CEE 452/652

Week 9, Lecture 2
Absorption
Dr. Dave DuBois
Division of Atmospheric Sciences,
Desert Research Institute
2
Todays topics
Todays topic: chapter 13 on absorption
Cover odor control on Tuesday, Oct 30
Also have review session next class Oct 30
Midterm is Nov 1 (next Thursday)
Cumulative, information up to Oct 30 lecture
is fair game
3
Major Techniques for
Capture/Elimination of Gas
Pollutants
Oxidation to form nontoxic compounds
Chemical reduction to form nontoxic
compounds
Adsorption onto solid surfaces
Absorption into liquids
Biological oxidation to form nontoxic
compounds
Condensation of vapors to form liquids
4
The Absorption Process
The transfer of material from a gas (absorbate) to
a liquid (absorbent)
Transfer is based on the preferential solubility of a
gaseous component in the liquid
Also known as scrubbingor washing
Examples include removal and recovery of NH
3
in
fertilizer manufacturing
Control of SO
2
from combustion source
Control of odorous gases from rendering plants
5
Mass Transfer in Absorption
diffusion
6
Types of Absorber Control
Equipment
Packed bed tower absorbers
Spray tower absorbers
Tray tower absorbers
Venturi Absorbers
Ejector Absorbers
Biofiltration Bed Absorbers
7
Gas Absorption
Equipment
Packed bed
absorbers most
common
Counter-current flow
tower configuration
Gas flow enters
bottom of tower and
flows upward
Gas in
Gas out
8
Gas Absorption
Equipment
Another counter-
current flow tower
configuration
Gas exit
Gas in
9
Cross-Flow Scrubber
Gas
Flow
in
Gas
Flow
out
Concentration gradients exist in two
directions in the liquid
- from top to bottom and front to rear
10
Packed Bed Abs. Applications
Suited to applications where high gas
removal efficiency is required
Exhaust gas is relatively free from
particulate matter
Control of SO
2
and HCl in sulfuric acid and
hydrochloric acid production
11
Packing Elements
Lessing ring
12
Packing Elements
Packing material provides a large surface
area for mass transfer
Packing elements made of plastic
(polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyvinylchloride), ceramic or metal
Sizes range from 1 to 4 inches each
Design depends on corrosiveness of gas,
scrubbing liquid, size of absorber, static
pressure drop and cost
13
Packing Elements
14
Spray Tower Absorber
Simplest device used for absorption
Consists of open vessel and a set of liquid spray
nozzles to distribute scrubbing liquid (absorbent)
Limited efficiency because of limited contact
between gas and spray droplets
Used when gases are
extremely soluble in absorbent
Chemical reaction in liquid
could cause clogging
15
Gas Absorption Equipment
Co-current Spray Tower
Scrubber
Full Cone Nozzle
Spray Tower
16
Tray Tower Absorber
17
Packed Tower
Design
Diameter and height of the
bed can be estimated for this
design
Use generalized flooding and
pressure drop correlation
graph
18
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
1. calculate value of
In the Generalized Sherwood flooding and pressure
drop correlation graph
5 . 0

=
L
g
G
L
abcissa

L = mass flow rate of liquid

G = mass flow rate of gas

g
= gas density

L
= liquid density
19
L
G
G
L

g
F G
L G
L


1 . 0 2
) ' (
L =mass flow rate
of liquid
G =mass flow rate
of gas
G =mass flux of gas
per cross sectional
area of column
F =Packing factor
=specific gravity
of the scrubbing
liquid

L
=liquid viscosity
(in cP; 0.8 for water)
(dimensionless)
20
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
2. calculate flooding pressure drop
F
p
= packing factor (dimensionless)
7 . 0
115 . 0
p flood
F P =
21
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
3. use graph to find ordinate at the flooding
pressure drop, P
4. And find gas flow rate, G
g
F G
L G
L


1 . 0 2
) ' (
G =mass flux of gas per cross sectional
area of column (lb/ft
2
-s)
F =Packing factor
=specific gravity of the scrubbing liquid

L
=liquid viscosity (lb/ft-s)
g = gravitational acceleration

g
= gas density

L
= liquid density
22
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
5. Calculate actual gas flow rate per unit area as
a fraction of the gas flow rate at flooding
G
operating
= G f
Where
Goperating = actual flow rate per unit area (lb/ft
3
-s)
f = coefficient (0.75)
23
Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
6. Calculate packed bed diameter on the actual
gas flow rate per unit area in the system
area unit per rate flow Gas
rate flow gas Total
Area Tower =

Area Tower
Diameter Tower

=
4
Area Tower Diameter Tower 13 . 1 =
Note correction
24
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
Problems with high gas flow