Separation Processes
S1 2015
Leaning Outcomes
By the end of the lecture you should be able to:
1. Define rate based method for packed columns
2. Define Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate (HETP) and explain
how it and the number of equilibrium stages differ with the height of a
transfer unit (HTU) and number of transfer units (NTU)
3. Explain the differences between loading point and flooding point in a
packed column
4. Estimate the packed height
Contents
1
Introduction
Mole balance
Transfer unit
Controlling resistance
3
1. Introduction
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 transfer from Gas Liquid
Adsorption:
Components of a liquid or gas stream adsorbed on the surface or in the
pores of a solid adsorbent.
Stripping:
Reverse of absorption
Liquid Gas System: Solute transfer from Liquid Gas
yo, V, Vo
xi, L, Li
yi, V, Vi
xo, L, Lo
yo, V, Vo
xi, L, Li
yi, V, Vi
xo, L, Lo
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L=300
xA2=0
V1?
yA1?
V=100
yA2=0.2
V =?
L1?
XA1?
V2, y2 L2, x2
Gas Liquid
(2)
z2=Z
Packing
A total interfacial area (m2)
a interfacial area per unit volume of packed
tower (m2/m3)
S cross sectional area of tower (m)
Z Bed height (m)
z1=0
(1)
Gas Liquid
V1, y1 L1, x1
Loading point:
Gas flow rate where liquid down
flow starts to be hindered by
gas
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Packing Materials
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Packing Materials
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Packing Materials
http://finepacstructures.tradeindia.com
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Packing Materials
Random
Structured
Raschig rings
and saddles
Through flow
Relative cost
Low
Moderate
High
Pressure drop
Moderate
Low
Very low
Efficiency
Moderate
High
Very high
Vapor capacity
Fairly high
High
High
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L
xo
V
yn+1
xn ??
2. Mole Balance
Mole balance for solute over differential volume of tower:
- We can choose either gas or liquid phase.
VY = V(Y+dY)
(in at z)
VdY = - d
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V ' dY - dn
' y
- N.dA
V d
1- y
V
'
dy
(1- y)
- NaS dz
Volume
dy
V
- NaS dz
(1 - y)
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Separating variables
V
dy
dz
NaS (1 - y)
Integrating from (1) to (2)
y2
z2
z1
dz
y1
V dy
Z
NaS (1- y)
This is the most general equation relating total packed height (z) to gasphase variables.
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x1
L
dx
NaS (1 - x)
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N K y y y * or
Solute flux
N k y y y i or
N K G PA - PA* or
N k G PA - PAi
Choose overall Ky as typical case
K 'y
y BLM
y y 1- y y y
*
K 'y
*LM
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1- y *LM
1- y - 1- y *
1- y
ln
1- y *
f(y)
1- y *LM
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y2
y1
y2
V dy
NaS (1 - y)
V
K aS
'
y
y1
V
z
S
'
1- y *LM
(1- y)
dy
(y y * )
1- y *LM dy
K 'y
y y
N K y y y*
1- y *LM
V'
V
1 y
a may vary with V (i.e. with y)
Ky is a function of flowrate V
V solvent-only flow and S tower
cross section area are the only true
constant
To further progress, need to make
simplifying assumptions!!!
