DESIGN OF ABSORBER

CHAPTER No.8
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
8.1 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) or !eparation of component having the economic value.
b) "s a stage in the preparation of some compound.
c) or removing of undesired component #pollution).
8.2 TYPES OF ABSORPTION
$) %hysical absorption&
') Chemical "bsorption.
Physical Absorption:
In physical absorption mass transfer ta(e place purely by diffusion and physical
absorption is governed by the physical e)uilibria.
h!"ical Absorption:
In this type of absorption as soon as a particular component comes in contact with
the absorbing li)uid a chemical reaction ta(e place. Then by reducing the concentration
of component in the li)uid phase& which enhances the rate of diffusion.
98
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER

99
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
8.# TYPES OF ABSORBER
There are two major types of absorbers which are used for absorption purposes*
%ac(ed column
%late column
8.$ O%PARISON BET&EEN PA'E( AN(
P)ATE O)*%N
$) The pac(ed column provides continuous contact between vapor and li)uid phases
while the plate column brings the two phases into contact on stage wise basis.
') !C"+E* or column diameter of less than approximately , ft. It is more usual to
employ pac(ed towers because of high fabrication cost of small trays. -ut if the
column is very large then the li)uid distribution is problem and large volume of
pac(ing and its weight is problem.
.) %/E!!0/E 1/2%* %ressure drop in pac(ed column is less than the plate column.
In plate column there is additional friction generated as the vapor passes through
the li)uid on each tray. If there are large 3o. of %lates in the tower& this pressure
drop may be )uite high and the use of pac(ed column could effect considerable
saving.
4) +I50I1 62+1 0%* -ecause of the li)uid on each plate there may be a 0rge
)uantity of the li)uid in plate column& whereas in a pac(ed tower the li)uid flows
as a thin film over the pac(ing.
7) !I8E "31 C2!T* or diameters of less than , ft& pac(ed tower re)uire lower
fabrication and material costs than plate tower with regard to height& a pac(ed
column is usually shorter than the e)uivalent plate column.
rom the above consideration pac(ed column is selected as the absorber& because
in our case the diameter of the column is less than , ft. "s the solubility is infinity so the
li)uid will absorb as much gases as it remain in contact with gases so pac(ed tower
provide more contact. It is easy to operate.
Pac+in,:
The pac(ing is the most important component of the system. The pac(ing provides
sufficient area for intimate contact between phases. The efficiency of the pac(ing with
respect to both 6T0 and flow capacity determines to a significance extent the overall si9e
of the tower. The economics of the installation is therefore tied up with pac(ing choice.
100
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
The pac(ings are divided into those types which are dumped at random into the
tower and these which must be stac(ed by hand. 1umped pac(ing consists of unit $:4 lo
. inches in major dimension and are used roost in the smaller columns. The units in
stac(ed pac(ing are ' to about ; inches in si9e& they are used only in the larger towers.
The %rincipal /e)uirement of a Tower pac(ing are*
$) It must be chemically inert to the fluids in the tower.
') It must be strong without excessive weight.
.) It must contain ade)uate passages for both streams without excessive li)uid
hold up or pressure drop.
4) It must provide good contact between li)uid and gas.
7) It must be reasonable in cost.
Thus most pac(ing 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 %ac(ings are*
a) -erl !addle.
b) Intalox !addle.
c) /asching rings.
d) +essing rings.
e) Cross<partition rings.
f) !ingle spiral ring.
g) 1ouble < !piral ring.
h) Triple < !piral ring.
8.- (ESI.NIN. STEPS FOR ABSORPTION
O)*%N
!election of column.
!election of pac(ing and material
Calculating the si9e of pac(ing
Calculating the diameter of column
1etermining the no. of transfer units #3
2=
)
1etermining the height of pac(ing
101
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
1etermining the height of the column
Calculating the operating velocity
Calculating the flooding velocity
1etermining the pressure drop.
!elect and design the column internal features* pac(ing support& li)uid
distributer and redistributer.

