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INDEX:
SR. NO. CONTENT PAGE NO.
1. INTRODUCTION 2–6
2. INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION 7
3. EXPERIMENTAL MANUAL 8 – 11
4. SAMPLE CALCULATIONS 12 – 14
5. PRECAUTIONS 15
6. LINE DIAGRAM 16
7. WIRING DIAGRAM 17
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INTRODUCTION
The chemical industry affords numerous examples of processes in which a gas
is dissolved by a liquid and then undergoes a chemical reaction in the liquid phase.
For example, in the contact process for the manufacture of sulfuric acid the sulfur
trioxide formed by the catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide is absorbed in a mixture of
sulfuric acid and water with which it reacts chemically to praoduce more sulfuric
acid. Similarly, the nitrogen oxides formed by the catalytic oxidation of ammonia are
absorbed in water and react to from nitric acid. In some cases, an unwanted impurity
in a gas is removed by scrubbing with a liquid capable of reacting with it, as in the
removal of sulfur dioxide from flue gas by absorption in an alkaline solution or a
suspension of slaked lime. The separation and recovery of one constituent of a gas
mixture may be affected by absorption in liquor with which it undergoes a reversible
chemical reaction. For example, carbon dioxide is removed from gases by absorption
in mono-or diethanolamine, with which it reacts to form carbonates, and
subsequently recovered by heating the solution. The regenerated amine is then
returned to the absorption plant. In this case the advantage over a process involving
physical solution, e.g. in water, is the much higher solubility of carbon dioxide in the
amine and the consequent reduction in the rate of circulation of liquid through the
absorber and regenerator.

The effect of a chemical reaction in the liquid phase is to increase the

solubility of the absorbed component and reduce its equilibrium partial pressure. If
the chemical reaction is irreversible, the equilibrium partial pressure is zero as long
as any free reactant remains in the liquid phase. Since the molecules of absorbed
component must diffuse into the liquid phase until they meet the reactant, and after
the reaction, the product must diffuse into the bulk of the liquid, the rate of
absorption must depend on the concentration and diffusivities of the reactant and
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products, on the rate of chemical reaction and on the depth of the liquid film in
which the reaction occurs. Figure 1 illustrates the sequence of events for a fast-
irreversible reaction.
AB
B
A ci
pi
Fig. 1 Concentration gradients in a liquid film
A B when a component A dissolves at the surface
XX and reacts with component B in solution
X Y Z

Component A diffuses from the gas to the liquid surface (X), where its partial
pressure is pi and the equilibrium concentration in the liquid is ci. It then diffuses in
the liquid to a plane Y, where it meets reactant B which is diffusing in the opposite
direction from the bulk of the liquid, Z. Owing to the instantaneous reaction the
concentrations of A and B fall to zero, and the product AB is formed. this diffuses
back to the plane Z, representing the bulk of the liquid.

The distance XY traversed by A is only a fraction of the total film thickness XZ

and the concentration gradient is greater than would be the case in physical
absorption. In consequence, the mass transfer coefficient for absorption in the liquid
film is enhanced considerably when a rapid chemical reaction occurs. For example,
the absorption of sulfur dioxide by water is controlled by both the gas and liquid
films, but when it is absorbed by a dilute solution of caustic soda the liquid film
coefficient is increased to such an extent that the rate of absorption is controlled
almost entirely by the gas film.

INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES INVOLVING ABSORPTION WITH CHEMICAL REACTION:

The principal industrial processes involving absorption with chemical reaction

may be grouped under the following headings.
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(1) Absorption of carbon dioxide by caustic soda or potash solutions. Owing to

the expensive nature of the absorbent this is mainly used for removing the
last traces of carbon dioxide from a gas.
(2) Absorption of carbon dioxide by sodium or potassium carbonate solutions.
Heating to decompose the bicarbonate may regenerate the solution.
(3) Absorption of carbon dioxide by mono-or diethanolamine solutions,
followed by desorption and regeneration at a higher temperature.
(4) Absorption of carbon dioxide by ammoniacal solutions to produce
ammonium carbonate. This reaction is used in the Solvay process for
manufacture of sodium carbonate.
(5) Absorption of hydrogen sulfide by sodium hydroxide or carbonate
solutions.
(6) Absorption of hydrogen sulfide by ethanolamine solutions, followed by
desorption and regeneration.
(7) Absorption of sulfur dioxide by water and alkaline solutions.
(8) Absorption of sulfur trioxide by sulfuric acid.
(9) Absorption of chlorine.
(10) Absorption of nitrogen oxides and manufacture of nitric acid.
(11) Absorption of hydrogen fluoride.

The difficulties inherent in the theory of absorption with chemical reaction,

coupled with the lack of fundamental data on diffusivities and reaction rates, are
such that the design of absorption plant is usually based on data obtained from the
operation of laboratory or pilot plant equipment. Many such investigations are
described in the literature, but there are so many variations in the apparatus and
experimental technique that it is seldom possible to reduce the results to a common
basis.
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A prodigious amount of effort has been spent in developing the analogies

between the three transport phenomena for the case of turbulent flow in circular
pipes, beginning with Reynold’s original concept of the analogy between momentum
and heat transfer in 1874. The number of well-known relationships proposed is in
dozens, and new ones of increasing complexity are continually being suggested.

Experimental data have come from so called WETTED WALL TOWERS and flow of
liquids through soluble pipes. In wetted wall column, a volatile pure liquid is
permitted to flow down the inside surface of a circular pipe while a gas is blown
upward or downward through the central core. Measurement of the rate of
evaporation of the liquid into the gas stream over the known sur
face permits calculations of the mass transfer coefficients for the gas phase. Since
the liquids may be pure liquids, the concentration gradient for the diffusion exists
entirely within the gas stream and coefficient kG may be obtained directly from the
data. Use of different gases and liquids provides variation of Sc. In this way,
Sherwood and Gilliland covered values of Re from 2000 to 35000, Sc from 0.6 to 2.5,
and gas pressures from 0.1 to 3 atm.

Shav = 0.023 * Re0.83 Sc0.33 (1)

Wetted wall column has been used successfully as absorbers for Hydrochloric
Acid gas, Ammonia, Acetone, Benzene and other volatile liquids. They have also been
used for theoretical studies for mass transfer because the interfacial surface
between the phases is kept under control and is measurable.

The height of a wetted wall column required for many mass transfer
operations is excessive and consequently this is not widely used. Where large
quantities of liquid or gas have to be handled it would be necessary to arrange many
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vertical pipes in parallel and this leads to difficulties in the distribution of the liquid
into the inner surface of the tubes. The gas pressure drop from this type of
equipment is very low, however since it is almost entirely confined to skin friction
effects, with few or no expansion or contraction losses.

Shav when plotted against the Re on logarithmic coordinates, the average

slope of the line is 0.83 so that the group (kG*pB,M*R*T*l/ Pt DAB) vary as Re0.83. The
equation, which describes all the data, for both, the liquid and gas flow are
therefore,

(kG*pB,M*R*T*l/ Pt DAB) = 0.023 Re0.83 Sc0.333

This empirical relation is quite remarkable in the manner in which it generally

confirms the relationship between heat, mass and momentum transfer developed
theoretically. It should be noted that the evaporation of the volatile liquids in a
wetted wall column results in cooling of the liquids and consequent simultaneous
heat transfer between liquid and gas. The heat transfer rates are somewhat higher
than those given by the equation,

h * D / K = 0.023 Re0.8 Pr0.3

Owing to ripples and waves on the liquid surface.

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DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENT

• The experimental set up consist of 35 mm ID Borosil glass column of 750 mm

length with proper arrangement to distribute air and water throughout the
column.
• Two sets of Wet and Dry bulb thermometers have been provided to measure
the humidity/ partial pressure of water vapor in air at the entry and exit of the
wetted wall column.
• A 0.5 HP Monoblock pump with 40-liter SS 304 tank have been provided to
feed the water at the top of the column through pre calibrated rotameter.
• Air is supplied with the help of 0.5 Air Compressor through rotameter to the
bottom of the column.
• An air heater has been provided to heat the air slightly to compensate the
cooling effect of expansion of compressed air.
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WETTED WALL COLUMN EXPERIMENTAL MANUAL

AIM:

To study the rates and phenomena of diffusion into gases flowing through the
pipe and also to verify the Sherwood & Gilliland correlations.

