1

Efficiency of vapour/liquid contactors

a) Overall Murphree gas phase efficiency

1
*
1
n n
OG
n n
y y
E
y y
+
+

a) Overall Murphree liquid phase efficiency


1
*
1
n n
OL
n n
x x
E
x x

b) Local or point efficiency - Murphree local (point) efficiency

2

1
*
1
'
n
v
n
y y
E
y y
+
+

'
1
*
1
n
L
n
x x
E
x x

c)
ideal
o
real
Column Efficiency
N
E
N
=

Factors affecting Point Efficiency
- , L V
- , , ...
x y
k k m
- interfacial area
- residence time
1. Determination of Point Efficiency
From Overall Number of Transfer Unit
OG
N
1
'
n
y
OG
e y
dy
N
y y
+
=

}
1
'
ln
e
OG
e n
y y
N
y y
+

Hence:
1
'
OG
N
e
e n
y y
e
y y

1 1
1 1 1
' ' '
1 1
OG
N
e e n e n
e n e n e n
y y y y y y y y
e
y y y y y y

+ +
+ + +
+
/ /
= = =


1
1
'
The group : is
n
v
e n
y y
E
y y
+
+

Hence 1
OG
v
N
E e

=

But as
1 1 1
:
OG G L
mV
N N L N
= +

Then:
1 1 1 1

ln(1 )
v OG G L
mV
E N N L N
(
= = +
(

3

AIChE Method

0.5
3
0.776 4.57 10 0.24 105
G w v p v
N h F L Sc

( = + +



( ) ( )
0.5
8
4.13 10 0.21 0.15
L L v L
N D F t = +
2- Relationship between
v
E and
OG
E
Depends on degree of mixing
- For complete mixing
v OG
L OL
E E
E E
=
=

- For Liquid flow on tray streamline, gas phase complete mixing
( )
1
1
v
E
OG
v v
E
e
E E

=

- For other degrees of mixing , mixing is indicated by Peclet Number , graphs below are
used
Pe
N
Peclet Number defined as
2
L
Pe
e L
Z
N
D t
=

The Eddy Diffusivity
e
D - (
2
/ m s ) is obtained from the empirical relationship:
3 2
(0.0038 0.017 3.86 0.18 10 )
e a p w
D u L h

= + + +

v
E
,
OG
E
,
Pe
N
,
mV
L
=

4


(Gerster, 1985, Coulson and Richardson, vol.6, 1983)
3- The relationship between
OG
E and
o
E
- Lewis Relationship
log 1 1
log
OG
o
mV
E
L
E
mV
L
+
=
| |(
|
(
\ .
| |
|
\ .

Efficiencies from Empirical Equations
1. O'Connell's equation
o
E
modified as shown below:
Eduljee:
51 32.5log( )
o L a
E o =

Lockett:
0.245
0.492( )
o L a
E o

=

5


(O'Connell,1946)
2. Van Winkle
OG
E

- Bubble cap trays
- Sieve or perforated trays
0.14 0.25 0.08
0.07 Re
OG
E Dg Sc =

- Re Reynolds Number
Re
w v v
L
h u
F

=

- Sc Schmidt Number
L
L LK
Sc
D

=

-
Dg
Surface tension Number
L
L v
Dg
o

=


3- Relationship between
OG
E and
0
E
Lewis relationship:
log 1 1
log
OG
o
mV
E
L
E
mV
L
( | |
+
|
(
\ .
=
| |
|
\ .



6

Example:

A tray in a distillation column receives liquid from the tray above at a rate of 150 moles per hour
and vapor from the tray below at a rate of 200 moles per hour. The equilibrium between the
liquid and vapor phases leaving the tray is given by the following relationship: 1.5
n n
y x = .
For the conditions of the operation and the type of tray used, the Number of the individual
transfer unit is: 2.4
L
N = and 3.6
G
N = .
Calculate:
a) Local efficiency of the tray
V
E .
b) Overall tray efficiency
OG
E for the case of complete mixing.
c) Tray efficiency when the degree of mixing is such that : Peclet Number = 5
d) Use Lewis relationship to find the column efficiency
0
E for case ( C )

Solution:
- Data: 150 200 1.5 2.4 3.6
L G
L V m N N = = = = =
- mass transfer parameter:

150
1.5 200
2
mV
L
=

= =
- Number of overall transfer units:

1 1 1 1 1.5 200 1
0.9
3.6 150 2.4
OG
OG G L
mV
N
N N L N

= + = + =
- Efficiencies:
a) Local efficiency:
0.9
1 0.593 1
OG
N
v
e E e

= = =
b) For complete mixing of both phase 0.593
OG v
E E = =
c) From Fig at 2 0.593 1.186
v
E = = and 5
Pe
N = it is found that 1.45
OG
v
E
E
= hence:
1.45 0.593 0.86
86%
OG
OG
E
E
= =
=

d) Using Lewis relationship
log 1 1
log
OG
o
mV
E
L
E
mV
L
( | |
+
|
(
\ .
=
| |
|
\ .
for the column efficiency
0
E

( )
( )
log 1 0.86 2 1
0.895
log 2
o
E
+ (

= = 89.5%
o
E =