PMeOH , feed = y MeOH ,feed P feed=

3.9969 m 3 MeOH
700 kPa
8.1011 m 3 total gasfeed

PMeOH , feed =0.4934 700 kPa

PMeOH , feed =345.36 kPa MeOH
3

PMeOH , exit = y M eOH , exit Pexit =

3.5379 m MeOH
100 kPa
3
4.2563 m total gas exit

PMeOH , exit =0.8312 100 kPa

PMeOH , exit =9.4330 kPa MeOH
Feed inlet mass flow rate=

5656.131 kg
1h

=1.5711 kg /s
h
3600 s

Feed inlet molar flow rate=140.91 kmol/h

Solubility data
Since methanol is soluble in water (solvent), operation at atmospheric pressure should be satisfactory.
MeO
H

MeOH

per cent w/w

solution

2.079

4.412

4.506

6.012

6.786

7.639

8.785

8.879

9.319

10.599

11.

Partial Pressure
gas, kPa

0.085

0.164

0.164

0.237

0.271

0.322

0.361

0.360

0.396

0.455

0.5

per cent w/w

solution

12.025

13.705

14.532

15.318

16.385

18.091

19.998

20.518

22.744

25.571

Partial Pressure
gas, kPa

0.545

0.661

0.742

0.775

0.895

1.055

1.230

1.235

1.423

1.648

From the data, a linear graph can be approximated and its equation is shown in the graph (Figure 1)
below as well.

Partial Pressure of MeOH vs Solubility of MeOH in H2O

30
25

f(x) = 14.23x + 3.18

R = 0.98

20
Partial Prssure of MeOH (kPa)

15
10
5
0
0

0.5

1.5

Solubility of MeOH in H2O (per cent w/w)

Figure 1: Graph of Partial Pressure of MeOH vs Solubility of MeOH in H 2O

Slope of equilibrium line
Based on the equation, when solubility of MeOH in water is 1.5% w/w MeOH, the partial pressure
need to be exerted is 24.5256 kPa.

Mole fractionvapour=

24.5256
=0.035
700

1.5
56
Mole fractionliquid =
=0.00487
1.5 98.5
+
56 18
m=

0.035
=7.1869
0.00487

To decide the most economic water flow-rate, absorption design must be taken
into our consideration. Using Figure 2, the number of stages required at different
water rates will be determined and the optimum rate chosen:

y 1 p1 345.36 kPa
= =
=34.62
y 2 p2
9.43 kPa

Gm
Lm

NOG

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

3.9

4.2

4.6

5.8

7.1

10.1

13.8

It can be seen that the optimum will be between mG m/Lm D 0.5 to 0.7, as would be expected. Below
0.5 there is only a small decrease in the number of stages required with increasing liquid rate; and
above 0.7 the number of stages increases rapidly with decreasing liquid rate. For this case, to ensure
better efficiency for the absorption to occur, 0.7 is chosen.
NOG = 8

Lm=

Since

Gm
=0. 7
Lm

7.1869 140.91 kmol/hr

=1446.72 kmol / hr
0.7

Lm assume to consist of only pure water ( MW H O 18 ,

Lm=26041.01 kg H 2 O/hr=7.2336 kmol H 2 O/hr

Figure 2: Number of transfer units NOG as a function of y1/y2 with mGm/Lm as parameter

Column diameter
The physical properties of the gas inlet are calculated based on the fraction of each of the gas
components exists in the gas stream.

Gasinlet mass flow rate=5656.131

kg
kg
=1.5711
h
s

2079.954 kg 3257.536 kg 366.587 kg 26.092kg 13.046 kg 12.916 kg

h
h
h
h
h
h
Gasinlet molar flow rate=
+
+
+
+
+
=1
56 kg
32 kg
88 kg
56 kg
54 kg
58 kg
kmol
kmol
kmol
kmol
kmol
kmol
Select 38 mm (1.5 in.) ceramic Intalox saddles.

