ABSORPTION

Bringing the dirty effluent gas into contact with the

scrubbing liquid and subsequently separating the
cleaned gas from the contaminated liquid
Absorption is a basic chemical enginnering unit
operation which in the APC field is reffered as
scrubbing
They have wide use in controlling SO
2
, H
2
S, and light
hydrocarbons
ABSORPTION
_Wet scrubbers can be categorized into 3 groups:
1. Packed-bed counterflow scrubbers
2. Cross-flow scrubbers
3. Bubble plate and tray scrubbers

SCRUBBER TYPES
Packed Tower
Spray tower Venturi Absorber
CONCEPT OF ABSORPTION
Gas absorption is the removal of one or more
pollutants from a contaminated gas stream
by allowing the gas to come into intimate
contact with a liquid that enables the
pollutatants to become dissolved by the
liquid. The principal factor dictating
performance is the solubility of the
pollutants in the absorbing liquid.
The rate of transfer in the liquid is dictated by
the diffusion processes occurring on each
side of the gas liquid interface.
LIQUID WASTE
Pollutants removed from the gas stream transferred
into liquid phase whose disposal is another issue to
deal with.
Therefore scrubber needs other units such as storage
vessels, additives to treat the scrubbing liquid
according to required discharge standards.

ABSORPTION
Absorption units must provide large surface area of
liquid-gas interface
Therefore the units are designed to provide large
liquid surface area with a minimum of gas pressure
drop
PACKED TOWER
PACKING MATERIAL AND SHAPES
Packing material (must be inert) is designed to
increase the liquid-film surface
Many geometric shapes are available : Raschig ring,
pall ring, berl saddle, tellerete etc.
PACKING MATERIAL AND SHAPES
PACKING MATERIAL
PROPERTIES
ABSORPTION THEORY
Physically, the absorption of a pollutant gas from a
moving gas stream into an appropriate liquid stream is
quite complex
Basically the transfer process into each fluid stream is
accomplished by 2 mechanisms:
The pollutant species is transferred from the bulk of the
gas stream toward the gas-liquid interface by turbulent
eddy motions
Very close to the interface laminant flow is valid and
transfer is accomplished by molecular diffusion
On the liquid side of the interface process is reversed
ABSORPTION THEORY
ABSORPTION THEORY
On the basis of Fick's Law, the diffusion of one gas
(A) through a second stagnant gas B, N
A
, the molar
rate of transfer of A per unit cross-sectional area is
given by;
N
A
= -D
AB
(dc
A
/dz)/(1-(c
A
/c)
D
AB
: molecula diffusion coef. (m
2
/t)
c
A
: molar concentration of species A (mol/L)
c: molar concentration of the gas mixture (mol/L)
z: the direction of mass transfer (m)

D
AB
tables are available for a number of binary gas
mixtures
ABSORPTION THEORY
Mass transfer rate per unit area for molecular
diffusion of A through a second liquid is given by:
N
A
= -DL/z (c
A2
-c
A1
)
D
L
: liquid phase molecular diffusion coef. (m
2
/t)
c
A2
-c
A1
: concentration difference of A over the distance z

Typical values of D
L
for binary mixtures are tabulated
in the literature.
THE EQUILIBRIUM DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Before entering into details of mass transfer, let's
summarize the method of presenting equilibrium data
for a pollutant A distributed between liquid and gas
phase
Inert Liquid
Solvent
Inert carrier
gas
Inject
solute A
P=c
Mole
fraction in
gas, yA
Mole fraction in lqiuid, xA
Exp. Equilib.
Distribution
curve
THE EQUILIBRIUM DISTRIBUTION CURVE
After sufficient time, no further change in the
concentration of A in two phases. These concentration
can be measured and converted into mole fraction x
A