102
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
103
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
8./ SE)ETION OF O)*%N:
Components are corrosive.
The li)uid holdup is lower in pac(ed columns.
%ressure drop is lower in pac(ing as compared to plates.
+ow cost of pac(ing compared to plates.
Typ! o0 pac+in,:
Intalox saddles have been selected because;
It provides a larger contact area per unit volume.
It has an open structure and high bed porosity.
"lso provides high flooding limits and low pressure drop.
>aterial of pac(ing is ceramic because it resist corrosion.
Si1! o0 pac+in,:
or column diameter of greater than ?.@m&recommended pac(ing si9e is 'in. to
.in.
8.2 (!si,n o0 Absorb!r
%at!rial Balanc!:
=
m
#y
$
A y
'
) B +
m
#x
$
A x
'
)
=mBflow rate of gas entering #Cgmoles:hr)
+m B flow rate of solvent entering #Cgmoles: hr)
D$B>ole fraction of "3 in entering streams
D'B >ole fraction of "3 in leaving streams
E$B >ole fraction of "3 in leaving solvent stream
E'BB >ole fraction of "3 in leaving solvent stream
..$$.'#D<?.???') B7?$?.;#E<?)
10
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
EB?.,,$#D<?.???')FFFFFF #$)
DB$.7$.E G?.???' FFFFFF #')
E)uations #$) and #') are the operating line e)uations.
E34ation For E34ilibri4" 4r5!:
)ET
D$6>ole fraction of "3 in entering gas streamB?.?4$
D'B >ole fraction of "3 in leaving gas streamB?.???'
D$:D' B ?.?4$:?.???' B '?7
"!
=
m
#y
$
A y
'
) B +
m
#x
$
A x
'
)
y
$
A y
'
B #+
m
:=
m
)# x
$
A x
'
)
The above e)uation is in the form y B mE G ?
rom figure $$.4?&we can find out the 3
2=
using D$:D' H m=
m
:+
m
. Ihere Jm J is slope
of e)uilibrium line.
Colburn has suggested that the economic range for m=
m
:+
m
lies from ?.K to ?.;.or our
system&
mB?.K'
=
m
:+
m
B @4?.7:@?$@7 B $.?4
m =
m
:+
m
B ?.K4
/2> =/"%6
"rea 0nder the curveB 3
2=
B$7
alc4lation O0 (ia"!t!r O0 ol4"n:
low rate of entering gases B= B@4?.7 Cg:hr
low rate of entering solventB+B @?$@7 Cg:hr
Temperature of entering gasBT
g
B44
o
C B.$KC
Temperature of entering !olventBT
+
B7
o
C B'K;C
10!
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
%ressure of entering gasesB%B $.K atm
"verage molecular weight of entering gasesB';.4 Cg#6D!D!)
1ensity of gas mixtureB 7
,
B %> :/T
g
B #$.K8';.4) :#?.?;'?78.$K)
B$.;,Cg:m
.
1ensity of li)uid solvent at 7
o
CB 7
)
B$?''Cg:m
.
#6D!D!)
Liscosity of li)uid solvent at 7
o
C B M
+
B$.4 cp#rom "ppendix<@ >Ccab H !mith 7
th
<
Ed)
Liscosity of =aseous mixture at 44
o
C B M
g
B ?.$?. cp
3ow
"bscissa of fig $$.44

B ?.?4
or pressure drop 4' mm of 6
'
2 :m of pac(ing
rom fig $$.44 #CoulsonH /ichardson volume<,)
C4 B $.7
"lso from table ''.$ >Ccab H !mith 7
th
<Ed&
%ac(ing factor for .<inch ceramic intalox < saddles BpB''
rom Coulson H /ichardson volume<,
.9 6 :+
$
8 7
,
8 ;7
)
<7
,
= > 1#.18Fp8 ;?
)
>7
)
=
@.1
A
B
=NB O$.78$.;,8 #$?''<$.;,) :$..$8''8 #$.48$?
<.
:$?'')
?.$
P
$:'
=NB$$.$Cg:m
'
<sec.
low rate of gas entering B= B@4?.7 :.,??
B',.$' Cg:sec.
10"
Production of Acrylonitrile
L
g

=
+
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
"s
"rea B"B = : =N B'..7 m
'
1iameter of columnB1B 4O"P
Q
O..$4P
Q

!o (ia"!t!r o0 col4"n6 1.2# "
alc4lation O0 C!i,ht O0 Trans0!r *nits:
rom coulson H /ichardson volume<,
E)uation for calculation of effective interfacial area is given as.
Ihere
a
w
B effective interfacial area of pac(ing per unit volume m
'
:m
.
+
w
B li)uid mass velocity (g:m
'
s
a B actual area of pac(ing per unit volume m
'
:m
.
R
c
B critical surface tension for particular pac(ing material
R
+
B li)uid surface tension 3:m
a B @' m
'
:m
.
+
w
B $.;7 (g:m
'
s
R
c
B ,$ x $?
<.
3:m
R
+
B K? x $?
<.
3:m
M
+
B$.4 C%
S
+
B$?''Cg :m
.

