SECTION 2-12

Absorption of Gases
PROBLEM 12.1
Tests are made on the absorption of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide–air mixture in
a solution containing 100 kg/m3 of caustic soda, using a 250 mm diameter tower packed
to a height of 3 m with 19 mm Raschig rings.
The results obtained at atmospheric pressure were:
Gas rate, G
= 0.34 kg/m2 s. Liquid rate, L
= 3.94 kg/m2 s.
The carbon dioxide in the inlet gas was 315 parts per million and the carbon dioxide in
the exit gas was 31 parts per million.
What is the value of the overall gas transfer coefficient KG a?

Solution
At the bottom of the tower:
y1 = 315 × 10−6 , G
= 0.34 kg/m2 s
and: G
m = (0.34/29) = 0.0117 kmol/m2 s
At the top of the tower: y2 = 31 × 10−6 , x2 = 0
and: L
= 3.94 kg/m2 s

The NaOH, solution contains 100 kg/m3 NaOH.

The mean molecular mass of liquid is:
(100 × 40) + (900 × 18)
= 20.2 kg/kmol
1000
Thus: L
m = (3.94/20.2) = 0.195 kmol/m2 s

For dilute gases, y = Y and a mass balance over the tower gives:

G
m (y1 − y2 )A = KG aP (y − ye )lm ZA

It may be assumed that as the solution of NaOH is fairly concentrated, there will be a negli-
gible vapour pressure of CO2 over the solution, that is all the resistance to transfer lies in
the gas phase.

150
Therefore the driving force at the top of the tower = (y2 − 0) = 31 × 10−6

and: at the bottom of the tower = (y1 − 0) = 315 × 10−6

(315 − 31) × 106

The log mean driving force, (y − ye )lm = = 122.5 × 10−6
ln(315/31)
Therefore: 0.0117(315 − 31)10−6 = KG a(101.3 × 122.5 × 10−6 × 3)
from which: KG a = 8.93 × 10−5 kmol/m3 s (kN/m2 )

PROBLEM 12.2

An acetone–air mixture containing 0.015 mole fraction of acetone has the mole fraction
reduced to 1 per cent of this value by countercurrent absorption with water in a packed
tower. The gas flowrate G
is 1 kg/m2 s of air and the water flowrate entering is 1.6 kg/m2 s.
For this system, Henry’s law holds and ye = 1.75x, where ye is the mole fraction of
acetone in the vapour in equilibrium with a mole fraction x in the liquid. How many
overall transfer units are required?

Solution

See Volume 2, Example 12.3.

PROBLEM 12.3

An oil containing 2.55 mole per cent of a hydrocarbon is stripped by running the oil down
a column up which live steam is passed, so that 4 kmol of steam are used/100 kmol of oil
stripped. Determine the number of theoretical plates required to reduce the hydrocarbon
content to 0.05 mole per cent, assuming that the oil is non-volatile. The vapour–liquid
relation of the hydrocarbon in the oil is given by ye = 33x, where ye is the mole fraction
in the vapour and x the mole fraction in the liquid. The temperature is maintained constant
by internal heating, so that steam does not condense in the tower.

Solution

If the steam does not condense, Lm /Gm = (100/4) = 25.

Inlet oil concentration = 2.55 mole per cent,

x2 = 0.0255 and X2 = x2 /(1 − x2 ) = 0.0262

Exit oil concentration = 0.05 mol per cent and x1 = 0.0005

151
A mass balance between a plane in the tower, where the concentrations are X and Y , and
the bottom of the tower gives:
Lm (X − X1 ) = Gm (Y − Y1 )
Y1 = 0
Therefore: Y = 25X − 25x1 = 25X − 0.0125

This is the equation of the operating line and as the equilibrium data are ye = 33x, then:
Y 33X 33X
= or Y =
1+Y 1+X 1 − 32X
Using these data, the equilibrium and lines may be drawn as shown in Figure 12a. The
number of theoretical plates is then found from a stepping-off procedure as employed for
distillation as 8 plates.

