Absorption & Stripping of Dilute
Mixtures
Chapter 12 (Wankat)
Dr. Hatem Alsyouri
University of Jordan
1
Part 1
Introduction and types of columns
Definitions
Absorption: a gas mixture in contact with
liquid (absorbent or solvent) to selectively
dissolve one or more components by mass
transfer from gas to liquid.
Gas Liquid
Solute (Absorbate): the component
transferred to the liquid.
Stripping: Opposite to absorption where the
solute transfers from
Liquid Gas
Separation in Absorption and Stripping is
based on addition of a mass separating agent
(compared to energy separation agent in
distillation)
3
Usually absorption and stripping are coupled
to permit regeneration & recycling of
absorbent.
Absorption
Stripping or
Distillation
Gas solvent
Typical Absorption Process
100%
100%
Types of Absorption
1) Physical Absorption (water or oil) no chemical reaction
between absorbent and solute.
2) Chemical Absorption (reactive absorption) absorption
of CO2 and H2S with monoethanolamine (MEA) or DEA.
Advantages of chemical absorption:
a) Increases rate of absorption
b) Increases absorption capacity
c) Increases selectivity
d) Converts hazardous chemicals to a safe compound.
6
Industrial
Examples/
Uses:
separate impurities
sep. contaminants
Catalyst poisons
Recover valuable
chemicals
Equipment
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Trayed towers (plate)
Packed columns
Sprayed
Bubble columns
Centrifugal contactors
Trayed Tower
It is a vertical,
cylindrical pressure
vessel in which vapor
and liquid, which flow
countercurrently, are
contacted on a series
of trays or plates.
Design of internal
parameters is similar
to what presented in
Distillation
9
10
11
Packed Column
Liquid Distributer:
ensure uniform
distribution of liquid
over the cross-sectional
area of the column.
If L>20 ft liquid
channeling occur, liquid
flow down the column
near the wall and vapor
in the center bad
contact
12
Packing
Materials
Structured
packing materials
Part 2
Absorption & stripping of dilute
mixtures using graphical method
15
Solute-free basis
In absorption and stripping, we use solute free basis. This is true if
solvent is nonvolatile and gas carrier is insoluble.
Total basis
Lo
xo
y1
Vn+1
yn+1
Solute-free basis
L
Xo
Y1
xn
V and L vary throughout the column
V = solute + inert gas
L = solute + solvent
y (small letter) = fraction of solute in vapor
x (small letter) = fraction of solute in liquid
V
Yn+1
Xn
V and L are constants throughout the column
V = inert gas alone = V(1 yn+1)
L = solvent alone = L(1 xo)
Y (capital letter) = Ratio of solute to inert gas
16
X (capital letter) = Ratio of solute to solvent
Conversion between Total & Solute-Free Bases
Total Basis
Solute-free Basis
L = solute + solvent
L = L (1 xin)
V = solute + inter gas
V = V(1 yin)
x = solute/(solute + solvent)
= X / (1 + X)
y = solute / (solute + inter gas)
= Y / (1 + Y)
X = solute / solvent
= x / (1 x)
Y = solute / inert gas
= y / (1 y)
Note:
For dilute systems,
xX
and
yY
Exercise 1: Solute-Free Basis
L=
1943 kmol/h
xo = 0
V=
703 kmol/h
yn+1 = 1.47%
xn = 0.53%
L = L (1 xin)
= 1943 (1 0)
= 1943 kmol solvent/h
V = V (1 yin)
= 703 (1 0.0147)
= 692.7 kmol inert gas/h
Yn1
yn 1
0.0147
0.0149
1 yn 1 1 0.0147
Xn
xn
0.0053
0.0053
1 xn1 1 0.0053
Note:
V y V ' Y
and
L x L' X
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Graphical Design for Absorption Staged Tower
Mass Balance
y HA x
Absorption numbering starts from top
Use solute-free basis (equilibrium and mass balance)
X o L'Yn1 V ' X n L'Y1 V '
Yn 1
HA X
Y
1 X H A X
linear
nonlinear
OR
L'
L'
X n (Y1 X o )
V'
V'
slope
Y-intercept
19
Number of Equilibrium Stages
In Absorption, operating line is above equilibrium line.
