PRESSURE DROP

DATA SHEET FOR GAS

ABSORPTION
WATER FLOW RATE (L/min) 0 1 2 4 6 8

AIR FLOW RATE (L/min) PRESSURE DROP (mm H2O)

20 0.2 1.4 1.5 1.7 5.5 44.5
40 0.6 4.2 5.9 6.95 37.6 50
60 1.2 4.7 7.7 10.9 38.1 50
80 2.1 7.9 27.45 39.5 38.6 50
100 3.1 10.75 38.8 41.35 40.6 50
120 4.5 13.9 39 33.5 40.5 50
140 5.9 18 25 50 34 50
160 7.3 26.15 32.4 34 43 50

TABLE 1: PRESSURE DROP MEASUREMENT

The goal of the experiment is to examine the air pressure drop across the column as a function of air
flow rate for different water flow rates through the column. The air flow rate is adjusted from 20 L/min
to 180 L/min with 20 L/min increments within 2 min as the allocated time for each flow rate to collect
the pressure drop for the particular gas flow rate at 1 L/min of water flow rate. The data is collected until
flooding occurs before moving on to the next water flow rate. The downward flow of water obstructs the
upward flow of air, resulting in a large pressure drop. Thus, flooding occurs faster at higher water flow
rates than at lower ones because the resistance provided by the water flow to the air flow is greater.
Because the link between pressure drops and air flow rate is proportional, the experimental pressure
drop is greater than the predicted pressure drops at the same water flow rate.

Graph of Pressure Drop against Air Flow Rate

250

200

150

100

50

0
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

PRESSURE DROP (mm H2O) Series2

Series3 Series4
Series5 Series6
The gas pressure loss with constant gas velocity is greater for higher liquid rates. In a packed column,
increasing the liquid flow rate normally increases the pressure drop. This is due to the increased
resistance to the gas flow caused by the increased liquid flow rate, resulting in a bigger pressure drop

The air flow rate influences the pressure drop in a packed column. The pressure loss increases as the gas
velocity increases with dry packing (i.e., no liquid flow). The packings become wetted when liquid is put
into the column. The liquid's presence can change the dynamics of the gas flow, potentially altering the
pressure decrease.