Department of Chemical Engineering

CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases and Gas

Absorption in Packed Bed Towers (Part 1)

Lecturer:
Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun

First overseas branch campus of Xiamen University (China) in Malaysia at Sepang

CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, you are expected to:
 Understand mass transfer between gas phase and liquid phase.
 Understand mass transfer coefficients in liquid/gas phase, as well as
overall mass transfer coefficient.
 Perform materials balance for solute over differential volume of tower
(dilute, concentrated and semi-dilute systems).

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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

Liquid Film Gas Film
• An interface separates two immiscible
phases L and G.
Bulk
• Solute A is transferred from the bulk of
phase G to the interface and through the
interface.

• Subsequently, solute A is transferred Bulk

from the interface to the bulk of phase L.

• In two-phase mass transfer, a yAG = mole frac. of A in bulk gas phase;

yAi = mole frac. of A at the interface in gas phase;
concentration gradient exists in each
xAi = mole frac. of A at the interface in liquid phase;
phase, causing mass transfer to occur. xAL = mole frac. of A in bulk liquid phase.

• At the interface between two fluid • At steady state, the flux of A (NA) is
phases, equilibrium exists. constant everywhere (through each
gas/liquid film, and through interface).
• There are two mass transfer films: Each
is characterized by a film mass transfer • The overall process can be described by
coefficient MTC (e.g. k’x & k’y). an overall MTC (K).
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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

GAS Interface LIQUID
Steady State Transfer of Component A
NA NA NA

At interface, yAi is in
equilibrium with xAi.
NA = K’y (yAG – yA*)
yAi
yAG NA = K’x (xA* – xAL)
xA*
Equimolar counterdiffusion yA* is the value that
EMD: is in equilibrium
Summary (Overall MTC): with xAL.
NA = K’G (PA – PA*) L
xA* is the value that
L
NA = K’y (yAG – yA*) is in equilibrium
NA = K’x (xA* – xAL) with yAG.
L
xAL
Summary (Film MTC): yA*
NA = k’y (yAG – yAi)
NA = k’x (xAi – xAL) PA* is partial pressure
Flux based on Overall of A in liquid at
NA = K’G (PA – PA*)
Driving Force in Gas-Phase equilibrium
KG’ (Overall Gas-Phase MTC)
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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

Diffusion of A through stagnant or non-diffusing B (A diffusing through a stagnant
gas phase and then through a stagnant liquid phase):
Summary (Overall MTC): 1 − 𝑦𝐴∗ − (1 − 𝑦𝐴𝐺 )
1 − 𝑦𝐴 ∗𝑀 =
𝐾′𝑦 1 − 𝑦𝐴∗
 NA = Ky (yAG – yA*) = 𝑦𝐴𝐺 − 𝑦 ∗𝐴 ln
(1 − 𝑦𝐴𝐺 )
1−𝑦𝐴 ∗𝑀

𝐾′𝑥 1 − 𝑥𝐴𝐿 − 1 − 𝑥𝐴∗

 NA = Kx (xA* – xAL) = 𝑥 ∗𝐴 − 𝑥𝐴𝐿 1 − 𝑥𝐴 ∗𝑀 =
1 − 𝑥𝐴𝐿
1−𝑥𝐴 ∗𝑀
ln
1 − 𝑥𝐴∗

Summary (Film MTC):

𝑘′𝑦 1 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 − (1 − 𝑦𝐴𝐺 )
 NA = ky (yAG – yAi) = 𝑦𝐴𝐺 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖 1 − 𝑦𝐴 𝑖𝑀 =
1−𝑦𝐴 𝑖𝑀 1 − 𝑦𝐴𝑖
ln
(1 − 𝑦𝐴𝐺 )
𝑘′𝑥
 NA = kx (xAi – xAL) = 𝑥𝐴𝑖 − 𝑥𝐴𝐿 1 − 𝑥𝐴𝐿 − 1 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖
(1−𝑥𝐴 )𝑖𝑀 1 − 𝑥𝐴 =
𝑖𝑀
1 − 𝑥𝐴𝐿
ln
1 − 𝑥𝐴𝑖

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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

Diffusion of A through stagnant or non-diffusing B:
Point P:
Bulk phase composition
(xAL, yAG)

Point M:
Interface composition
(xAi, yAi)

NA = Ky (yAG – yA*)
NA = Kx (xA* – xAL)
yA* is the value that is in
equilibrium with xAL.
xA* is the value that is in
equilibrium with yAG.

