Correction in Tutorial 4

𝑚𝐷2 𝑐2𝐿 𝑚𝐷2 𝑐2𝐿

1+ ൘𝜈𝐷 𝑐 ′ 𝑐1′
1+
𝜈𝐷1 𝑐′1
1 1 Overall mass transfer coefficient with reaction is 𝐾𝑐𝑟 =
𝑁1 = −0 1 1
1 1 𝑚 +
𝑘𝑐 𝑚𝑘′𝑐
+
𝑘𝑐 𝑚𝑘𝑐′

𝐾𝑐𝑟 𝑚𝐷2 𝑐2𝐿

Overall mass transfer coefficient with reaction is 𝐾𝑐
=1+ 𝜈𝐷1 𝑐1′

Find the flux of SO2 from a gas containing 0.2 vol% of SO2 if a) [NaOH] = 0.1 M and b) [NaOH] = 1.0 M. Temperature is 40 oC
and pressure is 1.5 atm

𝜐𝐷1𝑘𝑐′ 𝑐1′ 1.5×0.2

Critical [NaOH] is: 𝑐2𝐿 = 𝑐1′ = 100×82.1×313 = 1.2 × 10−7 𝑚𝑜𝑙Τ
𝑐𝑐
𝑘𝑐 𝐷2

2
2 × 1.9 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚 ൗ𝑠 × 3.4 𝑐𝑚Τ𝑠 × 1.2 × 10−7 𝑚𝑜𝑙ൗ𝑐𝑐
𝑐2𝐿 = 2
= 0.5 𝑀
1.5 × 10−3 𝑐𝑚Τ𝑠 × 2.1 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚 ൗ𝑠

𝑚𝐷2 𝑐2𝐿 −5 ×0.1×10−3

1+ ൘𝜈𝐷 𝑐′ 1+0.034×2.1×10
𝑐1′ 𝑐1′ ൗ
2×1.9×10−5 ×1.2×10−7 1.2×10−7 𝑚𝑜𝑙
Flux at [NaOH] = 0.1 M is 𝐾𝑐𝑟 = 1 1
1 1
= 1 1 = 8.3 × 10−8
𝑚 + ′ 𝑚 −3 + 0.034 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠
𝑘𝑐 𝑚𝑘𝑐 1.5×10 0.034×3.4

𝑚𝑜𝑙
Flux at [NaOH] = 1.0 M is 𝑘𝑐′ 𝑐1′ − 0 = 3.4 × 1.2 × 10−7 = 4.1 × 10−7 , maximum flux that can be achieved for
𝑐𝑚2 𝑠
the given conditions
 HEIGHT OF ABSORPTION TOWERS

𝐺′ 1 𝑦𝑜 − 𝑚𝑥𝑜 𝐻𝑇𝑈 = height of transfer unit

𝑙= 𝑙𝑛 𝑙 = 𝐻𝑇𝑈 × 𝑁𝑇𝑈
𝐾𝑦 𝑎 1 − 𝑚 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑙 − 𝑚𝑥𝑙 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = number of transfer units
𝐿′

This line of thinking has basis in plate towers

𝐺′ signifies efficiency of separation; the higher the mass transfer coefficient,

𝐻𝑇𝑈 = the lower is 𝐻𝑇𝑈, the shorter is the tower and the higher is the efficiency
𝐾𝑦 𝑎

1 𝑦𝑜 − 𝑚𝑥𝑜 signifies difficulty of separation; the higher the 𝑁𝑇𝑈, the taller is the
𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 𝑙𝑛
𝐺′ 𝑦𝑙 − 𝑚𝑥𝑙 tower and the more difficult is the separation
1− 𝑚 ′
𝐿

• Height can also be determined by writing solute mass balance in liquid phase TRY THESE
• Height can be found for “stripping towers” in which solute is removed from liquid phase DERIVATIONS
 Tutorial 5