0.9

0.8 Equlibrium line

Y = 33X
1−32X
0.7

0.6
X2 = 0.0262
0.5 Operating line
Y Y = 25X − 0.0125
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020 0.025

X
Figure 12a. Equilibrium data for Problem 12.3

PROBLEM 12.4
Gas, from a petroleum distillation column, has its concentration of H2 S reduced from
0.03 kmol H2 S/kmol of inert hydrocarbon gas to 1 per cent of this value, by scrubbing
with a triethanolamine-water solvent in a countercurrent tower, operating at 300 K and at
atmospheric pressure.
H2 S is soluble in such a solution and the equilibrium relation may be taken as Y = 2X,
where Y is kmol of H2 S kmol inert gas and X is kmol of H2 S/kmol of solvent.

152
 The solvent enters the tower free of H2 S and leaves containing 0.013 kmol of H2 S/kmol
of solvent. If the flow of inert hydrocarbon gas is 0.015 kmol/m2 s of tower cross-section
and the gas-phase resistance controls the process, calculate:

(a) the height of the absorber necessary, and

(b) the number of transfer units required.

The overall coefficient for absorption KG

a may be taken as 0.04 kmol/s m3 of tower
volume (unit driving force in Y ).

Solution
The driving force at the top of column, (Y2 − Y2e ) = 0.0003.
The driving force at bottom of column, (Y1 − Y1e ) = (0.03 − 0.026) = 0.004.
The logarithmic mean driving force = (0.004 − 0.0003)/ ln(0.004/0.0003) = 0.00143.
From equation 12.70: Gm (Y1 − Y2 )A = KG aP (Y − Ye )lm AZ
That is: G
m (Y1 − Y2 ) = KG

a(Y − Ye )lm Z
Thus: 0.015(0.03 − 0.0003) = 0.04 × 0.00143Z

and: Z = (0.000446/0.0000572) = 7.79 m or 7.8 m

The height of transfer unit, HOG = G
m /KG

a = (0.015/0.04) = 0.375 m.

The number of transfer units, NOG = (7.79/0.375) = 20.8 or 21.

PROBLEM 12.5
It is known that the overall liquid transfer coefficient KL a for absorption of SO2 in
water in a column is 0.003 kmol/s m3 (kmol/m3 ). Obtain an expression for the overall
liquid-film coefficient KL a for absorption of NH3 in water in the same equipment using
the same water and gas rates. The diffusivities of SO2 and NH3 in air at 273 K are
0.103 and 0.170 cm2 /s. SO2 dissolves in water, and Henry’s constant H is equal to
50 (kN/m2 )/(kmol/m3 ). All the data are expressed for the same temperature.

Solution
See Volume 2, Example 12.1.

PROBLEM 12.6
A packed tower is used for absorbing sulphur dioxide from air by means of a caustic
soda solution containing 20 kg/m3 NaOH. At an air flow of 2 kg/m2 s, corresponding to
a Reynolds number of 5160, the friction factor R/ρu2 is found to be 0.020.

153
 Calculate the mass transfer coefficient in kg SO2 /s m2 (kN/m2 ) under these conditions
if the tower is at atmospheric pressure. At the temperature of absorption, the diffusion
coefficient SO2 is 1.16 × 10−5 m2 /s, the viscosity of the gas is 0.018 mN s/m2 and the
density of the gas stream is 1.154 kg/m3 .

Solution
See Volume 2, Example 12.2.

PROBLEM 12.7
In an absorption tower, ammonia is absorbed from air at atmospheric pressure by acetic
acid. The flowrate of 2 kg/m2 s in a test corresponds to a Reynolds number of 5100 and
hence a friction factor R/ρu2 of 0.020. At the temperature of absorption the viscosity of
the gas stream is 0.018 mN s/m2 , the density is 1.154 kg/m3 and the diffusion coefficient
of ammonia in air is 1.96 × 10−5 m2 /s. Determine the mass transfer coefficient through
the gas film in kg/m2 s (kN/m2 ).