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

Diffusion of A through stagnant or non-diffusing B:

 The MTCs Kx, Ky, kx and ky are simply related by:

Gas phase resistance
Total resistance
Liquid phase resistance

m’ = slope of equilibrium line on x-y diagram

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

Diffusion of A through stagnant or non-diffusing B:

 The MTCs Kx, Ky, kx and ky are simply related by:

m’’ = slope of equilibrium line on x-y diagram

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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Mass Transfer between Phases

Some special cases for the resistivity equations:
 (a) The values of k’y and k’x are roughly similar. If m’ is very small, the gas solute
A is then very soluble in the liquid phase. Hence, the m’/k’x term is very small
(close to negligible). 0
1 1
≈
𝐾𝑦 𝑘𝑦
∴ The major resistance is in the GAS PHASE or the gas phase is controlling.

 (b) If m” is very large, then the solute A is very insoluble in the liquid phase, and
hence the term 1/m”k’y is very small. Then, 0
1 1
≈
𝐾𝑥 𝑘𝑥
∴ The major resistance is in the LIQUID PHASE or the liquid phase is controlling.

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Important Summary on Flux Eq. and MTC

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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Gas Absorption in Packed Bed Towers

Recall:
Absorption?
 Solute A absorbed from the gas phase into the liquid phase. OR
 A process involves molecular/mass transfer of solute A through a stagnant, non-diffusing
gas B into a stagnant liquid C.
 Gas-Liquid System: Solute transfers from Gas → Liquid
Stripping?
 Reverse of absorption
 Liquid – Gas System: Solute transfers from Liquid → Gas
Adsorption?
 Components of a liquid or gas stream adsorbed on the surface or in the pores of a solid
adsorbent.
 Gas/Liquid – Solid System: Solute transfers from Gas/Liquid → Solid
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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Tray Column and Packed Column

Tray Column Packed Column

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Recall: Absorption and Stripping

Absorption

Stripping

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Recall: All notations for MB equation

L = Liquid stream total flow rate
V = Gas stream total flow rate
L’ = Inert (carrier) liquid flow rate L’ = L (1 – xA)
V’ = Inert (carrier) gas flow rate V’ = V (1 – yA)
yA = Mass/mole fraction of A in gas stream
xA = Mass/mole fraction of A in liquid stream

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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Example 1
yi
It is desired to absorb 90% of the acetone in a gas containing 1.0 mol%
acetone in air in a countercurrent stage tower. The total inlet gas flow to
V
the tower is 30.0 kg mol/h and the total inlet pure water flow to be used to
xi = 0
absorb the acetone is 90 kg mol H2O/h.
L = L’
Determine all unknowns: xi, L’, Li, yi, V’, Vi, yo, Vo, xo, Lo.
Vi =
yi =
V’ =
L’ =
xi =
Li =
Acetone in Vo =
Acetone in Lo =
Vo =
Lo =
i = inlet; o = outlet yo =
xo =
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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

V and L are total molar rates.

Packing
A = Total interfacial area (m2)
a = Interfacial area per unit volume of packed tower (m2/m3)
S = cross-sectional area of tower (m2)
Z = bed height of packed tower (m)

Relation among geometry variables:

A = a x volume of packed tower
A = a x (S x Z)
A (m2) = a (m2/m3) x (S x Z) (m3)

Volume
Surface Surface/Volume

Function of packing is to generate the largest possible

interfacial area for the smallest possible gas pressure drop.

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Packed Column
 Typical packed bed column in industry.

To prevent channeling in the

column if the tower is very high

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Packed Column
 Flooding velocity: Upper limit to the gas flow rate. Liquid can no longer
flow and is blow out by gas.
Optimum economic velocity > 0.5 x flooding velocity
Optimum economic velocity = f (equipment cost, pressure drop,
processing variables)
 Loading point: Gas flow rate where liquid downflow starts to be
hindered by gas.

