LEARNING TASK NO.

3
ABSORPTION

GROUP NO. 5:
October 23, 2012

Signature
Prof. Allan

Soriano
Abetria, Aixel Mae
Bito-on, Jameila
Elacion, Raphael

Problem 1: [Pressure Drop]

Reference: Perrys Chemical Engineering Handbook 8th edition.
Air and water are flowing counter currently through a bed of 2-inch metal Pall
rings. The air mass velocity is 2.03 kg/s-m 2 (1500 lbs/hr-ft2), and the liquid
mass velocity is 12.20 kg/s-m2 (9000 lbs/hr-ft2). Calculate the pressure drop
by the generalized pressure drop (GPDC). The packing factor Fp=27/ft.
Given:
Water L=12.20 kg/s-m2 (9000 lbs/hr-ft2)

Air V=2.03 kg/s-m2 (1500 lbs/hr-ft2)

Properties:

G =0.074

lbs
lbs
=62.4 3 =1.0 cp =1.0 cS
3 L
ft
ft

Required: Pressure Drop

Solution:
Solving for the flow parameter,
F LG =

L G
G L

0.5

0.5

( ) ( )( )
=

9000
1500

0.074
62.4

=0.207

lb/ ft 3 0.5
G
1500
Ffactor =F s=U t G 0.5=
=
=1.53 ft /s
0.5
(G 3600) [ ( 0.074 )0.5 ( 3600 ) ]
Using the GPDC method

G
Ut
L G

0.5
0.05
F 0.5
P

F s 0.5 0.05 1.53

F =
270.5 ( 1.0 )=1.01 , capacity parameter
0.5
0.5
L P
62.4
Using Fig. 14-55 PCHE Handbook 8th ed.
Flow parameter =0.207
Capacity parameter=1.01

Pressuredrop=0.38

. H20
ft packing

PROBLEM 2: PRESSURE DROP, DIAMETER

(Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Mccabe, Smith and Harriott)

A tower packed with 1-in (25.4mm) cerami Intalox saddles is to be built to treat
25,000ft3(708m3) of entering gas per hour. The ammonia content of the entering
gas is 2% by volume. Ammonia-free water is used as absorbent. The temperature is
68OF (20OC), and the pressure is 1 atm. The ratio of ga flow to liquid flow is 1 lb of
gas per pound of liquid. If the gas velocity is to be one-half the flooding velocity,
what should be the diameter of the tower?
Given:

Required:
a. Diameter (D)
Solution:
Average Molecular Weight: 29(0.98) +17(0.02)= 28.76 g/mol

V =

V =62.43

PM
=
RT

1 atm

Pa 0.0276 kg
( 101325
)( mol ) =1.196 kg =0.07465 lb
atm

8.314

J
( 293.15 )
molK

lb
ft 3

Gx y
L

G y x V

V 1 0.07465
=
0.035
L 1 62.43
0.7

Pflood =0.115 F p

m3

ft 3

Fp=

92
ft

Pflood =0.115

H2o
92 0.7
=2.72
ft
ft

( )

C s F p0.5 v 0.05=1.67
v
C s=uo
l v

0.5

At 1atm and 68oF

l=1 cP

kg
ms
1 cP
1 cP

m2
1 cs
v= =
=1 x 106
=1 cs
2

kg
s
6 m
1000 3
1 x 10
m
s

v
uo
l v

uo=5.032

0.5

F p0.5 v 0.05=1.67

0.07465
uo
62.430.07465

0.001

0.5

920.5 10.05=1.67

ft
(FloodingVelocity)
s

u=5.302 ( 0.5 ) =2.651

ft
s
2 m

D =
4

m=QP

ft 3 1 hr
1 lb

m=25000
hr 3600 s ft 3

m=

0.518 lb
s

D= 1.8ft

)( )