ABSTRACT

Gas absorption is a process in which a gaseous mixture is brought into

contact with a liquid and during this contact a component is transferred between the
gas stream and the liquid stream. The gas may be bubbled through the liquid, or it
may pass over streams of the liquid, arranged to provide a large surface through
which the mass transfer can occur. The liquid film can flow down the sides of
columns or over packing, or it can cascade from one tray to another with the liquid
falling and the gas rising in the counter flow. The gas, or components of it, either
dissolves in the liquid (absorption) or extracts a volatile component from the liquid
(desorption). In addition, there is the aim that should be achieved at the end of the
experiment which is to examine the air pressure drop across the column as a
function of air flow for different water flow rates through the column. In packed
column, air is fed into the bottom and water is transferred to the top of the column
either from feed vessel B1 using the centrifugal pump, P1. The pressure drop is
recorded when the liquid flow rate is set to 1.0 L/min until 3.0 L/min. The gas flow
rate starts from 20 L/min until 180 L/min with 10.0L/min of intervals. How fast the
liquid can flow down with no vapor flowing upwards and the rate at which the vapor
is trying to flow upwards is the actual flooding point.

INTRODUCTION

Absorption, in chemistry, is a physical or chemical phenomenon or a process in

which atoms, molecules, or ions enter some bulk phase - gas, liquid or solid material. This is
a different process from adsorption, since molecules undergoing absorption are taken up by
the volume, not by the surface (as in the case for adsorption). A more general term is
sorption which covers adsorption, absorption, and ion exchange. Absorption is basically
where something takes in another substance.
Besides, absorption is also a separation of solute gases from gaseous mixtures of
noncondensables by transfer into a liquid solvent. This recovery is achieved by contacting
the gas stream with a liquid that offers specific or selective solubility for the solute gas or
gases to be recovered. The operation of absorption is applied in industry to purify process
streams or recover valuable components of the stream. It is used extensively to remove toxic
or noxious components (pollutants) from effluent gas streams.
The absorption process requires the following steps: (1) diffusion of the solute gas
molecules through the host gas to the liquid boundary layer based on a concentration
gradient, (2) solvation of the solute gas in the host liquid based on gas-liquid solubility, and
(3) diffusion of the solute gas based on concentration gradient, thus depleting the liquid
boundary layer and permitting further solvation. The removal of the solute gas from the
boundary layer is often accomplished by adding neutralizing agents to the host liquid to
change the molecular form of the solute gas. This process is called absorption accompanied
by chemical reaction.
There are various types of tray (plate) towers for absorption to occur. In order to
efficiently bring the vapour and liquid into contact in absorption and distillation, tray towers of
the following types are often used. The first one is the sieve tray. Essentially the same tray is
used in gas absorption. In the sieve tray, vapour bubbles up through simple holes in the tray
through the flowing liquid. The liquid is held on the tray surface and prevented from flowing
down through the holes by kinetic energy of the gas or vapour.
Next is the valve tray. It is consist of an opening in the tray and a lift-valve cover with
guides to keep the cover properly positioned over the opening. This provides a variable open
area which is varied by the vapour flow inhibiting leakage of the liquid down the opening at
low vapour rates. Hence this type of tray can operate over a greater range of flow rates than
the sieve tray.

The other type of tray towers for absorption is the bubble-cap tray. It have been used
for over 100 years, but since 1950 they have been generally superseded by sieve-type or
valve trays because of their cost, which is almost double that of sieve-type trays. In the
bubble tray, the vapour or gas rises through the opening in the tray into the bubble caps.
Then the gas flows through slots in the periphery of each cap and bubbles upward through
the flowing liquid.
The structured packing for absorption has become competitive with conventional tray
towers, especially in tower revamps where increased capacity and/or efficiency are desired.
Meanwhile, the packed towers are used for continuous counter current contacting of gas and
liquid absorption as well as for vapour-liquid contacting in distillation. There are many types
of tower packings have been developed and a number are used often. Most of the tower
packings are made of materials such as clay, porcelain, metal or plastic. The packing permit
relatively large volumes of liquid to pass counter current to the gas flow through the opening
with relatively low pressure drops for the gas.

AIMS

To determine the pressure drop in random packing of the tower at different water and

air flow rate.

To determine the loading and flooding point during the experiment done.
To manage in handling the gas absorption equipment.

THEORY
A common instrument used in gas absorption or stripping is a packed tower. A
packed tower consists of the following: a cylindrical tube with inert packing material; a gas
inlet at the bottom with an exit out the top; and a liquid inlet at the top with its exit out the
bottom. In an ideal operation the liquid will descend through the packed column and
distribute uniformly over the packing surface in films. The gas will enter the column from
below the packed section and rise upward counter current to the liquid flow through the small
spaces between the packing materials. The large amount of intimate contact between the
liquid and gas streams allows for an efficient transfer of mass.
The packing factor is an experimentally obtained value that depends on the packing
size, shape, and material of construction. Packing is inert material that is used to increase
the rate of mass transfer in the column by increasing the contact surface area between the
countercurrent streams. Packing material may be found in a wide range of sizes, shapes,
and material types; each with a unique packing factor value.
Flooding is an undesirable state that occurs when the gas or liquid flow rate is too
high for a given system operation. At the point of flooding, the liquid begins to hold up in the
column impeding the flow of air which causes the pressure drop to rise. The hold up of water
causes a decrease in surface contact area between the gas and liquid streams which in turn
decreases the rate of mass transfer. Understanding the flooding point is important because it
represents the maximum, practical operating condition for a packed column. The tower
cannot be operated above the flooding velocity.
At a low gas velocities, the liquid flows downward through the packing essentially un
influenced by the upward gas flow. At a gas flow rate called loading point the gas start to
hinder the liquid down flow and local accumulations or pouls of liquid start to appear in the
packing. The pressure drop of the gas starts to rise at a faster rate. As the flow rate of gas
increased, the liquid hold up or accumulation increases.
It is important for proper design to be able to predict the flooding pressure drop in
towers and, hence, the limiting flow rates at flooding. Kister and Gill have developed and
empirical equation to predict the limiting pressure drop at flooding. The equation is;

Pflood = 0.115Fp0.7
where Pflood is in in. H2O/ft height of packing and Fp is the packing factor in ft--1 .

APPARATUS

Gas absorption equipment

Ruler
Stopwatch
Water

SOLTEQ-QVF Absorption column (Model: BP 751-B)

PROCEDURE

General start-up Procedures

1. All the valves were ensured closed except the ventilation valve V13.
2. All the gas connections were checked whether they are properly fitted.
3. The valve on the compressed air supply line was opened. The supply
pressure was set between 2 to 3 bar by turning the regulator knob clockwise.
4. The shut-off valve on the CO2 gas cylinder was opened. The CO2 cylinder
was checked whether the pressure is sufficient.
5. The power for the control panel was turned on.
Experiment: Hydrodynamics of a Packed Column (Wet Column Pressure Drop)
1. The general start-up procedures were performed as described above.
2. The receiving vessel B2 was filled through the charge port with 50 L of water
by opening valve V3 and V5.
3. Valve V3 was closed.
4. Valve V10 and V9 were opened slightly. The flow of water was observed from
vessel B1 through pump P1.
5. Pump P1 was switched on, then slowly opened and valve V11 was adjusted
to give water flow rate of arrounf 1 L/min. The water was allowed to enter the
top column K1, flew down the column and accumulated at the bottom until it
overflows back into vessel B1.
6. Valve V11 was opened and adjusted to give water flow rate of 0.5 L/min into
column K1.
7. Valve V1 was opened and adjusted to give an air flow rate of 40 L/min into
column K1.
8. The liquid and gas flow were observed in the column K1 and the pressure
drop across the column at dPT-201 was recorded.
9. Steps 6 to 7 were repeated with different values of air flow rate, each time
increasing by 40 L/min while maintaining the same water flow rate.
10. Steps 5 to 8 were repeated with different values of water flow rate, each time
increasing by 0.5 L/min by adjusting valve V11.
General Shut-Down Procedures
1. Pump P1 was switched off.
2. Valve V1, V2 and V12 were closed.

3. The valve on the compressed air supply line was closed and the supply
pressure was exhausted by turning the regulator knob counter-clockwise all
the way.
4. The shut-off valve was closed on the CO2 gas cylinder.
5. All the liquid in the column K1 was drained by opening valve V4 and V5.
6. All the liquid from the receiving vessels B1 and B2 were drained by opening
valves V7 and V8.
7. All the liquid from the pump P1 was drained by opening valve V10.
8. The power for the control panel was turned off.

RESULTS

Flow rate(

Pressure drop (mm

H 2 0)

L
min )
Air

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Water
1.0

35

36

40

41

45

49

54

83

89

2.0

18

20

22

23

25

39

66

3.0

15

18

23

30

36

CALCULATIONS

Pressure drop vs Air flowrate

100
90
80
70
60
Pressure drop (mmH20)

0.1 L/min of water flowrate

50

0.2 L/min of water flowrate

40

0.3 L/min of water flowrate

30
20
10
0

Air flowrate (L/min)

DISCUSSION

Gas absorption is a unit operation in which soluble components of a gas mixture are
dissolved into a liquid phase. Absorption, in common with distillation, make use of special
equipment for bringing gas and liquid phases into intimate contact. The gas and liquid
normally flow counter-currently, and the packings serve to provide the contacting and
development of interfacial surface through which mass transfer takes place. A mass-transfer
process in which a vapour solute A in a gas mixture is absorbed by means of a liquid in
which the solute is more or less soluble. The gas mixture consists mainly of an inert gas and
the solute.
A centrifugal pump takes water from the feed tank and delivers it to the system.
Pump operation is controlled by the feed pump switch. Flow Rate is controlled by the water
flow control valve located on the operator control panel. Feed water flows continuously to
the tank (bypass) or to the column dependent upon the position of the control valve. This
assures the pump operates at a constant pressure regardless of the column flow rate.
In this experiment, we use tap water as the solution in the pack tower. At first, the tap
water is pumped inside the column. Air bubbles must remove to avoid any parallax error.
After set up all the operating valves and the air and water flow rate, we need to wait for 2
minutes and then the pressure drop is measured.
Based on the result, the pressure drop is increase as the water flow rate is increase.
However, during the 3th water flow rate which is at 3.0 L/min, the starting pressure drop is
decrease than the previous at 1.0 L/min air flow rate. This error is occurred maybe because
of human error and environmental error which happened during the reading of the pressure
drop is taken or when handling the equipment and present of air bubbles inside the column
packed. Furthermore, based on the result, the pressure drop is also increase with the
increasing of the air flow rate at each different water flow rate and due to fluid friction among
the packings.
From the graph that has been plotted, we can determine the differences of the
pressure drop at each water flow rate. The graph obtained looks like an exponential graph.
From the graph also, we can determine the flooding point for each water flow rate and it
occur when the pressure drop suddenly increase. With a further increase in gas flow rate,
the pressure drop rises rapidly until the lines become almost vertical and the liquid becomes
the continuous phase. This is called the flooding point, in which liquid will accumulate at
higher gas flows until the entire column is filled with liquid. In actual operating tower, the gas
velocity is below flooding velocity.

In a given packed tower, with a given type and size of packing and with a definite flow
of liquid, there is an upper limit to the rate of gas flow called flooding velocity. At low gas
velocity, the liquid flows downward through the packing essentially in influenced by the
upward gas flow. Flooding velocity is depends on the type and size of packing factor, and
also the liquid mass velocity

CONCLUSION
Overall, all the objectives of this experiment have been achieved. The pressure drop
has been determined by calculate the differences of the meniscus of water between two
columns. On the other hand, flooding is an undesirable state that occurs when the gas

or liquid flow rate is too high for a given system operation. At the point of flooding,
the liquid begins to hold up in the column impeding the flow of air which causes the
pressure drop to rise. The hold up of water causes a decrease in surface contact
area between the gas and liquid streams which in turn decreases the rate of mass
transfer. Understanding the flooding point is important because it represents the
maximum, practical operating condition for a packed column.
Furthermore, we also have determined the loading point which happens when
the gas starts to hinder the liquid down flow and local accumulations or pouls of
liquid start to appear in the packing. At the end, we have learnt and manage to
handle the gas absorption equipment properly.

RECOMMENDATION

Make sure all the operating valves are setting in a right position before pumping the

water inside the column.

Make sure there is no air bubbles inside the column to avoid error while determine

the pressure drop.

Avoid parallax error especially when taking the reading of the pressure drop by

makes sure that the eye level is at meniscus level.

Stays alert when handling the stop watch when taking time measurements for all

procedures.
Always alert with the level of water inside the tank to avoid flooding point.
The gas absorption apparatus is handled properly following the appropriates steps to
prevent any damages.

REFERRENCES

Perry, Robert H., and Green. Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook. New York:

McGraw-Hill, Inc. (1984)

Christie John Geankoplis. Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles

(4th ed.). Prentice Hall. (2003).

http://chem.engr.utc.edu/Webres/435F/ABS_COL/abs_col.html
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Gas+absorption+operations
www.wikipedia.com