For solute-free basis we use Y vs. X diagram (not y vs. x)
Nt = number of stages stepped using McCabe-Thiele method
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Absorption vs. Stripping
Absorption
Feed gas
Feed liquid
Stripping
Graphical Design for Stripping Staged Tower
Mass Balance
y HA x
Operating line is same as the absorption
Use solute-free basis (equilibrium and mass balance)
X o L'Yn1 V ' X n L'Y1 V '
Yn 1
HA X
Y
1 X H A X
linear
nonlinear
OR
L'
L'
X n (Y1 X o )
V'
V'
slope
Y-intercept
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Absorption and Separation Factors
Absorption
Absorption factor (A)
L
A
K V
V = solute + inert gas
L = solute + solvent
K = K-value = yi / xi
Absorption takes place if A >1
1.25 < A < 2 A optimum = 1.4
As A increases, then number of stages
decrease (but larger solvent flow rate, L)
Stripping
Stripping factor (S)
1 K V
S
A
L
How to increase S:
( K , V , L)
K by ( P and T)
How to increase A: ( L , V , K)
K = function of (Exp T)/P
K by ( T and P)
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Exercise 2: Absorption of Acetone
It is desired to absorb 90% of acetone in a gas containing 1 mol%
acetone in air using a continuous counter-current stage tower.
Given
Total inlet gas flow to the tower is 30 kmol/h
Pure water solvent will be used with total inlet flow 90 kmol/h
Process is isothermal at 300K and a pressure of 101.3 kPa.
Acetone-water equilibrium relation is yA= 2.53 xA
Determine the number of theoretical stages required for this
separation.
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Solution
Pure water
L = 90 kmol/h
L = 90 kmol/h
xo = 0
L = L (1 0) = 90 kmol/h
V = 30 kmol/h
Xo 0
yN+1 = 1% = 0.01
YN 1
0.01
0.0101
1 0.01
V = V (1 yN+1) = 30 (1 0.01) = 29.7 kmol/h
Acetone Ratio in leaving stream (XN)
Using mass balance and degree of acetone separation (90%)
Acetone in leaving water = xN
V = 30 kmol/h
y = 1%
XN
xN
0.003
0.003
1 xN 1 0.003
Y1
y1
0.001
0.001
1 y1 1 0.001
Acetone in leaving gas
y1
(1 0.9) 30 0.01
0.001
30 0.9 30 0.01
0.9 30 0.01
0.003
90 0.9 30 0.01
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Equilibrium data
Find data between X0 = 0 to XN= 0.003 using the relation yA= 2.53 xA
Use Excel to obtain total basis and convert to solute-free basis
0.0005
0.001265
0.0005
0.001267
0.001
0.00253
0.001001
0.002536
0.0015
0.003795
0.001502
0.003809
0.002
0.00506
0.002004
0.005086
0.0025
0.006325
0.002506
0.006365
0.003
0.00759
0.003009
0.007648
Important
For dilute systems we can directly use total basis for direct
calculation including equilibrium data.
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Number of Stages
Aceton ratio (Y)
0.012
(0.003, 0.0101)
0.01
5.3
0.008
Operating
0.006
Equilibrium
0.004
(0, 0.001)
0.002
0
0
0.001
0.002
0.003
0.004
Aceton ratio (X)
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Minimum Solvent flow rate (absorption)
Reference:
Seader and Henley 2nd Ed
(Figure 6.9)
Lmin in Previous Example
Aceton ratio (Y)
0.012
Pinch point
(0.003, 0.0101)
0.01
0.008
Operating
0.006
Equilibrium
0.004
(0, 0.001)
0.002
Pivot point
0
0
0.001
0.002
0.003
0.004
Aceton ratio (X)
29
Minimum Solvent flow rate (stripping)
Pinch point
Possible range
for the values of:
yout
yin
Note:
(bottom)
xout
Solvent flow rate
xin
The equilibrium data may exhibit other forms. So pinch point for minimum may
not be always the case. For a concave down equilibrium curve, the minimum is
taken as the tangential line.
Exercise 3 : Absorption of Ammonia
It is desired to absorb ammonia from air gas using fresh water solvent
in a continuous counter-current stage tower. The air contains 6
mol% NH3. Degree of separation required is 99% of entering NH3.
Given
Inlet gas flow rate = 128 kg air / h
Fresh water solvent total inlet flow = 188 kg H2O/h
You need to find ammonia-water equilibrium data from
references.
Note: you need to convert mass values to moles
Determine the number of theoretical stages required for this
separation.
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Part 3
Absorption/Stripping Design using
Analytical Method:
Kremser Equation
32
Analytical Solution: Kremser Equation
33
Assumptions of Kremesers Equation
1.
2.
3.
4.
L/V (total flows) is constant.
Isothermal system
Isobaric system
Negligible heat of absorption
(linear)
5. Equilibrium line is straight
yi m xi b
(linear)
34
35
Kremser Equations in terms of vapor phase
compositions
Additional forms where:
36
Other Equations in terms of liquid phase
compositions
where
37
Kremser Equation form including Murphree
vapor efficiency
38
Exercise 4 : Application of Kremser Equation
Problem 12. D6 (Wankat)
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Solution
40
41
Homework On Ch. 12
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
12 A4
12 B1
12 D2
12 D13
12D16
12D21
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