ChE 334 - Mass Transfer Operations Spring 2016

Project

An absorption tower is to be designed to separate SO2 from air by using pure water. Tower
operates at atmospheric pressure and deviations in temperature throughout the column can be
neglected. Entering gas stream contains 13% SO2 and 90% of it is aimed to be absorbed by
water. Volumetric flowrate of the entering gas stream is 0.8 m3/s and mass flowrate of the liquid
feed is 1000 kg/h. Tower is randomly packed with 1.5 in Pall rings and K y/ky ratio is 0.7.
Equilibrium relation can be accepted as y*=0085 x2. Write a MATLAB code to do the
followings at 25 C:
a) Obtain and plot the operating line.
b) Estimate the tower diameter.
c) Calculate HOG.
d) Calculate NOG by numerical integration.
e) Find the tower height.
f)

In order to observe the effects of operating conditions such as temperature, gas/liquid

flowrates on the dimensions of the tower. run the code using different
1) Temperatures (Physical properties are functions of temperature)
2) Liquid and vapor flowrates
3) Fraction of SO2 absorbed
and discuss your results.

Find 2 examples on absorption and desorption from industry, and discuss their tower
dimensions along with operating conditions.

Project Format
Cover Page
1. Problem Statement
Give the full problem statement.

2. Theory
This section should include a detailed discussion of the theoretical background of the problem
(absorption, packed tower, etc.) involved and the methods used in evaluating the data. The
necessary equations should be given, explained and numbered in this section
3. Sample Calculations and Results
State all data, assumptions and derivations used. Give a drawing of your process flow sheet by
specifying inlet and outlet streams by corresponding subscripts. Present the results in the
easiest way for the reader to understand: graphs, tables, figures, etc. Also give the solution
strategy of the problem in an algorithm type format as block diagrams. Refer to the equations
given in theory section. MATLAB must be used as programming language.
4. Discussion
Discuss and compare the results and graphs for your binary system. Discuss the effects of the
given parameters.
References
All references that are used should be listed.
Nomenclature
Appendix
Give the program code and output files with corresponding explanatory comment lines.
RULES:

Give the computer code in both hardcopy and in CD

Results should be presented neatly in hardcopy

Cheating will be penalized by a grade of F