University of San Carlos

Department of Chemical Engineering

CHE 422L Chemical Engineering Laboratory 1

Experiment Plan
(Form CHE422L-1)

Prepared and submitted by:

Chato, Reizl Jane A. Cuevas, Cape Caryl R. Curayag, Mary Alfil A.

Experiment : Hydrodynamics in a Packed Absorption Column

Objectives of the Experiment

1. Determine experimentally the pressure drop across a wet column as a function of the air flow
rate and compare the results with theoretically calculated values.
2. Determine through visual observation and by graphical methods the loading and the flooding
points of the packed column at pre-set values of water flow rates.
3. Construct from experimental data the loading and the flooding curves of the packed column
based on generalized correlations by Sherwood, Shipley and Holloway.

1
 Methodological Framework

Objective 1. Comparison of the experimentally determined pressure drop across a wet column as a
function of the air flow rate and that with theoretically calculated values.

Output:
h1, h2
Constants:
Packing arrangement
Calculated output:
Pexp
Dc, Dp, Ap, H

Packed Absorption Column Graph:

(Experimental)
Variable:

Constants:
air, air, Dp
, H
Calculated output:
Ptheo
Erguns Equation
Variable: (Theoretical)

The experimental and theoretical values of P are compared via percent difference.

2
Objective 2. Determination of the loading and the flooding points of the packed column at pre-set
values of water flow rates through visual observation and by graphical methods.

a. Visual observation
At varying water flow rates, the loading point is observed when the water starts to
accumulate in the column. The air flow rate is recorded at this point. For the flooding
point, it is observed when the water level reaches the top of the packing in the column.
The air flow rate is also recorded at this point.
Data gathered are presented in a table.

b. Graphical method

Constants:
Packing arrangement

Dc, Dp, Ap, H

Packed Absorption Column
(Experimental)
Variable:

In graphical method, the loading point is determined by the first change of slope. Increasing
the air flow rate further causes another increase in slope. The point where the slope changes
again and becomes very steep is the flooding point.

Objective 3. Construction of the loading and the flooding curves of the packed column based on
generalized correlation by Sherwood, Shipley and Holloway from the experimental data obtained.

Constants: Output:
Packing arrangement

Ap, H

, g
v ' air a p air 0.2
L Sherwood, Shipley and Holloway Generalized Correlation
3
( g H O2
) H O
2

Variable:

G
( )
L air
G H O2

Materials, Measuring Apparatus & Equipment

3
 Material Quantity
Distilled Water 25 L
Air
Apparatus Size Quantity
Thermometer 1
Equipment Specifications
Gas Absorption Column UOP7-G Armfield 6322-1
- Raschig Rings Diameter = 9 mm
Specific Area = 420 m 2/m3
Void Fraction = 0.63

Task Plan

Person
Time Task
Responsible
February 13,
Familiarizing the different parts of the gas absorption column and the
2016 All
experiment procedures
9:00 11: 00
February 15,
Group Discussion on procedures, theories and principles behind the
2016 All
experiment
1:30 4:00
February 16,
2016 ORAL QUESTIONING All
9:30-10:30
PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS
Filling the sump tank with distilled water to three-fourths its volume
10:30 10:35 Chato
(about 25 L).
10:35 10:36 Turning on the main power supply of the gas absorption column. Cuevas
Opening the valve in the water discharge tube and making sure that
10:36 10:37 Curayag
the drains under the tank and down-coming tube are closed.
Positioning the three-way cocks between the column and the
10:37 10:40 manometers in such a way that only the water manometer is used to Chato
measure the pressure drop.
Positioning the tubes of S2 and S3 according to the desired conditions
10:40 10:43 Cuevas
set by the instructor.
Checking that the manometer does not indicate a pressure drop when
S2 or S3 is open and with a shortcut to open air on the other side of Curayag
10:43 10:45 the manometer.
Recording of the operational temperature of the liquid and the gas at
Cuevas
the start and at the end of the experiment.
PRESSURE DROP IN A WETTED COLUMN
Ensuring that the gas and water flow meters and the stopcocks are
10:45 10:46 closed and the valve in the discharge pipe to the sump tank is fully Curayag
open.
Switching on the water pump and opening the water flow controller C1
to set the flow rate to 3 4 Liters/minute.
10:46 10:50 Chato
Letting the pump run for 2 3 minutes and then switching off the water
pump.
10:50 10:55 Allowing the column to drain for 5 minutes. Curayag
10:55 10:56 Switching on the air compressor main switch. Cuevas