in the liquid phase and y
A
in the gas phase
Inert Liquid
Solvent
Inert carrier
gas
Inject
solute A
P=c
Mole
fraction in
gas, yA
Mole fraction in lqiuid, xA
Exp. Equilib.
Distribution
curve
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS BASED ON
INTERFACIAL CONCENTRATIONS
When mass transfer occurs in moving liquid and
gaseous streams, it is difficult to evaluate the separate
effects of molecular and turbulent diffusion
An alternative to this is to express N
A
for each phase
in terms of mass transfer coefficient k and a driving
force based on the bulk and interfacial concentrations
for that phase
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS BASED ON
INTERFACIAL CONCENTRATIONS
For the liquid phase:
N
A
= k
L
(c
Ai
-c
AL
) = k
x
(x
Ai
-x
AL
)
k
L
(is the liquid mass transfer coeff. Based on
concentration, in length per unit of time, c
Ai
is the
concentration of A in the liquid phase at the interface, c
AL
is
the concentration of A in the bulk of the phase, in moles
per unit volume.
k
x
is the liquid mass transfer coefficient based on mole
fractions, in moles per units of time and length squared, x
A

is the mole fraction of A in the liquid interface, and x
AL
is
the mole fraction of A in the bulk of the liquid phase
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS BASED ON
INTERFACIAL CONCENTRATIONS
For the gas phase:
N
A
= k
G
(p
AG
-c
Ai
) = k
y
(y
AG
-y
Ai
)
k
G
is the gas phase mass transfer coeff. based on partial
pressures, in moles/length
2
time, p
AG
is the partial pressure of
A in the bulk of gas phase p
Ai
is the partial pressure of A in
the gas interface
k
y
is the gas phase mass transfer coefficient based on mole
fractions, in moles per units of time and length squared, y
AG

is the mole fraction of A in the bulk of the gas phase, and y
Ai

is the mole fraction of A in the gas phase interface
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS BASED ON
INTERFACIAL CONCENTRATIONS
However this approach to determining N
A
is not practical
since k
x
and k
y
are difficult to obtain and no way to measure
the values of y
Ai
and x
Ai
experimentally since any attempt to
do it will perturb the equilibrium between the two streams
OVERALL MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS
When mass transfer rates are reasonably low, N
A
can be
expressed as:
N
A
= K
G
(p
AG
-p
A
*) = K
y
(y
AG
-y
A
*)
K
G
and K
y
are local overall mass transfer coefficients
p
A
* : equilibrium partial pressure of solute A
in a gas phase which is in contact with a
liquid having the composition of c
AL
of the
main body of the absorption liquid
y
A
*: defined similarly in terms of a liquid with
mole fraction x
AL
of the bulk liquid

OVERALL MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS
slope=m'
Point P represents the state of the
bulk phase of the 2 fluid streams,
y
AG
and x
AL
.

The point M represents the state
(y
Ai
and x
Ai
) associated with
equilibrium at the interface

The distance between P and C is a
measure of the driving force.
OVERALL MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS
N
A
= K
G
(p
AG
-p
A
*) = K
y
(y
AG
-y
A
*) This equation is usually
restricted the resistance to mass transfer is primarily in the
gas phase, which characterizes the majority of absorption
problems in air pollution work
The solubility of the polutant gas normally determines the
liquid that is chosen
The major physical problem is getting the pollutant to
diffuse through the gas phase to the interface,
consequently gas phase controls the process.
If the liquid phase controls:
N
A
= K
L
(c
A
*-c
AL
) = K
x
(x
A
*-x
AL
)
OVERALL MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS
It is important to note that the quantities p
A
*
,
y
A
*,c
A
*,x
A
*
do not represent any actual condition in the absorption
process but are related in each case to a real
concentration in one of the bulk fluids through the
equilibrium data for the two-phase system. From the
geometry of the previous figure:
y
AG
-y
A
*= y
AG
-y
Ai
+(y
Ai
-y
A
*)
y
Ai
-y
A
*=m'(x
Ai
-x
AL
)
y
AG
-y
A
*= y
AG
-y
Ai
+m'(x
Ai
-x
AL
)
1/K
y
=1/k
y
+m'/k
x
MASS BALANCES AND THE OPERATING LINE FOR
PACKED TOWERS
T = const
P = const
Cross-sectional
area, A
G
m,2
G
c
y
2
Y
2
L
m,2
L
s
x
2
X
2
G
m,1
G
c
y
1
Y
1
L
m,1
L
s
x
1
X
1
dz
G
m
molar total gas flow
rate (carrier gas +
pollutant)
Gc molar inert carrier
gas flow rate
L
m
molar total solvent
flow rate (solvent +
absorbed pollutant)
Ls molar solvent flow
rate
x is the liquid mole
fraction of pollutant, y
is the gas phase mole
fraction of the
pollutants, X is the
liquid phase mole ratio
and Y is the gas phase
mole ratio


