Algebraic Method for

Determining N

Graphical methods for determining N have great

educational value

because graphs provide a visual insight into the phenomena

involved

However, these graphical methods become tedious

when

problem specifications fix the number of stages rather than

percent recovery of solute
more than one solute is absorbed or stripped
the best operating conditions of T and P are to be determined so
that the equilibrium- curve location is unknown
very low or very high concentrations of solute force the
construction to the corners of the diagram so that multiple YX
diagrams of varying scales are needed to achieve accuracy
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Algebraic Method for

Determining N

The flow rates V and L are essentially constant

Operating line equation becomes straight

If equilibrium line is also a straight line over the

concentration range

Analytical expressions can be derived for the number of

equilibrium stages

Overall component balance:

L0 x0 VN 1 y N 1 LN x N V1 y1
LN x N VN 1 y N 1 L0 x0 V1 y1

Making the component balance on the first n stages

L0 x0 Vn 1 yn 1 Ln xn V1 y1
Ln xn Vn 1 yn 1 L0 x0 V1 y1

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Algebraic Method for

Determining N

Equating both equations: Ln xn Vn 1 yn 1 LN x N VN 1 y N 1

Since molar flow rates are constant
L( xn x N ) V ( yn 1 y N 1 )

Since yn+1 and xn+1 are in equilibrium and equilibrium line

is straight, yn 1 mxn 1 and y N 1 mxN 1
y N 1
Equation becomes:
xn 1 AxN
AxN
m
Where, A = L/mV, is an absorption factor and is constant
1/A is called as stripping factor

All factors on the right hand side are constant

This equation is linear first order difference equation
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Algebraic Method for

Determining N

The final derived equation are as follows:

For transfer of solute from phase L to V (Stripping)

x0 x N

1 A 1 A

x0 y N 1 m
1 AN 1 1
N 1

x0 y N 1 m

ln
(1 A) A
x N y N 1 m

N
ln 1 A
With A = 1,
x0 xN
N
x N y N 1 m
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Algebraic Method for

Determining N

For transfer of solute A from Phase V to L (absorption)

y N 1 y1
A N 1 A
N 1
y N 1 mx0
A 1

y N 1 mx0 1 1
ln
1
y1 mx0 A A

N
ln A

y N 1 y1
N
y1 mx0
Such series of equations are often called Kremser
equations and are convenient to use
When, A = 1

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Algebraic Method for

Determining N

If the equilibrium line is not straight but curved

The slope will vary
The geometric average is used, where A
Where,
L0
LN

A1

m1V1

and AN

AN A1

mNVN 1

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Problem
1000 kmol/h of air containing 100 ppm (mol) of
chloroform at 25C and 2.0 atmosphere is to be
processed. We plan to absorb the chloroform with pure
water at 25C. Operation is at L/V = 1.4 (L/V)min. If we
want an outlet air stream containing 10.0 ppm
chloroform, how many equilibrium stages are required?
Equilibrium Relationship: y=105.6 x with y and x in ppm

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Tray Efficiencies
The assumption of equilibrium at each stage may not be
reasonable
for streams leaving a stage, vapor-phase mole fractions are not
related exactly to liquid-phase mole fractions by thermodynamic
K-values

To determine the actual number of required plates in a

trayed column

the number of equilibrium stages must be adjusted with a stage

efficiency (plate efficiency, tray efficiency)

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Tray Efficiencies
Is the fractional approach to an equilibrium stage which
is attained by a real tray
Since the conditions at various locations on the tray may
differ
We consider the local, or point efficiency of mass transfer at a
particular place on the tray surface

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Point Efficiency
Defined as:

EOG

yn ,local yn 1,local
*
ylocal
yn 1,local

y*local is the concentration in

equilibrium with xlocal
Actual change in gas
phase concentration

Change in gas phase

concentration if
equilibrium were
established
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Point Efficiency
EOG is a measure of the overall resistance to mass
transfer for both phases
As the gas passes through the openings of the tray and
through the liquid and foam
It encounters several hydrodynamic regimes
Each with different rates of mass transfer

