GAS ABSORPTION (1) Difference of Absorption

- A soluble vapor is absorbed from Liquid adsorbent below its bubble point
its mixture with an inert gas by
means of a liquid in which the solute
gas is more or less soluble.
- Ex: removal of CO2 & H2S from Gas phase above its dew point
natural gas or by synthesis of the Absorption
absorption in solutions of amines or Equipment
alkaline salts.
- Washing of ammonia from a
mixture of ammonia and air by
means of liquid water.
- The solute is subsequently
recovered from the liquid by
distillation, and the absorbing liquid
can be either discarded or (2) Liquid and gas phases usually do
removed. not contain
SIMPLE GAS ABSORPTION CASE: (3) Heat effects are due to the heat
- None of the liquid absorbent of solution of the absorbed gas. For
vaporizes, and the gas contains only distillation, involves heat of
one soluble constituent. vaporization & condensation.

- Ex: DESORPTION/GAS STRIPPING

- Solute is removed from a liquid by
H2O (does not vaporize @ appreciable T) bringing the liquid into contact with
an inert gas.
- Tower Packing – mass of inert solid
phases.
- Weak liquor – the inert liquid may
Air (not soluble in water) NH3 (soluble in water)
be pure solvent or dilute solution.
Absorption
Tower - Rich gas – gas containing the
solute strong liquor or concentrated
liquid leaving the bottom of the
tower.
- Desorption Operation:
Solute liquid

* As NH3 is transferred to the liquid,

its concentration increases until the
dissolved NH3 is in equilibrium with
Gas
that in the liquid phase. (When
equilibrium is reached, there is no
further mass transfer.)
More Complex Cases:
- Several components may be
absorbed, and part of the absorbent
may vaporize.
 *Absorption and desorption are 4. Provide good contact between the
widely used in the chemical industry. liquid and gas.
- (1) 5. Reasonable cost.
H2O 6. Corrosion resistant.
CONTACT BETWEEN LIQUID AND
GAS
- Ideally, the liquid, once distributed
HCl gas HCl acid over the top of the packing, flows in
thin films over all the entire packing
surface all the way down the tower;
the films actually tend to grow
thicker in some places and thinner
in others.
Channeling – the down flowing the
liquid tends to select preferred paths or
channels; fluid tends to move toward
the region of greatest void space (near
- (2) Aerobic fermentation of sewage the wall).
sludge requires the absorption of air.
- At low liquid rates, much of the
- (3) Carbonation of soft drinks packing surface may be dry, or at
involves absorption of CO2. best, covered by a stagnant film of
* Desorption occurs as the liquid; chief reason for the poor
bottle is open and the pressure is performance of large pack towers.
reduced. - Severe in towers with stacked
packings (employ redistributor to
redirect flow toward the center).
3 Principal Types of Packing: - Can be minimized in moderate size
1. Those that are dumped at random tower by having Dt = 8Dp. Where
int(??) tower. Dt is the tower diameter and Dp is
the packing diameter.
2. Those that must be packed by
hand. PRESSURE DROP AND LIMITING
FLOW RATES
3. Those known as structured or
ordered pac(??) - The pressure drop is greater than
that in dry packing, because the
Principal Requirements for Packing: liquid in the tower reduces the
1. It must be chemically inert to the space available for the flow.
fluid tower. - At moderate gas velocities, the line
for irrigated packing gradually
2. It must be strong without excessive become steeper, because the gas
weight - in large pack towers the weight now impedes the down flowing
of the packing can be quite large liquid and the liquid hold up
thereby resulting in serious support increases with gas rate. (see fig.
problems. 18.4)
3. Contain adequate passages for both LOADING POINT
stream without excessive hold up or
pressure drop. - The point at which the liquid holdup
starts to increase (as judged by a
change in the slope of the pressure tower? (b) What is the pressure drop
drop line). od the packed section is 20 ft (6.1 m)
high?
- The gas velocity in an operating
packed column must be lower than the Solution:
flooding velocity.
- The designer must choose a velocity
far enough from the flooding velocity to
ensure safe operation but not so slow NH3 free water
as to require a much larger column.
- Lowering the design velocity
increases the tower’s diameter without
much change in the required height,
since lower gas and liquid velocities
lead to a nearly
proportional reduction in 20 ft
mass transfer rate.
- Decreased pressure drop is one
benefit of low gas velocity, but the cost
of power consumed is usually not a
major factor in optimizing the design.
*Gas velocity is sometimes chosen as 25000 ft3 gas per hour
½ the predicted flooding velocity
obtained from a generalized 2% vol. NH3
correlation. (fig 18.5)
%vol = % mole
- Packed towers may also be
T = 68 ℉
designed on the basis of a definite
pressure drop per unit height of P= 1 atm
packing.
- Flooding velocity depends strongly ´ of gas= 29 g ( 0.98 mole )+ 0.02 ( 17 ) =28.76
MW
on the type and size of the packing and gmol
the liquid mass velocity.
PV = (m/V)
- The packing characteristics are
PV = nRT
accounted for by a packing factor Fp,
which decreases with increasing PV = (m/MW) RT
packing size or increasing void
PMW
fraction. ρ=
RT
[Ex. 18.1]. A tower packed with 1 in
28.76lb
(25.4 mm) Intalox saddles is to be built
to treat 25000 ft3 (708 m3) of entering
ρ=
(( ) (
1 atm
lbmole )( 14.7 psi
1 atm ))
gas per hour. The ammonia content of f t 3− psia
the entering gas is 2% by volume. (
10.73
lbmol−° R )
(528 ° R )
Ammonia-free water is used as
absorbent. The temperature is 68℉ ρ=0.0746 lb/f t 3
(20℃), and the pressure is 1 atm. The
a. Use fig. 18.5. When Gy=Gx for 1-
ratio of gas flow to liquid flow is 1 lb of
ln Intalox saddles, Gy=1700
gas per pound of liquid. (a) If the gas
lb lb
velocity is to be ½ the flooding velocity, 2 or 0.472 2 .
what should be the diameter of the f t −hr f t −s
The total gas flow = V (ρ) G y 2 Fpμ x 0.1 0.2362 ( 92 ) ( 1 )0.1
= =0.0343
Gc ( ρx− ρy ) 32.17 ( 62.3−0.07465 ) ( 0.07465 )
f t3 lb 1hr
(
¿ 25000
hr )(
0.07465 3
ft )( 3600 s) For these conditions the predicted
pressure drop is about 0.23 in H2O
lb per foot of packed height; the total
¿ 0.518
s pressure drop is (0.23)(0.20) = 4.6 in
The cross-sectional area of the H2O (8.6mmHg). The actual pressure
tower, drop (from fig.18.6) would probably
be close to the higher value found
0.518 18.4, which is based on direct
S= =2.19 f t 2
0.236 measurements for the specific
The diameter of the tower, packing used. The generalized
correlation in Fig. 18.6 is in closer
1
4 s 12 4 ( 2.19 ) 2 agreement with Fig. 19.4 when
D= ( ) (
π
=
π )
=1.67 ft
Gx/Gy >>1.
b. Use fig 18.4. The pressure drop ´ gas= 29 g ( 0.98 mole )+ 0.02 ( 17 ) =28.76
MW
lb gmol
for Gx = Gy = 850 2 is 0.35
f t −h
in H2O/ft. The total pressure drop
is then (20)(0.35)=7 in H2O
(13.1mmHg).
This may be checked using fig/ 18.6.

ρy= ( Vm )
PV =nRT
PV = (m/MW) RT
PMW
ρ=
RT

The additional quantities needed are:

ρ=
(( 1 atm ) ( 28.76lb
lbmole )( 14.7 psi
1 atm ))
lb
ρx=62.4 3 μx=1 cP f t 3− psia
ft ( 10.73
lbmol−° R )(528 ° R )
ft −lbm Gx
gc=32.174 =1 ρ=0.0746 lb/f t 3
l bf −s2 G y
a. Use fig.18.5. When Gy=Gx for
For in the 1-in ceramic intalox
1-in intalox saddles Gy=1700
saddles, Fp =92 (Table 18.1). Also,
lb/ft2-h or 0.472 lb/ft2-s. The
the abscissa (abs)
disgn value is then
Gy ρx 0.07465 0.472/2=0.236 lb/ft2-s.
|¿|
Gx √ ρx− ρy
=
√62.3−0.07
=0.0346
The total gas flow = V (ρ)
Note that the ordinate value in fig.
f t3 lb 1hr
18.6 is not dimensionless and the
stated units must be used. The
(
¿ 25000
hr )(
0.07465 3
ft )( 3600 s)
ordinate value in Fig.18.6 is lb
¿ 0.518
s
The cross-sectional area of the compared to that of an equilibrium
tower, stage.
0.518
S= =2.19 f t 2 [Ex.] We wish to scrub acetone from
0.236
an air streaming containing 0.020
1
4 s 12 4 ( 2.19 ) 2 mole fraction acetone. If we use a
D= ( ) ( π
=
π )=1.67 ft
countercurrent packed scrubber
designed so that the exit gas does
b. Gx = Gy = mass velocity on
total tower cross not exceed 0.0002 mol fraction
acetone,
f t 3 gas lb

section=
25000
hr ( 0.0746 3
ft )=851.6 (a) What is the number of over-all
2
2.19 f t gas-phase transfer units?
(b) What is the height of the transfer
The number of transfer units (Noy) unit?
required (c) What is the total height of the
packing used?
- A measure of the difficulty of Base your calculation in the following
separation. data:
- gas rate is 700ft3/hr per square foot
*Hence, if high purity products are cross section at standard conditions;
desired, a larger number of transfer - water rate is 1000lb/hr-ft2;
units is required. -Kya is 1.75 lbmol/ft3-hr-nf diff.
- Henry’s Law is valid and Ye=1.75Xe.
Height of transfer units (Hoy)
*Ye is the acetone vapor in
- Measure of the separation equilibrium with the mole fraction (ny)
effectiveness of the particular of acetone (Xe) in the liquid.
packing for the chemical species
being processed. If the rate of
interface mass transfer is high and nf=0.0002
the surface area for transfer is large, a 1000lb H 2 O
G
then Hoy will be small. hr ∙ ft 2
Ya
L
Transfer Unit (physical meaning)

The expression for the number of the

over-all gas phase transfer units,

Y2
dY
( Nog )=∫ =1
Y1 (Y ¿ −Y )
Y2
dY Y −Y 1
1=∫ ¿ = ¿ 2
Y1 (Y −Y ) (Y −Y )mean

b
A single transfer unit therefore gives nf=0.02
a change of composition of one of
L
the phases equal to the average f t3
700
driving force producing the change. hr ∙ f t 2 Xb=?
The action of a transfer unit can be
G, Ya @ STP
 Y b−Y a GMy
Noy= ; Hoy= ;
∆ YL Kya
ZT =HoyNoy
∆ Y L =¿ ¿
Y a∗¿ 1.75 Xa
Y b∗−1.75 Xb
lb lbmol
ρair @ STP=0.0809 3 =2.79 x 10−3
ft f t3
700 f t 3 lbmol lbmol
G=
hr −f t (
2
2.79 x 10−3
ft )
3
=1.952 ( hr −f t 2 )
( 1,000 lb H 2 O ) (1lbmol) lbmol
L= 2
=55.56
hr −f t (18lb) hr −f t 2

To get Xb, make an acetone balance:

0.02 G+0=0.0002G+ L X b

X b= ( GL ) ( 0.02−0.0002 )=6.96 x 10 −4

Y b∗¿ 1.22 x 10−3 ; Y b−Y b∗¿ 0.0188

Y a∗¿ 0 ; Y a−Y a∗¿ 0.0002

( 0.0188 )−( 0.0002) −3

∆ Y L= =4.0939 x 10
0.0188
ln
0.0002
0.02−0.0002
( a ) Noy= =4.84
4.0939 x 10−3
1.952
( b ) Hoy= =1.115 ft
1.75
( c ) Z T =( 1.115 ft )( 4.84 )=5.40 ft

Principles of Absorption:
Diameter of a packed absorption tower- depends on the quantities of the gas and
liquid handled their properties, and ratio of one stream to the other.
Height of the tower and hence total volume of packaging depends on:
1. The magnitude of desired concentration change
2. The rate of mass transfer per unit of packed volume

In computing tower height:

Consider: Material balances
Enthalpy balance
Estimates of driving force and mass transfer
coefficient
Material Balances:
Va
La La + V + L + Va
Ya
Xa La Xa + Vy = Lx + Va Ya 2
La + Vb = Lb + Va
La Xa + Vb Yb + Lb Yb + Va Ya
Operating line: Y = (L/V)X + (Va Ya – La Xa)V
L y  Must lie above the EL in order for gas
absorption to take place since this gives a
positive driving force: Y-Y* for absorption

X & Y – represent the bulk compositions of L &

G in contact with each other at any given
X v section through the column.
- assumed that the compositions at a given
elevation are independent of position in the
packing.
Lb
Vb
Xb
Yb
The absorption of a soluble component from gas
mixture makes V (total gas rate) decrease as the gas
apses thru the column, and L (liquid flow) increases
- It makes OL slightly curved
 This complication can be circumvented by recognizing that the quantity of
the solute- free gas, which is essentially insoluble, is constant

Let V’ = molar flow rate of solute-free

V’ = V (1-Y)
*for dilute mixtures (containing less than 10% of soluble gas), the effect of
changes in total flow is usually ignored and the design is based on the average
flow rate
LIMITING GAS – LIQUID RATIO

OL equation: m = L/V important in the economics of absorption in a

countercurrent column
Y – Y* - driving force for mass transfer
Y – Y* vertical distance between OL and EL

Increasing L/V increases the driving force everywhere in the column except at
the very top, and the absorption column does not need to be as tall.
*However using larger amount of liquid gives a more dilute liquid product, which
makes it more difficult to recover the solute by desorption or stripping.
Energy cost for stripping- often a major part of the total cost of an absorption-
stripping operation.
*Optimum liquid rate for absorption is found by balancing the operating costs for
both units against the fixed cost of the equipment.
L=1.1-1.5X the maximum rate (unless the liquid is to be discarded and not
regenerated).

Rate of Absorption
-Expressed in 4 different ways using individual coefficients or overall
coefficients based on the gas or liquid phases.
Volumetric coefficient-used because it is more difficult to determine the
coefficient per unit area and because the purpose of the design calculations is
generally to determine the total absorber volume.
*rate of absorption per unit volume of packed column is given by any of the
following equations where X and Y refer to the mole fraction of the component
being absorbed.
(18.7) r =k y a(Y −Y i)

(18.8) r =k x a( X i – X )

(18.9) r =K y a ¿

(18.10) r =K x a( X∗− X)
ka = individual volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kg-mol/m 3-h-unit mole
fraction)
Ka = overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kg-mol/m 3-h-unit mole fraction)
a = interfacial area/ unit volume of packed column
*a –hard to measure or predict
- design calculations can be based on the volumetric coefficients.
*interface composition (Yi, Xi)
Y −Y i k x a
(18.11) =
X i− X k y a

* usually not necessary to know the interface compositions, but these values are
used for calculations involving rich gases or when the equilibrium line is strongly
curved.
1 m 1
(17.57) = + *based on two film theory (many mass transfer theories)
K y kx k y

Overall coefficients (from kya & kxa using the local slope of the equilibrium curve
m, as shown in (17.57)
** if kya and kxa are equal, m>1 liquid film resistance is controlling
 1
1 1 m ∧m
= + (18.12) k x a resistance to mass transfer in the gas film&
Ky a ky a kx a =¿
kxa
liquid film respectively
1 1 1 1 1 1
= + (18.13)¿ = +
Kx a k x a mya K x a k x a mk y a

