CEE 452/652

Week 9, Lecture 2
Absorption

Dr. Dave DuBois

Division of Atmospheric Sciences,
Desert Research Institute
 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

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 Major Techniques for
Capture/Elimination of Gas
Pollutants
Oxidation to form nontoxic compounds
Chemical reduction to form nontoxic
compounds
Adsorption onto solid surfaces
9Absorption into liquids
Biological oxidation to form nontoxic
compounds
Condensation of vapors to form liquids
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 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 scrubbing or washing
Examples include removal and recovery of NH3 in
fertilizer manufacturing
Control of SO2 from combustion source
Control of odorous gases from rendering plants
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Mass Transfer in Absorption

diffusion

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 Types of Absorber Control
Equipment
Packed bed tower absorbers
Spray tower absorbers
Tray tower absorbers
Venturi Absorbers
Ejector Absorbers
Biofiltration Bed Absorbers

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Gas out
Gas Absorption
Equipment
Packed bed
absorbers most
common
Counter-current flow
tower configuration
Gas flow enters
bottom of tower and
flows upward
Gas in
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 Gas exit

Gas Absorption
Equipment
Another counter-
current flow tower
configuration

Gas in

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 Cross-Flow Scrubber

Gas
Flow Gas
in Flow
out

Concentration gradients exist in two

directions in the liquid
- from top to bottom and front to rear 9
 Packed Bed Abs. Applications
Suited to applications where high gas
removal efficiency is required
Exhaust gas is relatively free from
particulate matter
Control of SO2 and HCl in sulfuric acid and
hydrochloric acid production

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Packing Elements

Lessing ring
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 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
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Packing Elements

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 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

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 Gas Absorption Equipment
Spray Tower
Full Cone Nozzle
Co-current Spray Tower
Scrubber

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Tray Tower Absorber

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Packed Tower
Design
Diameter and height of the
bed can be estimated for this
design

Use generalized flooding and

pressure drop correlation
graph

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 Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
1. calculate value of

L g
0.5

abcissa =
G L
In the Generalized Sherwood flooding and pressure
drop correlation graph
L = mass flow rate of liquid
G = mass flow rate of gas
g = gas density
L = liquid density
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 (G ' ) 2 F 0L.1
G L g

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)
L G
(dimensionless)
G L 19
 Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
2. calculate flooding pressure drop

Pflood = 0.115 F 0.7

p

Fp = packing factor (dimensionless)

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 Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
3. use graph to find ordinate at the flooding
pressure drop, P

G = mass flux of gas per cross sectional

(G ' ) F
2 0. 1
L
area of column (lb/ft2-s)
F = Packing factor
= specific gravity of the scrubbing liquid
G L g L = liquid viscosity (lb/ft-s)
g = gravitational acceleration
g = gas density
L = liquid density

4. And find gas flow rate, G

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 Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
5. Calculate actual gas flow rate per unit area as
a fraction of the gas flow rate at flooding

Goperating = G f
Where
Goperating = actual flow rate per unit area (lb/ft3-s)
f = coefficient (0.75)

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 Simplified Design of Packed
Absorber
6. Calculate packed bed diameter on the actual
gas flow rate per unit area in the system

Total gas flow rate

Tower Area =
Gas flow rate per unit area

4 Tower Area
Tower Diameter = Note correction

Tower Diameter = 1.13 Tower Area

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 Problems with high gas flow
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

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