Absorber (Stripper)

Simulates a tray (vs. packed) column using rigorous

stage-by-stage computations
Use for absorption (stripping)
Remove a solute from a gas (solvent) into a solvent (gas)
Three Absorber modules
Simple Absorber: No condenser or reboiler
Reboiled: Partial reboiler, no condenser
Refluxed: Condenser, no rebolier
All allow inlet to and side draw from any stage
Simple absorber
Liquid (vapor) solvent enters top (bottom) stage & leaves
bottom (top) stage

Procedure for Absorber (Stripper)
Identify a solvent (stripping agent), composition, and flow
Water, amines, NaOH, lime, heavy oil, etc. are examples
Steam and air are the most common stripping agents
Inadequate flow may mean no convergence
Decide operating pressure
How does it affect absorption (stripping)?
Decide operating temperature
How does it affect absorption (stripping)?
Feeds with high (low) temperatures will not converge
Select number of stages
Insufficient stages may mean no convergence
Fully specify all feeds & feed stages Nothing of outputs
Absorber (Stripper) Example
Recover Acetone from a dryer gas
Dryer Gas (70 C, 100 kmol/h, 1 atm)
85 mol% N
2
, 10 mol% acetone, 5 mol% water
Solvent? Assume pure
Pressure?
Temperature? Heat/cool solvent and/or feed gas?
Solvent flow? Assume 30 kmol/h
Take a high guess or any other way?
How many stages?
Take a high guess or any other way?
Do Example in Hysys

Absorber Streams & Stages Liquid feed
(Specify FULLY)
Gas feed
(Specify FULLY)
Vapor product
(Specify nothing)
Liquid product
(Specify nothing)
Set
Stages
Absorber Pressure Profile
Specify Top
pressure
Specify Bottom
pressure
Absorber - Temperatures
Top & bottom temperatures (optional)
Absorber - Run
Click to start iterations Absorber Done!
Absorber Column Profiles
Pressure
Can we assume an isothermal absorber?
Is McCabe-Thiele method applicable?
Temperature
Liquid & vapor flows
Absorber Summary Results
Product Compositions
Component Recoveries
Is this a good absorber?
How can you improve?