Absorption column

Absorption column
• Absorption/ Stripping
Absorption system
 Absorption
• Solubility: High solubility
• Selective solubility
• E.g removal of H2S and CO2 from natural gas
• Solvents: 1. Ethanol amine absorbs both
• Solvent 2: M-methyl di-ethanolamine
preferably absorb H2S
 Chemisorption
• Removal of CO2 from synthesis gas
• Solvent option:1. NaOH reaction increases
absorption but reaction is irreversible Na2CO3
• 2. Solvent 2: Alkanolamine Reaction is
reversible
• Volatility : Low volatile– low vapor pressure–
• To avoid loss of solvent
• To avoid pollution
• Viscosity : Low viscosity
• - easily flow pumping cost is less
• - Low power consumption in agitated vessel
• - better performance in packing column
• Corrosiveness:
• less corrosive
• reduces MOC cost
• - Reduces maintenance cost
• Cost : less expensive
• Hazard and toxicity:
• Non-Hazardous and non-toxic and
non-flamamable
Absorption system
balanace
Steps for designing absorption column
• Selection of solvent
• Selection of packing
• Determination of minimum and actual solvent
• Determination of packing height
• Design of liquid distributor
• Deciding gas distributor nozzles, supports etc.
 Raschig ring packing

If Htg and Htl are available for one system for given packing material it can be used
for other material as

Sc- Schmidt number Provided liquid and gas flowrates are same
HETP
Tower Diameter