An- NajahNationalUniversity

Faculty of Engineering

Chemical Engineering Department

Unit Operation Laboratory

Gas Absorption
Hydrodynamic Measurements of Packed Column

(Experiment no. 1, performed on Sebtember,21, 2016)

Prepared by:
Emran Tobasi
Mohammad jadallah

Submitted to :
Dr.Husni Odeh
Eng.Maha Fuqha

September ,21, 2016

Abstract
The main objectives of this experiment are to determine the air
pressure differential across the dry column as a function of air flow
rate and to examine the air pressure differential across the column
as a function of air flow rate for different water flow rate of the
column.
This experiment was done by Absorption column (UOP7) using (7.5
cm as column diameter and 1cm glass ring packed material) where
the air flowrate was changed at five fixed liquid flow rate
(L=0L/min,1L/min ,2L/min,3L/min,4L/min) where the air pressure
drop was noted form the manometer in (mmH2o).
Gas liquid absorption is extremely important process to remove
toxic gases especially when it's threshold limit value (TLV-TWA) which is
the time-weighted concentrations (TWA) for a 7- or 8-h workday and
40-h workweekis very low like (Ammonia 50 ppm) where the
importance of this experiment was to find the working region to
avoid flooding.

From the experiment it was found that the relation between

pressure drop (P) with the velocity of the packed column increased
proportionally and the relation between pressure drop (P) and
the(F) factor for water existing condition increased proportionally.

1
Introduction

Absorption is a process that is taking of molecules of one substance directly into

another substance. It is contrasted with adsorption, in which the molecules adhere
only to the surface of the second substance. Absorption may be either a physical or a
chemical process, physical absorption involving such factors as solubility and vapor-
pressure relationships and chemical absorption involving chemical reactions between
the absorbed substance and the absorbing medium.

The separation of solute gases from gaseous mixtures of non-condensable 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-salvation of the solute gas in the host liquid based on gas-liquid solubility.

3-Diffusion of the solute gas based on concentration gradient, thus depleting the
liquid boundary layer and permitting further salvation.

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.

In gas absorption a soluble component is absorbed by contact with a liquid phase in

which the component is soluble. This system is used for scrubbing gas streams of
components such as sculpture dioxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia. [1]

2
 Figure (1): Absorption column [2]

The packing material may be randomly dumped objects or it may be specially designed
structured packing material .The randomly dumped packing may be steel, ceramic or
plastic objects of various geometric designs. The structured packing may be sheet metal,
woven wire gauze or plastic of various designs and stacked in various arrangements.

Where types of packing material are:

A. Glass ring

B. Sulzer

C. Rasching

D. VFF packing.

Figure (2): Sulzer packed bed material. [3]

Figure (3): glass ring packed bed material. [4]

3
Theory

V m / s

W m3 / s
A m2
.(1)
V:gas velocity (m/s)
W: gas flow rate (m3/s).
A:the cross section of the column (m2)

A = D^2..(2)
A:the cross section of the column(m2)
D: diameter of column.(m)

F V m / s Kg / m 3
.(3)
where:
F:The velocity factor.
is the density of gas.

p/RT
is the density of gas.

4
Procedure:

1. The water tank was filled to three-quarters full with tap water
and the water flow rate valve was fixed at 0 L/min.
2. The air flow rate valve was changed to different flow rate (20,
40, 60, 80,100,120,140,and 160 L/min)and the pressure drop
was measured by using the manometer.
3. The water flow rate was changed to 1 L/min and the air flow
rate changed as at step two and the pressure drop was
measured.
4. The water flow rate was changed to 2 L/min and the air flow
rate changed as at step two and the pressure drop was
measured.
5. The water flow rate was changed to 3 L/min and the air flow
rate changed as at step two and the pressure drop was
measured.
6. The water flow rate was changed to 4 L/min and the air flow
rate changed as at step two and the pressure drop was
measured.

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Apparatus:

Figure (4): Absorption column(UOP7)

6
Gas Absorption System This apparatus is used to determine the air pressure
differential across the column as a function of air flow rate at different water flow
rates down the column, and flooding point can be noted. Absorption process of carbon
dioxide from air-CO2 mixture into caustic soda solution, is also studied using this
system. [5]

Results:

Table (1): Pressure Dropat liquid flow rate =0 (L/min) and different air flow rates

W(L/mi W(m3/s) Area(m2 V(m/s) P(mmH2O F(m/s)

n) ) ) P(KPa) (Kg/m3)0.5
20 0.00033 0.00441 0.0754 1 0.00980 0.0809
3 6
40 0.00066 0.00441 0.1509 1.5 0.01470 0.1619
7 6
60 0.001 0.00441 0.2264 4 0.03922 0.2428
6
80 0.00133 0.00441 0.3019 7 0.06864 0.3238
3 6
100 0.00166 0.00441 0.3774 10 0.09806 0.4047
7 6
120 0.02 0.00441 0.4529 13 0.12748 0.4857
6
160 0.00266 0.00441 0.6039 17 0.16671 0.6476
7 6

Table (2): Pressure Dropat liquid flow rate =1 (L/min) and different air flow rates

W(L/mi W(m3/s) Area(m2 V(m/s P(mmH2O P(KPa) F(m/s)

n) ) ) ) (Kg/m3)0.5
20 0.00033 0.00441 0.075 2 0.019613 0.0809
3 6 4 3
40 0.00066 0.00441 0.150 4 0.039226 0.1619
7 6 9 6
60 0.001 0.00441 0.226 7 0.068646 0.2428
6 4 5
80 0.00133 0.00441 0.301 15 0.147099 0.3238
3 6 9 7
100 0.00166 0.00441 0.377 21 0.205939 0.4047
7 6 4

7
 160 0.00266 0.00441 0.603 39 0.382459 0.6476
7 6 9 3

Table (3): Pressure Dropat liquid flow rate =2 (L/min) and different air flow rates

W(L/mi W(m3/s) Area(m2 V(m/s P(mmH2O P(KPa) F(m/s)

n) ) ) ) (Kg/m3)0.5
20 0.00033 0.00441 0.075 4 0.039226 0.0809
3 6 4 6
40 0.00066 0.00441 0.150 6 0.058839 0.1619
7 6 9 9
60 0.001 0.00441 0.226 12 0.117679 0.2428
6 4 8
80 0.00133 0.00441 0.301 24 0.235359 0.3238
3 6 9 6
100 0.00166 0.00441 0.377 37 0.362846 0.4047
7 6 4 0
120 0.02 0.00441 0.452 60 0.588399 0.4857
6 9
160 0.00266 0.00441 0.603 90 0.882598 0.6476
7 6 9 5

Table (4): Pressure Dropat liquid flow rate =3 (L/min) and different air flow rates

W(L/mi W(m3/s) Area(m2 V(m/s P(mmH2O P(KPa) F(m/s)

n) ) ) ) (Kg/m3)0.5
20 0.00033 0.00441 0.075 5 0.049033 0.0809
3 6 4 2
40 0.00066 0.00441 0.150 11 0.107873 0.1619
7 6 9 1
60 0.001 0.00441 0.226 24 0.235359 0.2428
6 4 6
80 0.00133 0.00441 0.301 44 0.431492 0.3238
3 6 9 6
100 0.00166 0.00441 0.377 78 0.764918 0.4047
7 6 4 7
120 0.02 0.00441 0.452 110 1.078731 0.4857
6 9 5
160 0.00266 0.00441 0.603 175 1.716163 0.6476
7 6 9 7

Table (5): Pressure Dropat liquid flow rate =4 (L/min) and different air flow rates

W(L/mi W(m3/s) Area(m2 V(m/s P(mmH2O P(KPa) F(m/s)

n) ) ) ) (Kg/m3)0.5
20 0.00033 0.00441 0.075 16 0.156906 0.0809
3 6 4 4

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 40 0.00066 0.00441 0.150 21 0.205939 0.1619
7 6 9 6
60 0.001 0.00441 0.226 34 0.333426 0.2428
6 4 1
80 0.00133 0.00441 0.301 65 0.637432 0.3238
3 6 9 2
100 0.00166 0.00441 0.377 118 1.157184 0.4047
7 6 4 1
120 0.02 0.00441 0.452 220 2.157463 0.4857
6 9

Figure (5): show the relationship between the pressure drop and air velocity.

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Figure (6): show the relationship between the pressure drop and velocity factor.

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Discussion:
From the experiment it was observed that when water flow rate increase flooding may
occur at lower air flow rate point.
Also as water flow rate increase pressure differential could increase at same air flow
rate, and to approach to pressure differential point it necessary high air flow rate with
decreasing water flow rate.
The water flow rate increase pressure differential could increase at same factor F, and
to approach to pressure differential point it necessary factor F with decreasing water
flow rate.

Conclusion:
The air velocity and factors was calculated by determined the difference of pressure,
then used graphs that show the increasing linear between the air velocity and factors,
another relation between pressure different and F factor by using three curves, with
comparing between the five curves these the results:
the factors increased when the flow rate of water was increased as the flow rate of
water equal 0 (L/min) the factor was larger one, then when the flow rate of water
equal 4 (L/min) the factor was smallest one .

Recommendations:
In this experiment, there are some problems:
1- The rotameter was cashed with the top of tube at the maximum value,
small piece can be putted to easiest return to low value.
2- The manometers isn't clear when the data of pressure was taken.
3- The determination of the flow rate area of gas is impossible so the sources
of error will increase in addition to personal errors in taking reading.

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References

http://www.separationprocesses.com/Absorption/GA_Chp03.htm [1]

https://eng.najah.edu/ar/node/2393 [2]

[3] www. Sulzer.com.

[4] www.brinstrument.com.

[5]
http://www.qu.edu.qa/engineering/chemical/lab_facilities/che_labII.p
hp.

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Appendix:

Sample of Calculation:
At L=0 L/min
V (m/s) = W (m^3 /s) / A (m^2) = 0.000333/0.004416=0.075m/s

F = V (m/s) *( air )^1/2 = .075 * (1.15)^1/2 = 0.0809

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