4
 Opening S2 and/or S3 and taking manometer readings of pressure
difference across the column for a range of airflow rates starting with
10:56 12:00 Chato
low rates (20 up to 170 Liters/minute); At least 10 air flow rates must
be tested.
Curayag
Checking regularly for entrapment of water.
12:00 12:10 Lunch Break ALL
Wetting the column again for descending air flow rates.
Ensuring that the gas and water flow meters and the stopcocks are
12:10 12:11 Curayag
closed and the valve in the discharge pipe to the sump tank is fully
open.
Switching on the water pump and opening the water flow controller C1
to set the flow rate to 3 4 Liters/minute.
12:11 12:15 Chato
Letting the pump run for 2 3 minutes and then switching off the water
pump.
12:15 12:20 Allowing the column to drain for 5 minutes. Curayag
Opening S2 and/or S3 and taking manometer readings of pressure
difference across the column for a range of airflow rates starting with
12:20 1:30 Cuevas
high rates (starting from 170 20 Liters/minute); At least 10 air flow
rates must be tested.
IDENTIFYING THE LOADING AND FLOODING POINTS
1:30 1:31 Switching on the water pump and the air compressor main switch. Cuevas
Taking manometer readings of pressure difference across the column
with 10 appropriate airflow rates for different water flow rates as Chato
assigned by the instructor.
1:31 2:50 Recording the temperature of the liquid and gas during the experiment
Curayag
at each setting.
Recording the appearance of the column at each setting. Cuevas
Taking note of the loading and flooding point of the column. Chato
SHUTDOW OPERATIONS
2:50 2:55 Draining the water tank and the water from the down-coming tube. Curayag

2:55 2:58 Closing the valves of the drain and the down-coming tube. Cuevas
Turning off the main power supply (or breaker) of the gas absorption
2:58 3:00 Chato
column.

5
Information Flow Diagram

6
7
 v air Volumetric Flow Rate of Air, m 3/s

v air Volumetric Flow Rate of Water, m 3/s

h1 Manometer height reading 1

h2 Manometer height reading 2

H Column Height, m (H = 1.46 m)

T 1,air Start of experiment Operational Air Temperature, C

T 2,air End of experiment Operational Air Temperature, C

T ave,air - Average Operational Air Temperature, C

T 1,H O 2 Start of experiment Operational Water Temperature, C

T 2,H O 2 End of experiment Operational Water Temperature, C

T ave, H O 2 - Average Operational Water Temperature, C

g Standard acceleration of gravity, (9.81 m/s 2)

Pexp Experimental Pressure Drop, Pa

P theo Theoretical Pressure Drop, Pa

air Air density, kg/m 3

H 2 O Air density, kg/m 3

air Air viscosity, Pa s

H 2 O - Water Viscosity, Pa s

v'air Air superficial velocity, m/s

Void Fraction

L Packed bed length, m

8
 Lc Column Length without Packing, m

D p Packing Diameter, m

D C Column Diameter, m

AC Column Cross-sectional Area, m 2

N
Reynolds Number (dimensionless)

f Fannings Friction Factor (dimensionless)

a p Specific Area of Packing, m 2/m3

L Liquid (Water) Mass Velocity (kg/m 2 s)

G - Gas (Air) Mass Velocity (kg/m 2 s)

Raw Data Sheets

Table 1. Data for the Gas Absorption Tower

Column Diameter (cm) 7.5

Length/Height (cm) 1.46
Packing Diameter (mm) 9
Packing Specific Area (m 2/m3) 420
Void Fraction 0.63
L
Lc

Table 2. Data on the Pressure Drop in a Wetted Column

Starting
Air
Operational
Temperature Observations
Water
(C)
Increasing Air Flow Rates
Air Flow Water Manometer Height (cm)
Rate (L/min) h1 (cm) h2 (cm) h (cm)
1

9
7

10

Decreasing Air Flow Rates

Air Flow Water Manometer Height (cm)
Observations
Rate (L/min) h1 (cm) h2 (cm) h (cm)
1

10

Ending Operational Air

Temperature (C) Water

Table 3. Data on the Identification of Loading and Flooding Points in the Gas Absorption Column

Starting Operational Temperature Air

(C) Water
1
Water Water Manometer
Air Flow
Flow Flow Height (cm)
Rate Observations
Rate #
(L/min) h1 h2 h
(L/min)
(cm) (cm) (cm)
1

5
6

10
 7

10

2 6

10

3
1

9
10

11
 1

4 6

10

5 6

10

6
1

3
4

12
 5

10

7 6

10

Ending Operational Air

Temperature (C) Water

13