8 - Absorption Part 2
8 - Absorption Part 2
Equipment
Week 8
Absorption
(Multiple Equilibrium Contact Stages)
This is the material balance or operating line for the absorption tower.
Graphical Determination of the Number of Trays
• A plot of the operating line equation as y versus x will give a curved
line. If x and y are very dilute, the denominators 1 – x and 1 – y will
be close to 1.0, and the line will be approximately straight, with a
slope ≅ L′/V′. The number of theoretical trays is determined by
simply stepping off the number of trays.
Graphical Determination of the Number of Trays
Example:
Absorption of SO2 in a Tray Tower
• A tray tower is to be designed to absorb SO2 from an air stream by
using pure water at 293 K. The entering gas contains 20 mol % SO2
and that leaving contains 2 mol % at a total pressure of 101.3 kPa.
The inert air flow rate is 150 kg air/h·m2, and the entering water
flow rate is 6000 kg water/h·m2. Assuming an overall tray efficiency
of 25%, how many theoretical trays and actual trays are needed?
Assume that the tower operates at 293 K (20°C). Take the molar
mass of the air = 29 g/mol and the pure water = 18 g/mol.
Graphical Determination of the Number of Trays
Solution:
• First, calculating the molar flow rates:
Solution:
• Substituting, solving for xN:
Solution:
.
The number of theoretical
trays is determined by
stepping off the steps to give
2.4 theoretical trays.