CHE133/B21

Learning Task # 3

Group 6 Signature
Laban, Jessica _________________
Salvador, Kristine _________________
Salvador, Sharlene Kim _________________
Tan, Aieocellis _________________

1. Calculation of Packed Height

During the unloading of a tank car into a storage tank, air containing 0.02 mol fraction of
a water-soluble gas comes out of the storage tank. This air is to be scrubbed with water in a
countercurrent packed column to reduce the concentration of the gas to 0.0001 mole fraction.
The following data are available: gas flow rate = 2.79 lbmol/min.ft 2 tower cross section; pure
water rate = 1500 lb/hft2 tower cross section; equilibrium relationship y* = 0.01x; K ya = 2
lbmol/ft3hmol fraction. Determine the packing height.

Given:

Equi: y* = 0.01x
Kya = 2 lbmol/ft3.h

Reqd: ZT

Soln:
Z T =( HTU )( NTU )=H oy N oy

Vb dy
H oy = N oy =
K ya y y
 1500 lb 1 lbmol
conversions: basis of 1 ft2 cross-section,
La =
h 18 lb
La=83.33 lbmol /h

2.79 lbmol 60 min

V b=
min 1h
V b=167.4 lbmol /h

lbmol
167.4
h . ft 2
H oy = = H oy =83.7 ft
Solve for Hoy, lbmol
2 3
ft . h

dy yb ya
N oy = =
y y ( y y )

y a y a

y b y b

y b y b
y
ya a


ln

( y y )=

yb y xb x
material balance: V 'b ( a =L'a
1 y b 1 y a ) ( a
1x b 1x a )
V 'b=V b ( 1 y b )=167.4 (10.02 )=164.05

L'a=La ( 1x a ) =83.33 ( 10 ) =83.33

xb
=83.33 ( 0 )
0.02 0.0001
subst. to matl bal: 164.05 ( 10.02
10.0001 ) 1x b

x b=0.0384

y b =0.01 xb =0.01(0.0384)
 4
y b=3.84 10

y a=0.01 x a=0.01(0)

y a=0

( 0.0001 ) ( 0.023.84 104 )

( y y) =
0.0001
(
ln
0.023.84 104 )
( y y )=3.697 103
0.020.0001
N oy =
subst. all values, 3.697 10
3

N oy =5.38

Z T = ( 83.7 ) ( 5.38 )

Z T =450.31 ft .

2. Calculation of Capacity & Pressure Drop (Corrected)

Air containing 5 mol% NH3 at a total flow rate at 40 lbmol/hr, enters a packed column
operating at 20C and 1 atm, where 90% of the ammonia is scrubbed by a countercurrent flow of
3000 lb/hr of water. Use GPDC to estimate the superficial gas flooding velocity, the column
inside diameter for operation at 70% of flooding, and the pressure drop per foot of packing for 1
ceramic Raschig rings (FP = 179 ft2/ft3).

Given:
 *90% absorption of NH3

Reqd: Us(flooding)
Diameter(based on 70% Us(flooding))
Pressure drop (-P)

Soln:
material balance, :
yb ya xb xa
Vb
'
(
1 y b 1 y a ) (
'
=La
1x b 1x a )
=mol N H 3 absorbed

mol N H 3 absorbed=0.05 40 lbmol /h 0.90

mol N H 3 absorbed=1.8 mol

lbmol
V 'b=40 ( 10.05 )=38lbmol
h

subst. to matl bal,

ya xb
38 ( 0.05

10.05 1 y a )(lb lbmol
= 3000
h 18 lb )( 1x 0)=1.8
b

y a=5.26 103 x b=0.0107

0.5
L G
F LG =
G L ( )
air =( 0.95 29 ) + ( 0.05 17 )=28.4 lb
M
*@ the bottom,

=( 5.26 103 17 ) + ( ( 15.26 103 ) 29 )

M
*@ the top, air
 air =28.94 lb
M

Ga ( ammonia ) =( 38+0.2 ( mol air absorbed ) ) 28.94

Ga=1105.5

lbmol
Gb=40 28.4=1136
h

1105.5+1136 =1120.8 lb
G=
2 h

G =

PM
=
( 1 atm ) ( 28.94+28.4
2 ) =1.19 g
RT ( 0.08205 )( 293.15 ) L
0.5
3000 1.19 g / L
F LG = (
1120.8 1000 g / L ) =0.09

0.70 0.70
Pflood =0.115 F P =0.115 ( 179 ) =4.35>1.5

use ( P )=1.5
From Fig.14.55 (p.14-58 of Perrys ChE handbook 8th ed):

0.5 0.05
from the graph, CS F P =1.6
0.5
G
US
( L G ) F 0.5
P
0.05
=1.6

1 g
100 cm. s 100 cSt
= =1cSt
*for water @ 20C, g 1 St
1 3
cm
0.5
1.19
U S ( 10001.19 ) 179 0.5 10.05=1.6

U S (flooding)=3.46 ft / s
 m= G ( f U S )
G= ( 4 D )2
T

g 0.07 lb
G=1.19 =
L ft 3

lb h
1120.8
h 3600 s 4 ( )
=( 0.07 )( 0.70 3.46 ) D2T

D T =1.53 ft

0.5
1.19
therefore, based on 70% Us, C S F 0.5
P
0.05
=( 0.7 ) ( 3.46 ) ( 10001.19 ) 1790.5 10.05=1.12

H 2O
from the graph, ( P )=0.30
ft