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C9 Cussler PDF
C9 Cussler PDF
CHAPTER 9
Absorption
':
fk
\'lj\
Hill
245
9 / Absorptiott
246
9l'T:,B.
Prtrce.:
Ammrrntrn-..
C o a lS a .
H r g hB t u ; .
LLr\\ BIu :- j
Ethrlenen-r.:
F l u es l r d e . , .
Hr drtrqenn'..
\atural sr. ::
Orlde:ulu:.
R e n n e qd e - ,
S rn g a : t , , r .- -
9.1.
The
:11\ture ilnd l
- r.-h nprh ,n.
'''--"' t -""'t
Lr.rffilCIi\
r- .l
- LrflCehIftltl-.
l;rI.
f\ tf.l
::l!'ITed trr;.
.: .' nlA\ ba I
::o,iuce rtrliJ
T h e r eS : : .
, : n t r a t e di l : .
-:ihtrilte .
l
"i
- , 1 . 1 . 1 1 1 p 1 -1r1
-::llinC
-:'i*L
!rll_1 .
: \ \ J : . , i -
..-..::l\ 3 rl.
Q ,r; '.-- . - ' j \ : \ \ r i j
rl)Itotl
141
:-:-lights.
:lensee
-:..ribed
- r' .ubject
.:_:e,iwith
Process
Ammonia manufacture
Coal gas
High Btu gas
Low Btu gas
Ethylenemanufacture
Flue gas desulfurization
Hydrogen manufacture
Natural gas upgrading
Oil desulfurization
Refinery desulfurization
Syn gas fbr chemicalsfeedstock
: 1 l r u tt h e
.: rn the
-.,'rption,
: : , r l i o n isS
, hitthis
- . : i f :D i s . :r is fbr.
-
':
: .--lJtlOflS,
: lnl now
: - : . , rt c e a s
'-.tiasit
'.rt1tlO.
-:. .tfilllS.
- . : . r rd i o x - . , ; l dH 2 S ,
: .ndsin- ::rr atom
, ' . i b l ef o r
,:' :i lllOVed
:-:.. rather
, ,,areof
:: :ll SOme
- ,:r-1zed
in
: . recially
'-';':
lTOfe
. - : - .r i h i c h
Common targets
(7oAcid gas)
co2,H2s,cos
HzS
H2S,CO2
SO:
Coz
H2S,CO2,N2, RSH
HrS
co2,H2s,cos
co2,H2s
nq
' 'l fn rn' e
""
::ntental
. . , : t \ r ny. e t
r - ihatwe
: : . , l t C t n SI .
Gasesto be
removed
9 / Ahsorption
248
Gos in
Liquid oul
of the
Fig. 9.2-I . A packedtowerusedfor gasabsorption.A gasmixtureentersthe bottom
countercurrently,
flowing
liquid
by
is
absorbed
towerandflowsout the top. Partof'thismixture
from toP to bottom.
stream is burned:
amines by heating; the concentrated HzS stream is split into two. The first
a
H2S+
io,
9.2 AbsorPtionEquiPment
packedtowers
Gasabsorptionat an industrialscaleis most commonly practicedin
set
on its end and
like that shownin Fig. 9.2-I . A packedtower is essentiallya pieceof pipe
the tower trickles
filled with inert materialor "tower packing." Liquid pouredinto the top of
countercurrently
down throughthe packing;gaspumpedinto the bottom of the tower flows
effectsthe gas
way
this
in
achieved
liquid
gas
and
between
contact
upward. The intimate
absomton.
The mass
Analyzing a packedtower involvesboth masstransferand fluid mechanics.
packedtower' This
transf'er,detailedin the following section,determinesthe height of the
reactionsthat often
masstransfri s describedasmolr flows, partly becauseof the chemical
area
occur. The fluid mechanics,describedin this section,determinesthe cross-sectional
of
a consequence the
of the packedtower. The fluid mechanicsis describedas massflows,
ft-.-r:
DcJ
f l f f , . - *
;ll
h "
rE*
n{!H
lry&6.
pJltr-.-
:--
,trptton
249
9.2 / AbsorptionEquipment
P
L--J
Raschig Ring
%@
@@
Pall Ring
A
\4
NunsrBing
:--.:' burned:
' - - h a sb e e n
-:,,uhquid.
- ::it tbr this
-: .: liquids.