Solution



0.56
hd PBm µ
From equation 12.25: = jd
u P ρD
and: jd  R/ρu2
Substituting the given data gives:
(µ/ρD)0.56 = 0.88



hd PBm
= (0.0199/0.88) = 0.0226
u P
u = G
/ρ = 1.733 m/s




hd PBm 0.0226 × 1.733
Therefore: kG = =
RT P 8.314 × 298
= 1.58 × 10−5 kmol/m2 s (kN/m2 )
and: kG = (1.58 × 10−5 × 17) = 2.70 × 10−4 kg/m2 s (kN/m2 )

PROBLEM 12.8
Acetone is to be recovered from a 5 per cent acetone–air mixture by scrubbing with water
in a packed tower using countercurrent flow. The liquid rate is 0.85 kg/m2 s and the gas
rate is 0.5 kg/m2 s.

154
 The overall absorption coefficient KG a may be taken as 1.5 × 10−4 kmol/[m3 s (kN/m2 )
partial pressure difference] and the gas film resistance controls the process.
What height of tower is required tower to remove 98 per cent of the acetone? The
equilibrium data for the mixture are:
Mole fraction of acetone in gas 0.0099 0.0196 0.0361 0.0400
Mole fraction of acetone in liquid 0.0076 0.0156 0.0306 0.0333

Solution
At the bottom of the tower: y1 = 0.05

G
= (0.95 × 0.5) kg/m2 s and G
m = 0.0164 kmol/m2 s

At the top of the tower: y2 = (0.02 × 0.05) = 0.001,
L
= 0.85 kg/m2 s and Lm = 0.0472 kmol/m2 s

The height and number of overall transfer units are defined as HOG and NOG by:
 y2
dy
HOG = Gm /KG aP and NOG =
y1 y − ye

(equations 12.80 and 12.77)

−4
Thus: HOG = 0.0164/(1.5 × 10 × 101.3) = 1.08 m

The equilibrium data given are represented by a straight line of slope m = 1.20. As shown
in Problem 12.12, the equation for NOG may be integrated directly when the equilibrium
line is given by ye = mx to give:

 
1 mG
y1 mG

NOG = ln 1 −
m +
m
(1 − mGm /Lm ) Lm y2 Lm
m(G
m /L
m ) = 1.20(0.0164/0.0472) = 0.417
y1 /y2 = (0.05/0.001) = 50


1
Thus: NOG = ln[(1 − 0.417)50 + 0.417] = 5.80
1 − 0.417
The packed height = NOG × HOG
= (5.80 × 1.08) = 6.27 m

PROBLEM 12.9
Ammonia is to be removed from a 10 per cent ammonia–air mixture by countercurrent
scrubbing with water in a packed tower at 293 K so that 99 per cent of the ammonia is
removed when working at a total pressure of 101.3 kN/m2 . If the gas rate is 0.95 kg/m2 s

155
of tower cross-section and the liquid rate is 0.65 kg/m2 s, what is the necessary height of
the tower if the absorption coefficient KG a = 0.001 kmol/m3 s (kN/m2 ) partial pressure
difference. The equilibrium data are:

Concentration
(kmol NH3 /kmol
water) 0.021 0.031 0.042 0.053 0.079 0.106 0.150
Partial pressure
NH3 (kN/m2 ) 1.6 2.4 3.3 4.2 6.7 9.3 15.2

Solution

See Volume 2, Example 12.5.

PROBLEM 12.10

Sulphur dioxide is recovered from a smelter gas containing 3.5 per cent by volume of
SO2 , by scrubbing it with water in a countercurrent absorption tower. The gas is fed into
the bottom of the tower, and in the exit gas from the top the SO2 exerts a partial pressure
of 1.14 kN/m2 . The water fed to the top of the tower is free from SO2 , and the exit
liquor from the base contains 0.001145 kmol SO2 /kmol water. The process takes place
at 293 K, at which the vapour pressure of water is 2.3 kN/m2 . The water flow rate is
0.43 kmol/s.
If the area of the tower is 1.85 m2 and the overall coefficient of absorption for these
conditions KL

a is 0.19 kmol SO2 /s m3 (kmol of SO2 /kmol H2 O), what is the height of
the column required?
The equilibrium data for SO2 and water at 293 K are:

kmol SO2 /1000

kmol H2 O 0.056 0.14 0.28 0.42 0.56 0.84 1.405
kmol SO2 /1000
kmol inert gas 0.7 1.6 4.3 7.9 11.6 19.4 35.3

