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Week 9, Lecture 2 - Absorption: Dr. Dave Dubois Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute
Week 9, Lecture 2 - Absorption: Dr. Dave Dubois Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute
Week 9, Lecture 2 –
Absorption
2
Major Techniques for
Capture/Elimination of Gas
Pollutants
• Oxidation to form nontoxic compounds
• Chemical reduction to form nontoxic
compounds
• Adsorption onto solid surfaces
9Absorption into liquids
• Biological oxidation to form nontoxic
compounds
• Condensation of vapors to form liquids
3
The Absorption Process
• The transfer of material from a gas (absorbate) to
a liquid (absorbent)
• Transfer is based on the preferential solubility of a
gaseous component in the liquid
• Also known as “scrubbing” or “washing”
• Examples include removal and recovery of NH3 in
fertilizer manufacturing
• Control of SO2 from combustion source
• Control of odorous gases from rendering plants
4
Mass Transfer in Absorption
diffusion
5
Types of Absorber Control
Equipment
• Packed bed tower absorbers
• Spray tower absorbers
• Tray tower absorbers
• Venturi Absorbers
• Ejector Absorbers
• Biofiltration Bed Absorbers
6
Gas out
Gas Absorption
Equipment
• Packed bed
absorbers – most
common
• Counter-current flow
tower configuration
• Gas flow enters
bottom of tower and
flows upward
Gas in
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Gas exit
Gas Absorption
Equipment
• Another counter-
current flow tower
configuration
Gas in
8
Cross-Flow Scrubber
Gas
Flow Gas
in Flow
out
10
Packing Elements
Lessing ring
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Packing Elements
• Packing material provides a large surface
area for mass transfer
• Packing elements made of plastic
(polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyvinylchloride), ceramic or metal
• Sizes range from 1 to 4 inches each
• Design depends on corrosiveness of gas,
scrubbing liquid, size of absorber, static
pressure drop and cost
12
Packing Elements
13
Spray Tower Absorber
• Simplest device used for absorption
• Consists of open vessel and a set of liquid spray
nozzles to distribute scrubbing liquid (absorbent)
• Limited efficiency because of limited contact
between gas and spray droplets
– Used when gases are
extremely soluble in absorbent
– Chemical reaction in liquid
could cause clogging
14
Gas Absorption Equipment
Spray Tower
Full Cone Nozzle
Co-current Spray Tower
Scrubber
15
Tray Tower Absorber
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Packed Tower
Design
Diameter and height of the
bed can be estimated for this
design
17
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
1. calculate value of
L ⎛ ρg
0.5
⎞
abcissa = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
G ⎝ ρL ⎠
In the Generalized Sherwood flooding and pressure
drop correlation graph
L = mass flow rate of liquid
G = mass flow rate of gas
ρg = gas density
ρL = liquid density
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(G ' ) 2 FΦμ 0L.1
ρG ρ L g
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Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
3. use graph to find ordinate at the flooding
pressure drop, ΔP
Goperating = G’ f
Where
Goperating = actual flow rate per unit area (lb/ft3-s)
f = coefficient (0.75)
22
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
6. Calculate packed bed diameter on the actual
gas flow rate per unit area in the system
4 ⋅ Tower Area
Tower Diameter = Note correction
π
23
Problems with high gas flow
• Channeling: the gas or liquid flow is much
greater at some points than at others
• Loading: the liquid flow is reduced due to the
increased gas flow; liquid is held in the void
space between packing
• Flooding: the liquid stops flowing altogether
and collects in the top of the column due to
very high gas flow
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