Example 19- 7 — Oil absorption is to be used to recover 75 per- Since higher oil rates require more energy for

energy for heating, cool-

cent of the propane from 100 moles of the rich gas stream ing, and pumping, the optimum design is usually one that uses
shown below. The absorber is to have six theoretical plates. the minimum possible oil rate with a reasonable size absorber.
What oil circulation rate is to be used if the average tempera-
The lowest molecular weight lean oil should be used. This
ture and pressure of the absorber are 104°F and 1,000 psig?
will be fixed by oil vapor pressure and absorber operating tem-
The entering lean oil is assumed to be completely stripped or
perature. Most problems in absorber operation center around
denuded of rich gas components. What will be the composition
oil quality and rates. Proper stripping of the oil is necessary
of the residue gas leaving the absorber?
to minimize lean oil losses to the gas and to maximize absorp-
Solution Steps tion capacity.
Using the equilibrium ratio charts (Section 25), obtain the
K-value for each component at 104 °F and 1,000 psig. STRIPPER CALCULATIONS
From Fig. 19-51 at Ea = 0.75, A = 0.80
In a calculation sense, a stripper is simply an upside-down
Using Eq 19-29: absorber. For hand calculations, a stripping factor is defined
as
Lo = (0.8) (0.37) (100) = 29.6 moles/hr
KV
(based on 100 moles of gas) ST = Eq 19-31
L
Using Eq 19-28, the oil rate calculated and the component then:
K-values determine the absorption factor "A" for the remain- Xm + 1 − X1 Sm
T
+1
− ST
ing components. = = Es Eq 19-32
Xm + 1 − Yo Sm
T
+1
−1
For example, for methane: Fig. 19-51 can be used to perform stripper calculations in a
29.6 similar manner to absorber calculations.
A = = 0.091
3.25 (100)
Using the absorption-factor values read values of E a for each SOUR WATER STRIPPERS
component (Fig.
(Fig. 19-51).
19-51).
Sour water is a term used for water containing dissolved
Solve Eq. 19-30 for each component to determine the moles
hydrogen sulfide. Facilities
Facilities for processing sour gas may have
of components in the residue gas, Y1.
several sources of sour water.
water. These include water from inlet
For example, for methane: separators, water from compressor discharge scrubbers,
quench water from certain Claus unit tail-gas cleanup proc-
Yn + 1 − Y2 90.6 − Y1
= = 0.091 esses, and water from the regeneration of solid bed product
Yn + 1 − Yo 90.6 − 0 treaters or dehydrators. In some plants it is possible to dispose
of this water by using it for makeup to the gas treating solu-
Y1 = 82.36 tion. However, most sour gas plants have an excess of water
Note: For this example, Yo = 0 since entering lean oil is as- and the hydrogen sulfide must be removed to a level of 1 to
sumed completely stripped of rich gas components. This as- 2 ppmw before disposing of the water. Sour water strippers are
sumption will not be true for all cases. used for this purpose.
Calculate the moles of each component in the rich oil. For Sour water strippers commonly have 10 to 15 trays or 20 to
example, for methane: 30 feet of packing. The feed enters at the top and heat is
supplied either by a reboiler or by steam injection directly be-
l = Yn + 1 − Y1 + Yo = 90.6 − 82.36 + 0 = 8.24
low the bottom tray
tray.. Typical operating conditions are:
Comp Mol % K A Ea Y1 l Pressure, psig 10 - 15
C1 90.6 3.25 0.091 0.091 82.36 8.24 Feed Temperature, °F 200 - 230
C2 4.3 0.9 0.329 0.329 2.89 1.41 Bottom Temperature, °F 240 - 250
C3 3.2 0.37 0.80 0.75 0.80 2.40 Reboil Heat, Btu/gal. 1000 - 2000
iC4 0.5 0.21 1.41 0.96 0.02 0.48 Residual H2S, ppmw 0.5 - 2.0
nC4 1.0 0.17 1.74 0.985 0.015 0.985 Overhead vapors from sour water strippers contain hydrogen
C6 0.4 0.035 8.46 1.0 0.0 0.40 sulfide, steam, trace amounts of hydrocarbons and, in some
plants, carbon dioxide. These vapors are usually sent to the
Total 100.0 86.085 13.915 regenerator (still) condenser in plants using aqueous treating
The use of an average absorption factor, as defined in Eq solutions. Alternatively
Alternatively, the vapors may be sent directly to the
19-28, ignores the change in gas volume from inlet to outlet. sulfur recovery unit, or incinerated if emission standards are
Also, the assumptions of average temperature and K-values not exceeded.
can cause significant errors in the preceding calculation Foaming occurs in sour water strippers and the tower di-
method. ameter should be based on operation at 50 to 70 percent of the
flooding loads for a non-foaming system. 25
Fig. 19-51 can also be used to determine the trays required
for a given lean oil r ate or to calculate recoveries with a given The required number of theoretical trays and stripping va-
oil rate and tray count. Fig. 19-51 shows that oil rate declines por quantity can be calculated as shown in the following ex-
with increasing number of trays and that beyond about eight ample. However, the results of such calculations must be used
theoretical trays little increase in efficiency is achieved. only as a guide to the relative effects of changing vapor rates