Solution

At the top of the column: PSO2 = 1.14 kN/m2

That is: 1.14 = 101.3y2 and y2 = 0.0113  Y2

At the bottom of the column:y1 = 0.035, that is Y1 = 0.036

X1 = 0.001145
Lm = 0.43 kmol/s

156
The quantity of SO2 absorbed = 0.43(0.001145 − 0)
That is: NA = 4.94 × 10−4 kmol SO2 /s
NA = KL

a(Xe − X)lm
The log mean driving force in terms of the liquid phase must now be calculated. Values
of Xe corresponding to the gas composition Y may be found from the equilibrium data
given (but are not plotted here) as:
When: Y2 = 0.0113, Xe2 = 0.54 × 10−3
Y1 = 0.036, Xe1 = 1.41 × 10−3
Thus: (Xe1 − X1 ) = (1.41 − 1.145)10−3 = 0.265 × 10−3 kmol SO2 /kmol H2 O
(Xe2 − X2 ) = 0.5 × 10−3 kmol SO2 /kmol H2 O
(0.54 − 0.265)10−3
Thus: (Xe − X)lm = = 3.86 × 10−4 kmol SO2 /kmol H2 O
ln(0.54/0.265)
4.94 × 10−4 = 0.19V × 3.86 × 10−4 ,
from which the packed volume, V = 6.74
Thus: packed height = (6.74/1.35) = 5.0 m

PROBLEM 12.11
Ammonia is removed from a 10 per cent ammonia–air mixture by scrubbing with water
in a packed tower, so that 99.9 per cent of the ammonia is removed. What is the required
height of tower? The gas enters at 1.2 kg/m2 s, the water rate is 0.94 kg/m2 s and KG a is
0.0008 kmol/s m3 (kN/m2 ).

Solution
The molecular masses of ammonia and air are 17 and 29 kg/kmol respectively. The data
in mass per cent must be converted to mole ratios as the inlet gas concentration is high.
17y1
Thus: 0.10 = and y1 = 0.159
17y1 + 29(1 − y1 )


0.159
Y1 = = 0.189
1 − 0.159
Y2  y2 = 0.000159
The rates of entering gases are: total = 1.2 kg/m2 s, ammonia = 0.12 kg/m2 s, and air =
1.08 kg/m2 s.
Thus: G
m = 0.0372 kmol/m2 s, L
m = (0.94/18) = 0.0522 kmol/m2 s
and: X2 = 0 that is ammonia free

157
The equation of the operating line is found from a mass balance between a plane where
the compositions are X and Y and the top of the tower as:

0.0372(Y − 0.000159) = 0.0522X

or: Y = (1.4X + 0.000159)

This equilibrium line is plotted on Figure 12b.

0.20

Operating line
(Problem 12.11)
0.15
kmol NH3/ kmol air

Equilibrium curve

Operating line
0.10 (Problem 12.9)

0.05

0 0.05 0.10 0.15

kmol NH3 / kmol H2O
Figure 12b. Operating lines, Problem 12.11

The integral in the following equation may be obtained graphically from Figure 12c as
40.55 using the following data.

G
m Y1
(1 + Y )(1 + Yi )dY
Z=
kG aP Y2 (Y − Yi )

(1 + Y )(1 + Yi )
Y Yi (Y − Yi ) (1 + Y )(1 + Yi )
(Y − Yi )
0.20 0.152 0.048 3.18 66.3
0.19 0.138 0.052 1.35 26.0
0.15 0.102 0.048 1.27 26.4
0.10 0.063 0.037 1.17 31.6

158
 (1 + Y )(1 + Yi )
Y Yi (Y − Yi ) (1 + Y )(1 + Yi )
(Y − Yi )
0.05 0.028 0.022 1.08 49.1
0.04 0.022 0.018 1.06 58.8
0.03 0.016 0.014 1.05 74.7
0.02 0.011 0.009 1.03 114.6
0.01 0.005 0.005 1.015 203.0
0.00015 0.000 0.00015 1.00015 6670.0