PROCEDURE:

• Fill that water tank with fresh tap water and switch ON the pump keeping the
bypass valve totally open.
• Open the valve on the water rotameter to adjust the flowrate of water
through the column and if no flow is obtained, slowly close the bypass valve to
get the desired flow of water through rotameter. (Initially keeps high flow rate
of water to obtain uniform distribution water throughout the perimeter of the
column and then adjust it to the desired level).
• Switch ON the Air compressor and open the rotameter valve to set the flow
rate of the air at the desired value.
• Switch on the Air Heater.
• Measure the Dry bulb and Wet bulb temperatures indicated by the
thermometers located at the top and bottom of the column after 5 minutes.
• Change either the water flow rate or air flow rate to change the conditions of
humidity and /or turbulence. Take 4-5 reading of different nature.

DATA:

Diffusivity of water in air at 298 K and 1 std. atm. = 26 * 10-6 m2/ s

Satd. Vap.
Temp Temp AIR AIR AIR H2O
Press.
(K) (C) (kg/ m s) (kg/ m3) (m2/ s) (kg/ m3)
(Pa)
311 37.85 19 * 10-6 1.135 16.768 * 10-6 992.9 6628
299 25.85 18.4 * 10-6 1.181 15.624 * 10-6 996.7 3413
287 13.85 17.8 * 10-6 1.230 14.52 * 10-6 999.1 1653
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OBSERVATION TABLE:

Water Air Temperature

Air Flow
Flow Water Temp
Sr. Rate
Rate. Inlet Outlet (C)
No. (QA)
(QW) (C) (C)
(LPM)
LPM TD1 TW1 TD2 TW 2 TIN TOUT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

CALCULATIONS:

Length of tube L = 750 mm

Internal Diameter of tube d = 35 mm
Wetted surface in the column, A (m2) =  * d* L
Average temperature of air,
TAV = (TD1 + TD2) / 2
= C
Air flow rate (kmol/ s)
273 1
= (Air Flow Rate in LPM * 10-3) * *
273 + T AV 22 . 41

=
Total Pressure in the column, Pt = 101.3 kN/ m2
Partial pressure of water vapor in air at the inlet pA1,
= (Percentage Saturation/ 100) * pA, OUT
Where pA, OUT = vapor pressure of water corresponding to the outlet temperature TOUT
Partial pressure of water vapor in air at the outlet pA2,
= (Percentage Saturation/ 100) * pA, IN
where pA, IN = vapor pressure of water corresponding to the inlet temperature TIN
Driving force at inlet of air (at bottom)
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pw1 = pA, OUT – pA1

Where,
pA, OUT = pure component vapor pressure of water at outlet water temperature TOUT
pA1 = Partial pressure of water at bottom
Driving force at outlet of air (at top)
pw 2 = pA, IN – pA2
Where,
pA, IN = pure component vapor pressure of water at inlet water temperature TIN
pA2 = Partial pressure of water at top
Mean driving force,
pw,m = (pw 1 - pw 2) / ln (pw 1 / pw 2)
Amount of water absorbed by air (evaporated)
NW = QA * [(pw 2 - pw 1) / Pt] kmol / sec
Where,
QA kmol / s of air flow rate

In terms of mass transfer coefficient kG the rate of mass transfer is given by,
NW = kG *A* (pB, M)
kG = NW / (A*pB, M) kmole/ m2. sec kN / m2
From equation calculate the values of kG for each of the readings. Calculate,
( P t − p w 1) − ( P t − p w 2 )
pB, M =
( P t − p w 1)
ln
( Pt − pw 2)

Re = d * QA / (Ac/s * AIR)

Where,

Ac/s = Cross section area of the column, m2

d = Diameter of the column, m
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QA = air mass velocity, kg/s

