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Sample Problem #4

A solvent recovery plant consists of a plate column absorber and stripper. Benzene is absorbed from a gas stream in the absorber and stripped from benzene-rich oil in the stripper using steam. The molar flow rate ratio of benzene-free oil to benzene-free gas in the absorber is 0.3. The number of theoretical plates in the absorber is calculated to be 8.7 plates. The minimum steam flow rate required to remove benzene from 1 mol of oil under the given conditions, assuming an infinite plate column, is calculated to be 3 mols of steam.

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4K views3 pages

Sample Problem #4

A solvent recovery plant consists of a plate column absorber and stripper. Benzene is absorbed from a gas stream in the absorber and stripped from benzene-rich oil in the stripper using steam. The molar flow rate ratio of benzene-free oil to benzene-free gas in the absorber is 0.3. The number of theoretical plates in the absorber is calculated to be 8.7 plates. The minimum steam flow rate required to remove benzene from 1 mol of oil under the given conditions, assuming an infinite plate column, is calculated to be 3 mols of steam.

Uploaded by

Dozdi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sample Problem #4:

A solvent recovery plant consists of a plate column absorber and a plate column stripper.
Ninety percent of the benzene (B) in the gas stream is recovered in the absorption column.
Concentration of benzene in the inlet gas is 0.06 mol B/mol B-free gas. The oil entering the top
of the absorber contains 0.01 mol B/mol pure oil. In the leaving liquid, X = 0.19 mol B/mole
pure oil. Operating temperature is 77F (25C).

Open, superheated steam is used to strip benzene out of the benzene-rich oil at 110C.
Concentration of benzene in the oil = 0.19 and 0.01 (mole ratios) at inlet and outlet,
respectively. Oil (pure)-to-gas (benzene-free) flow rate ratio = 2.0. Vapors are condensed,
separated, and removed.

Equilibrium Data at Column Pressures


X in Oil Y in Gas, 25C Y in Steam, 110C
0 0 0
0.04 0.011 0.1
0.08 0.0215 0.21
0.12 0.032 0.33
0.16 0.0405 0.47
0.20 0.0515 0.62
0.24 0.060 0.795
0.28 0.068 1.05

Calculate:
(a) The molar flow rate ratio of B-free oil to B-free gas in the absorber;
(b) The number of theoretical plates in the absorber;
(c) The minimum steam flow rate required to remove the benzene from 1 mol of oil under given
terminal conditions, assuming an infinite-plates column.

Solution:
X0= 0.01 y1 XN+1= 0.19 YN

L’/V’=2

1 N

Absorber Stripper
t = 25C t = 110C

N 1

90% B absorbed

XN=0.19 YN+1 = 0.06 X1=0.01 Y0 = 0


Top coordinates:

X 0  0.01 Y1  ?

Bottom coordinates:

X N  0.19 YN1  0.06

Basis: 1 mol B-free gas (= V’)

0.1 0.06 
Y1   0.006
1

Solute material balance: L  X N  X 0   V  YN1  Y1   L  0.19  0.01  1 0.06  0.006 


L
 L’ = 0.3 and  0.3 (a)
V

Equilibrium data:
X 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.24 0.28
Y 0 0.011 0.0215 0.032 0.0405 0.0515 0.060 0.068

0.07
Bot
(XN,YN+1)
0.06

0.05
Operating
line
0.04

0.03 Equilibrium
curve
0.02

0.01
Top
(X0,Y1)
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25

 N = 8.7 plates (b)


1.1
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3 (0.09,0.24)
Point of
0.2 tangency
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3

0.24  0
Slope =  3 (c)
0.09  0.01

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