To 6670 at Y = 0.00015

200
(1+Y )(1+Yi ) / (Y−Yi )

150

100

50

Area under curve = 40.55

Y2 = 0.00015 Y1 = 0.189

0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20

Y
Figure 12c. Evaluation of integral, Problem 12.11

KG a is approximately equal to kG a for a very soluble gas so that:

(0.0372 × 40.55)
Z= = 18.6 m
(0.0008 × 101.3)

It is interesting to note that if Y = 0.01 rather than 0.00015, the integral has a value of
8.25 and Z is equal to 3.8 m. Thus 14.8 m of packing is required to remove the last traces
of ammonia.

159
 PROBLEM 12.12
A soluble gas is absorbed from a dilute gas–air mixture by countercurrent scrubbing with
a solvent in a packed tower. If the liquid fed to the top of the tower contains no solute,
show that the number of transfer units required is given by:

 
1 mG
m y1 mGm
N=   ln 1 − +
mG
m Lm y2 Lm
1−
Lm
where G
m and Lm are the flowrates of the gas and liquid in kmol/s m2 tower area, and y1
and y2 the mole fractions of the gas at the inlet and outlet of the column. The equilibrium
relation between the gas and liquid is represented by a straight line with the equation
ye = mx, where ye is the mole fraction in the gas in equilibrium with mole fraction x in
the liquid.
In a given process, it is desired to recover 90 per cent of the solute by using 50 per
cent more liquid than the minimum necessary. If the HTU of the proposed tower is 0.6 m,
what height of packing will be required?

Solution
 y1
dy
By definition: NOG = (equation 12.77)
y2 y − ye
A mass balance between the top and some plane in the tower where the mole fractions
are x and y gives:
Gm (y − y2 ) = Lm (x − x2 )
If the inlet liquid is solute free, then:
G
m
x2 = 0 and x = (y − y2 )
L
m
If the equilibrium data are represented by:
ye = mx
then substituting for ye = m(G
m /L
m )(y − y2 ) gives:
 y1
dy
NOG =

y2 mG
y −
m (y − y2 )
Lm
 y1
dy
=


y2 mG mG

y 1 −
m +
m y2
Lm Lm

 
 
mG
m −1 mG
m y1 mG
m
= 1−
ln 1 −
+

Lm Lm y2 Lm

160
 Operating line
y

Equilibrium line
ye = mx

y1

y2 Slope = (L′/G ′)min

x2 = O x1 x
Top of column Bottom of column
Figure 12d. Graphical construction for Problem 12.12

Referring to Figure 12d:





L y1 − y2 y1 − y2 y2
= = =m 1−
G
min x1 y1 /m y1


0.1y1
=m 1− = 0.9 m
y1

If 1.5 (L
/G
)min is actually employed, L
m /G
m = (1.5 × 0.9) m = 1.35 m
mGm m
Thus: = = 0.74
Lm 1.35 m
y1 /y2 = 10

1
Therefore: NOG = ln[(0.26 × 10) + 0.74] = 4.64
0.26
HOG = 0.6 m and the height of packing = (0.6 × 4.64) = 2.78 m

PROBLEM 12.13

A paraffin hydrocarbon of molecular mass 114 kg/kmol at 373 K, is to be separated

from a mixture with a non-volatile organic compound of molecular mass 135 kg/kmol
by stripping with steam. The liquor contains 8 per cent of the paraffin by mass and this
is to be reduced to 0.08 per cent using an upward flow of steam saturated at 373 K. If
three times the minimum amount of steam is used, how many theoretical stages will be
required? The vapour pressure of the paraffin at 373 K is 53 kN/m2 and the process takes
place at atmospheric pressure. It may be assumed that the system obeys Raoult’s law.

161
Solution

If Raoult’s law applies, the partial pressure = x (vapour pressure)

That is: PA = xPA0

y = PA /P and hence ye = x(PA0 /P ) = (53/101.3)x = 0.523x

Ye 0.523X
In terms of mole ratios: =
1 + Ye 1+X
Thus the equilibrium curve may be obtained as follows.