AIR = Viscosity of air, kg.m/sec
Sh = (kG*pB,M*R*T*L/ Pt DAB)
Where,
kG = mass transfer coefficient,) kmole/ m2. sec kN / m2
pB,M = log mean partial pressure of air, kN/ m2
R = Universal Gas Constant, 8314 Nm/ kmol K
T = avg. dry bulb temperature, K
L = Mixing length = Length of the column, m
Pt = Total Pressure inside the column, 101.3 kN/ m2
DAB = Diffusivity of water in air at avg. of avg. dry bulb temperature and water
temp. T, m2/ sec

Sc = AIR/ AIR DAB

Where,
AIR = Viscosity of air at avg. dry bulb temperature TAV, kg/ m sec
AIR = Density of air at average dry bulb temperature TAV, kg/ m3

RESULT:

CONCLUSION:
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SAMPLE CALCULATION
OBSERVATION TABLE:

Water Air Temperature

Air Flow Water Temp
Flow
Sr. Rate (C)
Rate. Inlet Outlet
No. (QA)
(QW) (C) (C)
(m3/sec)
LPM TD1 TW1 TD2 TW 2 TIN TOUT
1 6.1*10-5 1 34.4 30.4 34 33.5 36 36.2

Length of tube L = 750 mm = 0.75 m

Internal Diameter of tube d = 35 mm = 0.0035 m
Manometer limb ht. h = 10 mm

Wetted surface in the column,

A =  * d* L
= 0.00824 m2

Average temperature of air,

TAV = (TD1 + TD2) / 2
= (34.4+34) / 2
= 34.2 C
= 307.2 K

For Orifice,
Q = Cd*A2*(2gh)0.5 / [ 1- [A2/A1]2]
Where, Cd = discharge coefficient for orifice
= 0.625
A1 = pipe area [r = 0.0125 m]
= 4.91 * 10-4 m2
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A2 = orifice area [ r = 0.008 m]

= 2.01 * 10-4 m2
Q = 6.1 * 10-5 m3/sec
= 0.2713 * 10-5 Kmol/sec
PW1 = pure component vapor press. Of water at outlet water Temp. [ Tout = 309.2 K]

For Antoine equation

A = 7.2643
B = 1767.30
C = -36.85
From Antoine equation,
PW1 = 5.96 KPa
PW2 = pure component vapor press. of water at inlet water Temp. [Tin = 309.0 K]
 from Antoine equation
PW2 = 5.89 KPa
pw1 = partial pressure of water in air at the inlet temp.
[Tw1 = 303.4 K]
= H * P / {[M water/Mair] + H}
where,
H = absolute humidity at Tw1
= 0.028 kg/kg dry air.
P = Total Pressure in the column = 101.3 k N/ m2
M water = 18 kg/kg mole
M air = 29 kg/kg mole
 pw1 = 4.37 KPa

pw2 = partial pressure of water in air at the outlet temp.

[ Tw2 = 306.5 K]
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= H * P / {[M water/Mair] + H}
Where,
H = absolute humidity at Tw2
= 0.034 kg/kg dry air.

 pw2 = 5.26 KPa.

PW1 = Pw1 – pw1
= 1.59 KPa

PW2 = Pw2 – pw2

= 0.63 KPa

Mean driving force,

 P Wm = (PW1 - PW2) / ln (PW1 / PW2)
= 1.037KPa
= 760 mmHg

Amount of water absorbed by air (evaporated)

NW = QA * [(pw2 – pw1) / P] k mol / sec
= 2.3830 * 10-8 k mol/s

So, kG = NW / (A*pB, M)
= 2.383 * 10-8 / [ 0.1571 * 760]
= 1.996 * 10-10 k mol/ m2. sec mm Hg
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PRECAUTIONS:
• Always store sufficient air in to Air Compressor prior to Experiment.
• Never start pump without filling water in to feed tank.
• Always run Air in to system at fairly slow rate.
• Drain out Glass column after completion of Experiment.
• Drain out Dry and Wet Bulb Chamber to remove any unwanted water by
opening drain valve provided below chamber.
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