ln A
0.022 0.680 1 1
ln 1
0.002244 0.680 1.158 1.158

ln 1.158
5.38 stages

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

5.
V2 L2
Y2 Given: V1 = 181.4 kmol/h
X2
y1 = 0.25

y2 = 0.02

x2 = 0.005 (inlet liquid)

V1 L1 Calculate V and V2: V V1 1 y1

Y1 X1 181.4kmol / h 1 0.25
136.05kmol / h
1
V2 V
1 y2

136.05kmol / h
1
1 0.02
138.83kmol / h

At Lmin, y1 and x1,max are in equilibrium. Plotting the equilibrium data shows that the equilibrium
line is curved, and that at y1 = 0.25, x1,max = 0.14.

Use the solute balance with x1,max to calculate Lmin, then calculate L:

x2 y x1,max y

Lmin V 1 Lmin
V 2
1 x2 1 y1 1 x1,max 1 y2
0.005 0.25 0.14 0.02

Lmin 136.05
Lmin 136.05
1 0.005 1 0.25 1 0.14 1 0.02
269.9kmol / h
Lmin

1.5269.9kmol / h 404.8kmol / h
L 1.5Lmin

Use the solute balance with L to calculate x1:

x y x y
L 2 V 1 L 1 V 2
1 x2 1 y1 1 x1 1 y2
0.005 0.25 x 0.02
404.8 136.05 404.8 1 136.05
1 0.005 1 0.25 1 x1 1 0.02
x1 0.1425

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

Because the system is not dilute, the operating line will be curved, and we need the operating
line equation to plot it. The operating line equation is generated from a solute balance around
either the top or the bottom of the column. Using the top of the column (dashed line in figure):

x2 y x y
L V L V 2
1 x2 1 y 1 x 1 y2
0.005 y x 0.02
404.8 136.05 404.8 136.05
1 0.005 1 y 1 x 1 0.02

Plot the operating line from (x0,y1) to (xN,yN+1), using several (x,y) points calculated using the
operating line equation.

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

6.
V1 L0
y1 Given: L0 = 300 kmol (basis per unit time)
x0
x0 = 0.04

xN = 0.002

VN+1 = 11.42 kmol (basis per unit time)

yN+1 = 0 (therefore VN+1 = V)

VN+1 LN
YN+1 xN
Calculate L: L L0 1 x0
300kmol1 0.04
288kmol

Use the solute balance with to calculate y1:

x0 y x y
L V N 1 L N V 1
1 x0 1 y N 1 1 xN 1 y1
0.04 0 0.002 y
288 11.42 288 11.42 1
1 0.04 1 0 1 0.002 1 y1
y1 0.50

Use a solute balance around the bottom of the column (dotted line in figure) to get the equation
of the operating line:
x y x y
L V N 1 L N V
1 x 1 y N 1 1 xN 1 y
x 0 0.002 y
288 11.42 288 11.42
1 x 1 0 1 0.002 1 y

Plot the operating line from (x0,y1) to (xN,yN+1) using the equation above (will be curved). Plot the
equilibrium line using the equation given. Stepping up between the operating and equilibrium
lines will give around 5.6 stages.

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 1

4
5

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

7.
V2 L2
Y2 X2 Operation xA pA
y1
line (mol frac) (mm Hg)
0 0
0.0333 30.0
y*
y1 2 Equilibrium 0.0720 62.8
line 0.117 85.4
y*
V1 L1
x2 x1 0.171 103
Y1 X1 2

Given:
T = 293 K, P = 101.32 kPa, D = 0.254 m, H = 4.88 m

V = 3.30 kmol air/h, y1 = 0.01053, y2 = 0.00072

L = 9.03 kmol water/h, x1 = 0.00363, x2 = 0

a) *Dilute solutions
1. Equilibrium solution
y A mx A
0.0395 m(0.0333)
m 1.186
y A 1.186 x A
2.
V y1 y2
z H OG NOG
K y aS av y y *M
Vav y1 y2 1
K ya
S y y * M z

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 y1* 1.186 x1 1.186 0.00363 0.00431
y2 * 1.186 x2 0
y1 y1 * y2 y2 *
y y * M
ln y1 y1 * / y2 y2 *

0.01053 0.00431 0.00072 0
ln 0.01053 0.00431 / 0.00072 0
0.00255
V' 3.30
V1 3.335
1 y1 1 0.01053
V' 3.30
V2 3.302
1 y2 1 0.00072
Vav 3.319kmol / h
2
D 0.254 0.05047m 2
2
S
4 4
3.319kmol / h 0.01053 0.00072 1
K ya
0.05047m 2 0.00255 4.88
51.64kmol / h m3
0.01434kmol / s m3
b)
y1 y2 0.01053 0.00072
NOG 3.85
y y * M 0.00255
Vav 3.319
H OG 1.27
K y aS 51.64 0.05067
c)
y mx2 1 1
ln 1 1
y2 mx2 A A
N
ln A
L 9.03 / 1 0.00363
A1 1 2.291
mV1 1.184 3.335
L2 9.03
A2 2.306
mV2 1.184 3.302
A 2.291 2.306 2.298
N 2.26
4.88m z
HETP 2.16
2.26 N