MASS BALANCES AND THE OPERATING LINE FOR
PACKED TOWERS
Mole fraction and mole ratio:
X = x/(1-x) Y = y/(1-y)
Subscript m denotes that rates are in the units of mole
basis
The conservation of mass principle applied to the
pollutant species in terms of total mass flow rates at
top and bottom yields:
G
m,1
y
1
+ L
m,2
x
2
= G
m,2
y
2
+ L
m,1
x
1
or G
m,1
y
1
-G
m,2
y
2
= L
m,1
x
1
-L
m,2
x
2
MASS BALANCES AND THE OPERATING LINE FOR
PACKED TOWERS
In G
m,1
y
1
-G
m,2
y
2
= L
m,1
x
1
-L
m,2
x
2
total gas and liquid
flow rates are not equal at the top and the bottom of
the column, therefore we cannot further simplify this
equation.
When we write the equation in terms of the carrier gas
and liquid solvent rates then:
G
C,m
(Y
2
-Y
1
) = L
S,m
(X
2
-X
1
)
These two equations above gives a straight line on Y-
X coordinates with a slope of L
sm
/G
Cm
and called
operating lines.
The operating line lies
above the equilibrium line
for absorption
For a stripping (removal of
gas from liquid stream) the
operating line must lie
below the equilibrium line in
order for the drving force to
act from the liquid phase
toward the gas phase
Dirty air
Dirty water Clean water
Clean air
THE MINIMUM AND DESIGN LIQUID- GAS RATIO
At the bottom and top of the absorber, parameters
G
m,1
, G
c
, y
1
, G
m2
, y
2
, and x
2
are known.
We need to determine L
s
, and x
1

So we have one equation with 2 unknowns...
However selection of one of these values, obviously
fixes the other.
How to select a value?
THE MINIMUM AND DESIGN LIQUID- GAS RATIO
The minimum rate
is highly
undesirable. At
this point driving
force is almost 0.
Hence it would
take an infinetely
tall absorber to
accomplish the
desired separation
As a general
operating principle
an absorber is
typically designed
to operate at liquid
rates which are 30
to 70 % greater
than minimum
rate.
TOWER DIAMETER AND PRESSURE DROP PER
UNIT TOWER HEIGHT
For a given packing and liquid flow rate in an
absorption tower variation in the gas velocity has a
significant effect on the pressure drop
As the gas velocity is increased, the liquid tends to be
retarded in its downward flow, giving rise to term liquid
holdup (LH)
A LH increases, the free cross-sectional area for gas
flow decreases and pressure drop per unit height
increases.

PROBLEMS WITH HIGH GAS VELOCITY
Channeling: the gas or liquid flow is much greater at some
points than at others
Loading: the liquid flow is reduced due to the increased
gas flow; liquid is held in the void space between packing
Flooding: the liquid stops flowing altogether and collects
in the top of the column due to very high gas flow
TO AVOID this condition experience dictates operating at
gas velocities which are 40 to 70 % of those which
causing flooding
FLOOD POINT
The relationship between AP/Z and other important
tower variables-liquid and gas rates, liquid and gas
stream densities and viscosities, and type of packing
has been extensively studied on an experimental
basis.
A widely accepted correlation among these
parameters can be seen in below figure
Where G' and L': superficial gas and liquid mass flow
rate defined as actual flow rates divided by the empty
cross-sectional area of the tower.
L/G(
G
/
L
-
G
)
L: liquid mass flux (lb/s-ft
2
)



G:gas mass flux (lb/s-
ft
2
)
F:packing factor (ft
2
/ft
3
)