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Start with
K aS
y1
'
y
1- y *LM
(1- y)
Use
V1 V2
VAVE
2
dy
(y y * )
V = f(y)
V'
V
1 y
(1 y) ~ 1
(1 y)*LM ~ 1
1- y *LM
(1 - y)
y2
K aS
y1
1- y *LM
'
y
VAVE
y2
(1- y)
- dy
K 'y aS y1 (y
y )
*
dy
(y y * )
Approximate
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d(y - y*)
(y 2 - y *2 ) (y 1 - y *1 )
y 2 - y1
(y y*)
y
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VAVE
y2
K 'y aS y1
- d(y - y*)
(y y*)
V
1
z 'AVE ln
K aS
y 2 - y *2
y1 y1*
(y 2 - y *2 ) (y 1 - y *1 )
y 2 - y1
*
V
(y
y
)(
1)
y
y
2
1
2 2
z 'AVE
ln
K aS (y - y * ) (y - y * ) y y *
2
2
1
1
1 1
y
V
(-1)(y y )
2
1
z 'AVE
K aS (y - y*)LM (1)-(2)
y
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V
(-1)(y y )
AVE
2
1
z '
k aS (y - y i )LM (1)-(2)
y
L AVE (-1)(x 2 x1 )
z '
k aS (x - x)
LM (1) -(2)
x i
L AVE (-1)(x 2 x1 )
z '
K aS (x * - x)
LM (1) -(2)
x
We usually choose the phase which is controlling the rate
(i.e. the phase with the greatest mass transfer resistance)
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Re-arrange
V
y1 - y 2 k 'y az(y y i )M
S
L
x1 - x 2 k 'x az(xi x)M
S
V
y1 - y 2 K 'y az(y y*)M
S
L
x1 - x 2 K 'x az(x * -x)M
S
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yi1
y*1
y2,x2
Dilute
solution
yi2
y*2
xi1
xi2
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4. Transfer Units
Z = Hy Ny
z
(m)
VAVE
k 'y aS
y2
y1
- dy
(y y i )
Z = Hx Nx
If OVERALL coefficients are
used to describe the flux:
Z = Hoy Noy
(m)
HEIGHT of a
gas film
transfer unit
Dimensionless
Number of a
gas film
transfer unit
Z = Hox Nox
Depending on concentration
units and coefficients used
Z = HG NG = H L NL
V
HG '
k y aS k y a(1- y)iM S
y1 - y 2
NG
(y - y i )M
x1 - x 2
NL
(x i - x)M
L
HL '
k x aS k x a(1- x)iM S
HOG
HOL
V
'
K y aS K y a(1- y)*M S
L
L
'
K x aS K x a(1- x)*M S
NOG
y1 - y 2
(y - y*)M
NOL
x1 - x 2
(x * -y)M
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Correlation form:
V L
HG Sc 0.5
S S
L
HL
SL
Sc 0.5
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V
Hy
S
37
38
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y1 - mx2
(1 1/A) 1/A
ln
y 2 - mx2
N
ln A
For transfer of the solute from phase L to phase V (stripping)
x 2 - y1/m
(1 A) A
ln
x1 - y1/m
N
ln (1/A)
A1 L1/m1V1, A 2 L 2 /m2 V2 and A A1A 2
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NOG
y1 - mx 2
1
1/A
ln (1 1/A)
1- 1/A
y 2 - mx2
Stripping
NOL
x 2 - y1/m
1
A
ln (1 A)
1- A
x1 - y1/m
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NOG
N lnA
1- 1/A
HETP HOG
ln(1/A)
1- A /A
z = HOG x NOG
z = N x HETP
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Example 6:
Experimental data have been obtained for air containing 1.6% of SO2
being scrubbed by pure water in a packed bed column of 1.5m2
cross-sectional area and 3.5 m in packed height. Entering gas and
liquid flow rates are 0.062 and 2.2 kmol/s, respectively. If the outlet
mole fraction of SO2 in the gas is 0.004. m = 40. Calculate NOG.
Solutions
43
Concentrated mixtures
1
1- y iLM
dy
z
'
k aS (1 - y) (y y i )
y1 y
Approximate
VAVE
y2
V 1- y
dy
iLM
'
k aS (1 - y) (y y i )
y1 y
y2
- dy
K 'y aS y1 (y y * )
We need the whole operating curve from (1) to (2). This is obtained from a
series of mass balances between (1) and a range of points up to (2).
45
Sherwood suggests that (1-y)*LM and (1-y*) can often replace the true interface
values if the liquid resistance is small. The * values are much easier to get
since ky need not be known.
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48
V 1- y
dy
*LM
z '
K aS (1- y) (y y*)
y1 y
y2
V
y2 1- y
(-dy)
AVE
*LM
K ' aS
(1- y) (y y*)
y y1
y2
y1
dy
yy*
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7. Controlling resistance
i) Liquid film controlling (eg. gas almost insoluble O2/H2O)
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7. Controlling resistance
ii) Gas film controlling (eg. gas very soluble or react with liquid NH3/H2O)
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