Lean gas out

Gas flowv
-

Liquid solvent in
Froth
Liquid flow Clear liquid
Downcomer t
Tray
Gas flow

Clear liquid Froth

Liquid flow
1 Down
Tray Comer
Gas flow

Froth Clear liquid

Liquid flow

Rich
Gas flow
gas in

Liquid solution out

column
Flow pattern in sieve plate
1g 4.2: (a) Plate column ir pas Fig. 4.2: (b)
ahsorpe e placed alternate
quid need traverse only half the diameter of the
4.3b) are also used in large-diameter towers.
am
sed
as.
asv
fer.
the (a) Cross flow
/
ues
ent
ate
gas
ass
are
tact
King
the
will
(b) Radial flow (c) Split flow
l or
rtant Fig. 4.3: Downcomer iypes
 of diameter r a n a i .
Bubble-cap tray on risers
or chimneys nging fro
provided
/D m m to 150 mm in diam iameter
are
(Fig. 4.5). the caps
n Dubble-cap trays are generally
The
w A_
caps and flow
the gas flow up. to turn arOund
to S0 mnm. through which making the gas
direction of flow by
allow the gas to change the
they
the riser.
through the space between the cap and

Cap Liquid

Plate

Slot Gas Riser

(a)
(h)
 r i s e r is TUW
the th
velocities. the valves remain constant and is independent of
e r 1the velocity of gas issuing through
of weeping encountered sieve trays at lo-
taf vapour flowing through the tower. Ihe problem in

afescan be greatly reduced in valve trays. Also the gas is directed by the caps almost horizontall
iherechy providing thorough mix1ng in the liquid than that achieved sieve trays. Valve trays can b
in
onerated at a
greater range of floW rates than the sieve trays.

Cap
ZZZZZZZZ}I,

Tray
Gas flow
(a)
 Gas out

Liquid
inlet
Liquid
distributor

Packed
section

Liquid Gas in
outlet-

Fig. 4.8: Packed bed absorption column

(a) (b)

Fig. 4.9: Liquid distributors (a) Weir-trough

distributor (b) Ring type distributor
 wetting properties.
ave good
Liquid Liquid

Gas Gas
(a)
(b)
Fig. 4.10: (a)
Random packing Regul
(b)
acking
minimiztu.
are dropped into it.
the packing pieces

Lessing ring Berl saddle Intalox saddle

Raschig rings
(ceramicC)

Metal intalox IMTP Plastic tellerette

Metal pall ring Plastic pall ring

Fig. 4.11: Random packings

The most hollow cylinders with heigne
popular
POpuar random ni
nackinas are the Raschio rings. which are
orhon
|48 Mass Transfer: Theory and Applications

Table 4.2: Properties of random packings of nominal size 25 mm

Bulk Bed Specific

Type of packing Material surface, m/m'
density porosity

Ceramic 721 0.68 190

Raschig rings
Raschig rings Metal (wall thickness, 0.8 mm) 620 0.92 207
Pall rings Metal (mild steel) 480 0.94 210
Plastic (polypropylene) 88 0.90 207
Pall rings
Berl saddles Ceramic 721 0.68 260
Intalox saddles Ceramic 670 0.73 256
Super Intalox Plastic 96 0.90 207
Intalox Metal 224 0.967 135F
Hy-Pak Metal 304 0.96 177
Tellerettes Plastic 0.93 190
VSP rings Metal 0.975 200

The strcthured reaular packings provide large interfacial surface at low presure droDs, These m
Packed Columns versus Plate Columns
The relative merits and demerits of plate towers and packed towers are summarised in Table 4.3.

Table 4.3: Comparison of plate and packed column performance

Feature Plate column Packed column
Pressure drop Gas pressure drop is high. Gas pressure drop is low for columns
designed for similar duty.
iquid holdup High Low holding time, suitable for handling
liquids that deteriorate at high temperatures.
Corrosive fluids Costly materials of construction such as Simple and cheap construction.
corTosion resistant alloy steel, glass, etc. are
required for the column.
Flooding Occurs at relatively high liquid rates. Occurs at low liquid rates.
Liquid Gas ratio More suitable for handling smll L/G values. Preferred for high L/G values.
Cleaning Easily cleaned of deposited solids by provid- Get clogged by aceumulated sediments and
ing manholes. require costly cle:aning and retiling.
Side sireams Easily removed. Removal is relatively ditficult.
Channelling Not encountered. Occurs due to the uneven distribution of
liquid and gas over the towVer cross section.
Foaming Foaming may ocCur because gas is bubbled Not affected.
through the liquid.

(Contd.)
150 Mass Transter Theony and Applications

Table 4 3 contd
Feature Plate column Packed column

Liquid cooling is relatively difficult

Laquad coolng Easily done as plates can be provided with
cooling coils for removing the heat of absorp-
tionfrom the liquid. Cooling can be done by
passing the liquid leaving through external
coolers also
Temperature Damage to the tower due to temperature Can damage the tower as the fragile packing
change change 1s not serious. such as ceramic and graphite tend to be
crushed under temperature
The utal wcight of the tower is generally less With the
changes
exception of plastic packed tower,
tha thal f the paked tower designed for the total weight is generally high
s a l c duty

pale tacr alid pached tower fo