--.,irption in
. - , : r o l v e n t s
physics that control the process. To describe the physics, we discuss the tower packing, the
flows themselves, and the estimation of the tower's cross section.
250
9 / Absorption
If you now pour the cola faster (rememberto keep blowing), you get a casewhere the
cola flows through all the ice more evenly,with your breathbubbling up through ir. The
conditionswheretheserelativelyevenflows begin is calledloadingand is a requirementfor
good masstransfer.When loadingbegins,the flows may slightly decrease,but the dramatic
increasein the gas-liquid areameansthat masstransferis fast. Yorr almost alwayswant
to operatea packedtower in this loadedcondition.
However,if you now begin blowing much harder,you will push in so much air that the
cola can't flow into the column, but splashesbackward,out of the top of the glass. This
conditionis called"flooding." It not only reducesmasstransferbut also decreases
the cola
that is flowing into the glass.
Thesesamethree conditions- sfinnnsling,loading, and flooding - can exist inside
of any packed tower. You will want to use liquid flows that are high enough to avoid
channelingand achieveloading. You will want to use gas flows that are low enough to
avoid flooding. But you will also want flows that are large enoughfor a specifictask, for
example,largeenoughto treat 6000ft3/min of flue gas. You must choosethe packing and
the shapeof the packedtower to allow theseflows without floodine.
L' fO;
- 1-
- l ^ ' \ l
u '',1Pt
"
u f
I t,p,
l
'
l l
'/'
(e.2-t)
Ll?cu'6 1
-'
1,
CD
(\
^
u_
or
rl)tLon
. :'..'rrthe
: rr. The
r : l . n tf b r
ri:Jt-natic
9.2/ AbsorytictnEquipment
0.20
o
ct)
0.10
0.060
(5 0.040
0.020
q
c,
0.010
0.006
0.004
(\l'|.
o
, :-: inside
- . , a\,oid
:: .ugh to
- ..1.k.for
. -r l l l ! a n d
251
0.002
0.001r0.01
0.04 0.1
0.4 1.0
4.O
L/G (po/p.)1/2
Fig 9.2-3.Correlationfor estimatingtowercrossseotionalarea.The conelationimpliesa
mixtureof specificunits,asexplainedin the text.
Table9.2-1.Packing.factorsFandareaspervolume(pert'ot)forrandompackings
-.:nrl gas
| 1/4
::ta fluid
, ' ' gases
. ,,.h other.
::.' \hOWn
-.,,rntities.
e . 21- )
- : . . 1 ) ,p; I .
' .'.. Two
.' J hence
RaschigRings
rCeramic)
RaschigRings
' li32 in. Metal)
RaschigRings
i/16in. Metal)
Berl Saddles
Ceramic)
PallRings
\ letal)
Pril Rings
Pastic)
lntaloxSaddles
Ceramic)
H1 Pak Rings
\letal )
580
(ril)
300
(128)
410
( rr 8 )
380
(100)
t70
300
255
(80)
r55
(84)
220
(72)
n0
240
(142)
(82)
8l
(104)
95
(104)
200
(r90)
145
(102)
t79
(58)
I t/2
93
(38)
65
(28)
83
(41)
65
(44)
40
(3e)
40
(3e)
52
(60)
29
(12)
57
(31)
45
(32)
2'7
(31)
26
(3I )
40
(36)
26
(33)
37
(1e)
tl)
(63)
144
(s7)
t10
(76)
56
(63)
55
(63)
92
(78)
45
(69)
-)L
(21)
l8
17
(26)
22
I6
(3r)
\irtr'.'Theareaspervolumearegivenin parentheses
(abstracted
fom Strigle,lagT).
- :l\ afea.
:::' fOOt Of
: dimen. : - , r n dt:h e
'r-'1iquid,
-: iquid;
: . fropor. , -t 9 . 2 - 1 .
This melangeof mixed metric and English units is a historicalartifact born in the largely
\nrerican developmentof the petrochemicalindustry.
The physical significanceof the ordinateis also obscure.we recosnizethat it is domi:.ited by the ratio
(G)2 F
)o o 'l
Pc QtSc
p1.q.(packing
size)
(e.2-2)
252
9 / Absorpton
This suggeststhat the ordinatecanbe regardedasthe ratio of the kinetic energyin the gas
to the potentialenergyin the liquid. The other factors,like p0 2, arejust later empiricisms.
