Chemical Engineering Department

Mass Transfer Operations I Che421 Spring 2021/2022

Home Work Assignment NO. 11
INTERPHASE MASS TRANSFER – RESISTANCE- DRIVING FORCE
PROBLEM NO. 1
In the absorption of ammonia NH3 into water from an air- ammonia mixture in an
absorption tower at 60 F and 3 atmospheres, the individual mass transfer coefficients
were estimated to be kL = 1.1 lb-mole NH3/(hr ft2 mole NH3/ft3) and kG = 0.25 lb-mole
NH3 /(hr ft2 atm). The equilibrium partial pressure of ammonia over dilute solutions
of ammonia over dilute solutions of ammonia in water is given by:
PAi = 0.25 CAi
Where PAi, is the equilibrium partial pressure of ammonia in atm, C Ai is the
concentration of ammonia in water in lb-mole NH 3 / ft3 of solution. Determine the
following mass transfer coefficients: (a) kx ( b) kc for gas film (c) KG (d) Ky, and
(e) KL
PROBLEM NO .2
In a wetted wall column where NH3 is stripped from an ammonia water solution by
into an air stream, the overall liquid mass transfer coefficient K L =0.0475 lb-mole
NH3/(hr ft2 mole NH3/ft3). At a point in the column, the concentration in the liquid
was 0.3 lb-mole NH3/ft3 and the partial pressure of NH3 was 0.06 atm. For dilute
solutions of NH3 in water at the operating temperature, the equilibrium partial
pressure is given by: PAi = 0.25 CAi
Where PAi, is the equilibrium partial pressure of ammonia in atm, C Ai is the
concentration of ammonia in water in lb-mole NH3 / ft3 of solution. If the gas phase
resistance offered is 70% of the total resistance to mass transfer, calculate:
a) The individual gas film coefficient (kG).
b) The overall mass transfer coefficient (KG).
c) The interfacial concentrations PAi and CAi.
PROBLEM NO .3
An absorption tower was used to absorb compound (A) using solvent (B). At one
point in the tower, the partial pressure of (A) in the gas stream was 0.21 atm and the
concentration of (A) in the contacting liquid stream was 6.24 x 10 -5 lb-mole/ft3. T he
mass transfer between the gas stream and the liquid stream at that point in the tower
was 0.0295 lb-mole.(hr ft2). The individual gas film mass transfer coefficient, kG was
found to be 0. 295 lb-mole.(hr ft2 atm). A laboratory experiment verified that the
system satisfied Henry's law and that the liquid composition 6.24 x 10 -5 lb-mole/ft3
was in equilibrium at PA = 0.08 atm. For this problem perform the following tasks:
a) Fill in the values for the following tables:
Coefficient Driving Force
kG = PAG - PAi =
kL = CAi - CAL =
KG = PAG – PA* =
KL = CA* - CAL =
b) What percent of the overall mass transfer resistance was in the gas film?.