Gas Absorption Problems and Solutions

3. A packed column with 2 inch raschig rings has the following average flow conditions:

Gas Liquid

Molar flow (lbmol/hr) 80 40

Density (lb/ft3) 0.3 65

MM (lb/lbmol) 100 150

Viscosity (cP) --- 1.6

If the gas flooding velocity is 0.43 lb/ft 2 s, what is the actual gas velocity based in a gas
velocity at 50% the flooding velocity? Determine the column diameter based on actual
velocity.

Given:

lb
Gflooding =0.43
ft 2 s

lbmol
ń gas=80
h

lb
ρgas =0.3 3
ft

lb
MW gas =100
lbmol

Required:
Gactual

D column

Solution:
Gactual =0.50 Gflooding

lb
Gactual =0.50 0.43
( ft 2 s )
 lb
Gactual =0.215 2
ft s

Let Q=volumetric flow rate

Q
Gactual =
A

Q
A=
G actual

π 2 Q
D =
4 G actual

D=
√ 4Q
π Gactual

√
lbmol 1 hr lb
D=
(
4 80
hr )( 3600 s )( 100
lbmol )
lb
(
π 0.215
ft 2 s )
D=3.63 ft

A gas stream containing 3.0% A is passed

through a packed column to remove 99%
of the A by absorption in water. The
absorber will operate at 25 oC and 1 atm,
and the gas and liquid rates are to be 20
mol/h f2 and 100 mol/h f2, respectively.
Mass transfer coefficients and
equilibrium data are given below:
y*=3.1 x at 25 oC
kx=60 mol/hr f3 unit mol frxn
ky=15 mol/hr f3 unit mol frxn
a. Find NOG, HOG and ZT, assuming
isothermal operation and neglecting
changes in gas and liquid flow rates.
b. Calculate ZT using NOL and HOL

Solution:
Assume xa = 0
( 20 ) ( 0.03 ) ( 0.99 )
x b= =0.00594
100
¿
y b=( 3.1 ) ( 0.0054 )=0.01841

At the bottom of the column:

 ¿
y b− y b =0.03−0.01841=0.01159

At the top,
¿
y a− y a= y a=0.0003

Then,
( 0.01159 )− ( 0.0003 )
∆ ´y L=
ln ( ( 0.01159 ) / ( 0.0003 ) )

∆ ´y L=0.00309

∆ y ( 0.03 ) ( 0.99 )
N OG= = =9.61
∆ y L ( 0.00309 )

1 1 3.1
= + =0.11833
K y 15 60

K y =8.45

20
H OG= =2.37 ft
8.45

Z T =( 2.37 )( 9.61 ) =22.7 ft

(b) At the bottom of the column

0.03
x ¿= =0.009677
3.1

∆ x=( 0.009677 )−( 0.00594 )=0.003737

At the top,
¿ 0.0003 −5
x= =9.677 x 10
3.1

x=0
 ( 0.00374 )−( 0.000097 )
∆´x L =

[
ln ]
( 0.00374 )
( 0.000097 )

∆´x L =9.96 x 10
−4

0.00594
N OL = −4
=5.96
9.96 x 10

1 1 1
= + =0.03817
K x 60 ( 3.1 )( 15 )

K x =26.2

100
H OL= =3.817 ft
26.2

Z T =5.96 x 3.817=22.7 ft

The equilibrium data for a certain

absorption maybe represented by the
equation y=5.1x2 where y is kmol of
gaseous absorbable material per
kilomole of inert gas and x is kilomole of
dissolved absorbable material per
kilomole of inert liquid. The unit is
operated as continuous countercurrent
absorption. The entering gas contain 5
moles of absorbable material per 20
moles of inert gas. The liquid mixture
enters the column as a pure material.
Determine the minimum molal ratio of
the liquid to gas if the gases leaving the
tower contain 1 mole absorbable
material per 50 mole of inert gas.
Required:
( VL'' )
min

Solution:
1
y 2= x 2=0
50
 5
y 1=
20

Equilibrium curve:
y=0.51 x 2

( 205 )=0.51 x 2

x=0.2214

y 1− y 2
m∈¿= ¿
x 1−x 2
L'
( ) V' ¿

(¿ 205 )−( 501 )

( 0.2214 )−0

( VL'' )
min
=1.041

An air-NH3 mixture with 20 mol% NH3 is

to be scrubbed with water at 30oC and 1
atm. The equipment to be used has an
efficiency of 99%. Determine the final
concentration of NH3 in the outgoing
gaseous stream. What is the maximum
possible solubility of NH3 in water at this
condition.
Solution:
0.20
y 1= =0.25
1−0.20

For 99% removal:

y 2=0.01 y 1

¿ 0.01 ( 0.25 )

y 2=0.0025

From solubility data (T2-123 PCEH 7th ed)

wt NH 3
=13.04
100 wt H 2 O

13.04
17
x ¿=
13.04 100
+
17 18

x ¿=0.121