a
D
6

-#.- "
2
>"
#
alc4lation O0 )i34iE Fil" %ass Trans0!r o!00ici!nt:


10#
Production of Acrylonitrile
1
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

' . ?
'
?7 . ?
'
'
$ . ? K7 . ?
47 . $ exp $
a
L
g
a L
a
L
a
a
L L
w
L
w
L
w
l
c w

1
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

' . ?
.
'
?7 . ?
'
'
$ . ?
.
K7 . ?
@' $? K? $?''
,, . $?
; . @ $?''
@' ,, . $?
$? 4 . $ @'
,, . $?
K?
,$
47 . $ exp $
@'
w
a
( )
4 . ?
'
$
.
'
.
$
??7$ . ?
p
L L
L
L w
w
L
L
ad
D a
L
g
K
L

,
_

,
_

,
_

DESIGN OF ABSORBER
C
+
B li)uid film coefficient m:s
d
p
B pac(ing si9e B7? x $?
<.
m #rom table $$.4 Coulson H /ichardson)
1
+
B diffusivity of li)uid B $.K x $?
<@
m
'
:sec #rom Coulson H /ichardson)
Then& by substituting the values&
C
+
B K.;K x $?
<4
m:s
alc4lation O0 .as Fil" %ass Trans0!r o!00ici!nt:

Ihere C
=
B =as film coefficient& (mol:m
'
s.bar
L
I
B =as mass velocity B @4?.7:#.,??x'..7)B$$.$ Cg m
'
:sec
C
7
B 7.'. #or pac(ing si9e above $7mm&Coulson H /ichardson)
1
g
B1iffusivity of gas B $.;$ x $?
<7
m
'
:sec #>Ccab H !mith 7
th
<Ed)
Then& by substituting the values&
C
=
B$.?K x $?
<'
(mol:m
'
s.bar
3ow&
Ihere&
6
=
B =as<film transfer unit height
=
m
B $$.$:';.4 B ?..@ Cmol:m
'
.sec
Then&
6
=
B ?..@:#$.?K x $?
<'
T 7..7 T'.7)
B ?.4? m #rom Coulson H /ichardson&table $$.'&for ceramic randon
pac(ing&it is almost ?.4; m)
"nd
6
+
B +i)uid<film transfer unit height
108
Production of Acrylonitrile
( )
'
.
$
K . ?
7

,
_

,
_

p
g g
g
g
w
g
g G
ad
D a
V
K
aD
RT K

P
w
a
G
K
m
G
G
H
t
C
w
a
L
K
m
L
L
H
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
+
m
B $?.,,:$; B ?.7@ Cmol:m
'
.sec
C
t
B Concentration of solvent B $?'':$; B 7,.K Cmol:m
.
Then&
6
+
B ?.7@:#,.@4 T $?
<4
T 7..7 T7,.K)
B ?.'; m
alc4lation O0 C!i,ht O0 Trans0!r *nits:
"s&

6
=
B ?.4? m
6
+
B ?.'; m
!o&
6eight of transfer unitsB6
2=
B ?.4 G ?.K7 T ?.';
C
O.
6 @./1 " #rom Coulson H /ichardson& range is ?.,
to $m& topic $$.$4..)
alc4lation O0 C!i,ht O0 ToD!r:
Total height of pac(ing B8B 3
2=
T 6
2=
F 6 1- 8 @./1 6 G "
"llowances for li)uid distribution B $m
"llowances for li)uid /e<distribution B$m
Total height of tower B @ G $ G $
F
t
6 11 "
Total h!i,ht o0 toD!r 6 11 "
alc4lations O0 Op!ratin, H!locity:
The abscissa of fig $$.44
109
Production of Acrylonitrile
L
H
m
L
m
mG
G
H
oG
H +
L
g

=
+
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
B ?.?4
2perating velocity of gas #rom +udwig& pg<$7@)

.
2
8F
p
8?
)
@.1
> 7
,
;7
)
< 7
,
=,
c
B ?.?4,
. 62.2/ ">s!c
alc4lation O0 FlooEin, H!locity:


B ?.?4
2perating velocity at flooding for dumped pac(ing&
.
2
8F
p
8?
)
@.1
> 7
,
;7
)
< 7
,
=,
c

B
? .$. #rom +udwig& '
nd
vol)
. 6 $./ ">s!c
Op!ratin, 5!locity as 6 #'.K,:4.,) T$??
I o0 0looEin, 5!locity
B ,?U #2perating velocity must be 7?<@?U of flooding
velocity&>Ccab H !mith)
alc4lation o0 D!ttin, rat!:
If very low li)uid rates have to be used the pac(ing wetting rate should be chec(ed to
ma(e it sure it is above the minimum recommended by pac(ing manufacturer Ietting
rate is defined by following relation.
&!ttin, rat! 6 )i34iE 5ol4"!tric 0loD rat! p!r 4nit cross<s!ctional ar!a
110
Production of Acrylonitrile

,
_

g
g
L

=
+
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Sp!ci0ic ar!a o0 pac+in, p!r 4nit 5ol4"!
+i)uid volumetric flow rate:0nit cross<sectional area B

@?$@7:#.,??T$?''T'..7)
B$.?4T$?
<'
m
.
:m
'
<sec
!pecific area of pac(ing B @' m
'
:m
.

&!ttin, rat! 61.1#81@
<$
"
#
s!c
<1
>"
2

.
alc4lation O0 Pr!ss4r! (rop At FlooEin,:
rom >cCabe H smith 7th edition&E).''.$&
%ressure drop at flooding is given by relation.
JP
0looEin,
6@.11-Fp
@.2
&h!r!
V%
flooding
Bpressure drop at flooding.
p Bpac(ing factor for .<inch ceramic intalox saddles B ''
V%
flooding
B?.$$7#'')
?.K
B

$ in.6
'
2:ft of pac(ing #or .<in pac(ing si9e&it should be ?.K to
$.7 in.6
'
2:ft of pac(ing& >Ccab H !mith)
JP
0looEin,
6@.8+Pa>" o0 pac+in,
alc4lation O0 Total Pr!ss4r! (rop:
rom figure ''.,& >Ccab H !mith#7th Ed.)

6 @.@$
6ere& =
x
B + #lb:sec.ft
'
)
=
y
B = #lb:sec.ft
'
)
111
Production of Acrylonitrile
( )
y x
y

y
x
=
=
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
y

B
g

#lb:ft
.
)

x

B
L

#lb:ft
.
)
"lso&
.
2
8F
p
8?
)
@.1
> 7
,
;7
)
< 7
,
=,
c
6 @.@/G
Then&
V% B ?., in.6
'
2:ft of pac(ing
V% B$.@ in.6
'
2:m of pac(ing
JP 6 $2.- ""C
2
O>" o0 pac+in, #/ecommended pressure drop for
absorber is $7 to 7? mm6
'
2:m of pac(ing& topic $$.$4.4& Coulson H
/ichardson)
Total Pr!ss4r! (rop 6 $2.- K G6 $22.- ""C
2
O>" o0 pac+in,
Total Pr!ss4r! (rop 6 $ +Pa>" o0 pac+in,
alc4lation o0 n4"b!r o0 str!a"s 0or li34iE Eistrib4tion at top o0 th! pac+in,:
3umber of li)uid distribution streams at the top of the pac(ing
3sB #1:,)
'
1 B 1iameter of the absorption column in inches B ,; inch
%utting values in above e)uations& we get& 3s B $';
112
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
8.8 SPEIFIATION SCEET:
IE!nti0ication:
Item* %ac(ed "bsorption Column
Item 3o* "<$?4
3o. re)uired* ?$
F4nction: To absorb acrylonitrile in a mixture of gases.
Op!ration: Continuous
Entering gas
Cg:hr
Exit gas
Cg:hr
+i)uid
entering
Cg:hr
+i)uid leaving
Cg:hr
@4?.7 K@4,7 @?$@7 $?4K,7
(!si,n (ata:
3o. of transfer units B $7
6eight of transfer units B ?.,$ m
6eight of pac(ing section B @ m
Total height of column B $$ m
1iameter B $.K. m
%ressure drop B 4(%a:m of pac(ing
Int!rnals:
!i9e and type B ,, mm Intalox saddles
>aterial of pac(ing* Ceramic
%ac(ing arrangement* 1umped
Type of pac(ing support* !imple grid H perforated support
113
Production of Acrylonitrile