L
:liquid viscosity, cp
g
c
: proportonality
constant, 32.17 ft-
lb/s
2
-lb
f

L
:liquid density, lb/ft
3

G
:gas density, lb/ft
3

G G L c
L
g
F G

) (
) ' (
1 . 0 2

In Cooper and Alleys book, Figure 13.6 can be used. Note that in Figure 13.6 Gx and Gy are
liquid and gas flux (lg/s-ft2), respectively. In our notation G and L correspond to G
x
and Gy

PACKING FACTOR F
The top line in the figure represents the general
flooding condition for many packings. The flooding
condition however has been found to vary as a
function of the packing factor F (dimensionless
packing factor tabulated below)
Recent studies showed that when F is in the range of
10 to 60, the pressure drop can be expressed by:
AP
flood
= 0.115F
0.7
PACKING DATA
DETERMINING TOWER DIAMETER

First abscissa value is calculated
(L'/G')(p
G
/(p
L
-p
G
))
0.5

Where this value intercepts the flooding line on
Figure A, move horizontally to the left and read the
value of the ordinate:
(G')
2
F(
L
)
0.1
/g
c
(p
L
-p
G
)p
G

Calculate the G and take 30 to 70% of it to prevent
flooding

Tower crossectional area: A = G/G

Evaluate the tower diameter
DETERMINING EXPECTED PRESSURE DROP PER
UNIT HEIGHT OF TOWER
First calculate actual G and L and then calculate
the abscissa and the ordinate for use in Figure
13.6
From those values the intersection on the figure
defines the pressure drop per foot of packed
height

Another emprical correlation found in the litrature for
the AP in packing when operating below the load
point is
AP/Z = 10
-8
m[10
nL/L
](G
2
/
G
) m and n are packing
constants see Table 6.2
DETERMINING TOWER DIAMETER AND EXPECTED
PRESSURE DROP PER UNIT HEIGHT OF TOWER
EXAMPLE
A packed tower is to be designed to remove 95% of the
ammonia from a gaseous mixture of 8 percent ammonia and
92% air, by volume. The flow rate of the gas mixture entering
the tower at 68 F and 1 atm is 80 lb-moles/hr. Water
containing no ammonia is to be the solvent, and 1-in. Ceramic
raschig rings will be used as the packing. The tower is to
operated at 60% of theflood point and the liquid water rate is
to be 30% greater than the minimum rate. Determine

1. The gas-phase flow rates, in lb-moles/hr, for the solute
and carrier gas
2. The mole ratios of the gas and liquid phases at inlet and
outlet and the required water rate in lbmoles/hr.
3.The gas and liquid rates (lb/hr) for carrier gas, solute
gas, total gas, liquid solvent, solute in liquid, and total
liquid
4. The tower area and diameter
5. The pressure drop based on the two methods given in
the lecture notes.
EXAMPLE
Removal efficiency: 95%
Effluent Stream Composition: 8% ammonia and 92% air
Gas T and P: 68F and 1 atm
Flowrate: 80 lb-moles/hr
Liquid phase: Containing no ammonia
EXAMPLE
X 0.0206 0.0310 0.0407 0.0502 0.0735 0.0962
Y 0.0158 0.024 0.0329 0.0418 0.0660 0.0920
Determine composition of the liquid at the exit (X
1
)
(Inlet liquid concentration since pure water is used is x
2
=X
2
=0)
Use equilibrium data for ammonia-air-water mixtures which are given
below for 68 F and 14,7 psia. :
In order to determine composition of liquid at the exit, we need to
calculate the minimum solvent flow rate first.
By plotting X vrs Y at the equilibrium, we can evaluate the minimum
solvent and then operating solvent rate.

In Cooper and Alleys book, use Table B4 in the Appendix.

