Scribd
Upload
295 views35 pages

8 - Absorption Part 2

The document discusses the design of plate absorption towers, focusing on the absorption process of solute A from a gas into a liquid. It outlines the material balance for the absorption tower and explains how to graphically determine the number of theoretical trays needed for the process. An example problem is provided, demonstrating the calculation of theoretical and actual trays required for absorbing SO2 from an air stream using water.

Uploaded by

Bảo Đoàn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
295 views35 pages

8 - Absorption Part 2

The document discusses the design of plate absorption towers, focusing on the absorption process of solute A from a gas into a liquid. It outlines the material balance for the absorption tower and explains how to graphically determine the number of theoretical trays needed for the process. An example problem is provided, demonstrating the calculation of theoretical and actual trays required for absorbing SO2 from an air stream using water.

Uploaded by

Bảo Đoàn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Mass Transfer Processes and

Equipment
Week 8

Absorption
(Multiple Equilibrium Contact Stages)

Dr. Yose Fachmi Buys


Email: yose.fachmi@universitaspertamina.ac.id
Outlines
Expected Learning Outcomes
Recap – Previous Class
c
Design of Plate Absorption Towers

• A plate (tray) absorption tower


has the same process flow
diagram as the countercurrent
multiple-stage process.
• In the case of solute A diffusing
through a stagnant gas (B) and
then into a stagnant fluid, as in
the absorption of acetone (A)
from air (B) by water, the moles
of inert or stagnant air and inert
water remain constant
throughout the entire tower.
Design of Plate
Absorption Towers
• If the rates are V′ kg mol inert
air/s and L′ kg mol inert solvent
water/s or in kg mol inert/s · m2
units, an overall material
balance on component A is:

• A balance around the dashed-


line box gives:

This is the material balance or operating line for the absorption tower.
Graphical Determination of the Number of Trays
• A plot of the operating line equation as y versus x will give a curved
line. If x and y are very dilute, the denominators 1 – x and 1 – y will
be close to 1.0, and the line will be approximately straight, with a
slope ≅ L′/V′. The number of theoretical trays is determined by
simply stepping off the number of trays.
Graphical Determination of the Number of Trays

Example:
Absorption of SO2 in a Tray Tower
• A tray tower is to be designed to absorb SO2 from an air stream by
using pure water at 293 K. The entering gas contains 20 mol % SO2
and that leaving contains 2 mol % at a total pressure of 101.3 kPa.
The inert air flow rate is 150 kg air/h·m2, and the entering water
flow rate is 6000 kg water/h·m2. Assuming an overall tray efficiency
of 25%, how many theoretical trays and actual trays are needed?
Assume that the tower operates at 293 K (20°C). Take the molar
mass of the air = 29 g/mol and the pure water = 18 g/mol.
Graphical Determination of the Number of Trays

Solution:
• First, calculating the molar flow rates:
Solution:
• Substituting, solving for xN:
Solution:

.
The number of theoretical
trays is determined by
stepping off the steps to give
2.4 theoretical trays.

Since the tray efficiency is


25%, then The actual number
of trays is:
2.4/0.25 = 9.6 trays.

You might also like