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Chapter No.8 Design of Absorber: 8.1 Absorption
Chapter No.8 Design of Absorber: 8.1 Absorption
CHAPTER No.8
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
8.1 ABSORPTION
The removal of one or more component from the mixture of gases by using a
suitable solvent is second major operation of Chemical Engineering that based on mass
transfer.
In gas absorption a soluble vapors are more or less absorbed in the solvent from its
mixture with inert gas. The purpose of such gas scrubbing operations may be any of the
following;
a) For Separation of component having the economic value.
b) As a stage in the preparation of some compound.
c) For removing of undesired component (pollution).
Physical Absorption:
In physical absorption mass transfer take place purely by diffusion and physical
absorption is governed by the physical equilibria.
Chemical Absorption:
In this type of absorption as soon as a particular component comes in contact with
the absorbing liquid a chemical reaction take place. Then by reducing the concentration
of component in the liquid phase, which enhances the rate of diffusion.
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Packed column
Plate column
From the above consideration packed column is selected as the absorber, because
in our case the diameter of the column is less than 6 ft. As the solubility is infinity so the
liquid will absorb as much gases as it remain in contact with gases so packed tower
provide more contact. It is easy to operate.
Packing:
The packing is the most important component of the system. The packing provides
sufficient area for intimate contact between phases. The efficiency of the packing with
respect to both HTU and flow capacity determines to a significance extent the overall size
of the tower. The economics of the installation is therefore tied up with packing choice.
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
The packings are divided into those types which are dumped at random into the
tower and these which must be stacked by hand. Dumped packing consists of unit 1/4 lo
3 inches in major dimension and are used roost in the smaller columns. The units in
stacked packing are 2 to about 8 inches in size, they are used only in the larger towers.
The Principal Requirement of a Tower packing are:
1) It must be chemically inert to the fluids in the tower.
2) It must be strong without excessive weight.
3) It must contain adequate passages for both streams without excessive liquid
hold up or pressure drop.
4) It must provide good contact between liquid and gas.
5) It must be reasonable in cost.
Thus most packing is made of cheap, inert, fairly light materials such as clay,
porcelain, or graphite. Thin-walled metal rings of steel or aluminum are some limes used.
Common Packings are:
a) Berl Saddle.
b) Intalox Saddle.
c) Rasching rings.
d) Lessing rings.
e) Cross-partition rings.
f) Single spiral ring.
g) Double - Spiral ring.
h) Triple - Spiral ring.
Selection of column.
Selection of packing and material
Calculating the size of packing
Calculating the diameter of column
Determining the no. of transfer units (NOG)
Determining the height of packing
Determining the height of the column
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
103
Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
3311.2(Y-0.0002) =5010.8(X-0)
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
X=0.661(Y-0.0002)……………… (1)
Y=1.513X +0.0002 ……………… (2)
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
L g
G L
= 0.04
K4 = 1.5
Also from table 22.1 MCcab & Smith 5th-Ed,
Packing factor for 3-inch ceramic intalox - saddles =Fp=22
From Coulson & Richardson volume-6
G*=11.1Kg/m2-sec.
Flow rate of gas entering =G =94035 /3600
=26.12 Kg/sec.
As
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
aw c L w L w 2 a Lw 2
0.75 0.1 0.05 0.2
1 exp 1.45 2
a a g a
l L L L L
Where
aw = effective interfacial area of packing per unit volume m2/m3
Lw = liquid mass velocity kg/m2s
a = actual area of packing per unit volume m2/m3
σc = critical surface tension for particular packing material
σL = liquid surface tension N/m
a = 92 m2/m3
Lw = 1.85 kg/m2s
σc = 61 x 10-3 N/m
σL = 70 x 10-3 N/m
µL=1.4 CP
ρL =1022Kg /m3
aw 0.75
61 10.66
0.1
10.66 92
2 0.05
10.66 2
0.2
1 exp 1.45 3
1022 70 10 3 92
70 92 1.4 10 1022 9.8
2
92
aw = 53.5 m2/m3
Calculation Of Liquid Film Mass Transfer Coefficient:
1 2 1
3 L 3 L
ad
2
K L L 0.0051 w 0 .4
L g aw L L DL
p
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
1
0 .7
K G RTg V g 3
K5 w ad p 2
aDg a D
g g g
L
And H m
L Ktransfer
H = Liquid-film a C
L
L wunittheight
Lm= 10.66/18 = 0.59 Kmol/m2.sec
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
HG = 0.40 m
HL = 0.28 m
So,
Height of transfer units=HOG = 0.4 + 0.75 × 0.28
HOG = 0.61 m (From Coulson & Richardson, range is 0.6
to 1m, topic 11.14.3)
L g
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G
Production of Acrylonitrile L
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
= 0.04
g
L
G = 0.04
L g
Wetting rate = Liquid volumetric flow rate per unit cross-sectional area
Specific area of packing per unit volume
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Gx y
Gy x y = 0.04
Here, Gx = L (lb/sec.ft2)
Gy = G (lb/sec.ft2)
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
= (lb/ft3)
y g
x L
= (lb/ft3)
Also,
G2 ×Fp×µL0.1 / ρg (ρL - ρg)gc = 0.069
Then,
ΔP = 0.6 in.H2O/ft of packing
ΔP =1.9 in.H2O/m of packing
ΔP = 47.5 mmH2O/m of packing (Recommended pressure drop for
absorber is 15 to 50 mmH2O/m of packing, topic 11.14.4, Coulson &
Richardson)
Total Pressure Drop = 47.5 x 9= 427.5 mmH2O/m of packing
Total Pressure Drop = 4 kPa/m of packing
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Production of Acrylonitrile
DESIGN OF ABSORBER
Identification:
Item: Packed Absorption Column
Item No: A-104
No. required: 01
Design Data:
No. of transfer units = 15
Height of transfer units = 0.61 m
Height of packing section = 9 m
Total height of column = 11 m
Diameter = 1.73 m
Pressure drop = 4kPa/m of packing
Internals:
Size and type = 66 mm Intalox saddles
Material of packing: Ceramic
Packing arrangement: Dumped
Type of packing support: Simple grid & perforated support
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Production of Acrylonitrile