EXAMPLE
0
0,02
0,04
0,06
0,08
0,1
0 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,1
X, moles solute per mole solvent
y
,

m
o
l
e
s

s
o
l
u
t
e

p
e
r

m
o
l
e

c
a
r
r
i
e
r

g
a
s
X2,Y2
(Lm,S/Gm,C)min=
(0,087-0,00435)/0,092
Y1=0.087
Since the liquid rate is to be 30% greater than the miniumu rate
(L
m,S
)/G
m,C
)
design
= 1,30(0.90) = 1.17 mole/mole
L
m,S
= G
m,C
*1,17 = 1.17*73.6 = 86.1 lb moles/hr
0,90
0.092 Y2=0.00435
EXAMPLE
Now, X1 can now be found.
1. Graphically by drawing operating line with a slope of 1.17 with starting
point of (0, 0.00435) and the point crosses Y
1
=0.087 can be read. OR
2. From L
ms
/G
m,C
= Y
2
-Y
1
/(X
2
-X
1
)=0.00435-0.087/(0-X
1
) = 1.17
X
1
= 0.0707 lm mole A/lm mole water or x
1
= 0.066 lb mole A /lb moles
solution
0,90
0.00435
0,02
0,04
0,06
0,08
0,1
0 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,1
X, moles solute per mole solvent
y
,

m
o
l
e
s

s
o
l
u
t
e

p
e
r

m
o
l
e


c
a
r
r
i
e
r

g
a
s

X2,Y2
(Lm,S/Gm,C)=1.17
Y1=0.087
X1: 0.0707
FLOW RATES
The gas and liquid rates:
G
C
= 73.6*29 = 2134 lb/hr
G
A,1
= 6.4*17 = 109 lb/hr
G
A,2
= 0.32*(17) = 5.4 lb/hr
L
S
= 86.1*18=1550 lb/hr
L
A,1
= AGA= 109*0.95=104 lb/hr

Therefore:
G
1
= 2134 +109=2243 lb/hr bottom
L
1
= 1550 +104 = 1654 lb/hr
G
2
= 21345+5=2139 lb/hr top
L
2
=1550 + 0 = 1550 lb/hr top
T = const
P = const
Cross-sectional
area, A
G
m,2
G
c
y
2
Y
2
L
m,2
L
s
x
2
X
2
G
m,1
G
c
y
1
Y
1
L
m,1
L
s
x
1
X
1
dz
TOWER AREA
To determine the tower area, we need to use Figure flooding
correlation plot.
Therefore we need to calculate gas and liquid phase densities
at the top and bottom of the tower. Since the ammonia
content is very low in liquid phase, use the density of pure
water, 62.3 lb/ft3 as the solution density through the tower.

For the gas phase assume ideal gas behavior:
= P/RT = M
w
P/RT
At the top: M
w
= Ey
i
M
i
= 0.00435*17 + 0.9957*29 = 28.95
= 28.95*14.7/(10.73*528) = 0.075 lb/ft
3
At the bottom Mw= 0.08*17 + 0.92*29 = 28.04
= 28.04*14.7/(10.73*528) = 0.0728 lb/ft
3

Now calculate the abscissa of Flooding Figure
TOWER AREA
TOWER AREA
PRESSURE DROP
Pressure drop can be determined from the flooding figure or
from an emprical equation
DETERMINATION OF AN ABSORPTION TOWER
HEIGHT
Height of a packed tower = f(the overall resistance to mass
transfer between the gas and liquid phases, the average
driving force and interfacial area)
Consider a differential height of the absorber dZ. In height dZ,
the rate of mass transfer of species A



a: interfacial area available to mass transfer per unit volume of
the packing
A: cross-sectional area of the tower
) ' ( ) ( ) ( y G Ad y G d adZ A N
m A
= =
TOWER HEIGHT
The equation can be also written for liquid resistance part.
) (
'
) (
'
) ' ( ) (
* *
*
y y aP K
y G
y y a K
dy G
dZ
y G d dz y y a K
G
m
y
m
m A AG y

=
=
N
A
A(adz) = d(G
m
y) = Ad(G' y)
TOWER HEIGHT
To solve the above equation we can determine the overall
value of Kya (Kga) based on experimental pilot plant
operated with a certain packing and gas/liquid rate. The
right side of the equation can be integrated from the
knowledge of the operating line and equilibrium line
chracteristics.
This method can be modified to deal with the height of a
transfer unit and the number of transfer units by
modifiying the equation somewhat
dZ =
G
m
' y
K
y
a(y y
*
)
=
G
m
' y
K
G
aP(y y
*
)
TOWER HEIGHT
To solve the above equation we can determine the overall
value of K
y
a (K
g
a) based on experimental pilot plant
operated with a certain packing and gas/liquid rate. The
right side of the equation can be integrated from the
knowledge of the operating line and equilibrium line
chracteristics.
This method can be modified to deal with the height of a
transfer unit and the number of transfer units by
modifiying the equation somewhat
) (
'
) (
'
* *
y y aP K
dy G
y y a K
dy G
dZ
G
m
y
m

