Absorption Tower Design

Contents
Objectives..............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Problem Statement................................................................................................................................3
Calculations...........................................................................................................................................4
Assumptions..........................................................................................................................................6
Design Considerations...........................................................................................................................7
Recommendations.................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................7
Reference...............................................................................................................................................8

Objectives

The objective of this report is to determine the necessary height of an absorption tower required to
achieve a specific outlet gas concentration of 0.1% ammonia. In addition to this primary objective,
the report will deliver detailed calculations, assumptions, and design considerations related to the
design process.

Introduction

Ammonia, a versatile industrial gas, is widely used in various sectors, including agriculture,
refrigeration, and chemical manufacturing. However, there are instances where it becomes necessary
to remove ammonia from gas mixtures for safety, regulatory, or process efficiency purposes. This
report addresses the design of an absorption tower, a crucial component in the separation of
ammonia from a 10% ammonia-air mixture. The primary design goal is to achieve a specific outlet
gas concentration of 0.1% ammonia. The design parameters provided, including temperature,
pressure, flow rates, and absorption coefficients, lay the foundation for this engineering endeavor.

Problem Statement

You are tasked with designing an absorption tower to remove ammonia from a 10% ammonia-air
mixture. The desired outlet gas concentration is 0.1% ammonia. The tower will operate at a
temperature of 293 K and a total pressure of 101.3 kN/m². The inlet gas #low rate is 0.034 kmol/m²·s,
and the liquid #low rate is 0.036 kmol/m²·s. The absorption coefficient, KoG.a, is given as 0.081
kmol/m³·s.

The equilibrium data is given by the following data:

kmol NH3 / kmol water Partial Pressure NH3 in

0.021 1.6

0.031 2.4

0.042 3.3

0.053 4.4

0.079 6.7

0.106 9.3

0.159 15.2

Calculations

Firstly, we have to convert the equilibrium data to mole ratio.

PA 1.6
Mole fraction of NH3 in gas phase, YNH3 = = =0.0158
PT 101.3
Y NH 0.0158
Mole fraction of NH3 in gas phase, YNH3 ¿ = =0.0160
3

1−Y NH 3
1−0.0158

The Equilibrium data becomes:

XNH3 YNH3

0.021 0.0160

0.031 0.0243

0.042 0.0337

0.053 0.0433

0.079 0.0708

0.106 0.1011

0.159 0.1765
 GS 0.034
HOG¿ = =0.419
KoG . a 0.081
Y1
dY
NOG¿ ∫ ¿
Y2 (Y −Y )

The equilibrium data may be not linear relation, so that the integration should be solved by plotting
or by Simpson's rule as follows:

1. Drawn the equilibrium data:

2. Drawn the operating line from two points:

(X1, Y1) And (X2, Y2)

y1 0.1
Y 1= = =0.11
1− y 1 1−0.1
y2 0.001
Y 2= = =0.001
1− y 2 1−0.001

Overall ammonia material balance:

GS (Y1-Y2) = LS(X1-X2)

GS 0.034
X1= ( Y −Y 2) + X 2= 0.036 ( 0.11−0.001 ) +0=0.0935
LS 1

Operating line:

(X1,Y1) = (0.0935, 0.11)

(X2,Y2) = (0,0.001)

We will solve the integration by Simpson's rule:

Y 1 −Y 2
h= , we choose n to be 4
n

0.11−0.001
h= =0.02725
4
Calculate 𝐘 ∗ from the plot as follows:

𝐘 𝐘∗ 𝟏 / (𝐘 − 𝐘∗)
Assume points between
(Y1 - Y2) Calculated from plot

0.11 0.088 45.45 = f0

0.08275 0.061 45.98 = f1

0.05550 0.0375 55.56 = f2

0.02825 0.0175 93.02 = f3

0.001 0 1000 = fn

h
NOG= (f 0 + f n+ 2 ∑ f even +4 ∑ f odd )
3
0.02725
NOG= ¿
3
𝐍𝐎𝐆 = 15.56

Z=HOG∗NOG=(0.419)(15.56)=6.52 m

0.2
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18

Equilibrium line Operation line

To facilitate the design calculations, several fundamental assumptions are made:

 Steady-State Operation: The absorption tower is assumed to operate under steady-state

 Ideal Behavior: Ideal behavior of gases and liquids is assumed for the purpose of
straightforward calculations. Real-world factors like non-ideal behavior and phase
equilibrium deviations may be considered in a more comprehensive design.

 Negligible Heat Transfer: The report assumes that there is no significant heat transfer within
the tower, simplifying the analysis. In practice, temperature control may be necessary to
maintain the process at 293 K.

 Constant Temperature and Pressure: The system operates at a constant temperature of 293 K
and a total pressure of 101.3 kN/m², with the effect of variations in these parameters not
considered.

 Absence of Chemical Reactions: No chemical reactions are presumed to occur during the
absorption process, simplifying the calculations to focus solely on mass transfer.

Design Considerations

 Safety: Ensure that the tower is designed with safety measures to handle the potentially
hazardous ammonia absorption process.

 Materials: Select materials that can withstand the corrosive effects of ammonia.

 Tower Internals: Consider the use of structured packing, trays, or other tower internals to
enhance the absorption efficiency.

 Monitoring and Control: Implement monitoring and control systems to maintain the desired
outlet concentration and handle variations in operating conditions.

Recommendations
  Cooling System: Install a cooling system to maintain the temperature within the desired
range (293 K).

 Inlet Gas Pre-treatment: Implement a pre-treatment system to remove impurities from the
inlet gas that may interfere with the absorption process.

 Efficient Liquid Distribution: Use efficient liquid distribution systems to ensure uniform liquid
flow across the tower.

 Safety Systems: Incorporate safety systems such as gas detectors and emergency shutdown
mechanisms to protect against ammonia leaks or other hazards.

 Regular Maintenance: Establish a regular maintenance schedule to inspect and maintain

Conclusion

The ammonia absorption tower design has been effectively finalized, resulting in an estimated tower
height of about 6.52 meters. This report delivers essential calculations, assumptions, design insights,
and suggestions to attain the targeted gas concentration in the outlet while also prioritizing safety
and operational efficiency in the ammonia removal procedure. This achievement represents a crucial
milestone in adhering to regulatory standards and enhancing the performance of industrial
processes associated with ammonia.

Reference

Fraas, A.P., 1991. Heat exchanger design. John Wiley & Sons.

Than, S.T.M., Lin, K.A. and Mon, M.S., 2008. Heat exchanger design. world academy of science,
engineering and technology, 46, pp.604-611.

Shah, R.K. and Sekulic, D.P., 2003. Fundamentals of heat exchanger design. John Wiley & Sons.

Coulson, J.M., Richardson, J.F., Backhurst, J.R. and Harker, J.H. (2000). Chemical Engineering Volume
1. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Sinnott, R.K. (2005). Coulson & Richardson’s chemical engineering. Vol. 6, Chemical engineering
design. 4th ed. Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.