Technological Institute of Acapulco

Biochemical Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
UNIT OPERATIONS III

UNIT III
ABSORPTION

MEMBERS OF TEAM #2:

BARRERA RAMOS CINTHYA LILIANA N°C. 10320429

Cruz Molina Juan Manuel. No. C. 10320492
DIEGO BARRERA NEMESIS ANDREA. N°C. 10320468
PIZA FABIAN SHANIK PRISCILIA. No. 10320423
SOLANO GARCÍA YAMEL IVONE. N° C. 10320443

M.C. BEATRIZ GABRIEL SALMERON

APRIL 28, 2014

 INDEX

UNIT III ABSORPTION.

3.1 CONCEPT AND IMPORTANCE OF ABSORPTION……………………………2

3.2 TYPES OF ABSORPTION COLUMNS...………..……………………………..3

3.3 TYPES OF PACKAGING FOR ABSORPTION..............................6

3.4 DESIGN OF ABSORPTION TOWERS IN PACKED COLUMNS FOR

BINARY MIXTURES............................................................9

3.5 DESIGN OF ABSORPTION TOWERS IN PLATE COLUMNS..........15

3.5.1 FOR BINARY MIXTURES .................................... 15

3.5.2 FOR MULTICOMPONENT MIXTURES………………………..…..18

BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………….…….20

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 UNIT III ABSORPTION.

3.1 CONCEPT AND IMPORTANCE OF ABSORPTION.

Absorption is the unit operation that consists of the separation of one or more
components of a gaseous mixture with the help of a liquid solvent with it
which form solution (a solute A, or several solutes, are absorbed from the gas phase
and they turn into liquid). This process involves turbulent molecular diffusion or a
mass transfer of solute A through gas B, which does not diffuse and is in
rest, towards a liquid C, also at rest.

An example is the absorption of ammonia A from air B through liquid water C.

The reverse process of absorption is called impoverishment or desorption;
when the gas is pure air and the liquid is pure water, the process is called
dehumidification, dehumidification means the extraction of water vapor from
air.
Absorption is a unit operation of mass transfer that is used
to eliminate one or more components from a gas stream using a
solvent. Absorption can pursue various objectives:
Recover a desired gaseous component
Remove an undesired gaseous component. It can be treated, by
example of the removal of a harmful substance from a stream of
waste gases
Obtaining a liquid; an example would be that of hydrochloric acid by
absorption of gaseous HCl in water.

At least three substances participate in absorption: the gaseous component at

separate (absorbate), the carrier gas and the solvent (absorber).
In this work, we show the importance of absorption.
a process in some type of tower, as well as the applications it has in each one
of them. Subsequently, the types of absorption towers and packing towers, each one
with its characteristics, components that make it up, applications, specifications,
generalities, designs, among others.

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3.2 TYPES OF ABSORPTION COLUMNS.

The absorption column is used for

mass transfer operations, between a
liquid phase and a gaseous phase. The operation is carried out
against the current with the aim of extracting a
solvent present in the gas, which is carried away
by the liquid, to then be separated from it,
by another transfer method.
In an absorption tower, the gas stream
entering the column circulates upstream
with the liquid. The gas rises like
consequence of the pressure difference between the
entry and exit of the column. The contact
between the two phases, it produces the transfer of the solute from the gas phase to the phase
liquid, because the solute has a greater affinity for the solvent. It
seek that this contact between both currents is as high as possible, as well as
that the residence time is sufficient for the solute to pass in its
most part from one phase to another.

WET WALL GAS ABSORPTION COLUMN - CES.

The wet wall columns can

to be used to determine coefficients of
mass transfer gas/liquid, essential to
the time to calculate the design of the towers of
absorption. Such coefficients form the
base of the correlations used for
develop filling towers. The CES examines
the absorption in deoxygenated water
(prepared by nitrogen spraying) of
oxygen from the air. This is an example of
controlled absorption by liquid film.
The coefficient can be determined
mass transfer of liquid film for various mass flow rates of
water.

