GAS ABSORPTION

The gas fed to the bottom of the packed column (see Figure 4.1) is made up of air and
ammonia streams which are metered separately. The air stream passes through a saturator (a
small packed chamber with spray nozzles) to become nearly saturated with water vapour. The
mixed gas entering the column, the exit gas stream, and the exit liquid stream are sampled, and
samples are analyzed for content of ammonia. Mass balances are used to check the reliability of
measurements. From the analyses the N.T.U. and H.T.U. (in overall gas-phase transfer units) and
Kga are calculated.

Apparatus

The packing in the column is 5/8-inch pall rings. Gas flow can be controlled with the
variable-speed drive on the Roots blower, and/or by the bypass valve. Blower exhaust pressure,
pressure difference across the orifice, and pressure drop across the column are measured by
manometers filled with various liquids. The orifice is of diameter 1.501 inches in a pipe of
diameter 2.067 inches, and the orifice coefficient is approximately 0.61. Note (and try adjusting
before the ammonia is turned on) the adjustable leg intended to adjust water levels at varying air
flow rates while maintaining liquid seals to prevent leakage of gas. The rotameter used for
ammonia has been calibrated for air, and the approximate correction factor is:

Woperating  operating

Wcalibrated  calibrated

where w is mass rate of flow and ρ is density at corresponding conditions for the same reading of
a rotameter.

Procedure

Flows should be kept constant for at least an hour to give steady-state operation. If
temperatures, including the temperature of the exit liquid, remain steady for at least thirty
minutes, then samples can be taken starting with the exit gas stream. Record flow rates and
pressure drop data every 15 minutes until steady-state is achieved, as well as during the sampling
periods.

Ammonia concentrations in the exit and inlet air streams and the exit water stream can be
determined using the gas chromatograph. Samples of the gas streams can be fed into the
chromatograph using the gas-sampling valve and microlitre quantities of the exit water can be
injected using a syringe. Repeat the sampling procedure of the exit gas until reproducible results
are obtained. Then analyze the inlet gas and effluent liquid.

Report

Report the findings of your mass balance calculations and discuss reasons for any
discrepancies. From the data taken evaluate the N.T.U. and H.T.U. (in overall gas-phase transfer
units) as well as the Kga. Compare with the enclosed chart (Figure 4.2) supplied by the
manufacturer of the pall rings as well as with any correlations for pall rings found in the

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literature, e.g. (Perry). How effective was the saturator? Find the ratio of mass flux of water
vapour to mass flux of ammonia. State what criterion was used for steady-state operation.

Design Problem

On the basis of your experimental results, design an absorption column containing plastic
pall rings to remove 85% of the ammonia from an air stream containing 2.5 mol % ammonia.
The air flow rate is 3500 kg/h at 20 oC and 1 atm and the liquid (pure water) flow rate is to be
20% greater than the minimum rate (water at the same inlet temperature as you measured in the
laboratory), and the column is to operate at 65% of flooding velocity. Report the height and
diameter of the packing needed, and the inlet flow rate of water in kg/h.

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