Chapter10

Equilibrium-Based Methods for Multicomponent Absorption, Stripping, Distillation, and Extraction

Purpose and Requirements:

Know Equilibrium-Based Methods for Multicomponent Learn to use ASPEN PLUS, ChemCAD, HYSIM, PRO/II

Key and Difficult Points:

Key Points

Theoretical Model for an Equilibrium Stage General Strategy of Mathematical Solution

Equation-Tearing Procedures Simultaneous Correction Procedures Inside-Out Method

Difficult Points

Outline
10.1 THEORETICAL MODEL FOR AN EQUILIBRIUM STAGE 10.2 GENERAL STRATEGY OF MATHEMATICAL SOLUTION 10.3 EQUATION-TEARING PROCEDURES 10.4 SIMULTANEOUS CORRECTION PROCEDURES 10.5 INSIDE-OUT METHOD

Absorption

(Gas Absorption/Gas Scrubbing/Gas Washing)

Gas Mixture (Solutes or Absorbate) Liquid (Solvent or Absorbent)

Separate Gas Mixtures Remove Impurities, Contaminants, Pollutants, or Catalyst Poisons from a Gas(H2S/Natural Gas) Recover Valuable Chemicals

Physical Absorption

Chemical Absorption
(Reactive Absorption)

Figure 6.1 Typical Absorption Process

Absorption Factor
(A)

A = L/KV Component Water Acetone Oxygen Nitrogen Argon

A = L/KV 1.7 1.38 0.00006 0.00003 0.00008

K-value 0.031 2.0 45,000 90,000 35,000

Larger the value of AFewer the number of stages required 1.25 to 2.0 1.4 being a frequently recommended value

Stripping
(Desorption)

Stripping Distillation

Stripping Factor
(S)

S = 1/ A= KV/L

High temperature Low pressure is desirable Optimum stripping factor 1.4.

6.1 EQUIPMENT

trayed tower
bubble column

packed column spray tower

centrifugal contactor

Figure 6.2 Industrial Equipment for Absorption and Stripping

Trayed Tower

(Plate Clolumns)

Figure 6.3 Details of a contacting tray in a trayed tower

(a) perforation

(b) valve cap (c) bubble cap

(d) Tray with valve caps

Figure 6.4 Three types of tray openings for passage of vapor up into liquid

Froth

Liquid carries no vapor bubbles to the tray below Vapor carries no liquid droplets to the tray above No weeping of liquid through the openings of the tray Equilibrium between the exiting vapor and liquid phases is approached on each tray.

(a) Spray(b) Froth(c) Emulsion(d) Bubble(e)Cellular Foam

Figure 6.5 Possible vapor-liquid flow regimes for a contacting tray

Packed Columns

Figure 6.6 Details of internals used in a packed column

Packing Materails

More surface area for mass transfer Higher flow capacity Lower pressure drop

(a) (b) Random Structured Packing Packing Materials Materials

Expensive Far less pressure drop Higher efficiency and capacity

Figure 6.7 Typical materials used in a packed column

6.2 ABSORBER/STRIPPER DESIGN

6.2.1 General Design Considerations 6.2.2 Trayed Towers

6.2.2.1 Graphical Equilibrium-Stage 6.2.2.2 Algebraic Method for Determining the Number of Equilibrium 6.2.2.3 Stage Efficiency

6.2.3 Packed Columns

6.2.3.1 Rate-based Method 6.2.3.2 Packed Column Efficiency, Capacity, and Pressure Drop

6.2.1 General Design Considerations

Design or analysis of an absorber (or stripper) requires consideration of a number of factors, including: 1. Entering gas (liquid) flow rate, composition, 6. Number of equilibrium stages temperature, and pressure 7. Heat effects and need for cooling (heating) 2. Desired degree of recovery of one or more solutes 8. Type of absorber (stripper) equipment 3. of absorber absorbent (stripping agent) 9. Choice Height of (stripper) 4. Operating and temperature, and allowable 10. Diameter pressure of absorber (stripper) gas pressure drop 5. Minimum absorbent (stripping agent) flow rate and actual absorbent (stripping agent) flow rate as a multiple of the minimum rate needed to make the separation

SUMMARY

1. Rigorous methods are readily available for computer-solution of equilibriumbased models for multicomponent, multistage absorption, stripping, distillation, and liquid-liquid extraction. 2. The equilibrium-based model for a countercurrent-flow cascade provides for multiple feeds, vapor side streams, liquid side streams, and intermediate heat exchangers. Thus, the model can handle almost any type of column configuration. 3. The model equations include component material balances, total material balances, phase equilibria relations, and energy balances. 4. Some or all of the model equations can usually he grouped so as to obtain tridiagonal matrix equations, for which an efficient solution algorithm is available. 5. Widely used methods for iteratively solving all of the model equations are the bubble-point (BP) method, the sum-rales (SR) method, the simultaneous correction (SO method, and the inside-out method.

6. The BP method is generally restricted to distillation problems involving narrow-boiling feed mixtures. 7. The SR method is generally restricted to absorption and stripping problems involving wide-boiling feed mixtures or in the ISR form to extraction problems. 8. The SC and inside-out methods are designed to solve any type of column configuration for any type of feed mixture. Because of its computational efficiency, the inside-oi method is often the method of choice; however, it may fail to converge when highly! nonideal liquid mixtures are involved, in which case the slower SC method should j be tried. Both methods permit considerable flexibility in specifications. 9. When both the SC and inside-out methods fail, resort can be made to the much slower relaxation and continuation methods.

REFERENCES

1. Wang. J.C.. and G.E. Hcnkc, Hydrocarbon Processing 45(8). 155163 (1966). 2. Myers. A.L.. and W.D. Seider. Introduction to Chemical Engineering and Computer Calculations, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs. NJ. 4X4507 (1976). 3. Lewis. W.K.. and G.L. Matheson, Ind. Eng. Chem. 24, 496-498 (1932). 4. Thiele, E.W.. and R.L. Geddes. Ind. Eng. Chem. 25, 290 (1933). 5. Holland. C.D.. Mullicomponent Distillation. Prentice-Hall. Englewood Cliffs. NJ (1963). 6. Amundson. N.R.. and A.J. Pontinen. Ind. Eng. Chem. 50, 730-736 (1958). 7. Friday. J.R.. and B.D. Smith. AlChE J. 10, 698-707 (1964). 8. Boston. J.K. and S.L. Sullivan. Jr., Can. J. Chem. Eng. 52,52-63 (1974).

16. Shinohara, T.. P.J. Johansen. and J.D. Seader, Stagewise Compulations Computer Programs for Chemical Engineering Education, J. Christensen, Ed.. Aztec Publishing, Austin, TX pp. 390-428, A-17 (1972). 17. Tsuboka. T.. and T. Katayama. J. Chem. Eng. Japan 9, 40-45 (1976). 18. Hala, E.. I. Wiehterle. J. Polak. and T. Bouhlik. Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data at Normal Pressures. Pergamon. Oxford p. .108 ! (1968). 19. Steih. V.H.../. Praki. Chem. 4, Reihe. Bd. 28. 252-280 (1965). 20. Cohen, G.. and H. Renon. Can.J. Chem. Eng. 48, 241-2% j (1970). 21. Goldstein, R.P.. and R.B. Stanlield, Ind. Eng. Chem., from' De.s. Develop. 9, 78-84 (1970). 22. Naphtali, L.M.. "The distillation column as a large system." paper presented at the AIChE56th National Meeting. San Francisco. May 16-19. 1965.

9. Boston. J.F.. and S.L. Sullivan. Jr.. Can. J. Chem. Eng. 50, 663-669 (1972). 10. Johanson, P.J., and J.D. Seader, Stagewi.se ComputationsComputer Programs for Chemical Engineering Education (ed. by J.Christensen). A/tee Publishing, Austin. TX pp. 349-389, A16(1972). 11. Lapidus, L.. Digital Computation for Chemical Engineers, McGrawHill. New York pp. 308-309 (1962). 12. Orbach. ().. and C.M. Crowe, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 49, 509513(1971). 13. Scheibel. E.G.. Ind. Eng. Chem 38,397-399 (1946). 14. Sujata. A.D.. Hydrocarbon Processing 40(12). 137-140 (1961). 15. Burningham, D.W., and F.D. Otto, Hydrocarbon Processing 46(10). 163-170 (1967)

23. Naphtali. L.M.. and P.P. Sandholm. AlChE J. 17, 14S-I53 (1971). 24. Fredenslund. A.. J. GmehJing, and P. Rasmussen. Vapor-Liquid; Equilibria Using UNIFAC, A Group Contribution Method. Elscvicr, ; Amsterdam (1977). 25. Beveridge, G.S.G., and R.S. Schechter. Optimization: Theory and Practice, McGraw-Hill, New York pp. 180-189 (1970). ; 26. Block, U.. and B. Hegner, AIChE .I. 22, 582-589 (1976). 27. Hofeling, B.. and J.D. Seader. AlChE J. 24, 1 131-1134 (1978). , 28. Boston, J.F., and S.L. Sullivan. Jr., Can. .J. Chem. Engr. 52,5263(1974). 29. Boston. J.F., and H.I. Britt. Comput. Chem. Engng. 2, 109-122 (1978). 30. Boston, J.F.. ACS Symp. Ser, No. 124. 135-151 (1980).

31. Russell, R.A., Chem. Eng. 90(20), 53-59 (1983). 32. Trevino-Lo/ano. R.A.. T.P. Kisala, and J.F. Boston. Comput. Chem. Engng. 8, 105-115 (1984). 33. Jelinek. J., Comput. Chem. Engng. 12, 195-198 (1988). 34. Venkataraman. S.. W.K. Than, and J.F. Boston. Chem. % Prog. 86(8), 45-54 (1990). 35. Robinson. C.S., and E.R. Gilliland, Elements of Fractional Distillation, 4th edition, pp. 232-236. McGraw-Hill. New York (1950). 36. Broyden, C.G.. Math Comp. 19, 577-593 (1965). 37. Kister, H. Z.. "Distillation Design". McGraw-Hill, Inc., NY (1992)