The system components are mounted on a steel floor frame.

painted.

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The wet wall column is a glass column with input sections and
water outlet, and it is mounted on cardan shafts in order to ensure its
verticality.

The deoxygenation column has a global size similar to that of the column of
wet wall, and it is positioned vertically next to it. Next to the
There is a control console with flow meters, pump controls, and columns.
oxygen analyzer. Between the columns, there are two special accommodations, which
they contain oxygen analysis probes that monitor the content of
oxygen in the water that enters and exits the absorption column. The device uses
as a working medium water, contained in a storage tank in the
back part of the unit. The pumps that supply water to the deoxygenator and
the absorption columns are located at the base of the unit.

During the operation, the water is sprayed with nitrogen in the deoxygenator.
before entering through the top of the wet wall column. A pump
integral diaphragm-type air pumps air at the base of the column. The air
ascends through the column, delivering oxygen to the water. The oxygen dissolved in the
input and output can be measured in rapid succession. Water drains into the tank
for storage for recycling to the deoxygenator.

FILLER ABSORPTION COLUMN.

The packed towers are used for the

continuous contact against the current of
a gas and a liquid in absorption and
also for the contact of a vapor and
a liquid in distillation. The tower
consists of a cylindrical column that
it contains a gas inlet and a
distribution space in the background, a
liquid inlet and a device for
distribution at the top, one
gas outlet at the top, a
liquid exit at the bottom and the
packing or filling of the tower. The gas
enter the distribution space that
is underneath the packed section and
it rises through the openings
the interstices of the filling, this is how it is placed in

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contact with the descending liquid flowing through the same openings. The
packaging provides an extensive area of intimate contact between the gas and the
liquid.

The packed absorption column is constructed filled with rings.

Raschig of 10mm x
10mm, also made of glass, which are representative of the type of filling used for the
gas absorption. The liquid used in the process is stored in a tank of
rectangular feeding of y is used a centrifugal pump to supply the
liquid at the top of the column, from where it descends through the packing and returns
to the tank. A variable area flow meter installed in the line of
recirculation provides a direct reading of the flow.
The gas to be absorbed is extracted from a pressurized cylinder (not supplied),
placed next to the column. This gas passes through a flow meter
variable calibrated area, and it mixes with an air flow, also of flow rate
known, which comes from a rotary compressor located in the frame. The
the gas to air ratio of the mixture that enters the column is therefore known
and is easily variable. The gas mixture enters from the bottom of the column,
ascends through the dense bed and contracts in countercurrent with the liquid
that descends down the column. Some pressure sampling points at the base, the
center and the head of the column allow for recording the pressure drop in the
column using manometers. These sampling points also provide a
means to extract gas samples from the column.

ABSORPTION IN PLATE COLUMNS

The absorption of gases can

to take place in an equipped column
with perforated plates or other types of
dishes normally used in
distillation. It is often chosen
a column of perforated plates in
instead of a filler column for
avoid the distribution problem of
liquid in a large diameter tower and
reduce uncertainty in change
of scale.

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The number of theoretical stages is determined by plotting steps for the plates in
a y-x diagram, and the number of actual stages is calculated afterwards using a
average effectiveness of the plates.

TYPES OF PLATE TOWERS

Perforated Pluto.
2. Valve plate.
3. Plate of hoods.

3.3 TYPES OF PACKAGING FOR ABSORPTION.

The packaging or filling is the most important element for the proper response.
of the columns, since it is where the liquid-gas contact takes place and the
mass transfer.

They are called gaskets, the pieces that are placed inside the equipment and
that are used to increase the interfacial area. In general, a good packaging
it must meet the following specifications:

Appropriate flow characteristics, the void fraction volume in the

packed stew must be large.
High interfacial surface between the liquid and the gas.
Chemically inert, with respect to the fluids being processed
Structural resistance, to allow for easy handling and installation
Low weight per unit volume.
Low cost

The packaging is mainly of two types:

Random. Random packaging is that which is simply thrown.

in the tower during the installation and that are randomly dropped.