The history of correlationin Fig. 9.2-3 is curious. The original form, due to Sherwood
Shipley and Nolloway (1938), was limited to the flooding curve. The curvesat constant
pressuredrop were addedby Leva (1954). More recently,many have quarreledover the
form, correctlyfeeling that somethingwith a better-definedphysicalsignificancewould be
prefrable.While I agree,I recognizethat Fig. 9.2-3 is the startingpoint for most who are
w o r k i n go n a b s o r p t i odne s i g n .
To use Fig.9.2-3 to find the tower's cross-sectionalarea,we must first know the gas
and liquid flows and hencethe flow parameteron the figure's ordinate. After we choose
a packing from the myriad available,we want to choosea pressuredrop in the tower. In
conventionalpractice,absorbersare designedto operateat pressuredrops of 0.2 to 0.6
inch H2O per foot. The lower pressuredrop will minimize foaming. Alternatively,we can
calculatethe column's performanceat flooding and arbitrarily chooseto operateat a gas
flux equal to half the flooding value. In both this method and the previousone, we must
make sure to design the tower for the point where the maximum flows of gas and liquid
occur. For absorption,this is normally at the tower's bottom; for stripping,it's normally at
the top.
Using Fig. 9.2-3 for estimatingthe tower'scrosssectionis straightforwardthoughcomplicated. Rememberthis figure has two major limitations. First, it implies that at large
gas flows, the cross sectionalarea should vary with liquid density and velocity. In fact,
it should be independentof these. Second,this figure is largely basedon iquid and gas
densitydifferenceslike thoseof water and air. Thesetendto give optimistic predictionsfor
nonaqueoussystems(i.e., smallerthan optimal tower crosssections).Thus in nonaqueous
systems,like those involving ethyeneand propylene,you may need different methods.
Again, make early estimateswith the methodsin this section,and then discussyour case
with equipmentsuppliers.
Example 9.2-1: Estimating a tower cross-section You are planning to reducethe two
percentcarbondioxide in 23 poundsper secondof a naturalgasstreamusing absorptionin
aqueousdiethylamineflowing out at 40 poundsper second.You want to useeither 1j inch
Raschigrings or I j inch Pall rings. In eithercase,you want to designfor a pressuredrop of
0.25inch H2O per foot, so that foaming is minimized.-Underthe operatingconditions,the
densitiesof the gasand the liquid are 2.8 and 63 lbs/fti, respectively;the liquid's viscosity
is 2 centipoise.
areabe?
What shouldthe tower's cross-sectional
Solution This problemillustratesthe routineuseof Fig. 9.2-3. We frst calculate
the flow parameter:
L, P;
G'\ p,
4otbs/sec E.Slbtlftt
xtbvr*V 63lbr/f
\lrsorption r
F : : h el l i n c h R
(c')(9
u
G':0.
9.3 Al
We nor
we will wantto t
to use our analr
case,we will bu
allowedestimat
To simplift c
from a gas into
clearest.Becau
both constantse
key equations:
(1) a solu
(.2) a solu
(3) a solu
Thesethree ke'
equation.respe
W e b e g t nr t :
on a smali tou e
>o
1
I rr'.
\
G {
'.\hL-re and l
rr the r t-r1un-
( G ' f n Pp o z
: 0.015
Pc PL.8c
t:
\D\orptrcn
: \ i n t h eg a s
:piricisms.
Sherwood
,rt cOlSt&tlt
iJ over the
-: \\ ould be
,rt$ho are
:,,\\ the gas
- '',,. choose
::.' lowef. In
: r ) . 1t o 0 . 6
: , : ' l \ .w e c a n
253
:0.015
2.8(63)32.2
G ' : 0 . 9 0 l b s / f t :s e c
to a diameter
Thus the tower has a crosssectionof (2310.90:)26fe. This corresponds
of 5.7 feet. For rhe Pall rings, the packingfactor is 40, so the diameteris smaller,4.6 feet.
However.while thereis little differencein the tower diameterfor thesetwo packings,there
is a considerablechangein the tower height,as shownin the next section.
::,:i3 Ct O $0S
'.:'. \\e [lUSt
,. .:ndliquid
. -rlrnally at
::. Jughcom::.1t at large
- :t, In fact,
-i..J and gas
:: i:ctions for
- -.,rnqueous
:r:ti nethods.