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 CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Packed Column
 Examples of packings used in industry

Factors

Best packing for industry

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Packed Column (Random and Structured Packing)

(Layers of wire mesh)

Randomly-packed
Raschig rings

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Design Methods for Gas Absorption in Packed Towers

 Mole balance for solute over differential volume of tower (from z to z+dz):
V’, Y + dY

z + dz d𝒏ሶ
z
𝒏:ሶ Mass transfer rate

V’, Y Y: Mole ratio

 Looking at gas phase alone:

V’Y = V’ (Y+dY) + d𝑛ሶ
(In at z) (Out at z+dz) (Transfer to liquid)
V’ dY = –d𝑛ሶ
 Now, write 𝒏ሶ in terms of flux and area, and Y (mole ratio) in terms of y
(mole fraction).
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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Design Methods for Gas Absorption in Packed Towers

V’ dY = –d𝑛ሶ Interfacial area
𝑦
V’ d = –N.dA a (m2/m3) = A/V
1−𝑦
A = aV
𝑑𝑦
V’ = –N aSdz A = a (S x z)
1−𝑦 2 dA = aS dz
Volume

𝑑𝑦 N = f(y)
V = −𝑁𝑎𝑆. 𝑑𝑧
(1−𝑦) V = f(y)

To perform integration, use method of separation variables:

𝑉 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑧 = − .
𝑁𝑎𝑆 (1−𝑦)

Integrating from End (1) to End (2):

𝑧2 𝑦 𝑉 𝑑𝑦 * This is the most general equation relating
‫𝑧𝑑 𝑧׬‬ = ‫ 𝑦׬‬2 − . =𝑍
1 1 𝑁𝑎𝑆 (1−𝑦) total packed height (Z) to gas-phase variables.

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Design Methods for Gas Absorption in Packed Towers

 An analogous equation is also obtained if we balance the LIQUID

phase alone:
𝑥 𝐿 𝑑𝑥
𝑍 = ‫ 𝑥׬‬2 − .
1 𝑁𝑎𝑆 (1−𝑥)

To evaluate the integrals, we need V(y), N(y) or L(x), N(x).

 Continue with Gas Phase analysis: A diffusing through stagnant/non-diffusing B

Solute flux, N = Ky (y – y*) Equilibrium mole fraction (that is in equilibrium with xAL)

N = ky (y – yi) Mole fraction at interface

N = KG (PA – PA*) 𝑘′𝑦 𝐾′𝑦
N = kG (PA – PAi) ky =
(1−𝑦)𝑖𝑀
Ky =
(1−𝑦)∗𝑀

Typically, we choose overall MTC, Ky for calculations.

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Design Methods for Gas Absorption in Packed Towers

𝐾′𝑦
N = Ky (y – y*) = (y – y*)
(1−𝑦)∗𝑀
Across the entire gas film

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Design Methods for Gas Absorption in Packed Towers

𝑦 𝑉 𝑑𝑦
𝑍 = ‫ 𝑦׬‬2 − . • a (interfacial area per unit volume) may
1 𝑁𝑎𝑆 (1−𝑦)
vary with V (i.e. with y).
N = Ky (y – y*) =
𝐾′𝑦
(y – y*)
• K’y is a function of flow rate V
(1−𝑦)∗𝑀

𝑦 𝑉 𝑑𝑦 V’ = solvent-only flow
𝑍= ‫ 𝑦׬‬2 − 𝐾 𝑎𝑆 . (1−𝑦)(𝑦−𝑦∗) S = cross-sectional area of tower
1 𝑦
Both V’ and S are the only truly constant
𝑦 −𝑉 (1−𝑦)∗𝑀 𝑑𝑦 parameters.
𝑍 = ‫ 𝑦׬‬2 . .
1 𝐾′𝑦 𝑎𝑆 (1−𝑦) (𝑦−𝑦 ∗ )
𝑉′
To make further progress, we will need to
V’ = V (1–y) V = V’ is constant. make simplifying assumptions:
1−𝑦

𝑉′ 𝑦 −(1−𝑦)∗𝑀 𝑑𝑦 (1) very dilute solution (straight operating

𝑍=
𝑆
‫ 𝑦׬‬2 𝐾′ .
2 (𝑦−𝑦 ∗ ) line), and
1 𝑦 𝑎 (1−𝑦)
(2) concentrated solution (curved operating
line).

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CME208 Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering I

Students’ Tasks
References:
 McCabe, Smith (2005) Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering (7th edition)

Next lecture …
 Gas absorption in packed towers (dilute system)

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