Additional Problems

DETERMINATION OF CAPACITY. PRESSURE DROP, AND DIAMETER OF

PACKED COLUMNS
 PROBLEM 5

The capacity of a column is to be increased by 60% by replacing the existing 1-in metal Raschig
rings with some other packing without significantly changing the % flooding. The end
compositions, L/G ratio, pressure, temperature, etc., remain unchanged. Select the packing.

GIVEN:
a packed column with 1-in metal Raschig rings
REQUIRED:
to identify ne packing materials to increase capacity by
60%
SOLUTION:
For 1-in metal Raschig rings: Fp = 472 m2/m3

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For 1-in metal Raschig
rings: Fp = 472 m2/m3
GIVEN: 0.5
U 2  FP,1 
a packed column with 1-in metal Raschig rings 
U1  FP, 2 
REQUIRED: 0.5
to identify ne packing materials to increase capacity by 1.6U1  472 
 
60% U1  FP, 2 
m2
SOLUTION: FP , 2  184 m3

For 1-in metal Raschig rings: Fp = 472 m2/m3 From the Table 14-7b, there two possible
choices:
Based on this equation: A. 50-mm metal Raschig rings: Fp = 187 m2/m3
0.50 B. 25-mm metal Pall rings: Fp = 183 m2/m3
 ρG  0.5
Cs  U t   FP ν 0.05 Which packing material do you suggest?
ρ
 L  ρG 
Why?
1
U  0.5
FP
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 PROBLEM 6 GIVEN: Assume ideal gas:
A tower packed with 1-in ceramic
Ga   = 14.7 ( 25000 )
𝐺
Intalox saddles is to be built to treat La 𝑏
10.73 ( 68+ 460 )
25,000 ft3 or entering gas per hour.
The ammonia content of the entering 𝐺
  𝑏 =64.75 𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙
gas is 2% by volume. Ammonia-free
 𝑦 𝑏=0.02
water is used as absorbent. The
′
temperature is 68oF, and the pressure 𝐺
  =64.75 ( 1 − 0.02 ) =63.46 𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙
is 1 atm. The ratio of gas flow to
liquid flow is 1 lb of gas per lb of
Lb
liquid.
Gb
a) If the gas velocity is to be ½ the
flooding velocity, what should be the Material balance (95% absorption):
diameter of the tower? Assume 95%
0.02 𝑦𝑎
absorption.  
63.46
( −
1 −0.02 1 − 𝑦 𝑎 )
=64.75 ( 0.02 ) ( 0.95 )
b) What is the pressure drop if the
 𝑦 𝑎=0.00102
packed section is 20 ft high?
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  𝐿 =1 Average mol. wt. of Ga:
𝐺
𝑀
  𝐺𝑎=0.00102 ( 17 ) + ( 1 −0.00102 ) ( 29 ) =28.99
Average mol. wt. of Gb: 1 1 𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑀
  =𝐺 ′
𝐺 𝑎
( )
1 − 𝑦𝑎 (
=63.46
1 −0.00102 )
=63.53
h
  𝐺𝑏=0.02 ( 17 ) +0.98 ( 29 )=28.76
 
𝐺
  𝑏 =64.75 ( 28.76 ) =1862.21𝑙𝑏 / h
Therefore:  

  𝑎=1862.21 𝑙𝑏
𝐿
h 𝑀
  𝐿𝑏 =0.0118 ( 17 ) + ( 1− 0.0118 ) ( 18 ) =17.99
  𝑎=1862.21 𝑙𝑏 × 𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙 =103.46 𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙 1 1 𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐿
h 18 𝑙𝑏
  = 𝐿′
𝐿 𝑏
( )
1 − 𝑥𝑏
=103.46 (
1 −0.0118 )
= 104.70
h

Material balance (95% absorption):   𝑏= 104.70 (17.99 )=1883.55 𝑙𝑏

𝐿
h
𝑥𝑏 𝑥𝑎
 
103.46
( −
1− 𝑥𝑏 1− 𝑥 𝑎 )
=64.75 ( 0.02 ) ( 0.95 )
 
𝑥
  𝑎=0 ; 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑥  𝑏=0.0118
 0.50
  𝐿 𝜌𝐺
𝐹 𝐿𝐺 =
𝐺 𝜌𝐿 ( ) Δ
  𝑃 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 =0.115 ( 𝐹 𝑃 )
0.7

For 1-in ceramic Intalox saddles:

  = 𝑃 ( 𝑀 𝑎𝑣𝑒 )
𝜌 −1 −1
𝐺
𝑅𝑇 𝐹
  𝑃 =302 𝑚 =91.46 𝑓𝑡
0.7
  𝑎𝑣𝑒 = 28.76+28.99 =28.88 Δ
  𝑃 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 =0.115 ( 91.46 ) = 2.71𝑖𝑛 𝐻 2 𝑂 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑡
𝑀
2
Use Pflood = 1.5 in H2O / ft
 
From GPDC table (Ecker/Leva):
  𝐹
  𝐿𝐺 =0.035
Δ
  𝑃 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 =1.50 𝑖𝑛 𝐻 2 𝑂 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑡
0.50
  1872.88 0.075 0.50
𝐹 𝐿𝐺 =
1851.97 62.4 ( )  
𝑈 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑
( 𝜌𝐺
𝜌 𝐿 − 𝜌𝐺 ) 0.50
𝐹𝑃 𝑣
0.005
=1.88
𝐹
  𝐿𝐺 =0.035
𝐹𝑜𝑟
  𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 68 ℉ : 𝜈 =1.004 𝑐𝑃
 0.50
  0.075
𝑈 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 ( 62.4 −0.075 ) ( 91.46 )0.50 ( 1.004 )0.005 =1.88

Continuity equation:
𝜋
  𝑎𝑣𝑒 = 𝜌𝐺 ( 𝑓 × 𝑈 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 )
𝐺 ( 4
𝐷 2𝑇 )
𝑙𝑏 h 𝑙𝑏 𝑓𝑡 𝜋 2
 
1851.97 ×
h 3600 𝑠
= 0.075 3
𝑓𝑡 ( )( 0.50 × 5.67
𝑠 )( 𝐷
4 𝑇 )
𝑫
  𝑻 =𝟏 .𝟕𝟔 𝒇𝒕
Calculation of pressure drop:

𝐶
  𝑠=0.50 ( 1.88 ) =0.94
𝐹
  𝐿𝐺 =0.035
From GPDC table (Ecker/Leva):

Δ
  𝑃=0.20 𝑖𝑛 𝐻 2 𝑂 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑡

  𝑃 =0.20 𝑖𝑛 × 20 𝑓𝑡 =4 𝑖𝑛 𝐻 𝑂
Δ 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 2
𝑓𝑡
PROBLEM 7
Ammonia is being absorbed in a tower using pure water at 25oC and 1 atm absolute
pressure. The feed rate is 1440 lb/h and contains 3 mol % ammonia in air. The
process design specifies a liquid-to-gas mass flow rate ratio L/G of 2/1 and the use
of 1” metal Pall rings. Calculate the pressure drop in the packing and gas mass
velocity at flooding. Using 50% of the flooding velocity, calculate the pressure drop,
gas and liquid flows, and tower diameter.

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