NPTEL – Chemical – Mass Transfer Operation 1

MODULE 6
HUMIDIFICATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

LECTURE NO. 8
Example Problem 6.2: It is planned to cool water from 43.30C to 29.40C in a
packed countercurrent water-cooling tower using entering air at 29.40C with a
wet bulb temperature of 23.90C. The water flow is 9764.9 kg/h.m2 and the air flow
is 6835.4 kg/h.m2. The overall mass transfer coefficient is KY/a=2500 kg/m3h
(ΔY/). Calculate (a) minimum air rate that can be used and (b) tower height
needed if air flow of 6835.4 kg/h.m2 is used.
Given: Height of transfer unit, HtoG=Gs/KY/a. Tie lines are vertical.
Enthalpies of saturated air-water vapor (Base temperature: 00C)

Temperature H/(kJ/kg H */ (kJ/kg Temperature H/(kJ/kg H */ (kJ/kg

(0C) dry air) dry air) (0C) dry air) dry air)
15.6 43.68 37.8 122.4 148.2
26.7 84.0 40.6 139.4 172.1
29.4 71.7 97.2 43.3 154.8 197.2
32.2 88.4 112.1 46.1 224.5
35.0 105.4 128.9 60.0 461.5

Solution 6.2:
Y1/ =0.0165 kg/kg dry air [From Psychrometric chart]

H1/ =71.7 kJ/kg

H 2/ =154.8 kJ/kg

From Graph, at Gs, min, H 2/ =197 kJ/kg at 43.30C

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NPTEL – Chemical – Mass Transfer Operation 1

(a) Gs, min=4546.4 kg/h.m2.

240
Equilibrium line
220
Operating line
200

180

160
'
P(TL2,H2)
'
H

140

120

100

80
'
60
Q (TL1,H1)
Approach Range
Tas 25 30 35 40 45 50
TL1 TG, TL TL2

TL H/ H */ 1/[ H */ -H/]
29.4 71.7 97.2 0.039216
32.2 88.4 112.1 0.042194
35 105.4 128.9 0.042553
37.8 122.4 148.2 0.03876
40.6 139.4 172.1 0.030581
43.3 154.8 197.2 0.023585

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NPTEL – Chemical – Mass Transfer Operation 1

0.05

0.04

0.03
1
( H */  H / )
0.02

0.01

0.00
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
0
TL ( C)

NtoG=Area under the curve= (154.8-71.7)×0.036148=3.004

HtoG=2.734 m

(b)Tower height= 2.734×3.004 m=8.213 m (Ans.)

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NPTEL – Chemical – Mass Transfer Operation 1

Example Problem 6.3: A cooling tower of 50 m2 cross-sectional area is required

to cool the warm water from 420C to 290C at a rate of 425250 kg/h. The ambient
air at 320C has a wet-bulb temperature of 220C and air rate (moist) is 6000
kg/h.m2. The overall mass transfer coefficient, KY/ a =740.375 kg/m3h (ΔY/) where

a is specific interfacial area of air-water contact. Determine (a) the minimum air
rate and (b) overall gas-phase enthalpy transfer units. (c) Keeping other
conditions unchanged, if the wet-bulb temperature is changed to 25.50C, what
will the cold water temperature?
3984.923
Given: Antoine Equation: ln PAV (bar )  11.96481  , temperature in K.
(T  39.724)
Total pressure is 1 atm.

Solution 6.3:

240
Equilibrium line
220
Operating line
200

180

160
'
'

P(TL2,H2)
H

140

120

100

80
'
60 Q (TL1,H1)
Approach Range
Tas 25 30 35 40 TL2 45 50
TL1
TG, TL

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NPTEL – Chemical – Mass Transfer Operation 1

TG1=32ºC, Tw1=22ºC, From psychrometric chart, Y1/  0.013 kg / kg dry air

H1/  65.44 kJ / kg
(a) Draw tangent to equilibrium curve from point Q.
Slope of the operating line for minimum air rate:
LcwL
S  9.37
Gsmin
L=425250/50 kg/h.m2=8505 kg/h.m2
cwL=4.187 kJ/kgºC
Gsmin=3800.47 kg/h.m2
Gs=6000/(1+0.013) kg/h.m2 =5923 kg/h.m2
Slope of the operating line for actual air rate:
LcwL 8505  4.187
S   6.006
Gs 5923

Draw operating line with slope 6.006 through point Q. TL2=42ºC. Locate point P.
(Get H 2/ from graph).
or,
LcwL (TL 2  TL1 )  Gs( H 2/  H1/ )

8505  4.187(42  29)  5923( H 2/  65.5)

H 2/  143.6 kJ / kg
Gs 5923
H toG  /
 m8m
KY a 740.375
H 1/
dH /
NtoG   ( H */  H / )
 2.82
H 2/

Height of the cooling tower=8×2.82 m=22.56 m

(b) Overall gas-phase enthalpy transfer unit (NtoG)=2.82
(c) TL1 is unknown. Height of the cooling tower is same, i.e., 22.56 m. Slope of
the operating line is as before, i.e., 6.006. TL1 should be greater than 29ºC.
Assume TL1 as 32ºC.
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NPTEL – Chemical – Mass Transfer Operation 1

Get height of the cooling tower.

If height is 22.56 m, 32ºC is the answer. Otherwise guess another TL1.
Or,
TG1=32ºC, Tw1=25.5ºC, From psychrometric chart, Y1/  0.017 kg / kg dry air

H1/  75.682 KJ / kg

LcwL (TL 2  TL1 )  Gs( H 2/  H1/ )

6000
8505  4.187(42  TL1 )  (143.6  65.5)
(1  0.017)
TL1=30.8ºC

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