Generally, the smaller sizes of random packaging offer

greater specific surfaces (and greater pressure drops), but the
Larger sizes cost less per unit of volume. As a way of
general guidance: package sizes of 25 mm or larger are
they are generally used for a gas flow of 0.25 m3/s, 50 mm or larger
for a gas flow of 1 m3/s.

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 During the installation, the packing is poured into the tower, in such a way that
fall randomly; in order to prevent the breakage of packaging.
ceramics or coal, the tower can initially be filled with water to
reduce the falling speed.

Regular. They are those. The packing distribution follows a pattern

defined within the column. Regular packaging offers the
advantages of a lower pressure drop for the gas and a higher flow
generally at the expense of a more costly installation than necessary
for random packings. The Raschig rings are
economically only in very large sizes.

There are several modifications of expanded metal packaging.

Wooden grids or "fences" are not expensive and are used frequently.
when large empty volumes are required; as in gases that
they carry with them the tar from the coke ovens, or the liquids they have
solid particles in suspension.

Initially, packaging materials such as pieces of glass were used,

gravel, pieces of coke. Subsequently, the packaging was used.
manufactured geometries, such as Raschig rings, Pall, and Lessing or the
Berl chairs, Intalox, and the Telleretes.

The Rasching rings are hollow cylinders, with a diameter ranging from 6 to 100 mm or
more. They can be made of industrial porcelain, which is useful for making contact
to most liquids, with the exception of alkalis and hydrofluoric acid;
carbon that is useful, except in highly oxidizing atmospheres; of metals or of
plastics.

The Lessing rings and others with internal partitions are used less.
frequency. The saddle-shaped packing, those of Berl and Intalox and their
variations can be obtained in sizes from 6 to 75 mm; they are manufactured from
chemical porcelains or plastics.

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The Pall rings, also known as Flexirings, cascade rings and, as
A variation, the Hy-Pak, can be obtained in metal and plastic.

Nowadays, structured packaging is frequently used, of high

efficiency whether fabrics or not such as segmented mesh or in the form of
spiral, which receive names according to the manufacturers. These packages are
large in size and completely occupy the internal area of the tower.

Small geometric packaging is made of clay, quartz, or porcelain.

The most commonly used industrially are the Raschig. During the installation, the
packaging is thrown into the tower, which is filled with water and is adjusted to the
Random. The packages distributed in a regular manner offer less pressure drop.
but smaller contact area. The used seals such as rings
3-inch Raschig should be stacked carefully.

Structured packaging
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3.4 DESIGN OF ABSORPTION TOWERS IN COLUMNS
PACKAGED FOR BINARY MIXES.

In packed absorption towers using packings or fillings, there

mainly seeks the establishment of a large interface, in order to put into
intimate contact with the gaseous and liquid phases. The amount of transfer of
matter, (of solute in this case), depends directly on the interfacial surface
and the nature of the components. Packed towers are used in contact
I continue against the current. They are vertical columns and are filled with
packaging. The liquid is distributed in the packaging and descends through it.
exposing a large surface area to the gas. They are called
packings, the pieces that are placed inside the equipment and are used for
increase the interfacial area. In general, a good packaging should cover the
following specifications:

Provide a large interfacial surface between the liquid and the gas.
packaging surface area per unit of packed space must
to be large, but not in a microscopic sense. The pieces of coke by
For example, they have a large surface area due to their porous structure.
It must have good flow characteristics. That is, the packaging must
allow the passage of large volumes of flow through small
sections of the tower, without causing large pressure drops in the phase
soda.
It must be chemically inert to the process fluids.
Its structure must allow for easy handling and installation.

The packaging can be arranged in two ways: randomly and regularly.

In the random packaging, this is placed inside the tower without any arrangement.
In particular, on the contrary, the regular packaging is placed following a pattern.
determined.

Initially, packaging materials such as: pieces of glass were used,

gravel, pieces of coke. Subsequently, the packaging was used.
manufactured geometrical shapes, such as Raschig rings, Pall and Lessing or the
Berl chairs, Intalox and the Telleretes. Nowadays, they are frequently used.
structured packaging, high efficiency whether woven or not such as those of
segmented or spiral nets, which are named according to the
manufacturers. These packages are large in size and occupy the entire area
inside the tower.

Small geometric containers are made of clay, quartz, or porcelain.

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The most commonly used industrially are the Raschig. During the installation, the
packaging is thrown inside the tower, which is filled with water and is arranged to
Random. The packages distributed in a regular manner offer less pressure drop.
but smaller contact area. The packagings used such as the rings
3-inch Raschig should be stacked carefully.

The size of the loose packing is related to the diameter of the tower.
In general, the diameter of the packing is between 1/8 to 1/20 of the diameter of the tower.
In the most common setup, the liquid enters from the top of the tower and can
either pure or a diluted solution containing some of the solute. The liquid is poured.
about a distributor and from there it reaches the top part of the packaging it should
moisten evenly.

The gas enters from below the tower and also through a distributor reaches the
packaging and flows upward between the interstices and against the current with the
liquid. The packaging creates a large contact area and encourages contact
intimate among the phases causing the solute that comes with the gas to dissolve in
the liquid. A rich solute liquid is obtained from the bottom of the tower and from the dome.
a depleted gas.

A design factor of primary importance is the value of m g /L factor of

Absorption.

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The absorption factor is defined as:

For values of A or S greater than one, it is possible to obtain any degree.

of separation if sufficient plates or packing height are used.

As A or s increases, the number of plates or the height of the packaging decreases, from
such a way that the cost of the equipment decreases, but the operating costs increase.
There is an optimal value of A or S that usually fluctuates between 1.25 and 2, being 1.4.
a frequently recommended value. This factor is necessary to determine
the height of the transfer unit and the number of transfer units.
The liquid-gas relationship also affects the diameter of the tower.

In many cases, the value of L/G is between 1.2 and 2.5 of the minimum L/G value.
being 1.5 a good value. In the packed towers to avoid the phenomenon of
chanelling (flow of liquid towards the walls) is usually placed
liquid distributors every 2 meters of packaging. The velocity of the gas is
selecting primarily considering the optimal speed with respect to the
flood, usually the design is done for no more than 60% of this.

HEIGHT OF THE PACKAGING

The height that the packaging must have to achieve mass transfer
desired is calculated by means of equations similar to:

Where HOG is at the total height of the transfer unit on the gas side and is
equal to:

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Y NOG is the number of mass transfer units based on the gas side
and in the total potential difference, that is:

The evaluation of that integral is carried out using the common procedures.
used in mass transfer. These equations can be solved
analyzing, graphing, or numerically. The last option is used mainly
for concentrated solutions and/or when the operation is not isothermal. For
dilute solutions and at constant temperature, the analytical solution is provided by the
Kremser and Colburn equations for plate absorbers or for
absorbers with packed towers.

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TOWER DIAMETER.

The mass velocities of the gas and the liquid influence the height of the packing or
filling, in such a way that when these speeds increase, the height decreases
necessary for the required packaging to achieve a given separation and therefore, it
it must operate at speeds as high as possible, unless the loss of
pressure through the filling is a significant economic factor.

DROPS IN PRESSURE.

In the packed towers, pressure drops occur in the gas that are
due to the packaging itself, the friction against the walls of the container, and the flow of the
liquid that passes through the tower. In general, if we plot against the gas flow
we will have the following behavior for a given liquid expenditure:

From point A to B, the pressure drops can be calculated using graphs or

by equations such as:

Where alpha, beta are properties of the packaging and L/A and G/A are mass.
speeds.

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Point B is known as the charging point. At this point, a part of the energy from
gas is used to stop the flow of liquid in the tower, thus reducing the
effective gas flow section. At point C, the phenomenon called
flooding, in which the tower becomes unstable, as the liquid is retained by
the gas and does not descend, flooding the tower and stopping the transfer of
mass.

This flood point represents the upper limit of the possible speed of the
gas for a given liquid flow. In other words, flooding occurs
when the gas pressure loss is so high that the weight of the liquid is not
enough for this to flow against the current with the gas.

COEFFICIENTS AND HEIGHTS OF THE TRANSFER UNITS

The mass transfer coefficients in absorption are predicted through

decorrelation. To use the correlations, one of the first
Requirements is to indicate which is the controlling movie in the system. In the case
that it is a single movie that controls the mass transfer, the
the partial coefficient becomes equal to the total. Most of the correlations that are
they are found in absorption refer to the so-called heights of units of
transfer instead of mass transfer coefficients.

Most of the works on the estimation of HG or height of the unit

gas side transfer is based on the vaporization of liquids in air and in the
absorption of ammonia, since in those cases, most of the resistance is
found in the gas phase.

One of the most commonly used correlations due to its simplicity is that of Fellinger.

Where , y they are constants that depend on the packaging and L/A and G/A are the
liquid and gas mass velocities respectively.

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The values of HL or height of the transfer unit on the liquid side, are
ordinarily determined from experiments on desorption of the
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen dissolved in water; since in those
In cases where the resistance to transfer resides almost entirely in the liquid phase.
For the liquid phase, one of the most used equations is that of Sherwood and
Holloway.

3.5 DESIGN OF ABSORPTION TOWERS IN COLUMNS

DISHES.

3.5.1 FOR BINARY MIXTURES.

1. Deduction of the operating line.

A plate absorption tower has the same process flow diagram as
the multi-stage countercurrent system is shown as a tower
vertical of plates. In the case of a solute A diffusing through a gas in
rest and then in a still fluid, in the absorption of acetone by water (A)
in air (B), the moles of inert air or at rest and of inert water remain
constants throughout the entire tower. If the speeds are kg mol air
y kg mol solvent or water or in kg mol m2(lbmol inert/h·pie*), the balance
general of material regarding component A in figure 10.6-4 is

15
Where is the mole fraction in the liquid, and it is the mole fraction in the gas, Ln it is the total number
of moles of liquid/s, and Vn+ the total moles of gas/s. The total liquid and liquid flows of
gas varies throughout the tower. Equation (10.6-2) is the material balance or
operating line for the absorption tower very similar to equation (10.3-l
3) for a countercurrent staged process, except that they intervene the
inert currents L' and instead of the total expenditure L and The equation (10.6-2) relates the
concentration + in the gas flow with in the liquid current that
passes through it. The terms The, y are constant and generally
they are known or can be determined. 2. Graphical determination of the number of plates. A
Operational line graph, of the equation as y in function of provides
a curve. If x and y are very diluted, the denominators 1 - x and 1 - y will be close to 1.0
and the line will be approximately straight, with a slope The number of dishes
theorists are determined by estimating the number of them in an ascending manner, as is
made in the figure for the countercurrent process of multiple stages.

EXAMPLE
Absorption in a tray tower
A plate tower is desired to be designed for absorption of a current of
air through pure water at 293 K (68 °F). The inlet gas contains 20% of
moles of and the outlet is 2% of moles at a total pressure of 101.3 The spending
the inert air is 150 kg of air/h and the flow rate of the incoming water is
6000 kg of water/h. Assuming a total efficiency of the plates of 25%, how many plates?
theoretical and how many real ones are needed? Suppose the tower operates at 293 K (20
°C).

Solution: First, the molar flow velocities are calculated.

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Regarding figure 10.6-4, and n + 1= 0.20, y10.02 times x0=0. Substituting in the
equation (10.6-1) and solving for xn

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Substituting into equation (10.6-2), and using V' and L' as kg mol/h m2,

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

To plot the operating line, it is necessary to calculate several points.

intermediates. Whether that andn+1=0.07 and substituting in the operating equation

( ) ( ) ( )

Therefore xn0.000855. To calculate another midpoint, we set

what andn+ 1 = 0.13, therefore the calculation of xnresults in 0.0020. The two
end points and the two intermediate points of the operating line are graphed at
figure 10.6-5 along with the obtained equilibrium data. The operating line
it has a certain degree of curvature. The number of theoretical plates is determined by
successive ascending estimates of the stages are obtained 2.4 plates
The real number of dishes is 2.4/0.25=9.6 dishes.

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 3.5.2 FOR MULTICOMPONENT MIXTURES

When several components are transferred, the problem becomes complicated.

from the mathematical model perspective. An additional difficulty lies in
the scarcity of data about this system. The difficulty can be overcome, in
many cases, considering its behavior ideal. When this hypothesis does not
If acceptable, estimation procedures should be resorted to. In absorption
of multicomponents, the recovery (separation) of one of the
compounds (key or reference component).

For this separation, the calculation of the number of stages (contact

discontinuous) or the height of the fill (continuous contact) required. With these
Data can be used to calculate the recovery of the remaining components.

Except for the evaporation of the solvent considered in the analysis of the towers
adiabatic packs, until now it has been assumed that only one of the
components of the gaseous current have a noticeable solubility. When the
gas contains several soluble components, or when the liquid contains several
soluble components for dropout need some modifications.

Unfortunately, the almost complete lack of solubility data for the

multicomponent systems (except when ideal solutions are formed in
the liquid phase and when the solubilities of the different components are, by
so, mutually independent), makes the calculations, even in the most cases
common, can be very difficult. However, some of the applications
the most important industries belong to the category of ideal solutions; for
example, the absorption of hydrocarbons from gaseous mixtures in oils of
non-volatile hydrocarbons, as in the recovery of natural gasoline.

The amounts that are usually set before starting the design of
the following are sound absorbers:

1. Flow, composition, and temperature of the incoming gas.

2. Composition and temperature of the incoming liquid (but not the flow)
3. Operating pressure
4. Heat gain or loss (even if set to zero, as for a
adiabatic operation.

18
Under these conditions, it can be shown that the main variables that remain
son:

Liquid flow (or liquid/gas ratio).

2. Number of ideal dishes.
3. Fractional absorption of any single component.

Any two of these last variables, but not all three, can be fixed at
arbitrary form for a given design. Having specified two, the third is fixed.
automatically, how the degree of absorption of all substances is determined that
it has not yet been specified and the temperatures of the outgoing currents.

For example, if the liquid flow and the number of ideal trays are specified, the
absorption degree of each of the substances in the gas is fixed
automatically and cannot be chosen arbitrarily. Likewise, if it is
they specify the flow of the liquid and the degree of absorption of a substance, the number
of ideal dishes and the degree of absorption of all components is set
automatically and cannot be chosen arbitrarily.

As a result, for the plate-to-plate calculations suggested above, there is

they must assume not only the outlet temperature of the gas, but also the
total composition of the outgoing gas, which must be verified at the end of the
calculations.

This becomes a calculation procedure of trial and error so desperate.

that cannot be carried out practically without some guidance. This guide consists of a
approximate procedure, whether offered by the Kremser equations, which
they apply when there is a constant absorption factor, or in some
procedure that considers the variation of the absorption factor with the number of
platters. To establish the latter, one first needs to know an expression
exact for the absorber with respect to the variation of the absorption factor. This
It was initially obtained by Horton and Franklin.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chemical Engineering, Basic Operations.

J.M. Coulson, J.F. Richardson, J.R. Backhurst, J.H. Harker.
Volume II.
Editorial Reverté, S.A.

LINKOGRAPHY

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