*In packed column kxa=3 to 20 times of kya

Calculation of Tower Height

*Gas-film coefficient are often used and k y a
-choosing a gas-film coefficient does not require any assumption about the
controlling resistance. Even if the liquid film controls, a design based on k y a is as
simple and accurate as one based on k y a and k x a
*mass transfer in most cases is treated using the same type of equations, which
feature a mass transfer coefficient, K=rate of mass transfer per unit area per unit
concentration difference.
Fig 18.12
S, cross section
Differential volume in height dZ=SdZ
Neglect V (molar flow rate)

Amount absorbed in section dZ= - Vdy

Equals the absorption
-Vdy = Kya (Y – Y*) SdZ (18.14)
Vol abs. rate Y rate x differential volume
Rearrange for integration and group the constant factors
a
K y aS dy
∫ dZ=∫ ¿ (to eliminate negative)
−v b Y −Y

b
K y aS dy
Z
( T) ∫
= ¿ (18.15)
v a Y −Y
v = molar flowrate
Number of Transfer Units
b
v /s dy
From 18.15; ZT = ∫ Y −Y ¿ ( 18.16 )
Kya a

Represents the change in vapour

concentration
divided by the average driving force
has the unit of length: - called the NUMBER of transfer
units (NTU or Noy)
 mol /hr
m2 mol m3 ∙ hr
= × =m(unit if length) Noy – indicates that it is the
mol hr ∙ m 2 mol
m 3 ∙h ∙ nf
overall driving force for the gas phase
Called the height of transfer unit (HTU or Ho y)
Simple design method is to determine NO y from the xy diagram & multiply it by
Hoy (obtained from literature or calculated from mass transfer correlations)
ZT =H o y N o y (18.17)

 NTU is like the number of ideal stages; Values are equal only if OL and EL
are straight and parallel. (see fig. 18.13 p. 563)
 For this case
Y b−Y a
No y = ( 18.19 )
Y −Y ¿
 For straight OL & EL, NTU is the change in concentration divided by the
logarithmic mean driving force:
∆y Y −Y a
=No y = b ( 18.19 )
∆ yL ∆ yl
¿ ¿
( Y b−Y b ) −(Y a−Y a )
∆ y L=
Y b −Y ¿b (based on the gas phase)
ln
( Y a −Y ¿a )
- A simplification made of eqn. 18.16 & 18.19
- Important in the case of dilute concentrations
- Similar with the simplified heat-transfer design eqn. using log-mean
driving forces
Based on liquid phase:
X b− X a
Noy or Nox = Number of liquid phase transfer units N ox=
∆ XL
Nox ≠ Noy (unless the OL and EL are straight and parallel)
For absorption, OL is steeper than EL so:
Noy > Nox (offset by the difference between Ho y and Hox, and column height can
be determined using either approach)
The OVERALL HEIGHT OF A TRANSFER UNIT can be defined as the height of
a packed section required to accomplish a change in concentration equal to the
average driving force in that section.

4 kinds of transfer unit (those based on individual or overall driving forces for gas
and liquid phases)

V dy
N y =∫ (18.21)
Gas film: S Y −Y i
H y=
k ya
 L dx
N x =∫ (18.22)
Liquid film: H = S X i−X
x
kx a
V dy
No y =∫ (18.23)
Overall gas Ho = S Y −Y ¿
y
Kya
V dy
Overall No x =∫ (18.24)
S ¿
X −X
liquid: Ho x =
K xa