X X/(1 + X) Ye /(1 + Ye ) Ye
0 0 0 0
0.02 0.0196 0.0103 0.0104
0.04 0.0385 0.020 0.0204
0.06 0.0566 0.0296 0.0305
0.08 0.0741 0.0387 0.0403
0.10 0.0909 0.0475 0.0499
0.12 0.107 0.0560 0.059

This curve is plotted in Figure 12e.

As the inlet gas contains 8 per cent by mass of paraffin, then:

X2 = (8/114)/(92/135) = 0.103
and: X1 = 0.00103 and Y1 = 0

0.006 Low concentrations

Equilibrium line
Y 0.004
0.06
0.002 Operating line
0.05

0 0.005 0.01
0.04
X

Y 0.03

0.02 Operating line

0.01

0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12
X
Figure 12e. Equilibrium data for Problem 12.13

162
The minimum amount is required occurs when the exit streams are in equilibrium, that is

when: X2 = 0.103, Ye2 = 0.0513

From an overall mass balance:

Lmin (0.103 − 0.00103) = Gmin (0.0513 − 0)

and: (L/G)min = 0.503 and (L/G)actual = 0.167

Thus the operating line, passing through the point (0.00103, 0) with a slope = 0.167, may
be drawn in Figure 12e and the number of theoretical stages is found to be 4.
This problem may also be solved analytically by the use of the absorption factor method.
This is illustrated in Problem 12.16.

PROBLEM 12.14
Benzene is to be absorbed from coal gas by means of a wash-oil. The inlet gas contains
3 per cent by volume of benzene, and the exit gas should not contain more than 0.02 per
cent benzene by volume. The suggested oil circulation rate is 480 kg oil/100 m3 of inlet
gas measured at 273 K and 101.3 kN/m2 . The wash oil enters the tower solute-free. If the
overall height of a transfer unit based on the gas phase is 1.4 m, determine the minimum
height of the tower which is required to carry out the absorption. The equilibrium data are:

Benzene in oil
(per cent by mass) 0.05 0.01 0.50 1.0 2.0 3.0
Equilibrium partial
pressure of
benzene in gas
(kN/m2 ) 0.013 0.033 0.20 0.53 1.33 3.33

Solution
At the top and bottom of the tower respectively:

y2 = 0.0002, x2 = 0
and: y1 = 0.03, x1 = exit oil composition

Taking 100 m3 of inlet gas at 273 K and 101.3 kN/m2 as the basis of calculation,
Volume of benzene at inlet = (0.03 × 100) = 3.0 m3 in 97.0 m3 of gas.
Volume of benzene at exit = (0.0002 × 97) = 0.0194 m3 .
At 273 K and 101.3 kN/m2 , the kilogramme molecular volume = 22.4 m3 .

Thus: kmol of gas = (97/22.4) = 4.33 kmol

163
Volume of benzene absorbed = (3.0 − 0.0194) = 2.9806 m3 .
Density of benzene at 273 K and 101.3 kN/m2 = (78/22.4) = 3.482 kg/m3 .

Thus: mass of benzene absorbed = (2.9806 × 3.482) = 10.38 kg

As the oil rate = 490 kg/100 m3 of gas,

the mass per cent of benzene at the exit = (10.38 × 100)/490 = 2.12 per cent

Y1 = 0.03/(1 − 0.03) = 0.031

Y2  y2 = 0.0002

Thus the operating line may be plotted as shown in Figure 12f. The equilibrium data
converted to the appropriate units, are as follows and are plotted in Figure 12f.

Mass per cent Mass fraction Equilibrium partial Ye = P 0 /P

benzene pressure (kN/m2 )
0 0 0 0
0.05 0.0005 0.013 0.00013
0.10 0.001 0.033 0.00033
0.50 0.005 0.20 0.00197
1.0 0.01 0.53 0.00523
2.0 0.02 1.33 0.01313
3.0 0.03 3.33 0.3287

0.03 Bottom of tower

Y1 = 0.031

0.02

Equilibrium curve
0.01

0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025

Mass fraction benzene in oil X
Figure 12f. Operating line for Problem 12.14

164
  Y2
dY
NOG =
Y1 Y − Ye

The value of this integral may be evaluated from the operating and equilibrium line by
graphical means for values of Y between 0.0002 and 0.031.

