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CEE 452/652 Week 9, Lecture 2 Absorption

Dr. Dave DuBois Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute

Todays topics
Todays topic: chapter 13 on absorption Cover odor control on Tuesday, Oct 30
Also have review session next class Oct 30

Midterm is Nov 1 (next Thursday)


Cumulative, information up to Oct 30 lecture is fair game

Major Techniques for Capture/Elimination of Gas Pollutants


Oxidation to form nontoxic compounds Chemical reduction to form nontoxic compounds Adsorption onto solid surfaces 9 Absorption into liquids Biological oxidation to form nontoxic compounds Condensation of vapors to form liquids
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The Absorption Process


The transfer of material from a gas (absorbate) to a liquid (absorbent) Transfer is based on the preferential solubility of a gaseous component in the liquid Also known as scrubbing or washing Examples include removal and recovery of NH3 in fertilizer manufacturing Control of SO2 from combustion source Control of odorous gases from rendering plants
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Mass Transfer in Absorption


diffusion

Types of Absorber Control Equipment


Packed bed tower absorbers Spray tower absorbers Tray tower absorbers Venturi Absorbers Ejector Absorbers Biofiltration Bed Absorbers

Gas out

Gas Absorption Equipment


Packed bed absorbers most common Counter-current flow tower configuration Gas flow enters bottom of tower and flows upward
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Gas in

Gas exit

Gas Absorption Equipment


Another countercurrent flow tower configuration

Gas in

Cross-Flow Scrubber

Gas Flow in

Gas Flow out

Concentration gradients exist in two directions in the liquid - from top to bottom and front to rear

Packed Bed Abs. Applications


Suited to applications where high gas removal efficiency is required Exhaust gas is relatively free from particulate matter Control of SO2 and HCl in sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid production

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Packing Elements

Lessing ring
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Packing Elements
Packing material provides a large surface area for mass transfer Packing elements made of plastic (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride), ceramic or metal Sizes range from 1 to 4 inches each Design depends on corrosiveness of gas, scrubbing liquid, size of absorber, static pressure drop and cost
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Packing Elements

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Spray Tower Absorber


Simplest device used for absorption Consists of open vessel and a set of liquid spray nozzles to distribute scrubbing liquid (absorbent) Limited efficiency because of limited contact between gas and spray droplets
Used when gases are extremely soluble in absorbent Chemical reaction in liquid could cause clogging
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Gas Absorption Equipment


Spray Tower
Co-current Spray Tower Scrubber Full Cone Nozzle

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Tray Tower Absorber

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Packed Tower Design


Diameter and height of the bed can be estimated for this design Use generalized flooding and pressure drop correlation graph

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Simplified Design of Packed Absorber


1. calculate value of

L g abcissa = G L

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In the Generalized Sherwood flooding and pressure drop correlation graph


L = mass flow rate of liquid G = mass flow rate of gas g = gas density L = liquid density

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.1 (G ' ) 2 F 0 L G L g

L = mass flow rate of liquid G = mass flow rate of gas G = mass flux of gas per cross sectional area of column F = Packing factor = specific gravity of the scrubbing liquid L = liquid viscosity (in cP; 0.8 for water)

L G

G (dimensionless) L

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Simplified Design of Packed Absorber


2. calculate flooding pressure drop

Pflood = 0.115 F

0.7 p

Fp = packing factor (dimensionless)

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Simplified Design of Packed Absorber


3. use graph to find ordinate at the flooding pressure drop, P

(G ' ) F G L g
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0. 1 L

G = mass flux of gas per cross sectional area of column (lb/ft2-s) F = Packing factor = specific gravity of the scrubbing liquid L = liquid viscosity (lb/ft-s) g = gravitational acceleration g = gas density L = liquid density

4. And find gas flow rate, G


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Simplified Design of Packed Absorber


5. Calculate actual gas flow rate per unit area as a fraction of the gas flow rate at flooding Goperating = G f Where
Goperating = actual flow rate per unit area (lb/ft3-s) f = coefficient (0.75)

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Simplified Design of Packed Absorber


6. Calculate packed bed diameter on the actual gas flow rate per unit area in the system
Total gas flow rate Tower Area = Gas flow rate per unit area
Tower Diameter = 4 Tower Area

Note correction

Tower Diameter = 1.13 Tower Area


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Problems with high gas flow


Channeling: the gas or liquid flow is much greater at some points than at others Loading: the liquid flow is reduced due to the increased gas flow; liquid is held in the void space between packing Flooding: the liquid stops flowing altogether and collects in the top of the column due to very high gas flow
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