Number of transfer units (overall) based on liquid phase

Alternate form of transfer coefficients

Gas-film coefficient
-often based on a partial pressure driving force instead of a mole fraction
difference
-written as Kga or kga

k ya ky a
k g a= ; K g a= ; P=total pressure
P P

Gy V G L
Substituting or G m for and x for
M S M S
GM GM GM
H y= Ho y = (18.25) Ho y = y

k g aP K g aP Kya
G x / ρx G x/ ρ x
H x= Ho x = (18.26)
kL a KL a

Number of transfer units required

-a measure of the difficulty of separation. If very high purity of the products are
desired, larger number of transfer units is required.
Height of a transfer unit
-a measure of the separation effectiveness of the particular packing for the
chemical species being processed.
Small HTU
-high rate of interphase mass transfer
-surface area for transfer is large
Single transfer unit
-gives a change of composition of one of the phases equal to the average driving
force producing the change.
-its action can be compared to that of an equilibrium stage.
¿ ¿
( Y b−Y b ) −( Y a −Y a ) Y b−Y a
∆ yl = N o y=
Y b−Y ¿
∆ yl
ln
( Y a−Y
b
¿
a
)
To use the equation, knowledge of the following data is required:
1. Value of kxa, kya, Kxa or Kya as a function of the flow rates of V and L and
the transport properties of these 2 phases.
 2. Relation between point compositions in either phase and the point driving
force, (x-xi), (x-x*), (yi-y) or (y*-y)

Equimolar counter diffusion

-occurs in distillation since there is an equal rate of interchange of the more and
less volatile constituent between phases
*with the assumption of constant molar overflow
z y2
dx
∫ dz=V ∫ k ¿
0 y1 y aS ( y− y )

the total change of composition for the particular phase

*integral term=
available driving force

Upon integration , the integral term gives a quantity defined by Chilton and
Colburn known as NTU (number of transfer units) which is the measure of the
ease or difficulty of separation
Diffusion through stationary phase
-includes gas absorption, liquid extraction, adsorption and ion exchange, Unlike
distillation, the assumption of constant V and L is not valid.
Ex. In gas absorption, both phases will have variable flowrates as a result of the
transfer of solute to or from the phases.
-offset by recognizing that the quantity of solute-free gas, which is essentially
insoluble is constant.
Let V’= molar flowrate of solute-free gas
V'
V ' =V (1− y); V =
1− y
Thus:

d ( Vy )=V ' d ( 1−y y )=V ' dy¿ ¿

1 1 1 1
Derivation of = =
1− y ¿ ¿ u u2

dy
∴ d ( Vy )=V
1− y

L V a Y a−La X a
18.6 y= x+
V V
From 18.6 ; (1) Vdy=kya ( Y −Yi ) Sdz ; ( 2 ) Vdy=Kya ( Y −Y ¿ ) Sdz
Design equation:
dy
Substitute d ( V y )=V to the above equation;
1− y
dy
V =Kya ( Y −Y ¿ ) S d z
1− y
Solve for the tower height (Foust);
 V/S dy
dz= ∫
Kya (1− y)( y− y ¿ )

In terms of the L phase, the design equation becomes

z x2
L/S dx
∫ dz= Kxa ∫
0 x ( 1−x)(x−xi)
1

Graphical intergration by Baker : based upon the use of an arithmetic average of

the driving forces and the assumption that over the length of 1 transfer unit, both
operating line and equilibrium line and are essentially linear.
Ex. 16.1 (Foust) A gas stream containing a valuable hydrocarbon (MW=44) is to
be scrubbed with a nonvolatile oil (MW=300) in a tower packed with 1-in Raschig
rings. The entering gas analyzes 20 mole % HC and 95% of this HC is to be
recovered. The inert gas MW is 29. The gas stream enters the column at
5,000lb/hr.ft2 and HC-free oil enters the top of the column at 10,000lb/hr.ft 2.
Determine the NOG for this operation.

OILMW = VaYa
30010,000
lb/hr.ft2

GasAbsorpti
onColumn
Ye = 0.367Xe

GAS
STREAM20%
mole HC5,000
lb/hr.ft2

LbXb*95% HC (MW =
recovered 44)Gas
(MW=29)
Req’d: N OG
Solution:
*Because gas absorption involves diffusion through stationary components,
appropriate expression for NTU is:
2
y
( 1− y ) lmdy
N Oy =∫
y
1( 1− y ) ( y∗− y )
(this equation is valid since it is substantially free of any assumption.)
Basis: 1 lbmole of entering gas (0.2 mol HC; 0.8 mol inert gas)
Average MW =Y 1 M 1 +Y 2 M 2 =0.20 ( 44 )+ 0.8 ( 29 )=32 lb/mole
Molar flow rate:
5,000 lb 1 lbmole 156.25lbmole
V b=
( )(
hr . f t 2 )
32lb
=
hr−f t 2
Gas in = Gas out = (156.25) (0.8) = 125
HC in V a =( 156.25 )( 0.20 )( 0.05 ) =1.5625
V a =1.5625+ 125=126.5625
1.5625
Y a= =0.01235
126.5625