Y Ye (Y − Ye ) 1/(Y − Ye )
0.0002 0 0.002 5000
0.0015 0.00033 0.00117 855
0.003 0.007 0.0023 435
0.005 0.0012 0.0038 263
0.0075 0.0021 0.0054 185
0.010 0.0031 0.0069 145
0.015 0.0055 0.0095 105
0.020 0.008 0.012 83
0.025 0.0106 0.0144 69
0.030 0.0137 0.0163 61

From Figure 12g, the area under the curve, NOG = 8.27

Thus: height of column = NOG × HOG = (8.27 × 1.4) = 11.6 m

1
= 5000 at Y = 0.0002
Y − Ye
900

800

700

600 Area under curve = NOG = 8.27

500
Y − Ye
1

400

300

200

100

0 0.01 0.02 0.03

Y
Figure 12g. Evaluation of integral in Problem 12.14

165
 PROBLEM 12.15
Ammonia is to be recovered from a 5 per cent by volume ammonia–air mixture by
scrubbing with water in a packed tower. The gas rate is 1.25 m3 /m2 s measured at 273 K
and 101.3 kN/m2 and the liquid rate is 1.95 kg/m2 s. The temperature of the inlet gas
is 298 K and the temperature of the inlet water 293 K. The mass transfer coefficient
is KG a = 0.113 kmol/m3 s (mole ratio difference) and the total pressure is 101.3 kN/m2 .
What is the required height of the tower to remove 95 per cent of the ammonia. The
equilibrium data and the heats of solutions are:

Mole fraction in liquid 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.03

Integral heat of solution
(kJ/kmol of solution) 181 363 544 723 1084
Equilibrium partial
pressures (kN/m2 )
at 293 K 0.4 0.77 1.16 1.55 2.33
at 298 K 0.48 0.97 1.43 1.92 2.93
at 303 K 0.61 1.28 1.83 2.47 3.86

Adiabatic conditions may be assumed and heat transfer between phases neglected.

Solution
The data provided are presented in Figure 12h.
The entering gas rate = 12.5 m3 /m2 s at 273 K and 101.3 kN/m2 .
Density at 273 K and 101.3 kN/m2 = (1/22.4) = 0.0446 kmol/m3 .
At the bottom of the tower, y1 = 0.05.

Thus: Y1 = (0.05/0.95) = 0.0526

G
m = (0.95 × 1.25 × 0.0446) = 0.053 kmol/m2 s
Y2 = (0.05 × 0.0526) = 0.00263
L
m = (1.95/18) = 0.108 kmol/m2 s and X2 = 0

An overall mass balance gives:

0.108(X1 − 0) = 0.053(0.0526 − 0.00263) and Xi = 0.0245

In this problem, the temperature varies throughout the column and the tower will be
divided into increments so that by heat and mass balances the terminal conditions over
each section may be found. Knowing the compositions and the temperature, the data given
may be used in conjunction with the mass coefficient to calculate the height of the chosen
increment. Adiabatic conditions will be assumed and, as the sensible heat change of the
gas is small, the heat of solution will be used only to raise the temperature of the liquid.
The gas temperature will therefore remain constant at 295 K.

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 303 K

3.0 298 K

2.5
293 K 1200

1100
Equilibrium partial pressure (kN/m2)

2.0 1000

Heat of solution (kJ/kmol of solution)

900

800
1.5
700

600

1.0 500

400

300
0.5
200

100

0
0.01 0.02 0 0.03
Mole fraction in liquid x
Figure 12h. Equilibrium data, Problem 12.15

Considering conditions at the top of the tower:

X2 = 0, T1 = 293 K, Tg = 295 K, Y2 = 0.00263

Choosing an increment such that the exit liquor stream and inlet gas streams have com-
positions X = 0.005 and Y , a mass balance taking 1 m2 as a basis gives:

Lm (X − 0) = Gm (Y − Y2 )
That is: (0.108 × 0.005) = 0.053(Y − 0.00263) and Y = 0.0128

NH3 absorbed in the section = 0.108 × 0.005 = 5.4 × 10−4 kmol/s.