Consider

Gas rises at a rate G mol/(area)(time)

Interfacial surface between gas and liquid be a area/volume of
liquid-gas foam
Gas rises a differential height dhL, area of contact is adhL per unit
area of tray
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Point Efficiency
The concentration y, it undergoes a concentration change dy in
this height
The total quantity of gas remains essentially constant, the rate of
solute transfer is Gdy:
*
Gdy K y (adhL )( ylocal
y)

Then,

y n ,local

y n1,local

dy

*
ylocal y

hL
0

K y adhL
G

*
Since ylocal
is constant for constant xlocal

ln

*
ylocal
yn ,local

*
ylocal
yn 1,local

yn ,local yn 1,local
K y ahL

ln1 *
ln(1 EOG )

ylocal yn 1,local
G

Therefore, EOG 1 e

K y ahL G

1 e N tOG

Number of Overall
gas transfer units

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Point Efficiency
NtOG made up of the transfer units for the gas NtG and
those for the liquid NtL
1
1
mG 1

N tOG N tG
L N tL

The m is a local average value for cases where the

equilibrium distribution curve is not straight
For the situation, the gas composition changes, leading
to a change in m from an initial value at yn+1, local to a final
value at yn, local
It can be adequately approximated by

m 'yn1 m 'yn
2

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Murphree Tray Efficiency

The bulk average concentrations of all the local pencils
of gas are yn+1 and yn
The Murphree efficiency of the entire tray is then

EMG

yn yn 1
*
yn yn 1

yn* is the value in equilibrium with the leaving liquid of

concentration xn
The relationship between EMG and EOG can then be
derived by integrating EOGs over the surface of the tray

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Murphree Tray Efficiency

The two extreme cases which might be visualized are:

Liquid completely back-mixed, everywhere of uniform

concentration xn, EMG = EOG
Liquid in plug flow, with no mixing, each particle remaining on the
tray for the same length of time

L EOG mG L
EMG
e
1
mG
and EMG EOG

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Overall Tray Efficiency

Ratio of the number of theoretical or ideal trays needed
in an entire tower to the number of actual trays used
Number of ideal trays required
EO
Number of real trays required

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

Packed columns are continuous

differential-contacting devices that do not have physically

distinguishable, discrete stages

Thus, packed columns are better analyzed by masstransfer models than by equilibrium-stage concepts
In practice, packed-tower performance is often
presented on the basis of equivalent equilibrium stages
using a packed-height equivalent to a theoretical
(equilibrium) plate (stage)
called the HETP or HETS and defined by the equation

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

This concept, however, has no theoretical basis

Although HETP values can be related to mass transfer
coefficients

such values are best obtained by back calculation using above

equation from experimental data

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

It is preferable to determine packed height from

theoretically based methods involving mass-transfer
coefficients

Consider the countercurrent-flow packed columns of packed

height lT shown in Figure

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns
For packed absorbers and strippers, operating-line equations
can be derived
A material balance around the upper envelope, for the solute,
gives
Solving for y and assuming L and V are constant
Similarly for stripper
mole fractions y and x represent bulk compositions of the gas and
liquid in contact at any vertical location in the packing
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

With solute mass transfer from the gas to the liquid

stream, the two-film theory applies

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

For a given problem specification

the location of the operating and equilibrium lines is independent

of whether the tower is trayed or packed

Thus, the method for determining the minimum

absorbent liquid or stripping vapor flow rates in a packed
column is identical to that for trayed towers
The rate of mass transfer for absorption or stripping can
be expressed in terms of mass-transfer coefficients for
each phase
Coefficients, k, based on a unit area for mass transfer
could be used
but the area in a packed bed is difficult to determine

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

As with mass transfer in the froth of a trayed tower

it is common to use volumetric mass-transfer coefficients, ka,

where the quantity a represents mass transfer area per unit volume
of packed bed

The mass-transfer rate per unit volume of packed bed, r,

is written in terms of
mole-fraction driving forces in each phase or
a partial-pressure driving force in the gas phase and
a concentration driving force in the liquid

