TP 2: Absorption Column Simulation

We will use Aspen to simulate an absorption problem, by using a stream of n-decane to strip
propane and butane from a light hydrocarbon stream consisting of methane, ethane, n-butane and
propane. Details of the gas stream are given in table 1 below and the purpose of the column is to
reduce the exit mole fraction of propane to less than 0.01. The stream temperatures are 40 °C.

To solve this problem.

1. Insert a RADFRAC column model in the workspace, change the icon into
something more representative of an absorption column. As it is an absorption column
two feeds and two outputs are required. Therefore attach two streams to the feed of the
RADFRAC model. Label these so that we can identify each one easily later.

2. Click the setup button, enter a title such as “Example Adsorption Problem”. Hit the Next (F4)
button. Enter all the “compounds” required in the simulation using Component ID field:

METHANE
ETHANE
PROPANE
N-BUTANE
N-DECANE

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M.A. EL MRABTI, R. ARCHA, A. MELLALOU
3. Hit the Next button, and the “Properties-Specifications” window should appear. We will choose
NRTL for the “Property Method” as it is more realistic. Move on to the stream input form.

4. In this simulation ‘D-IN’ will represent the n-decane rich stream entering and ‘MIN’
the mixed gas stream. The corresponding ‘D-OUT’ and ‘M-OUT’ will be the exiting
streams. ‘D-IN’ is therefore the lean oil absorbing medium. This is because it is feeding
into the top, or first stage, of the RADFRAC model. We do not know the amount of n-decane
to be added but we shall make an initial guess of 4500 kmol hr-1.

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M.A. EL MRABTI, R. ARCHA, A. MELLALOU
Enter the following values for the streams:

D-IN M-IN
Temperature [°C] 40 40
Pressure [atm] 5 5
Composition Basis Mole fractions Mole fractions
Methane - 0.88
Ethane - 0.04
Propane - 0.05
n-Butane 0.005 0.03
n-Decane 0.995 -
Total MOLE-Flow [kmol/hr] 4500 2500
Note: Do not enter zero in the other component “MOLE-FRAC” fields, just leave them
blank.

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5. We now need to specify the assumptions to be used for the block. We will define
the number of stages as 5. Since this is an absorption column we need to be more specific
about feed locations i.e. the gas stream should come in from the bottom and the liquid
stream from the top. Therefore ‘D-IN’ should enter “above stage” 1 and ‘M-IN’ should
enter “on-stage” 5. Also since ‘M-OUT’ is a vapour stream not a liquid stream this must
be changed. When you do this an error message may be displayed indicating that a total
condenser cannot work when there is a vapour stream. Ignore this error as when finished
we need set the options for the re-boiler and condenser to none. Your sheet should look
something like the following;

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M.A. EL MRABTI, R. ARCHA, A. MELLALOU
6. Before leaving the block we also need to set the column pressure. We will assume
that there is no pressure drop so the column pressure will be the same as the feed pressure
i.e. 5 atm.

7. Set the column operating as an absorption column, click on the “Advanced” tab and set the
Absorber option to yes in the “Blocks” >> “Convergence” form (see figure below). Now run the
simulation and check your results. Exercise: What is the mole fraction of the Propane in the exit gas
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M.A. EL MRABTI, R. ARCHA, A. MELLALOU
and does this meet our requirements?

We could keep increasing the value of the feed flow-rate and re-running the
calculation until we reach a flow-rate which will meet our specification of 0.01 mol
fraction. But there is a better method we can use within Aspen to solve this problem.

9. We can do this by setting the design specifications. Start by selecting and

opening the “Blocks”-“ >> ”-“DesignSpecs” form. Click New in the Object Manager.
Hit OK and a default Spec. number of 1 will be set. This will open the “Blocks”-“Abs1”-
“DesignSpecs”-“Specifications” form.

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11. Hit the Next button and the “Blocks”-“Abs1”-“Design Specs”-“Components” form will appear.
Under Available components select ‘PROPANE’ and move it to Selected components using the >
button. You have now selected that the product stream should contain 0.01 mole purity of propane.
“Blocks”-“Abs1”-“DesignSpecs”-“Components” form should look like this:

12. Hit the Next button and the “Blocks”-“Abs1”-“DesignSpecs”-“Feed/Product Streams”

form will appear. The “Feed / Product Streams” tab should also be filled in.
Obviously the stream where we want the purity to be set is the ‘M-OUT’ stream. Set
this option and this section should be complete. “Blocks”-“Abs1”-“DesignSpecs”-
“Feed/Product Streams” form should look like this:

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13. In order to solve this problem we are going to need to vary the feed rate between
two set values. From our previous calculation 4500 kmol hr-1 was insufficient so this will
be our lower value. We will set the maximum to try at twice this value, i.e. 9000 kmol hr-1. Click the
Next button and the “Blocks”-“Abs1”-“Vary”-Object Manager will appear.
Hit the New button and hit OK to accept the default vary ID of 1. Set the “Adjusted variable’’ type to
Feed rate. Set the stream name to ‘D-IN’.

14. Save the simulation and then run it. Before running the simulation you may want to go to the
“Setup”-“Report Options”-“Stream” form and set the Mole Fraction Basis output. This will make
interpreting the results easier.
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15. You will notice that the mole fraction of propane is ‘M-OUT’ is .01 as we
specified, and that the molar flow basis of ‘D-IN’ is larger than the original 4500 kmol/hr
value that we initially specified. This indicates that the vary block had to increase the
feed rate to meet the desired specification.

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