Gas-liquid Absorption Report

Prepared by: Mahmoud Mohamed

ID: 141761
ABSTRACT
In this experiment, it is required to determine the flow rate of air at which flooding occurs during
the absorption of the carbon dioxide in water in a packed column. First and foremost, dry air data
of the flowrates and the pressure drop at each flow rate are collected. Wet are data are of air and
water flowrates and the corresponding pressure drop are recorded. Log (pressure drop/ column
height)-log (flowrate) graph is then constructed after calculations and modification of the collected
data. Finally, the flooding point is determined at 1.9 of logarithmic flowrate and by anti-log the
flow rate of air at which flooding occurs is 79 l/min.

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CONTENTS
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 2

List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. 4

List of tables .................................................................................................................................... 4

1 introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5

1.1 distillation ......................................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Absorption ........................................................................................................................ 6

1.2.1 CO2 Absorber ............................................................................................................ 7

1.2.2 Stamicarbon CO2-Stripping Process ........................................................................ 7

1.3 Adsorption ........................................................................................................................ 8

1.4 Liquid-liquid extraction.................................................................................................... 9

1.5 Drying............................................................................................................................. 10

2 Results ................................................................................................................................... 11

2.1 Dry air data ..................................................................................................................... 11

2.2 Wet air data .................................................................................................................... 13

2.3 Log-log graphs ............................................................................................................... 15

3 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 16

3.1 Sources of error .............................................................................................................. 16

4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 17

5 Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 18

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Crude oil distillation Tower.............................................................................................. 6

Figure 2 Flow chart of Urea Production ......................................................................................... 8
Figure 3 Log-log graphs................................................................................................................ 15

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Dry air data ...................................................................................................................... 11

Table 2 Modified dry air data ....................................................................................................... 12
Table 3 Wet air data ...................................................................................................................... 13
Table 4 Modified wet air data ....................................................................................................... 14

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 DISTILLATION

Distillation is used to perform a chemical process which is carried out mainly to separate liquid
mixtures or a solvent from a solution, and to extract pure components from the mixtures. Moreover,
distillation depends on the volatility of each component such that the more volatile component is
the first extracted and vice versa. A distillation unit consists of a tower connected to a re-boiler
and a condenser. Feed mixture is heated at the re-boiler to maintain vaporization in which liquid
is partially vaporized flowing up through the column that would consist of trays or packing.
Furthermore, the vapour leaving the trays enters the condenser where some of it is extracted as the
overhead product while the rest returns to the column as reflux. Volatility of components
determines in which phase each component will be in which the more volatile component will be
more likely to move from liquid phase to the vapour phase, therefore the top product will be rich
in more volatile component. On the other hand, less volatile components will move from the
vapour phase to the liquid phase, thereby the bottom product will be rich in less volatile
components. (Khoury, 2015). Distillation columns are used throughout industry when mixtures
(primarily in liquid form) must be separated. One such example is the petroleum industry. In such
an application, crude oil is fed into a large distillation column and different fractions (oil mixtures
of varying composition and volatility) are taken out at different heights in the column. Each
fraction, such as jet fuel, home heating oil, gasoline, etc., is used by both industry and the consumer
in a variety of ways. The separation achieved in a distillation column depends primarily on the
relative volatilities of the components to be separated, the number of contacting trays (plates) or
packing height, and the ratio of liquid and vapor flow rates. (Engineer & Ricci, 2010)

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Distillation columns are
rarely designed with packing
in large scale production
because of the liquid
distribution problems that
arise with large diameter
units and the enormity of the
height of many columns.
However, where applicable,
towers filled with packing are
competitive in cost, and are
particularly useful in cases
where the pressure drop must
be low and/or the liquid
holdup must be small. Packed
towers, an overview of which is available at the end of this chapter, are Figure 1 Crude oil distillation Tower

occasionally used for bench-scale or pilot plant work. In contrast, use of trayed towers extends to
many areas of the chemical industry. Types of distilltation are flash distillation batch distillation
continuous distillation. (Engineer & Ricci, 2010)

1.2 ABSORPTION
The removal of one or more selected components from a gas mixture by absorption is an important
operation in engineering. The process of absorption conventionally refers to the intimate
contacting of a mixture of gases with a liquid so that part of one or more of the constituents of the
gas will dissolve in the liquid. The contact usually takes place in some type of packed or plate
column. The engineering design of gas absorption equipment must be based on a sound application
of the principles of diffusion, equilibrium, and mass transfer. The main requirement in equipment
design is to bring the gas into intimate contact with the liquid, i.e., to provide a large interfacial
area and a high intensity of interface renewal, and to minimize resistance and maximize driving
force. This contacting of the phases can be achieved in many different types of equipment, the
most important of which are either packed or plate columns. The final choice often rests with the

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various criteria that may have to be met. For example, if the pressure drop through the column is
large enough such that horsepower costs become significant, a packed column may be preferable
to a plate-type column because of the lower pressure drop. Again, primary emphasis in this section
is placed on packed and plate columns. In most processes involving the absorption of gaseous
constituents from a gas stream, the gas stream is the process fluid; hence, its inlet conditions (flow
rate, composition, and temperature) are usually known. The temperature and composition of the
inlet liquid and the composition of the outlet gas are also usually specified. The main objectives,
then, in the design of an absorption column, are the determination of the solvent (liquid) flow rate
and the calculation of the principal dimensions of the equipment (column diameter and height).
(Theodore & Ricci, Absorption, 2010)

1.2.1 CO2 Absorber

CO2 in the final shift gas is removed. CO2 removal can be done by using 2 methods:
monoethanolamine (C2H4NH2OH) scrubbing and hot potassium scrubbing. Approximately 80
percent of the ammonia plants use monoethanolamine (MEA) to aid in removing CO2. The CO2
gas is passed upward through an adsorption tower countercurrent to a 15 to 30 percent solution of
MEA in water fortified with effective corrosion inhibitors. After absorbing the CO2, the amine
solution is preheated and regenerated (carbon dioxide regenerator) in a reactivating tower. This
reacting tower removes CO2 by steam stripping and then by heating. The CO2 gas (98.5 percent
CO2) is either vented to the atmosphere or used for chemical feedstock in other parts of the plant
complex. The regenerated MEA is pumped back to the absorber tower after being cooled in a heat
exchanger and solution cooler. (Ulamman's Encylopedia of Industrial Chemisty, 2012)

1.2.2 Stamicarbon CO2-Stripping Process

The synthesis stage of the Stamicarbon process consists of a urea reactor (c), a stripper for
unconverted reactants (d), a high-pressure carbamate condenser (e), and a high-pressure reactor
off-gas scrubber (f ). To realize maximum urea yield per pass through the reactor at the stipulated
optimum pressure of 140 bar, and NH3 :CO2 molar ratio of 3 : 1 is applied. The greater part of the
unconverted carbamate is decomposed in the stripper, where ammonia and carbon dioxide are
stripped off. This stripping action is effected by countercurrent contact between the urea solution
and fresh carbon dioxide at synthesis pressure. Low ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations
in the stripped urea solution are obtained, such that the recycle from the low-pressure recirculation

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stage (h, j) is minimized. These low concentrations of both ammonia and carbon dioxide in the
stripper effluent can be obtained at relatively low temperatures of the urea solution because carbon
dioxide is only sparingly soluble under such conditions. (Ulamman's Encylopedia of Industrial
Chemisty, 2012)

Figure 2 Flow chart of Urea Production

1.3 ADSORPTION
It is already well established that the molecular forces at the surface of a liquid are in a state of
imbalance or unsaturation. The same is true of the surface of a solid, where the molecules or ions
on the surface may not have all their forces satisfied by union with other particles. As a result of
this unsaturation, solid and liquid surfaces tend to satisfy their residual forces by attracting and
retaining onto their surfaces gases or dissolved substances with which they come in contact. This
phenomenon of the concentration of a substance on the surface of a solid (or liquid) is called
adsorption. Thus, the substance attracted to a surface is said to be the adsorbed phase or adsorbate,
while the substance to which it is attached is the adsorbent. Adsorption should be carefully
distinguished from absorption, the later process being characterized by a substance not only being
retained on a surface, but also passing through the surface to become distributed throughout the
phase. Where doubt exists as to whether a process is true adsorption or absorption, the
noncommittal term “sorption” is sometimes employed. The study of adsorption of various gases
(or vapors) on solid surfaces has revealed that the forces operative in adsorption are not the same
in all cases. Two types of adsorption are generally recognized: “physical” or van der Waals

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adsorption and “chemical” or activated adsorption. Physical adsorption (physisorption) is the result
of intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules of the solid and the substance adsorbed.
When, for example, the intermolecular attractive forces between a solid and a gas (or vapor) are
greater than those existing between molecules of the gas itself, the gas will condense upon the
surface of the solid even though its pressure may be lower than the vapor pressure corresponding
to the prevailing temperature. The adsorbed substance does not penetrate within the crystal lattice
of the solid and does not dissolve in it but remains entirely upon the surface. Should the solid,
however, be highly porous, containing many fine capillaries, the adsorbed substance will penetrate
these interstices if it “wets” the solid. The partial pressure of the adsorbed substance at equilibrium
equals that of the contacting gas phase, and by lowering the pressure of the gas phase, or by raising
the temperature, the adsorbed gas is readily removed or desorbed in unchanged form. Physical
adsorption is characterized by low heats of adsorption (approximately 40 Btu/lbmol of adsorbate)
and by the fact that the adsorption equilibrium is both reversible and established rapidly. This latter
point allows one to simplify calculations in most real-world adsorption applications. (Adsorption
, 2010)

1.4 LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

Liquid–liquid extraction is used for the removal and recovery of primarily organic solutes from
aqueous and non-aqueous streams. Concentrations of solute in these streams range from either a
few hundred parts per million to several mole/mass percent. Most organic solutes may be removed
by this process. Extraction has been specifically used in removal and recovery of phenols, oils,
and acetic acid from aqueous streams, and in removing and recovering freons and chlorinated
hydrocarbons from organic streams. If an aqueous solution of acetic acid is agitated with a liquid
such as ethyl acetate, some of the acid but relatively little water will enter the ester phase. Since
the densities of the aqueous and ester layers are different at equilibrium, they will settle on
cessation of agitation and may be decanted from each other. Since the ratio of acid to water in the
ester layer is now different from that in the original solution and also different from that in the
residual water solution, a certain degree of separation has occurred. This is an example of stage-
wise contact and it may be carried out either in a batch or continuous fashion. The residual water
may be repeatedly extracted with more ester to additionally reduce the acid content. As will be
discussed shortly, one may arrange a countercurrent cascade of stages to accomplish the

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separation. Another possibility is to use some sort of countercurrent or crosscurrent continuous-
contact device where discrete stages are not involved.

1.5 DRYING
In the drying process, a liquid (usually water) is separated from a wet solid by use of a hot dry gas
(usually air). The drying of solids to remove moisture involves the simultaneous processes of heat
and mass transfer. Heat is transferred from the gas to the solid (and liquid) in order to evaporate
the liquid contained in the solid. Mass is transferred as either a liquid or vapor within the solid and
then as a vapor from the surface of the solid. Additional details on this process are provided later
in this section. The energy required to vaporize the liquid in a solid is almost always furnished by
a hot inert carrier gas that enters the drier. In some driers, the solid may be in contact with heated
metal surfaces where the required heat of vaporization flows to the solid by conduction. In vacuum
drying (where there is essentially no carrier gas), the heat of vaporization is furnished by
conduction or radiation; here, the capacity of the drier is largely influenced by the heat-transfer
surface available within the dryer. (Theodore & Ricci, Drying, 2010)

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2 RESULTS

2.1 DRY AIR DATA

Table 1 Dry air data

Air flow rate (cm) Pressure drop ΔP (cm water)

0 2

20 2

40 2

60 23

80 30

98 34

 Flow rates of air and water for cm to l/min

95cm = 76 l/min

 ΔP conversion from cm water to Pa

1 cm=98.06 Pa.

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 Table 2 Modified dry air data

Air flow Pressure Height 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 Log

𝒍𝒐𝒈 ( )
rate drop (Pa) of 𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 (air
(L/min) column (Pa/m) flow
(m) rate)
0 196.12 1.4 140.08 2.14 -

16 196.12 1.4 140.08 2.14 1.2

32 196.12 1.4 140.08 2.14 1.5

48 2255 1.4 1611 3.2 1.7

64 2941.8 1.4 2101.2 3.32 1.8

78.4 3334.04 1.4 2381.4 3.37 1.9

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2.2 WET AIR DATA
Table 3 Wet air data

Water flow rate (cm/min) Air flow rate (cm/min) Pressure drop ΔP (cm
water)
50 0 2

50 20 10

50 40 18

50 60 40

50 80 58

50 98 80

 Flow rates of air and water for cm to l/min

95cm = 76 l/min

 ΔP conversion from cm water to Pa

1 cm=98.06 Pa.

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 Table 4 Modified wet air data

Water Air Pressure Height 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 Log (flow
𝒍𝒐𝒈 ( )
flow rate flow drop (m) 𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 rate)
(L/min) rate (Pa) (Pa/m)

(L/min)
1.935 0 196 1.4 140 2.15 -

1.935 16 980 1.4 1372 3.14 1.2

1.935 32 1765 1.4 2471 3.4 1.5

1.935 48 3922 1.4 5491 3.7 1.7

1.935 64 5687 1.4 7962 3.9 1.8

1.935 78.4 7845 1.4 10983 4 1.9

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2.3 LOG-LOG GRAPHS
Now the log-log graphs can be found and from which the flooding point can be found:

Log (pressure drop/Height) Versus Log (flowrate)

4.5

3.5
Log (pressure drop/height)

2.5

1.5

1
Flooding
0.5 point
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
Log (flowrate)

Figure 3 Log-log graphs

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3 DISCUSSION
The experiment’s aim is to determine the flow rate of air that will cause flooding. Flooding is a
phenomena that occurs when the flow rate of air is more than the flow rate of water causes
restrictions to the movement of the water. The log-log graph is an essential method in determining
the best conditions of the flow rates of gas and liquid in order to avoid flooding. Log-log graph is
constructed by plotting log (ΔP/height of the column) versus log (flowrate) for both dry and wet
basis. At the point which the largest log (pressure drop/height) occurs, corresponding log (flow
rate) is the flow rate at which flooding occurs. In the design of the absorption columns, some
factors are taken into consideration as the height of the column, the type of the column whether
packed, trayed, spray or blub. Moreover, the number of stages at which the absorption occurs, and
the flow rates of the gas and liquid. Also as the surface area provided is large, more efficient
absorption occurs. An efficient absorption column is what provides good absorption with the low
pressure drops in order not to waste energy.

3.1 SOURCES OF ERROR

- Efficiency of compressor and the pumps is not good enough.

- Random packing could cause unequal absorption over all the available surface area.
- Inaccurate reading provided by the manometers.
- Room temperature could affect the absorption either by increasing or decreasing density
of water which could affect the pressure drop.

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4 CONCLUSION
It was required to determine the flooding point of the absorption of carbon dioxide from air by
water. The experiment was carried out on two steps, dry basis and wet basis. Firstly, only the air
is injected to the column and then the pressure drop is recorded corresponding to each flow rate.
Secondly water and air are injected to the column and also the pressure drop recorded at each flow
rate. These data are then used to construct a log-log graph of both dry air and wet air. The graph
should a rise in the pressure drop as the flow rates of the gas and the liquid increase. This is because
the resistance between the two opposing fluid increase. The highest pressure drop is at the flooding
point at 1.9 logarithmic flow rate that equals 79 l/min.

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5 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adsorption . (2010). In Mass Transfer Operations for the practicing engineer . John Wiley.

Engineer, L., & Ricci, F. (2010). Distillation . In Mass Transfer Operations for the Practicing
Engineer. John Wiley.

Khoury, F. M. (2015). Multistage seperation processes. In F. M. khoury, Multistage seperation

processes (pp. 147-159). New York: CRC Press taylor and francis group.

Theodore, L., & Ricci, F. (2010). Absorption. In Mass Transfer Operations for the Practicing
Engineer. John Wiley.

Theodore, L., & Ricci, F. (2010). Drying. In Mass Transfer Operations for the practicing
engineers. John Wiley.

Ulamman's Encylopedia of Industrial Chemisty. (2012). John Wiley .

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