Absorption and Stripping of Gases

Absorption of Gases: It is a removal of one or more selected components from a mixture of

gases by absorption into a suitable liquid such as acetone can be recovered from an acetone–
air mixture by passing the gas stream into water in which the acetone dissolves while the air
passes out.

Equipment

(1) Packed column

(2) Tray column
(3) Spray column
(4) Sparged tank
Packed column Tray column
Spray columns
The packed column: It is provide large interfacial area of contact as Structured packing
possible between the phases.
Random packing

corrosion-resistant plastic

Metal gauze
**Packing factor was defined as the packing's surface area per unit volume, divided by the cube of the packing
void fraction: Fp = a/ε3
HTU: The height of a transfer unit is a measure of the separation effectiveness of the
particular packing for a particular separation process.
HETP: height equivalent of a theoretical plate or Packed Height per Stage.
Calculation of the column height

Solute balance over all differential element δz

 
In = out + accumulation

δz

A = a.S.δz
A = contact area (m2)
S = cross section area of tower (m2)
a = specific surface area of packing (m2/m3)
Or Z = HOG.NOG
Similarly, on the liquid side:

In term of individual coefficients:

Hg = height of individual gas phase transfer unit (m)
HL = ″ ″ ″ liquid ″ ″ ″ ″
HOG = height of over all gas transfer unit (m) = HTUOG
HOL = ″ ″ ″ ″ liquid ″ ″ ″
Ng = number of individual gas phase transfer unit (-)
NL = ″ ″ ″ liquid ″ ″ ″ ″
NOG = number of over all gas transfer unit (-) = NTUOG [integrated value of change in
composition per unit deriving force: represent the difficulty of separation]
NOL = ″ ″ ″ ″ liquid ″ ″ ″
KOG.a = Overall mass transfer coefficient (kmol/m3s.kpa)
P = total pressure
Z = height of column (m)
Calculation of NOG

(1) Linear equilibrium relation, Henry’s law hold

Solute balance between the top of the tower and a typical point

In = Out

Lm X2 + Gm Y = Lm X + Gm Y2
This equation is plotted in the following figure.
(2) Non-linear equilibrium relation where the data is tabulated
 Minimum liquid flow (Lm) min or (Lm/Gm)min
The minimum liquid flow Lmin occurs when the exit
liquid stream is in equilibrium with the inlet gas, i.e.
when X1 and Y1 are in equilibrium;
If the relation is non-linear → X1* is found from figure.

For fresh solvent (X2=0) → X1 is known and it can

draw the operating line and continue as above