-.. \ our case
: i - . J e t h et w o
: .,.'(rrptionin
,
- .:r'f l;
llCll
': - - .rrdioPof
. ':irtions,the
-i.\iscosity
: 'r:.t calculate
entering
entering
7 solute
\
/ solute
\
:
leavingI
minus
(
leaving
minus
I
|
in liquid /
\
in gos /
\
G A ( - v l . + n-. ) ' 1 . ): L A ( x 1 4 6 , - r l , )
(e.3I)
rvhere,v and x are the mole fractionsin the gas and liquid, respectively.When we divide
bv the volume ALz.,we find
dv
G--:
d:.
dx
L ,
oz
(9.3-2)
) </1
9 / Absorption
Rearanging,
d x G
d
(e.3-3)
,y : .r'o ,l : .trO
(e.3-1)
wherethe subscript0 indicatesthe streamsat the bottom of the tower. Rememberthat the
gasis enteringand the liquid is leavingat this position.Integrating,
G
r:-ro*7(l'-.ro)
(e.3-s)
The first key equation,which is nothing more than a mole balance,is calledthe "operating
line."
The secondkey equationfor analyzingabsorptionis an equilibriumrelationfor the solute
in the gas and in the liquid. Becausethe soluteis dilute, this has the form
\'* : mx
(e.3-6)
where m is closely relatedto a Henry's law constant. This relation, briefly discussedin
Section8.5, is a frequentsourceof error becausethe units of the constantare not carefully
considered.Rememberalsothat -'),*doesnot exist at the sametower positionasx. In fact,x
is the actualliquid mole fraction,-y*is the gasmole fractionwhich would be in equilibrium
with that liquid, and ,r,is the actualgas mole fraction. This secondkey equationis called
the "equilibrium line."
The third key relation,the rate equation,is found by anothersolutemole balanceon the
differentialvolume A Au but on the sas onlv:
/ solurelosr \
\ b y a b s o r p t i o/n
(e.3-1)
G A ( . y 1 -. . ' ! [ + a : ) - K 6 a ( A L z . ) ( c r- c i )
(e.3-8)
in which d representsthe packing areaper volume and K6; is the overall gas phasemass
transfercoefficient.
Valuesfbra.inft2/ff.aregiveninparenthesesforavarietyofcommon
packingsin Table 9.2-l (in the previoussection). The concentrationc1 is that in the bulk
gas,and the concentrationcf is the value that the gas would have if it were in equilibrium
with the liquid. Again, we divide this equationby the volume AAz and take the limit as
this volume goesto zero; we also recognizethat the tota molar concentrationc of the gas
is constant.Thus c1 equalsc,tr,cf equalsc-.1,*,
and
o : - r # - K 6 a c ( y - , r: ' *-)r # -
We nog
with the eqL
i =
solute
soluteflow \
/
\ _
- /
a
c
c
u
m
u
l
a
r
i
o
r
i
\
/
\ n m i n u so )
9.3/ Absor
K , a ( -y. r ' * )
(e.3-e)
This rate equation,a mole balanceon that part of the solutethat is in the vapor,is the third
key in our analysis.
where/ is rf
t -
The impona
t -
rl)tton
255
e 3-3)
e.3-4)
i : r h a tt h e
rl l-5)
:aratlng
::!'\0lUte
e.3-6)
. - . \ \ e d i n
: ,.:rcfully
I: f act.,r
-...:Lrbrium
': :. called
" , : o nt h e
e.3_7)
r:I,d,:-h1,,',
f*:-h l:,:^
where / is the tower height. Vy'efurther combinethis with the operatingline, Eq. 9.3-5
':-*1.,"
, trlllllOll
(vo-'\l
r,:r,uLt,;T,/
: s l ( - ' \ ,,"(,;=i]
,"{+-x)]
t',+l
G
K,,a
\ ' -
- :hethird
(9.3-12)
L /
+)'"e:#)l
(e.313)
Note that the overall masstransfercoefficientis different in thesetwo equations.Understandingthe difTerencebetweenthe coefficientstakescare.
Equations9.3-l2 and9.3-l3 arethebasisof mostmodemanalyses
of diluteabsorption.
