1.

0 ABSTRACT

Gas absorption is a process in a unit operation in order to separate gases by scrubbing a

gas mixture with a suitable liquid. One or more species in gases are being removed by
dissolution in a suitable liquid. The main objectives of gas absorption experiment is to
examine the air pressure drop across the column as function of air flow rate for different
water flow rates through the column. Pressure drop of the air is recorded and change for
every 2 minutes from 20 LPM, 40 LPM, 60 LPM, 80 LPM, 100 LPM, 120 LPM, 140 LPM,
160 LPM and 180 LPM for each flowrate of water starting from 1 LPM, 2 LPM and 3 LPM.
The data is recorded until flooding occurs for every water flowrate starting from 20 LPM to
as high as 180 LPM. The percentage error is determined as 12.5%, 33.3% and 0% for
1LPM, 2LPM and 3LPM respectively. As observed, packing tower operate more efficiently
at a low water flowrate. At low water flowrate, the contact between gas and liquid can be
maximize, thus, the conversion are increases. It can be concluded, air flowrate is directly
proportional to the pressure drop. The objectives are successfully achieved, thus the gas
absorption experiment is successfully done.
2.0 INTRODUCTION

Gas absorption or scrubbing is a process in a unit operation in order to separate gases by

scrubbing a gas mixture with a suitable liquid. One or more species in gases are being
removed by dissolution in a suitable liquid. The objectives of this process is to purify gas.
Gas absorption process is usually carried out in a vertical counter-current column or in a
packed column. At top of the gas absorption column, solvent is fed, meanwhile, gas
mixture are fed at the bottom of the gas absorption column. This counter-current
application is due to the density of the gas and liquid which are less dense and denser
respectively. The absorbed substance from gas mixture is washed out by the solvent and
recovered in subsequent stripping. In the packed absorption column, gas mixture will
moves upward through the gas absorption tower, while the solute in the gas mixture will
transfer to the liquid solvent and automatically being removed from the gas mixture. In this
gas absorption operation, Raschig ring are used as a medium in the gas absorption and
works by providing large surface area per unit volume to facilitate liquid-vapour mass
transfer and providing continuous contact between gas mixture and solvent. Pressure drop
is a difference in total pressure between two points of a liquid carrying network. Pressure
drop occurs when presence of frictional force which caused by resistance to flow. Pressure
drop increases proportionally to the frictional shear forces. However, the higher the value
of pressure drop, the lower the values for conversion and yield. On the other hand, the
value of selectivity is increases. This is because, pressure drop causes the temperature
to not increases rapidly at the lower exit temperature. Thus, the reactions of the system
will slow as if there is no pressure drop which contribute lower conversions and yield. An
accumulation of liquid at the top of the packing is an indication of flooding. Flooding
adversely impacts negative on absorption packed column. To be precise, flooding effect
rapidly on increase in pressure drop and affect the column operation. The accumulation of
liquid on the column packing cause the pressure below the flooding point to increase.
Flooding can be identified by changes in pressure difference of the column or temperature.