2/6/2011

Economic Analysis
ChE 216
Optimization in Gas Absorption

Direct Cost, CD = Cost of solvent

Fixed Cost, CF = Cost of maintenance and depreciation

Determination of the Optimum Superficial gas

velocity (GSopt)

TotalCosts
CT=CF+CD
Annual Cost, C

Evelyn R. Laurito
University of Santo Tomas

2/6/2011

ChE 522 Plant Design

Evelyn R. Laurito

Direct
Costs, CD

CTmin

Fixed
GSopt
Costs, CF
Superficial gas velocity (GS)
1

2/6/2011

ChE 522 Plant Design

Example

Example

Consider a gas absorption tower

Solvent
No of Transfer Units = 0.32GS 1.8
GS in kg/hrm2
Height of a transfer unit = 5 m
Cost of installed tower
= $35/m3 of inside volume
KF =0.2 Hy=8000 h/yr
Direct Costs, $/hr

A packed gas absorption tower shall treat 2000 m3/min of SO2-air mixture (MW ave = 29.1)
at 120oC and 1.1 atm . The height of a transfer unit is 5 m and the number of transfer units
Is related to the gas mass transfer velocity Gs (kg/hr-m2) by the equation: N = 0.32 Gs1.8.
The cost of the installed tower is $35/m3 of inside volume. Take KF = 0.2 and Hy = 8000.
The direct costs in $/hr is related to Gs by the equation: 1.8 x 10-8Gs2 + 81/Gs + 4.8/Gs0.8
Determine: a) Optimum Height of Tower b) Optimum Diameter of Tower

1.8G S x 10 8
2

Air SO2
2000m3/min Gas
120oC
1.1 atm
Mwave=29.1
2/6/2011

ChE 522 Plant Design

Evelyn R. Laurito

Evelyn R. Laurito

2/6/2011

81
4.8

G S G S 0.8

Required at optimum conditions

Height of Tower
Diameter of tower
ChE 522 Plant Design

Evelyn R. Laurito