Gas absorption: problems related to height of tower

A packed tower is being used to scrub ammonia out of an air stream containing only 3% of that
gas. The tower contains 1-inch Raschig rings; it is 50 cm in diameter.
The gas flow of 0.93 kg/sec is at 30 oC and is largely air at 100% relative humidity and 1,100mmHg;
it leaves the tower with only 2.2 x 10-6% NH3. The liquid (water) flow of 6.7 kg/sec is also at 30 oC.
The Henry’s law constant under these conditions is y = 0.85x. Find the height of the tower, if the
𝑐𝑚
the mass transfer coefficient in this tower is 4.7 ?
𝑠

𝑦𝑜 = 0.03 𝑥𝑜 =? 𝑥𝑙 = 0 𝑦𝑙 = 2.26 × 10−8

Mass balance of solute over tower 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑙 + 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑜 = 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑜 + 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑙

𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙

0.93 × 29 × 0.03 = 0.93 × 29 × 2.2 × 10−8 + 6.7 × 18 𝑥𝑜
𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑠 𝑘𝑔

𝑥𝑜 = 0.0067
 Tutorial 5

Gas absorption: problems related to height of tower

A packed tower is being used to scrub ammonia out of an air stream containing only 3% of that
gas. The tower contains 1-inch Raschig rings; it is 50 cm in diameter and 4.3 meters high.
The gas flow of 0.93 kg/sec is at 30 oC and is largely air at 100% relative humidity and 1,100mmHg;
it leaves the tower with only 2.2 x 10-6% NH3. The liquid (water) flow of 6.7 kg/sec is also at 30 oC.
The Henry’s law constant under these conditions is y = 0.85x. Find the height of the tower, if the
𝑐𝑚
the mass transfer coefficient in this tower is 4.7 ?
𝑠
𝐺′ 1 𝑦𝑜 − 𝑚𝑥𝑜 𝑦𝑜 = 0.03 𝑥𝑙 = 0
𝑙= ′ 𝑙𝑛
𝐾𝑦 𝑎 1 − 𝑚 𝐺 𝑦𝑙 − 𝑚𝑥𝑙
𝐿′ 𝑦𝑙 = 2.26 × 10−8 𝑥𝑜 = 0.0067

1100 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝐾𝑦 = 𝑐𝐾𝐺 = × 4.7 = 2.7 × 10−4
760 × 82.1 × 303 𝑐𝑐 𝑠 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠

930 𝑚𝑜𝑙
29 × 𝜋 × 25 2 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 1 0.03 − 0.85 × 0.0067
𝑙= 𝑙𝑛 = 430 𝑐𝑚
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝑚2 0.85 × 930 × 18 2.26 × 10 −8
2.7 × 10−4 × 2.1 1−
6700 × 29
𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 𝑐𝑚3

𝐻𝑇𝑈 = 0.3 𝑚 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 15

 Tutorial 5
Liquid stripping
Find the height of a packed tower that uses air to strip hydrogen sulfide out of a water stream containing
only 0.2% H2S. In this design, the liquid flow is 5.8 kg/sec, the liquid out contains only 0.017 mol% H 2S, the air
enters with 9.3% H2S, and the entire tower operates at 90 oC. The tower diameter and the packing are 50-cm
and 1.0-inch Raschig rings, respectively, and the air flow should be 50 % of the value at flooding. The value
of KLa is 0.023 sec-1, and the Henry’s law constant (yH2S/xH2S) is 1,440.

𝑦𝑜 = 0.093 𝑥𝑜 = 0.00017 𝑥𝑙 = 0.002 𝑦𝑙 =?

Trial and error gives

gas flow as 0.4 kg/sec
 Tutorial 5
Liquid stripping
Find the height of a packed tower that uses air to strip hydrogen sulfide out of a water stream containing
only 0.2% H2S. In this design, the liquid flow is 5.8 kg/sec, the liquid out contains only 0.017 mol% H 2S, the air
enters with 9.3% H2S, and the entire tower operates at 90 oC. The tower diameter and the packing are 50-cm
and 1.0-inch Raschig rings, respectively, and the air flow should be 50 % of the value at flooding. The value
of KLa is 0.023 sec-1, and the Henry’s law constant (yH2S/xH2S) is 1,440.

