Design of Spray column

with Chemical Reaction

Problem
To reduce the impurity (A) level in an
organic liquid from 10000ppm to
500ppm using an aqueous solvent
containing a solute (B) which reacts
with A following the rate equation,
rate = Kmn*[A]m * [B]n

Given data
Organic phase flow rate = 1m3/hr
aq =1000 kg/m3
org = 900 kg/m3
aq = 1 mPas
org = 5 mPas
= 0.025 N/m
Distribution coefficient = 5

Co-relations used
u0 =
dp =
kd = (0.00375*u0)/(1+d/c)
kc =

0.725* (dp*u0*/c)^-0.43*(c/cD)^0.58*(1-d)

Approach
Case 1- The rate of chemical reaction
is very slow as compared to rate of
mass transfer
Case 2- The rate of mass transfer is
comparable to the rate of chemical
reaction
Case 3- The rate of chemical reaction
is very high as compared to rate of
mass transfer

Case 1
As the rate of chemical reaction is
very low as compared to rate of mass
transfer the concentration profile will
be as below

Case 2
When the rate of chemical reaction is
comparable to the rate of mass
transfer

Case 3
As the rate of chemical reaction is
very high the concentration of A in
aqueous phase will be zero

Assumption
The dispersed phase mass transfer
co-efficient is very high as compared
to continuous phase mass transfer
co-efficient
Hence, resistance to mass transfer
on the dispersed side is neglected

Calculations
Calculate minimum flow rate for
aqueous liquid from given data
Assume flow rate of aqueous liquid
higher than the minimum value
calculated
Calculate u0
Calculate dp
Calculate f

 Assume d value ranging from 0.1 times

f to 0.9 times f increasing it by 0.1
every time
Hence calculate vc and vd
From the values of vc and Qc we get the
column diameter.
Then we calculate a = 6 d/d
Then we find the no of orifices in the
distributor

 Then we find the values of kd and kc

Then we find the relative rate of
reaction as regards to the rate of
mass transfer
Based on the relative values, we can
find the volume of the contactor and
the height of the contactor

Effect of water flow rate on

volume

When the phases are

interchanged

When water is the continuous phase,

due to Morongani effect we consider
only regimes 3 and 4
Calculations similar to the previous
case
Continuous phase mass transfer is
the controlling mechanism

Effect of %flooding on
Volume

Effect of %flooding on
Height