Dr.

Fernando Cárdenas-Lizana

B49 CA
Separation Process A:
Mass Transfer

Lecture 8
 Absorption: Introduction to rate processes for absorption

Absorption processes: Application of steady state mass transfer

theory to gas/liquid, liquid/liquid operations, for the design of
packed columns.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 2

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Introduction to rate processes for absorption
Equilibrium Relationships
Mass transfer by diffusion occurs providing that there is a driving
force. If both phases are in equilibrium, the driving force is zero.

The equilibrium relationships between phases can be expresses as:

▪ Ideal Systems Raoult’s law PA* = P  x A

▪ Dilute Systems Henry’s law PA* = H  CA

▪ Linear Relations y = mr  x

▪ Non Linear Relations y = ax

b + cx

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 3

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Introduction to rate processes for absorption
A rate process here is one where the driving force causing the mass
transfer continually changes with location.

Treatment is to assume:
▪ Operation can be divided into a number of equilibrium stages.
▪ Driving force is uniform in each stage.
▪ Mass transfer is at steady state.

Example:
Removal of SO2 from air by contacting with water in a co-current
wetted wall column.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 4

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Introduction to rate processes for absorption

Driving force for mass transfer changes with position:

▪ High driving force – high mass transfer at the

top of the column.

▪ Low driving force – low mass transfer at the

bottom of the column.

How do you define the overall driving force?

▪ Arithmetic average.
▪ Log mean.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 5

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Absorption is 2nd major separation over distillation and does not have
the same heating and cooling requirements.

▪ In distillation, separation is by vaporisation – liquid is at its

boiling point. For ideal system mass transfer is by
equimolar counter-diffusion.

▪ In absorption, liquid is well below the boiling point. Mass

transfer is in one direction only.
▪ Ratio of liquid to gas is higher than in distillation.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 6

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Liquid Inlet

Liquid distributer Gas Outlet

Packing Supports Packed Section

Gas Inlet

Liquid Outlet

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 7

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Design Basics

Key steps in determining the capacity of a packed column absorber

are:

▪ Height of packing – governed by mass transfer.

▪ Hydrodynamic design – pressure drop to loading.

▪ Mechanical design – packing, support, distributor.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 8

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Determining the Height of Packing

Total height required can be split into a number of transfer units

and the height of a transfer unit.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 9

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption
Difficulties are:
▪ Mass transfer model
▪ Fick’s law might not apply
▪ Temperature changes affect solubility
- Are latent heat effects significant
- What about heats of mixing

▪ Chemical reactions enhance rate of mass transfer

▪ How concentrated:
- Is the there large changes in mass flows – use mole fractions or ratios
- Is the mass transfer model appropriate, do you need equimolar or bulk.

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 10

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Objectives in finding packing height.

1) Find the physical height of a single transfer unit which is

going to depend on:
- Mass transfer coefficient
- Column hydrodynamics – wetting, contact area

- Packing type

2) Number of transfer units

- Depends on flowrate and driving force

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 11

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption
Basic Expression for Height of Packing
Gas Phase Liquid Phase

Y2 mole ratio in X2 mole ratio in

Gas leaving Liquid entering
packing packing
Top of
packing L’m carrier (liquid)
G’m carrier (gas)
molar flow rate molar flow rate

Base

X1 mole ratio in
Y1 mole ratio in
Liquid leaving
Gas entering
packing
packing

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 12

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption
Basic Expression for Height of Packing

L’m = Molar flowrate of carrier (liquid);

kmols-1m-2
G’m = Molar flowrate of carrier (gas);
kmols-1m-2

X1, X2 = kmol of solute per kmol of carrier; kmolkmol-1 (liquid)

out and into the packing
X= x
1- x
Y1, Y2 = kmol of solute per kmol of carrier; kmolkmol-1 (gas)
out and into the packing y
Y=
1- y
B49 CA Separation Processes A: 13
Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption
Consider the steady state mass transfer around an element:
Gas Phase Liquid Phase
Transfer from Gas Phase
y-dy x

G’m L’m

y x+dx

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 14

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

1) Mass balance across the element:

L'm  x + G 'm  y = L'm  ( x + dx) + G 'm  ( y - dy)

L'm  dx = G 'm  dy

Considering a column of sectional area “S”:

S  L'm  dx = S  G 'm  dy

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 15

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

2) Mass transfer:

N A = K G  ( Y - Ye ) [kmol  m-2  s-1 ]

a = Specific surface area for the packing used; surface area of packing
per unit volume of tower that it occupies.

N A = a  K G  ( Y - Ye ) [kmol  m-2  s -1  m 2  m-3 ]

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 16

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption
Therefore:

S  G 'm  dY = a  K G  ( Y - Ye )  S  dZ

Z = Height of the packed section.

Rearranging:
G 'm  dY
G 'm  dY = a  K G  ( Y - Ye )  dZ  dZ =
a  K G ( Y - Ye )

Integrating between the limits Y1 and Y2, 0 and Z gives:

Z G 'm  dY
Y2
  dZ = 
0 Y1 a  K G ( Y - Ye )

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 17

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption
Taking the constant terms (G’m and a) outside the integral and
considering that the mass transfer coefficient does not change with
the driving force (i.e. KG constant between Y1 and Y2)

G 'm Y2 dY
Z= 
a  K G Y1 ( Y - Ye )
This is the standard format for the total height of packing where the
expression is formed by two parts.
G 'm
The height of a transfer unit, H:
a  KG
Y2
Z = HN
The number of transfer units, N:  dY
Y1 ( Y - Ye )

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 18

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Number of Units Condition Symbol

Y2
dY Gas phase overall mass transfer
 NoG
Y1 ( Y - Ye ) coefficients

Y2
dY Gas phase with interface mass
 NG
Y1 ( Y - Yi )
transfer coefficients

X2
dX Liquid phase overall mass transfer
 NoL
X1 ( X - X e ) coefficients

X2
dX Liquid phase with interface mass
 NL
X1 ( X - X i ) transfer coefficients

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 19

Mass Transfer
 Absorption: Continuous packed columns for absorption

Height of a
Condition Symbol
Transfer Unit
G 'm Gas phase overall mass transfer
a  K oG coefficients
HoG

G 'm Gas phase with interface mass

HG
a  kG transfer coefficients

L'm Liquid phase overall mass transfer

HoL
a  K oL coefficients

L'm Liquid phase with interface mass

HL
a  kL transfer coefficients

B49 CA Separation Processes A: 20

Mass Transfer