19-32
 FIG. 19-51
Absorption and Stripping Factor Correlation

19-33
and trays. This is because tray efficiencies or packing HETPs m Es
are not known accurately and the effec ts of other components 1 0.98891
in the sour water change the apparent solubility of hydrogen
sulfide. Ammonia, which is common in refinery sour waters, 2 0.99988
can increase the hydrogen sulfide solubility by a factor of 10 3 0.99999
or more. A more detailed design procedure is then required for
refining sour water strippers than that given in the following Two theoretical trays would be required for the stated condi-
example.26 tions. Since tray efficiencies or packing HETPs are not predict-
Example 19-8 — Sour water containing 2500 ppmw of hydro- able, 10 actual trays or 20 feet of packing would be used.
gen sulfide is to be stripped to 1.5 ppmw. Enough indirect re- The relative effect of various operating pressures and re-
boiler heat is provided to allow 0.75 pounds of steam to leave boiler heat rates can be estimated by the above method.
the top tray for each gallon of feed. The feed r ate is 10 gpm and
the tower top is to operate at 21.0 psia. Determine the number
of theoretical trays required. FIG. 19-52
Set desired overall material balance: Henry s Constants for H2S in Water
’

Feed = 10 gpm (8.33 lb/gal) (60 min/hr) = 5000 lb/hr

Overhead steam = 10 (60) 0.75 = 450 lb/hr Temp, °F H (H2S), psia
4
100 1.10 (10 )
Feed Bottoms Overhead
4
lb/hr lb/hr lb/hr 200 1.82 (10 )
H2S 12.50 0.007 12.493 300 2.6 (104)
Water 4987.50 4537.500 450.000
5000.00 4537.507 462.493
REFERENCES
Required fraction of H2S to be stripped:
12.493/12.50 = 0.99944 1. Chien, H. H. Y., "A Rigorous Method for Calculating Minimum
Reflux Rates in Distillation", AIChE Jour. 24, July, 1978.
Estimate top temperature:
2. Chien, H. H. Y., "A Rigorous Calculation Method for the Mini-
Fraction water vapor in overhead mum Stages in Multicomponent Distillation", Chem. Eng. Sci. 28,
1967-74, 1973.
450/462.493 = 0.973
3. Fenske, M. R., "Fractionation of Straight-Run Pennsylvania
Partial pressure water in overhead Gasoline", Ind. Eng. Chem. 24, 482-5, 1932.
0.973 (21) = 20.4 psia 4. Winn, F. W., "New Relative Volatility Method for Distillation Cal-
culations", Pet. Refiner. 37(5), 216-218, 1958.
Temperature (from steam table, Fig. 24-37)
at 20.4 psia = 229°F 5. Underwood, A. J. V., "Fractional Distillation of Multicomponent
Mixtures", Chem. Eng. Prog. 44, 603-14, 1948.
Estimate the K-value for H 2S at top conditions: 6. Erbar, J. H., and Maddox, R. N., "Latest Score: Reflux vs. Trays",
K = Henry’s Constant/Total pressure Petr. Refiner 40(5), 183-188, 1961.
7. Fair, J. R., and Bolles, W. L., "Modern Design of Distillation Col-
Henry’s Constant for H2S at 229°F = 2.05 (104) psia
umns", Chem. Engr. 75(9), 156-178, April 22, 1968.
(Fig. 19-52)
8. Katz, D. L., et al., "Handbook of Natural Gas Engineering",
K = 2.05 (104)/21.0 = 976.2 McGraw-Hill, 1959.
V = mols vapor leaving top tray 9. Koch Engineering Co., "Flexitray Design Manual", 1982.

12.493 450 10. Glitsch, Inc., "Ballast Tray Design Manual", Third Edition.
= + = 25.37
34 18 11. Nutter Engineering, "Float Valve Design Manual", Aug., 1981.
12. AIChE, "Bubble-Tray Design Manual", New York, 1958.
L = mols liquid to top tray
13. Smith, B. D., "Design of Equilibrium Stage Processes", McGraw-
12.5 4987.5 Hill, 1963.
= + = 277.5
34 18
14. Vital, T. J., et al., "Estimating Separation Efficiency", Hyd. Proc.
Use Eq 19-31 to calculate fraction H2S stripped: 63, 147-153 Nov., 1984.
15. O’Connell, H. E., "Plate Efficiency of Fractionating Columns and
(976) (25.37)
ST = = 89.2 Absorbers", Trans. AIChE 42, 741-755, 1946.
277.5
16. Eckert, J. S., "Selecting the Proper Distillation Column Packing",
m + 1)
S(T − ST Chem. Eng. Prog. 66(3), 39, 1970.
Es = m + 1)
S(T −1 17. Vital, T. J., et al., "Estimating Separation Efficiency", Hyd. Proc.
63, 75-78 Dec., 1984.
Assume various values for "m" and calculate "Es":
18. Eckert, J. S., "Tower Packings . . . Comparative Performance",
Results are: Chem. Eng. Prog. 59(5), 76-82, 1963.

19-34