PACKED ABSORPTION COLUMN - RASCHIG RING

Objective:
1.

To study the effect of manipulated air flow rate and water flow rate on

2.

flooding in the absorber.

To study the correlation and the effect of water and air flow rates on
pressure difference, P.

Theory:
Absorption process is one of the separation techniques which involves gas
and liquid. One or more components in gas mixture can be separated when
a certain liquid is flowing through it in cross-flow or counter-currently. The
liquid will absorb the component and mass transfer will take place to
separate the component from the gas mixture. Packing materials are used to
increase the contact surface area for the absorption process so that the
process will become faster and more efficient.
Equipment/Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Packed absorption column - Raschig ring (0.75 mm)

Air compressor
Stop watch
Water
Air

Procedure:
1.

Check and make sure all valves and components are in place and in

2.
3.

good conditions before starting the experiment.

Set water flow rate at 2.0 L/min.
Adjust air flow rate at 30 L/min. At the same time, start the stop
watch and continue for 5 minutes. Make sure the water and air flow

4.
5.

rates are at the setting value.

After 5 minutes, record the pressure difference, P.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for 10L/min increment of air flow rate for every 5

6.

minutes until flooding occurs.

When flooding occurs, record the P and reduce the air flow rate back

7.

to 30L/min.
Repeat steps 3-7 for water flow rates of 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 L/min.

8.

Next, set air flow rate at 50L/min and for every 2 minutes, record the
pressure difference at water flow rate 2.0 to 3.5 L/min with each
increment of 0.5L/min.
Experimental Setup:

Questions:
1.

Plot a graph of log P vs. log air flow rate for each water flow rate that

2.

has been set. Determine the correlation between P and the flow rate.
Plot a graph of log P vs. water flow rate for the air flow rate that has
been set (in procedure 8). Determine the correlation between P and

3.

the flow rate.

Describe the definition of flooding, flooding velocity, visual flooding

4.
5.

and load point.

Discuss the data and the results obtained.
Compare the operation and the efficiency of the absorption column
using packing materials of Intalox saddle and Raschig ring.

References:
1.

Geankoplis, C. J., Transport Processes & Unit Operations, 3rd Edition,

2.

Prentice-Hall, 1995.
Mc Cabe, W. L., Smith, J. C. & Harriot, P., Unit Operation of Chemical

3.

Engineering, 4th Edition, Mc Graw-Hill, 1985.

Treybal, R.E., Mass Transfer Operations, 3rd Edition, Mc Graw-Hill,
1980.