Mass balance of solute over tower 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑙 + 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑜 = 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑜 + 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑙 𝑦𝑙 = 0.136

Write three key steps: mole balance, rate equation over liquid phase and equilibrium line

𝑦𝑙
𝑙
𝐿′ 𝑦𝑙
𝑑𝑦 𝐿′ 1 𝑥𝑙 − 𝑚𝑜𝑙
න 𝑑𝑧 = න 𝑙= 𝑙𝑛 𝑚 𝐾𝑥 𝑎 = 𝑐𝐾𝑐 𝑎 = 0.055 × 0.023 = 1.3 × 10−3
𝐾𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 − 𝑥∗ 𝐾𝑥 𝑎 1 − 𝐿′ 𝑦𝑜 𝑐𝑚3 𝑠
0 𝑦𝑜 𝑥𝑜 −
𝑚𝐺 ′ 𝑚

5800 𝑚𝑜𝑙 0.136

18 × 𝜋 × 252 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 1 0.002 − 1440
𝑙=
𝑚𝑜𝑙 5800 × 29
𝑙𝑛
0.093
= 380 𝑐𝑚 𝐻𝑇𝑈 = 1.3 𝑚 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 2.9
1.3 × 10−3 1 − 18 × 0.4 × 1440 0.00017 − 1440
𝑐𝑚3 𝑠
 Tutorial 5
A packed tower is to be designed to remove 99% of benzene from N2 gas containing 5 vol% benzene.
Kerosene is the liquid into which benzene is absorbed. The gas flows into the tower at 1.5 m 3/s at 25 oC
and 1.3 x 105 N/m2. Kerosene flows in at 4 kg/s, its density is 800 kg/m3, viscosity is 0.0023 kg/(m s). 2-inch
metal Pall rings are used as packing and pressure drop across tower is 0.5-inch H2O/ft of packing.
Calculate the diameter of the tower and its height. Equilibrium relation is y = 0.05x. Molecular weight of kerosene
is 170 g/mol.
1.3 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑔 −3
𝑔
DIAMETER OF TOWER 𝜌𝐺 = 𝑐𝑐 𝑎𝑡𝑚 × 28 = 1.49 × 10
82.1 × 298 𝐾 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝑐
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾

𝑘𝑔
𝐿′′ 𝜌𝐺 4 1.49
𝑠
= = 0.08
𝐺 ′′ 𝜌𝐿 𝑙𝑖𝑡 800
1.3 𝑎𝑡𝑚 × 1500 𝑠 𝑘𝑔
× 0.028
𝑙𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙
0.0821 × 298 𝐾
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾

𝐺 ′′ 𝐹0.5 𝜈 0.5 1.26 × 49.840.5 𝑙𝑏

= 1.26 𝐺 ′′ = = 1
𝜌𝐿 − 𝜌𝐺 0.5 270.5 × 2.880.5 𝑓𝑡 2 𝑠

𝑙𝑏
𝐺 4.91 𝑠
𝐴 = ′′ = = 4.91 𝑓𝑡 2 𝑑 = 2.5 𝑓𝑡 𝑜𝑟 76 𝑐𝑚
𝐺 𝑙𝑏
1
𝑓𝑡 2 𝑠
 Tutorial 5
A packed tower is to be designed to remove 99% of benzene from N2 gas containing 5 vol% benzene.
Kerosene is the liquid into which benzene is absorbed. The gas flows into the tower at 1.5 m3/s at 25 oC
and 1.3 x 105 N/m2. Kerosene flows in at 4 kg/s, its density is 800 kg/m3, viscosity is 0.0023 kg/(m s). 2-inch
metal Pall rings are used as packing and pressure drop across tower is 0.5-inch H2O/ft of packing.
Calculate the diameter of the tower and its height. Equilibrium relation is y = 0.05x. Molecular weight of kerosene
is 170 g/mol. 2
1Τ 𝑐𝑚
Correlation for liquid side mass transfer coefficient 1 3 𝑣 𝑜 0.67 𝐷 0.4 𝐷 = 0.8 × 10−5
𝑘 𝜈𝑔
= 0.0051 𝑎ν 𝜈
𝑎𝑑 𝑠
𝑐𝑚
0.67 𝑐𝑚2
1
1Τ
3 615 0.8×10−5 0.4 𝑐𝑚
𝑠
𝑘𝑐 𝑐𝑚2 𝑐𝑚
= 0.0051 𝑠
𝑐𝑚2 𝑐𝑚2
1.02 𝑐𝑚−1 × 5.08 𝑐𝑚 ⇒ 𝑘𝑐 = 0.0065 𝑠
0.029 ×981 2 1.02 𝑐𝑚 −1 ×0.029 0.029
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠 𝑠

0.8 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑘𝑥 = 𝑐𝑘𝑐 = × 0.0065 = 3.06 × 10−5
170 𝑠 𝑠 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠
0.70
𝑘𝑐′ 𝑣𝑜 𝜈 0.33 𝑐𝑚2 𝑐𝑚2
Correlation for gas side mass transfer coefficient = 3.6 𝑎𝑑 −2.0 𝜈 = 0.15 𝐷 = 0.08
𝑎𝐷 𝑎𝜈 𝐷 𝑠 𝑠
0.70 0.33
𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚2
𝑘𝑐′ 331 𝑠 0.15 𝑠 −2.0 𝑐𝑚
= 360 1.02 𝑐𝑚−1 × 5.08 𝑐𝑚 = 2.9
𝑐𝑚2 𝑐𝑚2 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠
1.02 𝑐𝑚−1 × 0.08 1.02 𝑐𝑚−1 × 0.15 0.08 𝑠
𝑠 𝑠

1.3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑐𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙 1 1 𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑘𝑦 = 𝑐𝑘𝑐′ = × 2.9 = 1.54 × 10−4 −4
82.1 × 298 𝑠 𝑠 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠 = + ⇒ 𝐾𝑦 = 1.54 × 10
𝐾𝑦 𝑘𝑦 𝑘𝑥 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠
 Tutorial 5
A packed tower is to be designed to remove 99% of benzene from N2 gas containing 5 vol% benzene.
Kerosene is the liquid into which benzene is absorbed. The gas flows into the tower at 1.5 m3/s at 25 oC
and 1.3 x 105 N/m2. Kerosene flows in at 4 kg/s, its density is 800 kg/m3, viscosity is 0.0023 kg/(m s). 2-inch
metal Pall rings are used as packing and pressure drop across tower is 0.5-inch H2O/ft of packing.
Calculate the diameter of the tower and its height. Equilibrium relation is y = 0.05x. Molecular weight of kerosene
is 170 g/mol.
𝐺′ 𝐺 1 2222 4 1
𝐻𝑇𝑈 = =𝜋 𝐾𝑔 𝐻𝑇𝑈 = × × = 115 𝑐𝑚
𝐾𝑦 𝑎 2 𝐾𝑦 𝑎 𝐺 = 2.222 28 𝜋 × 762 1.38 × 10−4 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1
× 1.1 𝑐𝑚
4𝑑 𝑠 𝑐𝑚2 𝑠

𝐺 2.2 × 170
𝑥𝑜 = 𝑦𝑜 − 𝑦𝑙 = 0.05 − 0.0005 = 0.165
𝐿 4 × 28

1 𝑦𝑜 − 𝑚𝑥𝑜 1 0.05 − 0.05 × 0.165

𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 𝑙𝑛 = 5.3
𝐺′ 0.05 × 2.2 × 170 0.0005
1 − 𝑚 𝐿′ 𝑦𝑙 − 𝑚𝑥𝑙 1− 4 × 28

𝑙 = 𝐻𝑇𝑈 × 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 103 × 5.3 = 546 𝑐𝑚