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

Using the former, for absorption, with the subscript I to

denote the phase interface
The composition at the interface depends on the ratio

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns
Liquid phase driving force

Slope determines the relative

resistances of the two phases

Gas phase driving force

Interface composition in terms of the ratio of mass transfer

coefficients
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

If the resistance in the gas phase is very low, yI y

the resistance resides entirely in the liquid phase

This occurs in the absorption of a slightly soluble solute in the liquid

phase (a solute with a high K-value) and is referred to as a liquidfilm controlling process

If the resistance in the liquid phase is very low, xI x

This occurs in the absorption of a very soluble solute in the liquid

phase (a solute with a low K-value) and is referred to as a gasfilm controlling process

It is important to know which of the two resistances is

controlling

so that its rate of mass transfer can be increased by promoting

turbulence in and/or increasing the dispersion of the controlling
phase
BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

The composition at the interface between two phases is

difficult to measure
so overall volumetric mass-transfer coefficients for either of the
phases are defined in terms of overall driving forces

By combining

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

For dilute solutions when the equilibrium curve is a

nearly straight line through the origin

where K is the K-value for

the solute

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

Hence,

Determination of column packed height

Commonly involves the overall gas-phase coefficient, Kya,

because most often the liquid has a strong affinity for the solute
so resistance to mass transfer is mostly in the gas phase

This is analogous to a trayed tower

where the tray-efficiency analysis is commonly based on KOGa or

NOG

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

In the countercurrent-flow absorption column for a dilute

system
a differential material balance for a solute being absorbed in a
differential height of packing dl gives
where S is the inside cross-sectional area of the tower

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

In integral form, with nearly constant terms placed

outside the integral, previous equation becomes
Solving for the packed height
The RHS of be written as the product of two terms:

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

HOG is the overall height of a (gas) transfer unit (HTU)

Experimental data show that HTU varies less with V than does
Kya.
The smaller the HTU, the more efficient the contacting

NOG is the overall number of (gas) transfer units (NTU)

It represents the overall change in solute mole fraction divided

by the average mole-fraction driving force
The larger the NTU, the greater the time or area of contact
required

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

Equation for NOG was integrated using a linear

equilibrium, y = Kx

to eliminate y and a linear, solute material-balance operating line

to eliminate x giving:

Letting L/(KV) = A, and integrating, gives

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Rate Based Method for

Packed Columns

NTU (NOG) and HTU (HOG) are not equal to the number
of equilibrium stages, Nt, and HETP, respectively
unless the operating and equilibrium lines are straight and
parallel

Otherwise, NTU is greater than or less than Nt, for the

case of absorption
When the operating and equilibrium lines are straight but
not parallel,

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Problem
An air ammonia mixture containing 5 mol% ammonia
enters a packed tower at the rate of 500 kmol/h.m2. It is
necessary to recover 95% of ammonia using a liquid flow
rate of 1.5 times the minimum. Estimate the height of the
packing needed for this operation. Height of a transfer
unit is 0.25 m. Equilibrium relation is given by y=1.08 x
where x and y refer to the mole fractions of ammonia in
the liquor and vapor phases respectively. Fresh solvent
enters the tower.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Problem
A 2 mol% NH3-in-air mixture at 68oF and 1 atm is
scrubbed with water in a tower packed with 1.5-inch
ceramic Berl saddles. The inlet water mass velocity is
2,400 lb/h-ft2, and the inlet gas mass velocity is 240 lb/hft2. The gas solubility follows Henrys law, p = Hx, where
p is the partial pressure of ammonia, x is the mole
fraction of ammonia in the liquid, and H = 2.7 atm/mole
fraction
Calculate the packed height for 90% NH3 absorption.
Calculate the minimum water mass velocity in lb/h-ft2 for
absorbing 98% of the NH3.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus