Exercises

399

Absorbent

F1
Flash

1000 Ibmollh
Partial condenser stage
10O0F, 814.7 psia

175 psia

Feed gas

120aF, 284.7 psia

Component
N2

co2
"2s

c1
C2

C,

nC8
nC9

40
4

h:Fl

Feed stage
120F, 284.7 psia

C,
C,
nC4
nC,

Ibmollh
358.2
4965.6
339.4
2995.5
2395.5
2291 .O

1844.5
1669.0
831.7
1214.5

157
240
169
148

Figure 10.37 Data for Exercise 10.37.

Lower stage

The absorbent is an oil, which can be treated as a pure component

having a molecular weight of 161. Calculate product rates and
compositions, stage temperatures, and interstage vapor and liquid
flow rate and compositions for the following conditions.

Flash

Partial reboiler stage

85F. 27.7 psia

L"

Number of
Equilibrium
Stages

Entering
Absorbent
Flow Rate
IbmoVh

Entering
Absorbent
Temperature,
OF

6
12
6
6

500
500
1,000
500

90
90
90
60

(a)
(b)
(c)
(4

Figure 10.36 Data for Exercise 10.35.

be varied. Strive to achieve a bottoms product with no more than
0.05 mol% methane plus ethane and a vapor distillate temperature
of about 100F.
These specifications may be achieved by varying the distillate rate
and the reflux ratio. Reasonable initial estimates for these two quantities are 49.4 lbmol/h and 2. Assume a tray efficiency of 70%.

10.35 A multiple recycle-loop problem formulated by cavettl

and shown in Figure 10.36 has been used extensively to test tearing, sequencing, and convergence procedures. The flowsheet is the
equivalent of a four-theoretical-stage, near-isothermal distillation
(rather than the conventional near-isobaric type), for which a patent
by ~ u n t h e ?exists. The flowsheet does not include necessary mixers, compressors, pumps, valves, and heat exchangers to make it
a practical system. For the specifications shown on the drawing,
determine the component flow rates for all streams in the process.
Absorber and Stripper Problems
10.36 An absorber is to be designed for a pressure of 75 psia
to handle 2,000 lbmoVh of gas at 60F having the following
composition.
Component
Methane
Ethane
Propane
n-Butane
n-Pentane

Mole Fraction
0.830
0.084
0.048
0.026
0.012

'R. H. Cavett, Proc. Am. Petrol. Inst. 43,57 (1963).

'A. Gunther, U.S. Patent 3,575,077 (April 13, 1971).

10.37 Calculate product rates and compositions, stage temperatures, and interstage vapor and liquid flow rates and compositions
for an absorber having four equilibrium stages with the specifications in Figure 10.37. Assume the oil is nClo.
10.38 In Example 10.4, temperatures of the gas and oil, as they
pass through the absorber, increase substantially. This limits the extent of absorption. Repeat the calculations with a heat exchanger
that removes 500,000 Btuh from:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Stage 2.
Stage 3.
Stage4.
Stage 5.

How effective is the intercooler? Which stage is the preferred

location for the intercooler? Should the duty of the intercooler be
increased or decreased assuming that the minimum-stage temperature is 100F using cooling water? Assume the absorber oil is nClz.

10.39 Calculate product rates and compositions, stage temperatures, and interstage vapor and liquid flow rates and compositions
for the absorber shown in Figure 10.38.
10.40 Determine product compositions, stage temperatures, interstage flow rates and compositions, and reboiler duty for the reboiled absorber shown in Figure 10.39. Repeat the calculations
without the interreboiler and compare both sets of results. Is the interreboiler worthwhile? Should an intercooler in the top section of
the column be considered?
10.41 Calculate the product compositions, stage temperatures, interstage flow rates and compositions, and reboiler duty for the reboiled stripper shown in Figure 10.40.