Chapter10 Equilibrium-Based Methods

for Multicomponent
Absorption, Stripping,
Distillation, and Extraction
Purpose and Requirements:
 Know Equilibrium-Based Methods for Multicomponent
 Learn to use ASPEN PLUS, ChemCAD, HYSIM, PRO/II

Key and Difficult Points:

Key Points
 Theoretical Model for an Equilibrium Stage
 General Strategy of Mathematical Solution
Difficult Points
 Equation-Tearing Procedures
 Simultaneous Correction Procedures
 Inside-Out Method
Outline

10.1 THEORETICAL MODEL FOR AN EQUILIBRIUM

STAGE
10.2 GENERAL STRATEGY OF MATHEMATICAL
SOLUTION
10.3 EQUATION-TEARING PROCEDURES
10.4 SIMULTANEOUS CORRECTION PROCEDURES
10.5 INSIDE-OUT METHOD
Absorption
(Gas Absorption/Gas Scrubbing/Gas Washing吸收)

 Gas Mixture (Solutes or Absorbate)

 Liquid (Solvent or Absorbent)

 Separate Gas Mixtures

 Remove Impurities, Contaminants, Pollutants, or
Catalyst Poisons from a Gas(H2S/Natural Gas)
 Recover Valuable Chemicals
 Physical Absorption

 Chemical Absorption
(Reactive Absorption)

Figure 6.1 Typical Absorption Process

Absorption Factor
(A吸收因子)

 A = L/KV
Component A = L/KV K-value
Water 1.7 0.031
Acetone 1.38 2.0
Oxygen 0.00006 45,000
Nitrogen 0.00003 90,000
Argon 0.00008 35,000
•Larger the value of A，Fewer the number of stages required
•1.25 to 2.0 ，1.4 being a frequently recommended value
Stripping
(Desorption解吸)

 Stripping
 Distillation

 Stripping Factor
(S解吸因子)
High temperature
 S = 1/ A= KV/L Low pressure is desirable

Optimum stripping factor ：1.4.

 6.1 EQUIPMENT

trayed tower packed column

bubble column spray tower

centrifugal contactor
Figure 6.2 Industrial Equipment for Absorption and Stripping
Trayed Tower
(Plate Clolumns板式塔)

Figure 6.3 Details of a contacting tray in a trayed tower

(a) perforation (b) valve cap (c) bubble cap

(d) Tray with valve caps

Figure 6.4 Three types of tray openings for
passage of vapor up into liquid
 Froth Liquid carries no vapor bubbles
to the tray below
Vapor carries no liquid droplets
to the tray above
No weeping of liquid through the
openings of the tray
(a) Spray(b) Froth(c) Emulsion(d) Bubble(e)Cellular Foam
Equilibrium between the exiting
vapor and liquid phases
is approached on each tray.

Figure 6.5 Possible vapor-liquid flow regimes for a contacting tray

Packed Columns

Figure 6.6 Details of internals

used in a packed column
 •More surface area for mass transfer
•Higher flow capacity
•Lower pressure drop
Packing Materails

(a)
(b) Random
StructuredPacking
Packing
Materials
Materials
•Expensive

•Far less pressure drop

•Higher efficiency and capacity

Figure 6.7 Typical materials used in a packed column

6.2 ABSORBER/STRIPPER DESIGN

 6.2.1 General Design Considerations

 6.2.2 Trayed Towers
 6.2.2.1 Graphical Equilibrium-Stage
 6.2.2.2 Algebraic Method for Determining
the Number of Equilibrium
 6.2.2.3 Stage Efficiency
 6.2.3 Packed Columns
 6.2.3.1 Rate-based Method
 6.2.3.2 Packed Column Efficiency, Capacity,
and Pressure Drop
6.2.1 General Design Considerations
Design or analysis of an absorber (or stripper) requires
consideration of a number of factors, including:
1. Entering gas (liquid) flow rate, composition,
6. Number of equilibrium
temperature, stages
and pressure
7. Heat effects and need for cooling (heating)
2. Desired degree of recovery of one or more solutes
8. Type of absorber (stripper) equipment
3.
9. Choice of absorber
Height of absorbent (stripping agent)
(stripper)
4.
10.Operating
Diameter pressure and(stripper)
of absorber temperature, and allowable
gas pressure drop
5. Minimum absorbent (stripping agent) flow rate and
actual absorbent (stripping agent) flow rate as a
multiple of the minimum rate needed to make the
separation
SUMMARY
 1. Rigorous methods are readily available for computer-solution of equilibrium-
based models for multicomponent, multistage absorption, stripping, distillation,
and liquid-liquid extraction.
 2. The equilibrium-based model for a countercurrent-flow cascade provides for
multiple feeds, vapor side streams, liquid side streams, and intermediate heat
exchangers. Thus, the model can handle almost any type of column
configuration.
 3. The model equations include component material balances, total material
balances, phase equilibria relations, and energy balances.
 4. Some or all of the model equations can usually he grouped so as to obtain
tridiagonal matrix equations, for which an efficient solution algorithm is available.
 5. Widely used methods for iteratively solving all of the model equations are the
bubble-point (BP) method, the sum-rales (SR) method, the simultaneous
correction (SO method, and the inside-out method.
 6. The BP method is generally restricted to distillation problems
involving narrow-boiling feed mixtures.
 7. The SR method is generally restricted to absorption and
stripping problems involving wide-boiling feed mixtures or in the
ISR form to extraction problems.
 8. The SC and inside-out methods are designed to solve any
type of column configuration for any type of feed mixture.
Because of its computational efficiency, the inside-oi method is
often the method of choice; however, it may fail to converge
when highly! nonideal liquid mixtures are involved, in which
case the slower SC method should j be tried. Both methods
permit considerable flexibility in specifications.
 9. When both the SC and inside-out methods fail, resort can be
made to the much slower relaxation and continuation methods.
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