From Table 1 below, Fp = 170 m-1

Table 1: Design data for various packings

By considering all the components present in both the gas and liquid stream, the representative
density can be obtained:
Gas density,

Liquid density,
Liquid viscosity,

= 3.01 kg/m3 90oC

L = 999.85 kg/m3

L = 0.315 x 10-3 N s/m2

L w Lm 26041.01 kg/ hr
=
=
V w G m 5656.13 kg/ hr

Lw V 26041.01
3.01
=

=0.25

999.85
V w L 5656.13

Design for a pressure drop of 20 mm H2O/m (0.1kPa/m) packing, and from Figure 3,
K4 = 0.65
At flooding K4 = 2.0
Percentage flooding =

0.63
100=56.12
2.0

Figure 3: Generalised pressure drop correlation, adapted from a figure by the Norton Co. with
permission
Based on equation below,

Gas mass flow-rate can be calculated by rearranging,

(V w ) =

V w =

K 4 V ( L V )
0.1
L
13.1 F p
L

( )

0.63 3.01(999.853.01)
3 0.1

13.1170

10
( 0.315999.85
)

=1.9475

kg
m2 s

The area of the absorption column,

V
Columnarea required= w =
Vw

Diameter=

kg
hr

hr 3600 s
2
=0.8068 m
kg
1.9475 2
m s

5656.13

4
0.8068=1.0135 m

Round off to 1.1 m

1.1
( 2)
=0.9503 m2
4
D2
Columnarea=
=
4

Percentage flooding at selected diameter,

2

56.12

0.8068 m
=47.65 flooding (satisfactory )
2
0.9503 m

Estimation of HOG
Cornells method
Gas viscosity,

= 0.1144 x 10-5 N s/m2

Diffusivity of MeOH, Dv = 1.64 x 10-5 m2 /s

http://www.methanol.org/Technical-Information/Resources/Technical-Information/Physical-Properties-of-Pure-Methanol.aspx

http://www.gsi-net.com/en/publications/gsi-chemical-database/single/343.html, http://webserver.dmt.upm.es/~isidoro/dat1/Mass%20diffusivity%20data.pdf

Diffusivity of Water, DL= 1.7 x 10-9 m2 /s

Schmidt number, Sc =

viscosity , v
( density , ) (Diffusivity , D)

Gas Schmidt number, (Sc)V =

0.315 x 103
=6.38
3.01 1.64 x 105
4

Liquid Schmidt number, (Sc)L =

0.1144 x 10
=6.73
9
999.85 1.7 x 10

26041.01
3600
Liquid mass flowrate per unit area , LW =
=7.6119 kg / m2 s
0.9503

Based on Figure 4, at 47.65% flooding, K3 = 0.97

From Figure 5, at 47.65% flooding, h = 80

From Figure 6, at LW =7.6119 , h = 0.065

Cornells equations are,

As the solvent used considered as pure water in this design calculation,

f1= f2= f3= 1
1) HG = [0.0011(80)(6.38)0.5(1.1/0.305)1.11(Z/3.05)0.33]/[7.6119(1)(1)(1)]0.5
i.
HG = 0.3346(Z/3.05)0.33

2) HL= 0.305(0.065)(6.73)0.5(0.97)(Z/3.05)0.15
i.
HL=0.0499(Z/3.05)0.15
Gm
Gm
m
m
=0.7
3) HOG = HG +
Lm HL ;
Lm
4) Z = HOG NOG ; NOG = 8
By using goalseek tool in Microsoft Excel, Equation (1) to Equation (4) above can be
solved to obtain the height of the column. HOG is calculated to be around 0.37 m, and the
obtained column height, Z is 2.9722 m.
Height of column , Z=2.9722 m

Figure 4: Percentage flooding correction factor

Figure 5: Factor for HG for Berl saddles

Figure 6: Factor for HL for Berl saddles