Heat of solution when X = 0.005 = 181 kJ/kmol of solution.

Thus: heat liberated = (181 × 0.005) = 19.55 kW

and: temperature rise = 19.55/(0.108 × 18 × 4.18) = 2.4 deg K

and the liquid exit temperature = 295.4 K

At 295.4 K when X = 0.005, Pe = 0.44 kN/m2 , and Ye = 0.00434

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At the top of the section, Y − Ye = (0.00263 − 0) = 0.00263.
At the bottom of the section, Y − Ye = (0.0128 − 0.00434) = 0.00846.

Thus: (Y − Ye )lm = (0.00846 − 0.00263)/ ln(0.00846/0.00263) = 0.00499

and: 5.4 × 10−4 = 0.113 × 1 × H × 0.00499 (since A = 1 m2 ) and H = 0.958 m.

In a similar way, further increments may be taken and the heights of each found. A
summary of these calculations is as follows.

Increment Inlet Outlet Outlet Outlet (Y − Ye )

X Y X Y liquid Pe top
temperature (kN/m2 )
(K)
1 0 0.00263 0.005 0.0128 295.4 0.44 0.00263
2 0.005 0.0128 0.010 0.023 297.8 0.95 0.00846
3 0.010 0.023 0.015 0.0332 300.2 1.62 0.0136
4 0.015 0.0332 0.020 0.0434 302.6 2.40 0.0172
5 0.020 0.0434 0.0245 0.0526 304.8 3.30 0.0197

Increment (Y − Ye ) (Y − Ye )lm Quantity Height of

bottom absorbed section
(kmol/s) (m)
1 0.00846 0.00499 5.4 × 10−4 0.958
2 0.0136 0.01083 5.4 × 10−4 0.441
3 0.0172 0.0153 5.4 × 10−4 0.328
4 0.0197 0.0185 5.4 × 10−4 0.258
5 0.020 0.0198 5.4 × 10−4 0.241
= 2.23 m

Thus the required height of packing = 2.23 m.

PROBLEM 12.16

A thirty-plate bubble-cap column is to be used to remove n-pentane from a solvent oil

by means of steam stripping. The inlet oil contains 6 kmol of n-pentane/100 kmol of
pure oil and it is desired to reduce the solute content of 0.1 kmol/100 kmol of solvent.
Assuming isothermal operation and an overall plate efficiency of 30 per cent, what is the
specific steam consumption, that is kmol of steam required/kmol of solvent oil treated,
and the ratio of the specific and minimum steam consumptions. How many plates would
be required if this ratio is 2.0?
The equilibrium relation for the system may be taken as Ye = 3.0X, where Ye and X
are expressed in mole ratios of pentane in the gas and liquid phases respectively.

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Solution
See Volume 2, Example 12.6.

PROBLEM 12.17
A mixture of ammonia and air is scrubbed in a plate column with fresh water. If the
ammonia concentration is reduced from 5 per cent to 0.01 per cent, and the water and air
rates are 0.65 and 0.40 kg/m2 s, respectively, how many theoretical plates are required?
The equilibrium relationship may be written as Y = X, where X is the mole ratio in the
liquid phase.

Solution
Assuming that the compositions are given as volume per cent, then:
0.05
At the bottom of the tower: y1 = 0.05 and Y1 = = 0.0526.
(1 − 0.05)

Y1 = 0.0523 Operating line

0.05

Equilibrium line
0.04
Y=X

0.03 0.002

0.02 1 Y=X

Y 0.001 4

0.01
2 5
Y2 = 0.0001 6
0 0.001
3 X
4
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
X
Figure 12i. Graphical construction for Problem 12.17

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At the top of the tower: y2 = 0.0001 = Y2 .
L
m = (0.65/18) = 0.036 kmol/m2 s
G
m = (0.40/29) = 0.0138 kmol/m2 s

A mass balance gives the equation of the operating line as:

0.0138(Y − 0.0001) = 0.036(X − 0)

or: Y = 2.61 + 0.0001

The operating line and equilibrium line are then drawn in and from Figure 12i,
6 theoretical stages are required.

170