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

8.
V2 L2
Given solute-free fluxes: V
Y2 X2 95lbm / h ft 2
S
L
987lbm / h ft 2
S

Given film mass transfer coefficients:

k y a 4.03lbmol / h ft 3
k x a 57.0lbmol / h ft 3
V1 L1

Y1 X1
Given equilibrium relationship: c A lbmol / ft 3 1.37 p A atm

For dilute solutions, assume: k y a k y a and k x a k x a

V V L L
and
S S S S

V 1 95lbm / h ft 2 1
(a) Calculate HG and HL: HG 0.813 ft
S k y a 29lbm / lbmol 4.03lbmol / h ft
3

L 1 987lbm / h ft 2 1
HL
57.0lbmol / h ft 0.962 ft
S k x a 18lbm / lbmol
3

(b) To find HOG, we need the overall volumetric gas mass transfer coefficient. To calculate this
we first need the equilibrium relationship in terms of mole fractions:

For the liquid:
Since the system is dilute:
xA
c A lbmolA / ft 3
C lbmol A B / ft 3
water 61.8lbm / ft 3
C ( A B) C ( B)
MWwater 18lbm / lbmol

61.8
Therefore: c A C ( A B) x A xA
18

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 p A atm ( A) p atm
For the gas: yA A
Patm (total ) 1.0atm
p A 1.0 y A

Substituting and rearranging the equilibrium equation gives the slope of the equilibrium line, m:

c A lbmol / ft 3 1.37 p A atm

x A 1.371.0 y A
61.8
18
y A 2.506 x A
m 2.506

Calculate the overall mass transfer coefficient:

1 1 m

K y a 1 y A *M k y a 1 y A iM k x a 1 x A iM

For a dilute system, (1-yA)*M, (1-yA)iM and (1-xA)iM are all ~1:

1 1 m

K y a k y a k x a
1 2.506

4.03lbmol / h ft 3
57.0lbmol / h ft 3
K y a 3.423lbmol / h ft 3

V 1 95lbm / h ft 2 1
Calculate HOG: HG 0.957 ft
3
S K y a 29lbm / lbmol 3.423lbmol / h ft

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

9. Humidification

G2, TG2, H2, Hy2 L2 H Humidity

TL2 = 45
H y Enthalpy
L1 L2 L 10000 kg / h m 2
G1 G2 G 7000 kg air / h m 2
K G a 3.03 107 kmol / s m3 Pa
kG a 1.21 107 kmol / s m3 Pa
G1, hL a
4.2 104 J / kg K
Tw1 = 24 L1 k G aM air P
TG1 = 30 TL1 = 30
H1, Hy1

(a) Find Gmin

From humidity chart, given TG1 = TW1
H1 0.017 kg H 2O/kg dry air
H y1 1.005 1.88H1 TG1 2501.4 H1
1.005 1.88 0.017 30 2501.4 0.017
73.63 kJ/kg dry air
Plot: Equilibrium line, Hyi vs. TLi
Operating point 1(bottom of tower)

Graphical: Plot operating line from 1, tangent to the equilibrium line (because of
curvature)
Slope = LCL/G

Analytical: Find point where slopes are equal

Equilibrium line (cubic fit):
H y1 0.0039TL 3 0.227TL 2 8.0927TL 42.393
dH y
3 0.0039TL 2 2 0.227TL 8.0927
dTL
Operating line:
LCL TL TL1 G H y H y1

dH y LCL H y H y1

dTL G TL TL1
dH dH
Setting y y and solving (using Hy at eqm)
dTL eg dTL op

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 TL 41.41C
H y 180.45 kJ/kg dry air
Solve for Gmin:
LCL H y H y1

Gmin TL TL1
Gmin
LCL TL TL1

10000 kg/h m 4.187kJ / kgK 41.41K 30 K 4472kg / h m
2
2

H y H y1 180.45 73.63 kJ / kg dry air

(b) Driving force in the gas film at top and bottom of tower.
H yi H y
Need the interface gas enthalpies
Need point 2, (TL2, Hy2) at Gactual

At point 2, TL 2 45C
LCL
H y2 TL 2 TL1 Hy1
G

10000kg / h m 4.187kJ / kg K 45 30 K 73.63kJ / kg dry air
2

7000kg / h m 2
=163.35kJ/kg dry air
At each point, the line from P on the operating line to M on the equilibrium line has a
slope of:
hL a H Hy
Slope yi
kG aM air P TLi TL
-Using the equilibrium relationship for Hyi and solving:
Point 1 Point 2
TLi ,1 29.4C TLi ,2 44.0C
H yi ,1 98.5kJ / kg dry air H yi ,2 206.2kJ / kg dry air
H yi H y 24.9kJ / kg dry air
1
H yi H y 42.9kJ / kg dry air
2

(c) Overall driving force: H y * H y

-Using the equilibrium relationship to get Hy* at TL1 and TL2
Point 1 Point 2
TL1 30C TL 2 45C
H y1* 101.4kJ / kg dry air H y 2 * 217.5kJ / kg dry air
H y * H y 27.77kJ / kg dry air
1
H y * H y 54.2kJ / kg dry air
2

CHG 3111 Winter 2017

 217.5 = Hy2*
Hyi2 = 206.2
H1

P2

101.4 = Hy1*
Hyi1 = 98.5
H1

Hy1
P1

TL1

CHG 3111 Winter 2017