Department of Chemical Engineering

Unit Operations Laboratory

Gas Absorption Overview

In gas absorption, a soluble component is absorbed by contact with a liquid phase in which the
component is soluble. This type of system is used for scrubbing gas streams of components such
as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia.

In this project, the performance of a packed gas-liquid absorption column is evaluated. A water
steam entering the top of the column and exiting the bottom is used to absorb carbon dioxide
(CO2) gas from air. The CO2 composition of the inlet gas stream is controlled by valves for CO2
and air. Flow rates of inlet gas and liquid streams can be measured using flowmeters. The
system allows measurement of CO2 in the liquid phase effluent by electrical conductivity, and in
the gas phase inlet and outlet by CO2 sensors.

This handout provides an overview of the following topics as they relate to the Gas Absorption
project:

Purpose
Concepts to Review
Study Questions
Prediction of Planned Runs
Useful Apparatus Data
Possible Objectives

In addition, you should download and review the handout provided by your faculty advisor, if
there is one available.

Purpose

• Evaluate the performance of packed gas-liquid absorption tower.

• Determine how the mass transfer rate is affected by gas flow rate, especially as the
column approaches its loading and flooding points.
• Consider the important concepts of overall and individual film mass transfer coefficients,
transfer units, loading, and flooding.
• Examine such parameters as the composition of the overhead and bottoms products at
various feed rates and inlet compositions. Calculate these parameters theoretically using
available computer programs and determine experimentally from the column.
• Understand the instrumentation used (e.g. rotameter, gas flowmeters, conductivity meter,
CO2 sensors)

Modified: 4/19/2007 Kevin M. Sapp page 1/3

Original Document: Jullie Lawson © 2007
 Department of Chemical Engineering
Unit Operations Laboratory

Concepts to Review

In order to satisfactorily complete this laboratory exercise, it is important to have a thorough

understanding of the following concepts:

• Absorption factors
• Overall and individual film mass transfer coefficients
• Transfer units
• Material balance closure
• Loading and flooding.
• Henry's Law
• The effect of flow rate on overhead and bottoms product
• Rigorous plate to plate calculating procedures

Study Questions

1. How do the pressure drops across the column compare for dry versus wet operation?
2. What is the significance of the loading and flooding points?
3. How do the "height of a transfer unit - overall, gas" (HTUOG) and the "mass transfer
coefficient - overall, gas" (KGa) vary with gas flow rate?
4. How do the "mass transfer coefficient - individual, gas" (kGa) and the "mass transfer
coefficient - individual, liquid" (kLa) vary with gas flow rate?
5. Where is the primary resistance to mass transfer in this system? How does this resistance
vary with gas flow rate? With water rate?
6. How is the mass transfer affected as the loading and flooding points are approached?
How do your results vary with water rate?
7. Can the tower can be operated in the "loading" region? If so, under what conditions? Do
undesirable flow characteristics, such as channeling, occur?

Adapted in part from: Chemical Engineering (ChE 485-486) Laboratories Manual, Chemical Engineering
Department, New Jersey Institute of Technology. (199x).

Prediction of Planned Runs

The project planning process should include determination of a set of operating conditions to be
analyzed. Note that it is easy to choose conditions that are outside of the performance limits of
the apparatus, are insensitive to the different initial conditions, or for which no meaningful
parameter values can be determined. Carefully study the limitations of the existing experimental
apparatus as a part of the planning process rather than finding out in the laboratory run that the
experimental values obtained are useless. Computer simulations are strongly recommended as a
part of the planning process.

Useful Apparatus Data

Modified: 4/19/2007 Kevin M. Sapp page 2/3

Original Document: Jullie Lawson © 2007
 Department of Chemical Engineering
Unit Operations Laboratory

• Column Diameter: To be measured in preparation of the experimental plan

• Construction: Pyrex Tube
• Packing: To be determined in preparation of the experimental plan.
• Height of Packing: To be measured in preparation of the experimental plan.
• To enhance sensitivity of the conductivity probe to CO2, the inlet water is de-ionized.
• The CO2 concentration in the inlet water stream can be assumed to be equal to zero.
• Some recommended starting values for independent variables:
o 10% CO2 in air
o Water flow: no more than 60% of max. flow
o Do NOT exceed 20% CO2 in air
• If you have any question about where a line goes, trace it!

Possible Objectives

Several tasks that have been the basis of previous projects include:

• Identification of the flooding condition as a function of gas and liquid flow rates.
• Determination of the time required to reach steady state as a function of liquid flow rate.
• Calibration of the instrumentation used (e.g. conductivity meter—perform a series of
experiments varying only one of the flow rates; obtain calibration curve by comparison of
the experimental results with theoretical predictions).
• Determination of the height of a transfer unit as a function of process variables (e.g., gas
and liquid flow rates, temperature, concentration of rich gas).

Note that your project may cover more than one of these objectives or additional objectives of
your own design.

Modified: 4/19/2007 Kevin M. Sapp page 3/3

Original Document: Jullie Lawson © 2007