For the oil:

10,000 lbmole
La = =33.33
300 hr . f t 2
X a=0

HC in Lb=156.25 ( 0.20 ) ( 0.95 ) =29.6875

Lb=29.6875+ 33.33=63.0175
29.6875
X b= =0.4711
63.0175

L V a Y a−La X a
Y= x+
V V
( 1−Y ¿ )−(1−Y )
( 1−Y )lm=
ln ¿ ¿ ¿
It is quite evident that the phase flow rates are not constant through the column
y dy
so that the use Eq.16. 16 is needed: d ( V y )=V d
'
( )
1− y
=V '
¿¿
To plot the operating line, a material balance is written from the tower bottom to
any point within the tower: V b Y b + Lx =V y + Lb X b (a)
In terms of non-diffusing component
V' V'
V ' =V ( 1− y b ) V(b)
b = ; V =
1−Y b 1− y
L' L'
'
L =L ( 1−x b ) L(c)
b= ; L=
1− X b 1−x
V' L' V' L' (d)
Therefore, (Y b)+ = + ( Xb)
1−Y B 1−x 1− y 1− X b
This equation is valid throughout the column, and simply by knowing V , L, x b , y b
and any point ( x , y ) , intermediate between the terminal points may be oriented.
V ' =( 156.25 ) ( 0.80 )=125
L' =33.3
(e)
 125 33.3 125 33.33
( 0.2 ) + ( x )= ( y )+ ( 0.4711)
1−0.2 1−x 1− y 1−0.4711
Therefore, equation of the operating line is:
x y
=3.76 −0.045 (f)
1−x 1− y
y x
=0.2664 + 0.127 if x=0 ; y =0.0125
1− y 1−x

Data for the operating line are calculated from (f) and tabulated
x 0 0.0307 0.1325 0.271 0.383 0.472
y 0.0125 0.02 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20

Data for the equilibrium line

x 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
y 0.01 0.023 0.06 0.125

Plot

0.25

0.2 O
L

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
 - OL and EL are both curved, which causes serous error if the log mean
driving force ∆ Y L is employed.
- HC Concentration in the gas stream is relatively high throughout most of
the column. The assumption that ( 1− y ) is equal to (1− y)lm is not
completely sound, so Eqn. 16.7 works best.

Yb−Ya
( Yb−Y b¿ ) −( Ya−Y a¿ )
Noy=
Yb−Y b¿
ln (¿ )¿
Ya−Y a ¿
Y ¿b =0.173Y ¿b=m X b

Y ¿a =0.0124 Y ¿a=m X a

( 1−Y ¿ )−(1−Y )
( 1−Y ) lm=
1−Y ¿
ln
1−Y
Trapezoidal Rule
- Area of trapezoid by Y 2 and X 1
f ( Y 2 ) + f (Y i )
¿(Y ¿ ¿2−Y i)
Y2
[ 2 ] ¿

∫ f ( x ) dy=¿ ¿
Y1

 True for four equal segments but can be generalized to any number
 Tends to overestimate the area under the curve for functions of the
shape show, a shape often encountered in the integration of two
expressions for transfer units.
 Dividing the integral into larger number of segments increases the
accuracy of numerical integration.
Graphical Integration by Baker (accurate if both OL and EL are slightly curved;
4+ stages)
Noy based on ∆ Y L −¿ based upon the assumption of both phases being dilute,
but in this example, the liquid phase is concentrated as it leaves.