CALCULATIONS:

1. Material Balance: Experiment 1.

(a) Calculating the mass rate of absorption of CO2 in the amine in absorber using ideal
gas law:
PV = nRT
P = 80.2 kPa + 101.325 kPa
= 181.525 kPa
= 181525 Pa
V (volumetric flow rate) = 3.8 m3/h
= 3.8 m3/h / 3600
= 1.05555 x 10-3 m3/s
R = 8.314 J/ mol K
T = 19.7 0C
= 19.7 + 273 K
= 292.7 K
n = PV/RT
= 181525 Pa x 1.05555 x 10-3 m3/s
8.314 J/ mol K x 292.7 K
= 7.8926416 x 10-2 mol/s
CO2 to absorber = 20% x 7.8926416 x 10-2 mol/s
= 0.01579 mol/s
Molar flow rate (mol/s) = Mass flow rate (g/s) / RMM
Mass flow rate (g/s) = molar flow rate (mol/s) x RMM
RMM of CO2 = 12 + 2(16)
= 44 g/mol
Mass flow rate = 0.01579 mol/s x 44 g/mol
= 0.6946 g/s (mass rate of CO2 to absorber)
(b) Calculating the mass flow rate of CO2 in the sweet gas leaving the absorber:
PV = nRT
P = 80.2 kPa + 101.325 kPa
= 181.525 kPa
= 181525 Pa
V = 5.0 m3/h
= 5.0 m3/h / 3600
= 1.388888 x 10-3 m3/s
R = 8.314 J/mol K
T = 18.2 0C
= 18.2 + 273 K
= 291.2 K
n = PV/RT
= 181525 Pa x 1.388888 x 10-3 m3/s
8.314 J/ mol K x 291.2 K
= 0.10414 mol/s
CO2 leaving absorber = 4% x 0.10414 mol/s
= 0.0041656 mol/s
Molar flow rate (mol/s) = Mass flow rate (g/s) / RMM
Mass flow rate (g/s) = molar flow rate (mol/s) x RMM
RMM of CO2 = 12 + 2(16)
= 44 g/mol
Mass flow rate = 0.0041656 mol/s x 44 g/mol
= 0.1833 g/s (mass rate of CO2 in sweet gas leaving the absorber)
(c) Net rate of CO2 absorption:
Mass flow rate to absorber – mass flow rate leaving absorber
= 0.6946 g/s – 0.1833 g/ s
= 0.5113 g/s

(d)Rate of stripping

Room temperature recorded was 21o C.

Room pressure = atmospheric pressure

R = 8.314 J/ mol K

T = 21 + 273 = 294K

P = 101.325 kPa

For Lean Amine:

Volume of CO2 evolved = 7.4cm3

Using a basis of 1 second

V = 7.4 cm3/s

= 7.4 cm3/s x 10-6

= 7.4 x 10-6 m3/s

n = PV/RT
= 101325 Pa x 7.4 x 10-6 m3/s

8.314 J/ mol K x 294 K

= 3.06 x 10-4 mol/s
Molar flow rate (mol/s) = Mass flow rate (g/s) / RMM
Mass flow rate (g/s) = molar flow rate (mol/s) x RMM
RMM of CO2 = 12 + 2(16)
= 44 g/mol
Mass flow rate of CO2 = 3.06 x 10-4 mol/s x 44 g/mol
= 1.3464 x 10-2 g/s (mass of CO2 in 2mL (2 x 10-6 m3) lean amine)
Calculating the mass of CO2 in 4.5 L/min of lean amine:

4.5L/min = 4.5 L/min x 1 m3/h

16.67L/min
= 0.26995 m3/h
= 7.4985 x 10-5 m3/s

Therefore mass of CO2 present in 7.4985 x 10-5 m3 = 1.3464 x 10-2 g x 7.4985 x 10-5
2 x 10-6

= 5.048 x 10-1 g

For Rich Amine:

Volume of CO2 evolved = 13.8 cm3

Using a basis of 1 second

V = 13.8 cm3/s

= 13.8 cm3/s x 10-6

= 13.8 x 10-6 m3/s

n = PV/RT
= 101325 Pa x 13.8 x 10-6 m3/s
8.314 J/mol K x 294 K
= 5.72 x 10-4 mol/s
Molar flow rate (mol/s) = Mass flow rate (g/s) / RMM
Mass flow rate (g/s) = molar flow rate (mol/s) x RMM
RMM of CO2 = 12 + 2(16)
= 44 g/mol
Mass flow rate of CO2 = 5.72 x 10-4 mol/s x 44 g/mol
= 2.517 x 10-2 g/s (mass of CO2 in 2mL (2 x 10-6 m3) rich amine)
Calculating the mass of CO2 in 4.5L/min of rich amine:

4.5L/min = 4.5 L/min x 1 m3/h

16.67L/min
= 7.4985 x 10-5 m3/s
Therefore mass of CO2 present in 7.4985 x 10-5 m3 = 2.517 x 10-2 g x 7.4985 x 10-5
2 x 10-6

= 9.437 x 10-1 g

Therefore,

Using a basis of 1 second:

Rate of stripping of CO2 from amine in the regenerator = 9.437 x 10-1 g/s - 5.048 x 10-1 g/s

= 4.389 x 10-1 g/h

(e)

Comparing the net rate of CO2 absorption (c) with the rate of stripping in (d):

Rate of stripping - Net rate of absorption = 5.4709 x 10-4 g/s - 4.13756 x 10-4 g/s

= 1.33334 x 10-4 g/ s

Percentage difference = 1.33334 x 10-4 g/ s × 100 %

4.13756 x 10-4 g/s

= 32.2%