CHAPTER 10: GAS - LIQUID SEPARATION

PROCESSES

OVERVIEW
Types of Separation Processes and Methods
Equilibrium Relations between Phases
Mass Transfer between Phases
Continuous Humidification Processes

Single and Multiple Equilibrium Contact Stages

Absorption in Plate and Packed Towers
Absorption of Concentrated Mixtures in Packed Tower

MASS TRANSFER
BETWEEN PHASES

Mass Transfer Between Phases

The solute A transferred from the fluid phase by convection mass transfer
and through the solid by diffusion
Concentration profiles in interface mass transfer

Mass Transfer Between Phases

using film mass transfer coefficients and interface concentration

Equimolar counterdiffusion

k` y y

k`
x x
x

AG

Ai

AL

Ai

N k` ( y y ) k` (x x )
A

AG

Ai

Ai

AL

Mass Transfer Between Phases

using film mass transfer coefficients and interface concentration

Diffusion of A through stagnant or nondiffusing B

k `x

k `y

(1 x A )iM
(1 y A )iM

y AG y Ai
y AL x Ai

N k ( y y ) k (x x )
A

AG

Ai

Ai

AL

Mass Transfer Between Phases

using film mass transfer coefficients and interface concentration

k`
k
(1 y )

k`
k
(1 x )

1 y A iM
(1 x A )iM

iM

iM

(1 y Ai ) (1 y AG )

(1 y Ai )
ln

y
)

AG
(1 x AL ) (1 x Ai )

(1 x AL )
ln

(1 x Ai )

k`
k`
N
(y y )
(x x )
(1 y )
(1 x )
y

AG

iM

Ai

Ai

iM

AL

EXAMPLE 10.4-1

The solute A is being absorbed from a gas mixture of A and B in a

wetted wall tower with the liquid flowing as a film downward
Qin
System boundary
along the wall. At a certain point in
the tower the bulk gas
concentration yAG=0.380 mol fraction and the bulk liquid
concentration is xAL=0.100.
The tower is operating at 298K and 1.013x10 5 Pa and the
equilibrium data are tabulated in the table.
The solute A diffuses through stagnant B in the gas phase and then
through a nondiffusing liquid.
Using correlations for dilute solutions in wetted wall towers, the
film mass transfer coefficient for A in the gas phase is predicted as
ky=1.465x10-3 kgmol A/s.m2.mol fraction liquid phase as
kx=1.967x10-3 kgmol A/s.m2.mol fraction
Calculate the interface concentrations yAi and xAi and flux NA.

EXAMPLE 10.4-1 : solution

Since dilute solutions, (1-yA)iM 1.0 and (1-xA)iM 1.0

Therefore, k`y=ky and k`x=kx

Equilibrium data are plotted in figure 10.4-4.

Point P:
yAG = 0.380
xAL = 0.100

First trial, (1-yA)iM = 1.0

(1-xA)iM = 1.0

k `x
1.967 10 3
Slope PM (from Equation 10.4-9)
(1 x A )iM
1.0 1.342

3
k `y
1.465 10
1.0
(1 y A )iM
A line through point P with a slope of 1.342 is plotted intersecting the
equilibrium line at M1.

Point M1
yAi=0.183
xAi=0.247
8

Second trial, use yAi and xAi from first trial to calculate the new slope.
Substituting into Eqs. (10.4-6) and (10.4-7),

1 y A iM

(1 x A )iM

(1 y Ai ) (1 y AG ) (1 0.183) (1 0.380)

0.715
(1 y Ai )
(1 0.183)
ln
ln

(1 0.380)
1

y
)

AG
(1 x AL ) (1 x Ai ) (1 0.100) (1 0.247)

0.825
(1 x AL )
(1 0.100)
ln
ln

(1 0.247)
(
1

x
)

Ai

Substituting into Eq.(10.4-9) to obtain the new slope,

k `x

k `y

(1 x A )iM
(1 y A )iM

1.967 10 3
1.465 10

0.825 1.163
3
0.715

A line through point P with a slope of 1.163 is plotted intersecting the

equilibrium line at M.

Point M
yAi = 0.197
xAi = 0.257

Third trial, use yAi and xAi from second trial to calculate the new slope.
Substituting into Eqs. (10.4-6) and (10.4-7),

1 y A iM

(1 x A )iM

(1 y Ai ) (1 y AG ) (1 0.197) (1 0.380)

0.709
(1 y Ai )
(1 0.197)
ln
ln

(1 0.380)

1 y AG )
(1 x AL ) (1 x Ai ) (1 0.100) (1 0.257)

0.820
(1 x AL )
(1 0.100)
ln
ln

(1 0.257)

(1 x Ai )

Substituting into Eq.(10.4-9) to obtain the new slope,

k `x

k `y

(1 x A )iM
(1 y A )iM

1.967 10 3
1.465 10

0.820 1.160
3
0.709

This slope is the same as the slope for 2nd trial.

Final values:
At point M
yAi = 0.197

xAi = 0.257
10

To calculate the flux (Equation 10.4-8) is used.

NA

k `y
(1 y A )iM

( y AG

1.465 10 3
y Ai )
(0.380 0.197)
0.709

3.78 10 4 kgmol / s.m 2

k `x
1.967 10 3
NA
( x Ai x AL )
(0.257 0.100)
(1 x A )iM
0.820
3.78 10 4 kgmol / s.m 2

11

yAG

0.4

0.3

yAi

0.2

M1

M
Equilibrium Line
Line PM1
Line PM

0.1

0.0
0.0

0.1

xAL

0.2

0.3

0.4

xAi
12

Mass Transfer Between Phases

Overall mass transfer coefficients and driving forces

Equimolar counterdiffusion and/or diffusion in dilute solutions

GAS CONTROLLING

LIQUID CONTROLLING

1
1
m`

K `y k `y k `x
1
1

K `x k `x

1
1
1

K `x m" k `y k `x

1
1

K `x k `x

13

14

Mass Transfer Between Phases

Overall mass transfer coefficients and driving forces

Diffusion of A through stagnant or nondiffusing B

1
K `y

1 y A * M

1 y A * M

1
k `y

1 y A iM

m`
k `x

(1 x A )iM

K`

1 x
A

1
m" k `

*M

1 y * A (1 y AG )
1 x A * M

1 y * A
ln

AG

1 y
A

1
k`

iM

(1 x )
A

iM

1 x AL (1 x * A )

1 x AL
ln

1 x * A

15