COLUMN DIAMETER / HYDRAULIC CHECK

Prepared by : Column Tag No. :

Checked by : Job No. :
Date : Client :
Project :

Input Data

Packing type = Pall metal rings

Packing size = 25 mm

Gas / Vapour Properties

Gas / Vapour flow rate, V = 3843 kg/h
= 1.0675 kg/s
Gas / Vap. Density, V = 3.94 kg/m3

Liquid Properties
Liquid flow rate, L = 2317 kg/h
= 0.6436 kg/s
Liquid Density, L = 769.87 kg/m3 Conversion :
Liquid Viscosity, µL = 0.0002218 Ns/m2 0.22 Cp = 0.00022180 Ns/m2

Packing factor, F p = 160 m-1

Calculation

Liq.-Vap. Flow factor, F LV = (L / V) x ( V

/ L
)
= 0.0431

Design for an initial pressure drop of 20mm H 2O /m packing

From K4 v/s FLV,
K4 = 0.76

K4 at flooding = 4.50

Trial % flooding = ( (K4 / K4 at flooding) ) x 100

= 41.0961
(1/2)
Gas mass flow rate, V m = K4 . V
( L
-- V
)
13.1 Fp (µL / )0.1
L

= 2.2198 kg/m2.s

Trial column c/s area = V / Vm

(Trial As)
= 0.4809 m2

Trial column dia., D = 0.7825 m D = (4/pi) x Trial As

Sheet 1 of 6
Round off 'D' to nearest standard size
Therefore, D = 0.600 m

Column C/S area, A s = 0.2827 m2 As = (pi/4) x D2

% flooding = 69.8977 % flooding = Trial % flooding x (Trial A s / As)

Conclusion
Generally packed towers are designed for 50% -- 85% flooding.
If flooding is to be reduced,
(i) Select larger packing size and repeat the above steps.
OR
(ii) Increase the column diameter and repeat the above steps.

Sheet 2 of 6
 HETP PREDICTION

Norton's Correlation : ln HETP = n - 0.187 ln + 0.213 ln µ

Applicable when,
liquid phase surface tension > 4 dyne/cm & < 36 dyne/cm
liquid viscosity > 0.08 cP & < 0.83 cP
Conversion :
Input Data 0.02 N/m = 17 dyne/cm
Liquid-phase
Surface Tension, = 17 dyne/cm Norton's Correlation Applicable

Liquid Viscosity = 0.22 cP Norton's Correlation Applicable

n = 1.13080

Calculation

ln HETP = 0.28

HETP = 1.32 ft
= 0.4 m

For separations, less than 15 theoritical stages, a 20% design safety factor can be applied.

Considering 20% safety factor,

HETP = 0.48 m

For separations, requiring 15 to 25 theoritical stages, a 15% design safety factor can be applied.

Considering 15% safety factor,

HETP = 0.46 m

Sheet 3 of 6
 Table 6.2
Constant for HETP Correlation

Ref.:: Random Packings and Packed Towers ---- Strigle

Ref. : : Chemical Engineering, Volume-6 , COULSON & RICHARDSON'S