They are especiallyappropriatefor chemical solventsbecausereactionsof the absorbing
solutecan be incorporatedinto the overall masstransfercoetcient. However,especially
in the older literature,a relationlike Eq. 9.3-12 is sometimesrearrangedas
l : H T U. N T U
r9.3-9)
(e.3-l l )
, : * [ (
I:'.:.t
ay
j ' - * l xl } + t ( ,cv - , 1 0l ) l
i9.3-8)
ll1OSS
(e.3r0)
(e.3-14)
"a
Kca
( 9 . 3l-5 )
256
9 / Absorption
dtt
NTU: I
J,,
.'l
-)"
^ln
MU
l _ _
/lo
-rnxs\
\ v,-,,,n )
( 9 . 31- 6 )
Other definitions of HTU and NTU can be basedon other forms of the overall mass
transfercoefficients.The useof "transferunits" is a rough parallelwith the useof "stages"
in distillation or the term "theoreticalplates" in chromatography. As such, it seemsa
historicalgenuflectionby the more recentabsorptionanalysesin the directionof the older
equilibrium theoriesof distillation.
The use of HTUs and NTUs doeshave a soundphysicalinterpretation.The NTUs are
a measureof the difficulty of the separation,of the distancethe final streamswill be from
equilibrium. If the NTUs are large, the separationis hard. The HTUs, on the other hand,
give an idea of the efficiency of the equipment. A small HTU is a sign of a good tower,
implying, for example,a largesurfaceareaper volume. Moreover,becausethe overallmass
transfercoefficientoften dependson the velocity, the HTU can be largely independentof
flow over the practicalrange: It tendsto be between0.3 meterand 1.0meters.Learn to use
F,q.9.3-12and the idea of an HTU interchangeably.
ll
Fi
F*m-
R r',-'
f t : . r : :- ' " '
GA(Yo-)t): LA(xs*x1)
smol
2 . 3: . i 0 . 0 t 2 6
sec
smol
_ 0 . 0 0 0 4: )4 . 8 "
( x o_ 0 )
sec
n--
bun:
htt*:,'
"ro: 0'00585
N e x tw e f i n d t h ee q u i l i b r i u mc o n s t a n t
'nb'fr
lo: mr
0.0216: n(.0080)
m : 1.58
if
!!u
-:
)rplon
257
mol
CmiSeC
fl=*-)'(
L\'-
4.s /
)l
0.0126- 1 . s 80.005
( 85)
0.0004 t .s8(0)
:32m
fhe simplicityof thiscalculation
is typicalof dilutesolutions.
:':ill mass
: .tages"
: r e e m sa
: ::l!'Older
\TUs are
be fiom
::-.:'rhand,
J tower,
::.rllmass
::rJent of
::ll
tO USO
Erample 9.3-2: oxygen stripping you are testinga new packedtower to strip oxygen
:rt)m water using excessnitrogen. The oxygen-freewater is to be used in microelectric
:nanufacture.Your tower is small, about 2 metershigh and 0.6 meter in diameter,filled
'i ith I inch Hy-Pakrings. You expectthe valueof lnG for oxygenis large
andthe dominant
.ransfrcoefficientin the liquid witl be 2.2 .10 3 centimeters
per second.The waterflow
:' to be 300cm3/sec.How much oxygencan we removewith this tower?
Solution To begin,we recognizethat becausethe nitrogengas flow is in excess,
andy7 arezero,and(L I mG) is much lessthanone. As a result,Eq. 9.3_l3 becomes
, :- L f , - / * o \ l
K oL ' "\ ; / l
From Thble 8.2-2 andthe fact that masstransferin the liquid is controlline.
Kr:k*:kr'l
- -:llilDe tO
--.:re with
- - : Ii b r i u m
- - , . t l o wi s
: : . . . r n dt h e
r
. nl sec.
'-.
200cm:
3oot'3..
sec
l* al
xt)
1 : o.ol
-r0
-ritino
Erample 9.3-3: Alternative forms of absorption equations show that Eq. 9.3-l2
can
-.' rewrittenin the form
:;;f(+"(
,_I G
CI G. l
! LI
H ClL .t
)l
frere u6 and u1 are the superficialvelocitiesof gas and liquid, where K5 is defne<i
by
Nr:Kc(ctc-cic)
rJ the Henry's law constantH is given by
ci-.: Hc17
9 / Absorption
258
9.1/ Absor:
Solution
G : ccuc
L:
CTUL
We then
where c6 and cL are the total molar concentrationsin gasand liquid, respectively'
rewrite Eq. 9.3-6 as
(1.,
c|L
cL
cG
SO
H :
MCC
tr,-
-----:
.-
CL
I . -:
ir.-
Finally,from Table8.2-2,
Ko : K,-lcc
result'
thevaluesof m, K,.,G, andI intoEq.9.3-12givesthedesired
Inserting
'
(9.4-1)
d x G
We integratedthis easilY:
I
t':yo+_(x-xo)
G
(.9.4-2)
(9.4-3)
!*:mx
line. Finally,
This thermodynamicrelation, also shown in Fig' 9'4-1, is the equilibrium
from a massbalanceon the gas alone,we found (seeEq' 9'3-1)
dY
G
/')tt
': *.o
J,. ."-r
(9.4-4)
height i '
we combined Eqs.9.4-Zthrough9.4-4 andintegratedto find the towef's
on the operating
ln contrast,we could havemadeuseof the graphin Fig. 9.4-I . We begin
line at the point
line at the point (x1,r'i) and move vertically until we hit the equilibrium
tr-
\.. \orptlon
259
O p e r o t in g
line \
\\'e then
Fig. 9.4- L Designing an absorption tower for a dilute vapor. The height of the tower is closely
related to the area of the trapezoid shown. However, fbr a dilute vapor, this area is easily
calculated analytically using the equations of Section 9.3. The equilibrium line shown here is
based on thermodynamics, and the operating line reflects mole or mass balances.
ii Concentr)$ er. As
dures that
(9.4-1)
(.rr,yl ). From thesepoints,we know ,y1 )1. We repeatthis procedurefor a lot of valuesof
r . We then usetheseresultsto integrateEq. 9.4-4 by either graphicalor numericalmeans.
We thus find the tower height /.
At first glance,this methodof calculationusingoperatingandequilibriumlinesmay seem
archaic,an anachronismfrom the daysof sliderules. Certainly,this methodwas developed
to circumventthe elaborateintegralsthat areoftenencounteredin the analysisof large-scale
masstransferprocesses.Theseintegralscan now be routinely handledwith computers.
Still, operatingand equilibrium lines remain a focus of everyone'sthinking. This is
not just the result of mental inertia or academicsloth. Instead,this focus has remained
raluablebecausethe operatingline summarizesa massbalanceand the equilibrium line is
a statementbasedon the secondlaw of thermodynamics.Such a split can make thinking
rbout separationprocesseseasierand more rational.
We want to extendthis analysisto absorptionin concentratedsolutions.We begin with
a mole balanceon both gas and liquid. The result is a parallelto Eq. 9.3-2:
s:-itGyt+?rtxl
az
clz.
(e.4-s)
(9.4-2)
rtronis the
(9.4-3)
Before,the flux of gas G and that of liquid L were nearly constantbecausethe absorbing
\pecieswas alwaysdilute. Now, however,we expectthat
(e.4-6)
:. Finally,
ri hereG6 is the flux of the nonabsorbinggas. For example,if we are using water to absorb
SO3out of air, Gs is the flux of air. Similarlv.
(9.4-4)
L:Ln
" \fl f- l* /
r operating
,t thepoint
(e.4-7)
'r here Ls is the flux of the nonvolatileliquid. When we combine these equationsand
9 / Absorption
260
9.4/ Absorptior
The towerhei
tiom Fig. 9..1-l
madeduring the
review. First. *
nonvolatileliqur.
i i q u i d :t h el i q u r d
gas.Theseapprt
il-.r') 2inthe
E q u i l i b r i u ml i n e
X
Theheightofthetoweris
Fig.9.4-2.Designinganabsorptiontowerforaconcentratedvapor.
againrelatedto the areaof the figureshown.This heightis ofien moreeasilyfoundgraphically
of the equlibriumandoperatinglinesreflect
oi numericallythananalytically.The curvatures
solutions.
the fact thatboth gasandliquid areconcentrated
Jiflerentsetoi rr
: t a l . .1 9 7 5\:l c C
:,ictorsand aren,
The secondk,
r q u a t e l ye x p r L .:r.rtmasstransi
,3rtalnli do dc'p
- I rrnl\ a ftrstap
integrate, we find
.ro \
l-ru)/
yo \
Lol .r
|I ____:___
Gr\l-*
\l-',,)
;m.*(*-*)
(9.4-8)
This mole balanceis the operatingline for a concentratedvapor,the analogof Eq. 9'3-5
or 9.4-2. It reducesto theseequationsas the concentrationsbecomesmall. However,in
general,its shapeis more like that inFig.9'4-2.
The next step is the specificationof a new equilibnum relation analogousto Eq. 9.3-6
or 9.4-3:
e'4-9)
-y*: .)*(:r)
This relation is often not written in an analyticalform, but simply presentedas a table or
graph of experimentalresults. The importantpoint is that .y* and f are no longer directly
proportional,relatedby a single, constantcoefficient. Instead,they vary nonlinearly,as
exemplifiedby the equilibrium line in Fig. 9.4-2.
The final stepis a mole balanceon the gasin a differentialtower volume:
d
O:-*(Gt)
(9.4-10)
-K"a(y-.r.)
o:-
Gn,'f -r,uty-1.'l
( 9 . 4 -rl)
where K., is the overall coefficientbasedon a mole fraction driving force. Rearranging,
':lu'o':*l:'
dv-
: HTU.NTU
(9.4-t2)
r:ntple 9.{-1:
rt) tloll
J\\ CT IS
:.,'rhically
. rcflect
N r : K , A - )+ K ( A ) ) 2+ . . .
(9.4-8)
' l - r U < - \
J
'.-'
LY|.
',\eVer,in
Fq. 9.3-6
t9.4-9)
. ., tableor
-:r directly
':t.arly,as
i q . 4 -1 0 )
( 9 . 4 I- I )
r.rnglng,
t9.4-12)
: .rrlutions,
261
(e.4l3)
1 . 2 0m 3 / s e c
\ zz.+m3/kgmot
: 0.0338kgmol/sec
9 / Absorption
9.4/ Absorptiort,
0.99
: 0.0195kgmo/sec
Fromthis.we findthedesiredwaterflow ALs:
/ 0.11\
kgmol/sec)
ALo- t ) (o'0195
\v.tJ
: 0.0652kgmol/sec
(b) The risk of flooding is greatestat the bottom of the tower where the flows are
on mass
greatest.Moreover,becauseflooding is determinedby fluid mechanics,it depends
molecular
average
the
find
that
we
first
conversion,
this
make
To
flows, not molar flows.
weight of the gasis 11.7. Then we seethat
/ total flow \ I \ of gas /
f
Fig. 9.'1--r
I I .7 kg / 0.0338kgmol/sec\
l |
0.63
kgmol \
/
: 0.628kg/sec
fr
- d - : -
is 17'8,so
The averagemolecularweight of the liquid stream(neglectingany HzSO+)
1
d : 0
17.8kg ( 0.0652kgmol/sec\
0.77
kgmol \
/
/ toralflow \
\ of liquid /
. re tower's diame
(c) Th,
: 1.51
kg/sec
HTU :
Thus
I .51kg/sec
/liquid flow \ r'l^
l t t P c / P t : 0.628kg/sec
\ gasnow /
Jffi
: 0.055
we find that
Rememberingthat the valuesfound in Fig. 9.2-3 are not dimensionless,
/
g a sf l u x \ '
o ' 1 7P aP t g '
\ainoooing): aI t3z.2r
on ( oz.+\to.o32ot
)
fir
t,t
:@
t"-
:
:rndthenumbe
- .\n astheopera
: rnthefigure.\'
:r lt - 0.37to
NTU :
' . :r Eq.9.3-14
t:(HTt
or
/
gasflux \
"ttililt
: z'zokglm2sec
: (0.4
- - emsof stripp
. :briumline.
t' )[ IO11
263
-.!\\'s arg
".'iecular
o.1
0.3
Fig.9.4-3.Absorption
of concentrated
ammonlaThe values shown are for
Examole 9.4.1.
s 2 _ 0 . 6 2 8k g l s e c
4
1 . 1 -k5g / m 2 s e c
d:0.84m
The tower's diameteris about 2.7 feet.
(c) The calculationof the tower'sheightcan beginwith 8q.9.4-12. From this,
HTU -
G,,
,--K6;ac
kgmol/secl/
t0.0338
[ (ttI 41Q.84m)21
(0.032m/sec)( I 05 m2/m3) (l kgmolI 22.4m3)
: 0.41m
l:nal
r aue,or
?roblems
of strippinggasesarevery similarexceptthattheoperatingline fallsbelowthe
:;uilibriumline.
9 / Absorption
264
9.5 Conclusions
This chapteranalyzesgasabsorption,an importantseparationprocessin chemica
manufactureand pollution control. Gas absorptioncommonly is effectedin packedtowers
llled with inert packing that gives a larger interfacialarea betweengas and liquid. The
gas rises through the tower; the liquid trickles countercurrentlydownward. The liquid is
often chemicallyreactive,binding the solutesbeing absorbed.For example,acid gaseslike
H2S are absorbedinto aqueoussolutionsof amines. However,the analysisin this chapter
implies nonreactiveliquids; reactiveliquids are discussedin Chapter 16.
The analysisof gas absorptiondependson fluid mechanicsand on masstransfer. The
fluid mechanicsdeterminesthe acceptablerangeof gasandliquid fluxes,which areadjusted
areaof the tower. The masstransfercoefcientsdetermine
by changingthe cross-sectional
the rateof absorptionandhencetheheightof the packedtower. This heightcanbe estimated
by either algebraicor geometricmethods.The algebraicformulationis simplefor the case
of a dilute solute,a casedetailedin Section9.3. This casedependson threekey relations:
an overall mole balance,a thermodynamicequilibrium, and a rate equation. This dilute
caseis the easiestway to leam about absorption.
systems.
The geometricanalysisof absorptionis suitablefor eitherdilute or concentrated
It alsodependson the samethreekey relations.Almost perversely,the overallmole balance
is now calledthe operatingline andthe thermodynamicequilibriumis calledthe equilibrium
line. The rateequationsometimeshasthemasstransfercoefficientsrewrittenin termsof neu
quantitiescalledHTUs, heightof transferunits,which are measuresof the efficiencyof the
packedtower. Thesenew terms provide occasionalphysicalinsight; simultaneously,thel
are effectiveat discouragingthe inexperiencedfrom trying to learn about gas absorption.
If you are inexperienced,don't give up. Work hard on the dilute limit; be encouragedbr
the fact that the concentratedlimit and the geometricanalysisare more complicated,but
involve no new ideas.
l[m
:.
]
l|fini!!:'
tlhru;
r .
- . "
n{Um
_' :
rc:"....1
r5l!::
hu
lu*r'-'
mu -:
'l:ror .r- - u , . ilm0.:-*
""
,tr- "
hl
nmrbulrfi'r;'
"
:
. .:
:::
l
lJ
:*:,:-
llaf
,di E,"l
Further Reading
mfll
"": ,ill li ".,
F'ttg: -:'- ---
Prcgress
90 (6) 55.
Engineering
Kaiser,V. (1994).Chemicul
Prot:esses,
NewYork: McGraw-Hill.
King,C. J. (1971).Separation
90 (2) 23.
Progress
Engineering
Kister,H. 2., Larson,K. F.,andYanagi,T. ( 1994).Chemical
87 (2) 32.
Progress
Engineering
Kister,H. 2., andGill, D. R. ( 1991).Chemical
Serle.s,50,51.
Progress
Symposium
Engineering
Leva,M. (1954).Chemical
ed.,New
Engineering,3rd
oJ'Chemical
McCabe,W.,andSmith,J. C. (1975).Unit Operutions
ro:d;'--
flilu:-r
Ii:*
"llluouri -.
,u:u:"'.-
York:McGraw-Hill.
Handbook'5thed.,NewYork:
Engineers
Perry,R. H., andChilton,C. H. (1973).Chemical
McGraw-Hill.
Progress
87 (5) 87.
Robbins,L. A. (1991).ChemicalEngineering
NewYork:McGraw-Hill
T. K., Pigtord,R. L., andwilke, c. R. (1975).MassTransJr.
Sherwood,
T. K., Shipley,G. H., andHolloway,F.A. L. (1938).IndustrialandEngineering
Sherwoorl,
Chemistn30,765.
Houston:
GulfPublishing.
andPackedTow'ers,
Packings
Strigle.
R. F.(1987).Random
ed.NewYork:McGraw-Hill'
Trevbal.R. E. (1980).MassTransferOperatktns,3rd
'!|f,ij[-:
llirirl,r
rfu/ult
,--'
-
r'---
'nur' ',
!ffb,
-.