=
The equation can be expressed in terms of height of
transfer unit (HTU ) and number of transfer units :







HTU is reaonably constant through the absorber and has
unit of length. NTU is dimensionless.
55
( )
}

=
1
*
'
y
y
OG
m
Z
y y
dy
aP K
G
Z
Tower Height
HTU or
Hoy
NTU or
Noy
2
0
1
4
/
6
/
1
1

A
e
r
o
s
o
l

&

P
a
r
t
i
c
u
l
a
t
e

R
e
s
e
a
r
c
h

L
a
b

56
( )
}

=
1
*
'
y
y
OG
m
Z
y y
dy
aP K
G
Z
x
1
, y
1
*
x
1
, y
1

x
Z
, y
Z
*
x
Z
, y
Z

Z =
G'
m
K
OG
aP

y
1
y
z
y
LM
; y
LM
=
y
1
y
1
*
( )
y
z
y
z
*
( )
ln
y
1
y
1
*
y
z
y
z
*

For dilute gas

streams, transfer
unit equation can
be simplified:
2
0
1
4
/
6
/
1
1

A
e
r
o
s
o
l

&

P
a
r
t
i
c
u
l
a
t
e

R
e
s
e
a
r
c
h

L
a
b

57
Pure amine
L
m
= 0.46 gmole/s
0.04% CO
2
1.27% CO
2
G
m
= 2.31

gmole/s
C* = 7.3%
CO
2
in
amine
Q: A Packed tower using organic amine at 14
o
C to absorb CO
2
.
The entering gas contains 1.27% CO
2
and is in equilibrium with
a solution of amine containing 7.3% mole CO
2
. The gas leaves
containing 0.04% CO
2
. The amine, flowing counter-currently,
enters pure. Gas flow rate is 2.31 gmole/s and liquid flow rate is
0.46 gmole/s. The towers cross-sectional area is 0.84 m
2
.
K
OG
a = 9.3410
-6
s
-1
atm
-1
cm
-3
. The pressure is 1 atm.
Determine the tower height that can achieve this goal.
2
0
1
4
/
6
/
1
1

A
e
r
o
s
o
l

&

P
a
r
t
i
c
u
l
a
t
e

R
e
s
e
a
r
c
h

L
a
b

58
Absorption of concentrated vapor
Mole balance on the controlled volume
) ' ( ) ' ( 0 x L
dz
d
y G
dz
d
m m
+ =
Gas flux
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
y
G G
m m
1
1
' '
0
Liquid flux
|
.
|

\
|

=
x
L L
m m
1
1
' '
0
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1 1 '
'
1
1
1 1 '
'
1
x
x
x
x
G
L
y
y
x
x
x
x
G
L
y
y
y
m
m
m
m
x
1
, y
1

x
1
, y
1
*
x
Z
, y
Z
*
x
Z
, y
Z

EXAMPLE
A 1ft diameter packed column is used to scrub a soluble gas
(MW = 22) from an airgas mixture. Pure water enters the top
of the column at 1000 lbm/hr. The entering gas stream
contains 5% soluble gas and 95% air. Ninetyfive percent of
the soluble gas is removed. Both the operating line and
equilibrium curve may be assumed to be straight. The
equation for the equilibrium curve is y = 1.2x, where x, y =
mole fractions. The entering gas mixture flow rate is 800
lbm/hr. The column operates at 30 C and 1 atm, and
Kya = 4.29 lbmol/hrft3y |
EXAMPLE

Calculate or find:

a) Concentration of the soluble gas in the effluent liquid if the column is operated at
minimum liquid flow rate

b) Concentration of soluble gas in the liquid at a point in column where y = 0.02

c) Height of packed section, Z

T

d) H
oy

e) Whether columnis in danger of flooding if it is packed with 12in. ceramic Raschig

rings

Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution