Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1

Absorption and Stripping of Dilute Mixtures

Absorption and stripping are common methods to: a) remove of impurities from gas (absorption) or
b) remove of impurities from a liquid (stripping). This is done by flowing a liquid absorbent
countercurrent to a vapor mixture (absorption) or a vapor stripper countercurrent to a liquid mixture
(stripping).
L
0
(absorbent)

V
N+1
(vapor to be
separated)

V
1
L
N
1

2

N1

N

Liquid absorbent absorbs certain
components of the vapor stream
preferentially.
L
N+1
(liquid to be separated)

V
0
(stripper)

V
N
L
1
1

2

N1

N

Vapor stripping agent preferentially
vaporizes certain components of the
liquid stream.
Absorption
Stripping
Although the arrows are drawn to indicate the mass transfer of species in absorption and stripping, generally mass
transfer of components from the absorbent or stripping streams will occur in the opposite direction as well.
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 2
Absorption
Generally, if the absorption factor A=L/KV is greater than 1 for a component, then any degree of
separation can be achieved. The larger A is the fewer stages (or trays) are required to achieve a given
level of separation, although the absorbent flow rate may become too large.
Absorbent oil 90F

Lean gas

1

2

6

Typical Absorption Process
L
0
lbmol/hr

n-butane 0.05
n-pentane 0.78
Oil 164.17
L
0
=165.00

V
N+1
lbmol/hr

Methane 160.0
Ethane 370.0
Propane 240.0
n-butane 25.0
n-pentane 5.0
L
N
=800.0

V
1
lbmol/hr

Methane 155.0
Ethane 323.5
Propane 155.4
n-butane 3.02
n-pentane 0.28
V
1
=637.3
L
N
lbmol/hr

Methane 5.0
Ethane 46.5
Propane 84.6
n-butane 22.0
n-pentane 5.5
L
N
=327.7
For the absorption process considered in example
5.3 from the text, notice that the exiting vapor stream
has had almost all of the most volatile species removed
and transferred into the absorbent stream. The amounts
of each component left in each stream was determined
using the group method.

Notice almost all of the methane remains in the vapor
stream.
Notice almost all of the n-pentane was transferred to
the absorbent stream.
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 3
Absorption and Stripping Equipment
Liquid in

Vapor in

Vapor out

Liquid out

1

2

N1

N

Trayed Tower
Liquid in

Vapor in

Vapor out

Liquid out

Spray Tower
Liquid in

Vapor in

Vapor out

Liquid out

Bubble Column
Liquid in
Vapor out

Vapor in

Liquid out
Centrifugal Contactor
Liquid in

Vapor in

Vapor out

Liquid out

Packed Column
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 4
Absorption and Stripping Equipment
Liquid in

Vapor in

Vapor out

Liquid out

1

2

N1

N

Trayed Tower
Tray Configuration
slots
cap
riser
plate
plate
cap
leg
plate
Three type of tray openings: perforation, valve cap
and bubble cap.
The vapor-liquid flow regimes for a contacting tray include: spray, froth, emulsion, bubble, and cellular foam.
Weir
Weir
Liquid flow shown by blue arrows. Vapor flow by red arrows.
Plate
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 5
Phase Contact on a Contacting Tray
Weir
Plate
Froth
The froth conditions can be varied depending on the vapor-liquid flow regimes to
Include: spray, froth, emulsion bubble, and cellular foam.
Vapor streams (shown
in red) bubble up through
froth. Liquid stream flows
through froth and over weir.
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 6
Design Considerations
Specifications:
1. Entering gas or liquid flow rate, composition, temperature and pressure
2. Degree of separation desired
3. Choice of absorbent (or stripping) agent
4. Operating pressure and temperature and allowable pressure drop
5. Minimum absorbent (or stripping) flow rate
6. Number of equilibrium stages
7. Heat effects and need for cooling
8. Type of absorber (stripper) equipment
9. Height of absorber (stripper)
10. Diameter of absorber (stripper)
Absorbent should:
1. Have a high degree of solubility for the solute (minimizes absorbent required)
2. Have low volatility (increases solute recovery and reduces absorbent loss)
3. Be stable (reduces need to replace absorbent)
4. Be noncorrosive (reduces need for corrosion resistant equipment)
5. Have low viscosity (reduces pressure drop and pump requirements, increase mass flow)
6. Be nonfoaming when in gas contact (reduces size of equipment)
7. Be nontoxic and nonflammable (safety)
8. Be available from the process (reduces cost, reduces need for external source)
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 7
Graphical Method for Equilibrium Stage Trayed Towers
X
0
, L(absorbent)

Y
1
, G

X
N
, L
1

2

N

Absorption
Y
N+1
, G

n

Countercurrent Absorption Trayed Tower
Operating Conditions:
A) Isobaric
B) Isothermal
C) Continuous
D) Steady flow
Assume equilibrium between vapor and liquid flow streams
leaving a tray and that the only component transferred from one phase to
the other is the solute.
L

= molar flow rate of solute-free absorbent (constant through the tower)

G

= molar flow rate of solute-free gas (constant through the tower)

X = mole ratio of solute to solute-free absorbent in the liquid
Y = mole ratio of solute to solute-free gas in the vapor
y
N
=
n
N
n
GN
+n
N
=
n
N
n
GN
/
n
GN
+ n
N
n
GN
=
Y
N
1+Y
N
Mole fraction of solute N
Moles of solute N
Total moles excluding solute N
Mole ratio of solute in solute free basis
K
N
=
y
N
x
N
=
Y
N
1+Y
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
X
N
1+ X
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
Using the above relationship between mole fraction and
mole ratios on a solute free basis we substitute into the equilibrium
Condition between the liquid and vapor to find:
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 8
Graphical Method for Equilibrium Stage Trayed Towers
X
0
, L(absorbent)

Y
1
, G

X
N
, L
1

2

N

Absorption
Y
N+1
, G

n

L

= molar flow rate of solute-free absorbent (constant through the tower)

G

= molar flow rate of solute-free gas (constant through the tower)

X = mole ratio of solute to solute-free absorbent in the liquid
Y = mole ratio of solute to solute-free gas in the vapor
X
0
L
'
+ Y
n+1
G
'
= X
n
L
'
+Y
1
G
'
Solute in stage n
Solute in stage 1
Solute out stage 1
Solute out stage n
A mass balance around the first n stages
(where n is an arbitrary interior stage) gives:
Y
n+1
= X
n
L
'
G
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
+Y
1
X
0
L
G
'
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
Y
1
-X
0
(L

/G

)
Y
X
Solving for Y
n+1
gives the operating line:
Top
Bottom
Slope L/G
Equilibrium
K
N
=
y
N
x
N
=
Y
N
1+Y
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
X
N
1+ X
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
Y
1
(gas out)
X
0
(liquid in)
Operating line is above
the equilibrium line
because for each stage
there is more solute in the
vapor than the equilibrium
amount for any given liquid
solute concentration.
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 9
Graphical Method for Equilibrium Stage Trayed Towers
X
N+1
, L

Y
N
, G

X
1
, L
2

N

1

Stripping
Y
0
, G

n

L

= molar flow rate of solute-free absorbent (constant through the tower)

G

= molar flow rate of solute-free gas (constant through the tower)

X = mole ratio of solute to solute-free absorbent in the liquid
Y = mole ratio of solute to solute-free gas in the vapor
Y
n
= X
n+1
L
'
G
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
+Y
0
X
1
L
G
'
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
Y
X
Bottom
Top
Slope L/G
Equilibrium
K
N
=
y
N
x
N
=
Y
N
1+Y
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
X
N
1+ X
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
Y
0
(gas in)
X
1
(liquid out)
X
N+1
L
'
+Y
0
G
'
= X
1
L
'
+ Y
n
G
'
Solute in stage 0
Solute in stage N
Solute out stage n
Solute out stage 1
A mass balance around the first n stages (where n is an arbitrary interior
stage and we have numbered from the bottom) gives:
Operating line is below
the equilibrium line
because for each stage
there is more solute in the
liquid than the equilibrium
amount for any given vapor
solute concentration.
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
0
Minimum Absorbent
Y
n+1
= X
n
L
'
G
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
+Y
1
X
0
L
G
'
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
Y
1
-X
0
(L

/G

)
Y
X
Operating lines:
Top
Bottom
Slopes L/G
Equilibrium
K
N
=
y
N
x
N
=
Y
N
1+Y
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
X
N
1+ X
N
|
\


|
.
|
|
Y
1
(gas out)
X
0
(liquid in)
A material balance around the entire absorber gives:
X
0
L
'
+ Y
N+1
G
'
= X
N
L
'
+Y
1
G
'
Solving for L:
L
'
=
G
'
Y
N+1
Y
1
( )
X
N
X
0
( )
Solving for L
min
requires substituting in X
N
from the equilibrium relationship.
Doing this we obtain:
To achieve a desired degree of separation there is a minimum amount of absorbent that must be used.
L
'
min =
G
'
Y
N+1
Y
1
( )
Y
N+1
/ Y
N+1
K
N
1
( )
+ K
N | | { }
X
0
So the minimum amount of absorbent to achieve a
desired degree of separation depends on the fraction of
solute removed, the flow rate of the vapor, and the
distribution coefficient.
Y
n+1
= X
n
L
min
'
G
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
+ Y
1
X
0
L
'
min
G
'
|
\


|
.
|
|
Infinite Absorbent
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
1
Determination of the Equilibrium Number of Stages
Y
1
-X
0
(L

/G

)
Y
X
Top
Bottom
Slope L/G
Y
1
(gas out)
X
0
(liquid in)
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3 Y
N+1
X
N
Operating Line X
0
L
'
+ Y
n+1
G
'
= X
n
L
'
+Y
1
G
'
Passing Streams
K
N
=
y
n
x
n
=
Y
n
1+Y
n
|
\


|
.
|
|
X
n
1+ X
n
|
\


|
.
|
|
Mass Balance
Exiting Streams
Equilibrium
Y
n+1

X
n-1

n
Y
n

X
n

Y
n+1

X
n-1

n
Y
n

X
n

Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
2
Graphical Determination of N for Absorption
Y
1
-X
0
(L

/G

)
Y
X
Top
Bottom
Slope L/G
Equilibrium
Y
1
(gas out)
X
0
(liquid in)
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3 Y
N+1
X
N
Operating Line
X
0
, L(absorbent)

Y
1
, G

X
N
, L
1

2

N

Absorption
Y
N+1
, G

n

Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
3
Graphical Determination of N for Stripping
Y
1
-X
0
(L

/G

)
Y
X
Top
Bottom
Slope L/G
Equilibrium
Y
0
(liquid in)
X
1
(gas out)
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Y
N+1
X
N
Operating Line
Stripping
X
N+1
, L

Y
N
, G

X
1
, L
2

N

1

Y
0
, G

n

Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
4
Algebraic Method for Trayed Towers
The graphical procedure for determining the number of equilibrium stages is convenient,
and easy to follow. However, often:
the number N becomes large, or
N is specified rather than the desired purity,
or more than one solute is being absorbed,
or the operating conditions are being optimized,
or the concentrations are high or low such that multiple diagrams are needed.
In these cases the algebraic method becomes useful. Here we rely on the development of the Kresmer
Group Method developed for cascades (Seader Section 5.4)
Previously we derived two recovery fractions:
u
A
=
A
i
1
A
i
N+1
1
u
S
=
S
i
1
S
i
N+1
1
Note that here we include the species designation and remove the designation for effective absorption
and stripping factors.
The inverse of a recovery fraction is the fraction of solute absorbed (or stripped):
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
5
Absorption of Hydrocarbons by Heavy Oil
L
0
V
N+1
V
1
L
N
1

2

7

8

Liquid Heavy Oil absorbs heavy
components preferentially.
A vapor hydrocarbon mixture is to be absorbed by a liquid
absorbant of heavy gas (assume K=0.001) and trace amounts
of n-butane and n-pentane.
Givens:
Cascade pressure P=2760kPa
N=6 stages
Vapor stream in consists of:
Methane 160 lbmol/hr
Ethane 370
Propane 240
n-butane 25
n-pentane 5
Vapor enters at T=105F
Entering liquid is:
n-butane 0.05 lbmol/hr
n-pentane 0.78
Heavy Oil 164.17
Liquid enters at T=90F
Example 5.3
Lecture 12: Absorption and Stripping 1
6
K
i
A S psiA psiS V
N+1
L
0
V1 L6
methane 6.65 0.031 32.242 0.969 0.000 160 0 155.04 4.96
ethane 1.64 0.126 7.952 0.874 0.000 370 0 323.47 46.53
propane 0.584 0.353 2.832 0.647 0.001 240 0 155.35 84.65
n-butane 0.195 1.058 0.945 0.120 0.168 25 0.05 3.04 22.01
n-octane 0.0713 2.893 0.346 0.001 0.655 5 0.78 0.27 5.517
heavy oil 0.0001 2062.5 0.0005 0.000 0.9995 0 164.17 0.08 164.09
L
0
V
N+1
V
1
L
8
1

2

7

8

S
N
= K
N
V
N
( )/ L
N
u
S
=
S
e
1
S
e
N+1
1
u
A
=
A
e
1
A
e
N+1
1
A
N
= L
N
/ K
N
V
N
( )
1) Assume T is the average of the entering stream temperatures
2) Read off the K-values from the Figure 2.8
3) For the heavy oil assume that it has a very small K-value (e.g. 0.0001)
4) Use the entering stream flow rates with the K-values to determine A and S.
5) Determining the absorption and stripping fractions using N=6.
6) Determine the composition of the exiting streams from the entering
compositions and absorption and stripping factors.
v
1
= v
N+1
u
A
+l
0
1 u
S
( )
l
1
=l
N+1
u
S
+v
0
1u
A
( )
Figure 2.8
Given
Absorption of Hydrocarbons by Heavy Oil