 Tutorial 5
You have a gaseous effluent containing a mole fraction 860 × 10−6 H2S which you need to process to under a mole fraction of
2 × 10−6 before you will be permitted to discharge it. You have a caustic solution for absorption which initially has no H2S and
which has an equilibrium line of 𝑦 ∗ = 0.83𝑥. You plan to use a liquid flow which is twice the minimum to carry out this task.
Because you are using a third-generation packing, the area per volume is large, 200 m2/m3. The overall mass transfer coefficient
𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐾𝑐 is 4.6 × 10−6 , based on liquid side. The total concentrations on the gas and liquid side are 50 and 17000 and
𝑠 𝑚3 𝑚3
𝑚𝑜𝑙
the gas flux is 16.8 . How tall should the tower be?
𝑚2 𝑠
Operating line
Minimum liquid flow 𝑥𝑜 , 𝑦𝑜
𝐿′
Operating line is 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑜 + 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 Equilibrium line is 𝑦 ∗ = 0.83𝑥
𝐺′ 𝑦 𝑳 Equilibrium line
Slope is 𝑮
𝑙
𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑙 𝑑𝑦
න 𝑑𝑧 = න ∗
0 𝐾𝑦 𝑎 𝑦𝑜 𝑦 − 𝑦

𝑥𝑙 , 𝑦𝑙
As 𝑦∗ − 𝑦 reduces, tower becomes taller

𝑥
What happens when liquid flow is reduced keeping 𝑦𝑜 , 𝑦𝑙 , 𝑥𝑙 unchanged?
Think about the slope of operating line and height of absorption tower
 Tutorial 5
𝐿𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐿′𝑚𝑖𝑛 860 − 2
= ′ = = 0.083
𝐺 𝐺 860
Operating line 0.083
𝑥𝑜 , 𝑦𝑜
𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐿′ = 2𝐿′𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 2 × 0.83 × 16.8 = 27.9
𝑚2 𝑠
𝑦 Equilibrium line

𝑳𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐 − 𝒚𝒍 𝒚𝒐 − 𝒚𝒍 Mass balance of H2S across the tower

= =
𝑮 𝒙𝒐 − 𝒙𝒍 𝒚𝒐 − 𝒙𝒍
𝒎
𝑳
𝑮
decreases 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑙 + 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑜 = 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑜 + 𝐺 ′ 𝑦𝑙

16.8 × 860 × 10−6 = 27.9𝑥𝑜 + 16.8 × 2 × 10−6

𝑥
𝑥𝑜 = 5.17 × 10−4
𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐿′ 1 𝑥𝑙 − 𝑚𝑙 𝐿′ 2.79 × 10−3
𝑐𝑚2 𝑠
𝑙= 𝑙𝑛 𝑦𝑜 𝐻𝑇𝑈 = = = 178𝑐𝑚
𝐾𝑥 𝑎 1 − 𝐿′ 𝑥𝑜 − 𝐾𝑥 𝑎 4.6 × 10−4 𝑐𝑚 × 0.017 𝑚𝑜𝑙 × 2 𝑐𝑚−1
𝑚𝐺 ′ 𝑚 𝑠 𝑐𝑐

𝑦𝑙 2 × 10−6
1 𝑥𝑙 − 0−
𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑚 1 0.083 𝑙 = 𝐻𝑇𝑈 × 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 178 × 5.37 = 957 𝑐𝑚
𝐿′ 𝑦 𝑁𝑇𝑈 = 𝑙𝑛 = 5.37
1 − 𝑚𝐺 ′ 𝑥𝑜 − 𝑚𝑜 2.79 −4 − 860 × 10
−6
1− 5.17 × 10
0.083 × 16.8 0.083
 LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR GAS ABSORPTION AND LIQUID STRIPPING

• Determine diameter of absorption tower (i) operated at certain percentage of flooding

given: liquid and gas flow rates, physical properties of the fluids, size and type of packing material,
• Determine diameter of absorption tower (ii) operated at specified pressure drop across the column,
given: liquid and gas flow rates, physical properties of the fluids, size and type of packing material.
• Explain channelling, loading and flooding in an absorption column in your own words and also by marking them
in a Δp versus gas flow plot.
• Derive equation for height of an absorption column and stripping column
• Find height of absorption towers / stripping towers for dilute systems when adequate information is given
• Find minimum liquid flow for absorbing a solute from a gas mixture and minimum gas flow for stripping a
solute from a liquid mixture