Graphical Equilibrium-Stage Method
for Trayed Towers
Consider the countercurrent-flow, trayed tower for
absorption (or stripping) operating under isobaric,
isothermal, continuous, steady-state flow conditions
Phase equilibrium is assumed to be achieved at each
tray between the vapor and liquid streams leaving the
tray. ====> equilibrium stage
Assume that the only component transferred from one
phase to the other is the solute,
For application to an absorber, let:
Graphical Equilibrium-Stage Method
for Trayed Towers
-free absorbent
-free gas (carrier gas)
X = mole fraction of solute to solute-free absorbent in the
liquid
Y = mole ratio of solute to solute-free gas in the vapor
Note that with these definitions, values of and remain constant
through the tower, assuming no vaporization of absorbent into carrier
gas or absorption of carrier gas by liquid. For the solute at any
equilibrium stage, n,
O.P: YN + 1 = Xn 1 - X0 Yn = Xn + 1 0 - X1
X0 Y1
XN + 1 YN
1
1
n
n
N
N
YN+1 XN
Y0 X1
(bottom) Equilibrium curve
top
Operating line
Operating line
(top)
Equilibrium curve bottom
Absorber Stripper
Minimum absorbent flow rate
YN + 1 (gas in)
X0 Y1
Operating line 1
solute-free gas, Y
Moles solute/mole
N
YN + 1 XN
Y1
(gas out)
Moles solute/mole solute-free liquid, X XN
(for Lmin)
X0
Minimum absorbent flow rate
Consider, for n = N
X0 N+1 N 1
or
(C)
For stage N, for the minimum absorbent rate,
(D)
Solving for XN in (D) and substituting it into (C) gives
Minimum absorbent flow rate
(E)
For dilute solution, where Y y and X x, (E) becomes
If the entering liquid contains no solute, that is, X0 0
min N(fraction of solute absorbed)
For Stripper,
Number of equilibrium stages
X0 Y1 XN + 1, Y N,
1 N
N 1
Y0, X1,
YN+1 XN YN
YN + 1
Stage 1
(bottom)
Y1
Stage 1 Y0
(top)
xN x1 xN + 1
x0
Design of a Packed Tower
Mass Transfer Analysis (HTU method)
Z = (HTU) X ( NTU)
(NTU) Number of Transfer Units - is the measure of difficulty or ease
of separation
(HTU) Height of a Transfer Units -is the measure of separation
effectiveness of a particular packing
Z = HOG x NOG Z = HOL x NOL
Design of a Packed Tower
Phase Local coefficient Overall coefficient
Gas Phase Z = H G x NG Z = HOG x NOG
Mass transfer coeff.: kg Mass transfer coeff.: kog
Driving Force: (y - yi) Driving Force: (y - y*)
Liquid Z = HL x NL Z = HOL x NOL
Phase
Mass transfer coeff.: kl Mass transfer coeff.: KOL
Driving Force: (xi - x) Driving Force: (x - x*)
Packed absorption tower design
Packed-tower performance is often analysed on the
basis of equivalent equilibrium stages using packing
Height Equivalent to a Theoretical (equilibrium) Plate
(staged),
where HOG is the overall Height Transfer Unit (HTU)
and
NOG is the overall Number of Transfer Unit (NTU)
HOG , Height Transfer Unit (HTU)
V; average liquid flow rate
Ky
a: area for mass transfer per unit volume of
packed bed,
S; cross sectional area of the tower
NOG , Number of Transfer Unit (NTU)
where K ; equilibrium ratio; A, absorption factor = L/KV
Example: Packed Tower Design
Acetone is being absorbed by water in a packed tower
having a cross-sectional area of 0.186m2 at 293 K and
101.32 kPa. The inlet air contains 2.6 mol% acetone and
outlet 0.5 mol%. The gas flow is 13.65 kgmol air/h. The
pure water flow is 45.36 kgmol/h. Film coefficients for the
given flows in the tower are ya = 3.78x10-2 kgmol/[Link]
frac and xa = 6.16x10-2. Calculate packing height, z. The
equilibrium relation is given by y = 1.186x.
Example: Packed Tower Design
Solution - 7
First calculate HOG
Vav = (V1 + V2)/2 = 3.852 x 10-3 kg mol/s
Example: Packed Tower Design
Solution - 7
45.7
m is from y = mx = 1.186x relation established
ya = 2.19 x 10-2 kgmol/[Link] frac
So,
HOG = 3.852 x 10-3/(2.19 x 10-2 x 0.186) = 0.947 m
Example: Packed Tower Design
Solution - 7
Next calculate NOG :
A = L/mV = (45.36/3600)/(1.186)(3.852x10-3)
= 2.758
NOG = 1.28 transfer units
Example: Packed Tower Design
Solution - 7
Solution:
NOG = 1.28 transfer units
HOG = 0.947 m
So,
z = 0.947 x 1.28 = 1.2099 m