Exam 3 OT Part 1

1. Differentiate HTU and NTU, and their significance.

The height of a transfer unit is a measure of the separation effectiveness of the particular
packing for the chemical species being processed.
If the rate of interphase mass transfer is high and the surface area for transfer is large, then the
height of a transfer unit will be small.
NTU is a measure of difficulty of separation. It is the ratio of the total change in composition for
the particular phase and the available driving force.
If both OL and EC are straight and parallel:
o NTU = Nt (no. of theoretical or ideal stages)
If slope of OL > slope of EC:
o NTU > Nt
If slope of OL < slope of EC:
o NTU < Nt

2. Why packing materials need to have low bulk density?

-to avoid serious support problems
-to obtain a lower pressure drop (so that there will be no brutal change in pressure) that
will consequently lessen the accumulation of liquid in the packing voids.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOWER PACKING MATERIALS

Large wetted surface (for phase contacting) per unit volume of packed space

Large void volume to allow reasonable throughput of phases without excessive -P

Good wetting characteristics

Low bulk density (to avoid serious support problems)
Relatively inexpensive
3. When and how does channelling occur?
CHANNELLING
- the tendency of the downflowing liquid to select preferred paths (or
channels) for its flow down the packing
- The fluid tends to move toward the region of greatest void space, which is
the region near the wall.
- a principal contribution toward poor performance in packed columns

4. What is flooding velocity?

Flooding velocity is the upper limit to the rate of gas flow, above which the tower cannot operate.
This applies to a given type and size of packing.
*At low L rates, the effective x-section of the packing is not appreciably different from that of dry
packing, and -P is due to flow thru a series of variable openings in the bed. [-P (gas rate)2]

*As L holdup increases:

-If packing consists of extended surfaces, small change in gas rate results to great -P
(FLOODING).
-If packing surface is discontinuous, phase inversion occurs, and gas bubbles thru the liquid.
Loading point is the gas flow rate at which the gas starts to hinder the liquid downflow. The liquid
holdup is not affected by the vapor density.
The column diameter is determined so as to safely avoid flooding and operate in the preloading
region with a pressure drop of no greater than 1.5 in. of H2O head per foot of packed height
(equivalent to 0.054 psi / ft of packing).