Packed_Bed_absorber

PED- III

DESIGN OF PACKED BED ABSORBERSTEP 1: CALCULATE Yb, Yt , Xt

Yb = kmol of GAS ABSORBED / kmol of inerts Yt = kmol of GAS ABSORBED / kmol of inerts
(at bottom) (at top)

STEP 2: CALCULATION OF FLOW RATES:

From the V-L-E graph drawn, calculate (Lm/Gm) min (Lm/Gm)actual = (1.1 to 1.5 times) (Lm/Gm)min From (Lm/Gm)actual, calculate (Lm)actual {(Gm)actual is given in question or can be calculated from the question} Let us denote (Lm)actual = Lm and (Gm)actual = Gm Inert Mass Balance: Gm(Yb Yt) = Lm(Xb Xt) (from this eqn. calculate Xb)

Now, calculate avg. mol. Wt (at top and bottom of gas and liquid) Calculate the following values of molar flow rates (kmol/time):Gm, b = Gm(1+ Yb) Lm, b = Lm(1+ Xb) Gm, t= Gm(1+ Yt) Lm, b = Lm(1+ Xt)

From above values calculate Gb, Gt , Lb , Lt by multiplying respective avg. mol. Wts. Calculate densities, if not given in question.

STEP 3: CALCULATION OF TOWER HEIGHT:

Calculate {L/G x (g/L)1/2} for top and bottom and select the greater among the two. Now, from fig 5.33(below) we get the value of

Where, G =Superficial mass flow rate of the gas kg/s.m2 L and g=liquid and gas density, kg/m3 = liquid viscosity, cP

Packed_Bed_absorber

PED- III

The value of Fp {packing factor} is take given with packing substance details or see table. So, we substitute all the other values and obtain the value of Gas superficial velocity, Gf Gas flow rate of bottom is fixed so that the cross section can be calculated. For this we have to operate below the flooding limit, thus G we choose should be 60-85% of Gf . Then, operating velocity G = 0.80Gf C.S. area of absorber, Ac = Gb or Gt /G From here calculate the diameter of tower Dc. CHECK Dc/dp > 10 ; for satisfactory design (dp given with question)

(metre)

{depends on step-3}

STEP 4: DEGREE OF WETTING:

We have to calculate the degree of wetting rate: Lw ={L/ (Ac L a)} m3/m-s [L Lb or Lt ; depends on step-3]

(This value must be > 0.85 ft3/ft-hr)

Packed_Bed_absorber

PED- III

STEP 5: PRESSURE DROP CALCULATION: P = C2 x [10]C3Utl x g x (Utg)2

Where, P = mm H2O/m packing g = gas density ,kg/m3 C2 and C3 = constants given in question. Utg and Utl are superficial velocities of gas and liquid respectively Utg = {G / g AC} Utl = {G / l AC}

STEP 6: TOWER HEIGHT Calculations: Z = HOG x NOG

Where, Z, height of tower. HOG: height of overall gas transfer unit. NOG: number of overall gas transfer unit. HOG = HG + (mGm/Lm) HL Where, m = slope of linear equilibrium relationship.

Cornells Method:
The generalized equation of Cornell et al, for gas phase transfer units, HG

HG = (0.029 D1.11 Z0.33 Scg0.5) / (L f1 f2 f3)0.5

Dg , diffusion coefficient for mixture of gases (given) Scg = g / (g Dg)

{ will be given}

f1, f2 & f3 - given in question

L = Lt / Ac We will get an expression in the form of HG = .. x z0.33 The generalized equation of Cornell et al, for liquid phase transfer units, HL

)(

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PED- III

Where, C: correction factor (0.48 for CO2 question) : Correlation parameter =liquid viscosity, Pa.s =Liquid density, kg/m3 DL =liquiddiffusion coefficient, m2/s {given} Z =height of packing, m We get the expression as HL = x z0.15 Now substitute the values of HG and HL in the equation HOG = HG + (mGm/Lm) HL in which, Gm/Lm = {(Gm/Lm)t + (Gm/Lm)b } / 2

NOG Calculations: ( )

From the graph calculate Y* and fill in the following table: Y Plot a graph of 1/(Y Y*) vs Y NOG = {Area under the curve from Yt to Yb} So we have, Height of the tower, Z = HOG x NOG Y* 1/(Y-Y*)

= [HG + (mGm/Lm)HL] NOG

Packed_Bed_absorber

PED- III