METU Chem. Eng. Dept.

Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III

EXPERIMENT 50
WETTED-WALL ABSORPTION COLUMN

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment is to study the mass transfer in a wetted wall
absorption column and investigate the effects of water and air flow rates on the
mass transfer coefficient of oxygen absorbed from air into distilled water.

PRELIMINARY WORK
Theoretical Background
1. Review the fundamental concepts of gas absorption.
2. Review the fundamental concepts of mass transfer between gas and liquid
phases.
3. Study Henrys Law.
4. Review the concept of overall mass transfer coefficient and mass transfer
resistances.
5. Review the fundamental concepts in determining mass transfer coefficient
by using the dimensionless correlations.

Preparation for the Experimental Work

1. Study the apparatus and familiarize yourself with its operation.
2. Obtain the column dimensions (as height and inner diameter)
3. Prepare a data sheet.
4. How can you calculate the thickness of a falling liquid film?
5. Obtain equilibrium data relevant to the experiment. Cite your reference in
your lab notebook.
6. Write the expressions for the Sherwood, Schmidt and Reynolds numbers
and discuss their physical interpretations.
7. Find out mass transfer correlations which can be used to calculate the
mass transfer coefficient for this experimental system from the literature.
Cite the reference(s) in your lab notebook.
8. Express the oxygen flux in this system using the liquid phase mass
transfer coefficient, kx, gas phase phase mass transfer coefficient, ky,
overall liquid phase mass transfer coefficient, Kx and overall gas phase
mass transfer coefficient Ky. What is the relationship between these?
Comment on the relative contributions of gas and liquid side mass transfer
resistances on mass transfer rate in this system.

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METU Chem. Eng. Dept. Experiment 50
Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III Wetted Wall Absorption

9. Qualitatively draw the equilibrium relationship and the operating line for
this experiment and show how changing liquid and gas flow rates will
change these.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The system is designed to study the absorption of oxygen from ambient air into
de- oxygenated distilled water, as shown schematically in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the experimental set-up

The wetted column (C1) consists of a vertical glass tube. The absorbing liquid
(distilled water) is stored in a tank (D1) and is pumped (G1) to the top of the de-
oxygenating column (C2), situated as adjacent to the absorption column. Water is
de-oxygenated with nitrogen sparged in the bottom and then pumped (G2), via a
rotameter (FI2), to the top of the wetted-wall column (C1). Air is pumped by a
compressor (P1) to the bottom of the wetted-wall column (C1) via a rotameter
(FI1), transferring oxygen to water. The concentration of dissolved oxygen and

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METU Chem. Eng. Dept. Experiment 50
Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III Wetted Wall Absorption

temperature of the liquid are measured by two probes (AI1 and AI2) at the inlet
and outlet ports of the wetted-wall column (C1) The water drains from the column
(C1) into the storage tank (D1) to be recycled to the de-oxygenator via a pump
(G2).

Start up
1. Switch on the main power.
2. Set the pressure regulator on the compressed nitrogen cylinder at 0.5-1
bar.
3. Switch on pump G1 and adjust the valve V3 very slowly and carefully.
4. Switch on pump G2 and adjust flow rate using the micro valve on the flow
meter (FI1).
5. Switch on the compressor (P1) and adjust the flow rate using the micro
valve on the flow meter (FI2).
6. Start nitrogen flow to the de-oxygenator column, very slowly and carefully
by opening the V1.

Shut down
1. Turn off the nitrogen supply by closing the valve V1.
2. Turn off the compressor P1 and both pumps G1 and G2.
3. Switch off the main power.

Important Notes
1. Uniform wetting of the inner surface of the column C1 ensures more valid
data.
2. The small tank near the bottom of the column C1 serves to saturate air
with water. The tank should be about 3/4 full of water before starting the
air flow.
3. A stead stream of nitrogen bubbles is sufficient to effectively strip oxygen
from the feed water. Reduce the nitrogen flow If there is slugging in the
column C2.
4. The column will require several minutes to come to steady state,
especially with low water flow rate. Be sure to verify the actual attainment
of this condition (dissolved oxygen concentration AI2 must be constant)

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METU Chem. Eng. Dept. Experiment 50
Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III Wetted Wall Absorption

Controlled Parameters
Air flow rate: Choose three or four values between 60 and 180 L/h
Water flow rate: Choose three or four values between 4 and 16 L/h

Data
When the system reaces steady-state, record
a) the dissolved oxygen concentration at the inlet and outlet of the column C1
b) the temperature at the inlet and outlet of the column C2

CALCULATIONS
1. Calculate the average flux of the oxygen through the gas-liquid interface in
the wetted-wall column. Remember that a more accurate value of the
average flux can be calculated by taking the liquid film thickness into
account.
2. Calculate the driving forces for mass transfer at the liquid phase inlet and
outlet to the wetted-wall column. Which driving force is relevant
considering the measurements you take in the experiment? Accordingly,
calculate the log-mean mass transfer driving force.
3. Calculate the average mass transfer coefficient on the liquid side for the
experiment by using the results obtained in steps 1 and 2.
4. Remember that the correlations for mass transfer are generally in the form
of Sh=CScmRen; where Sh is the Sherwood number; Sc, the Schmidt
number; Re, the Reynolds number; and K is a constant. Calculate Sh, Re,
and Sc numbers for each of the twelve pairs of liquid and air flow rate. Plot
a graph of ln(Sh) vs ln(Re) at each air flow rate. Draw a best fitting line
through data points. Determine from the slope the exponent (n) in the
mass transfer correlation. Compare them with each other and with
literature. Finally, calculate an average value.
5. Determine from the intercept, the combined value of CScm in the mass
transfer correlation. Compare them with each other and with literature.
Finally, calculate an average value.
6. Propose a mass transfer correlation for the system studied and compare
with similar equations in literature.

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METU Chem. Eng. Dept. Experiment 50
Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III Wetted Wall Absorption

SUGGESTED READING

1. Wankat, P.C., Separation Process Engineering, Pearson Education

International, Michigan, 2011.
2. Seader, J.D. and Henley, E.J, Separation Process Principles, John Wiley and
Sons, Inc., New York, 1998.
3. Perry, R.J and Green D.W, Chemical Engineers Handbook, McGraw-Hill,
1984.
4. Kirk-Othmer Encylopedia of Chemical Technology, Mass Transfer
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/0471238961.1301191903080919.a0
1.pub2/full
Updated by P. Zeynep ulfaz-Emecen, March 2017

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