Concepts

1. Pick out the wrong statement.

a. Co-current absorbers are usually used, when the gas to be dissolved in the liquid is a pure substance.
b. In case of gas absorption, HETP is equal to HTU, when both the operating line and the equilibrium lines are parallel.
c. Hatta number is important in case of gas absorption with chemical reaction.
d. In actual practice, absorption is an endothermic process, while stripping is an exothermic process.

2. For the gas absorption, the height of a transfer unit, based on the gas phase is given by (G: superficial molar gas
velocity, L: superficial molar liquid velocity, FG:mass transfer co-efficient, mols/m2 , a: in-terfacial area per unit volume
of tower).

a.
.

b.

Gas Absorption
Problem Solving
1. A gas stream containing 90 % N2 and 10% CO2 is passed through an absorber, in which pure and cool water at 5C
is used as a solvent. The operation is assumed to be isothermal at 5C and isobaric at 10 atm. The liquid flow rate is

1.5 times the minimum liquid flow rate ( ) . Determine the number of equilibrium stages required to absorb 92 mole
% of CO2. Given Henrys constant of CO2 in water at 5C of 876 atm/mole fraction.
Answer: 3.8 stages 4 stages
2.