Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gas absorption with wetted-wick column

  • Published:
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The newly designed wetted-wick column was constructed by using fiber glass and wire mesh and studied to investigate its feasibility as an alternative to the conventional packed tower in gas purification processes.

Absorption of carbon dioxide in water for physical absorption and in aqueous mono-ethanolamine (MEA) solution for chemical absorption were employed for this investigation. A comparison with the packed tower, based on overall mass transfer coefficients (KOGa) and height of transfer units (HTUOG) at the same range of operating conditions, feed gas compositions, and gas retention time was made. High mass transfer coefficients (KOGa) and low heights of transfer unit (HTUOG) were obtained for the wetted-wick column. The high efficiency of mass transfer was caused by a number of factors: the separate passage of liquid and gas flow, an increased wetting surface, a longer period of residence time of the liquid and gas stream, and an increased interfacial area.

The present study shows that the wetted-wick column is a highly recommendable device as an alternative to the packed tower in gas purification processes, either for physical gas absorption or for chemical gas absorption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kohl, A.L. and Riesenfeld, F.C.: “Gas Purification”, Gulf Publishing Co. Book Division, Houston, 3rd ed. (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mohr, V.H. and Rangke, G.:Chem. Eng. Prog., October,22 (1984).

  3. Butwell, K.F., Kubek, D.J., and Sigmund, P.W..Chem. Eng. Prog.,75 (2), 75 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Eckert, J.S.:Chem. Eng. Prog.,57 (9), 54 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Eckert, J.S.:Chem. Eng. Prog.,59 (5), 76 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gupta, A.S. and Thodos, G.:Chem. Eng. Prog.,58 (7), 58 (1962).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gupta, A.S. and Thodos, G.:Chem. Eng. Prog.,58(10), 62(1962).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Leva, M., Lucas, J.M., and Frahme, H.H.:Ind. Eng. Chem.,46 (6), 1255 (1954).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen, B.H. and Jain, S.C.:Can. J. of Chem. Eng,,58, 281 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Niranjan, K., Sawant, S.B., Joshi, J.B., and Pangarkar, V.G.:Chem. Eng. Sci.,37 (3), 367 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Manning, R.E. and Cannon, MR.:Ind. Eng. Chem.,49, 347 (1957).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Platt, Trans. Inst. Chem. Engrs. (London),29, 226 (1951).

  13. Ryan, J.F.: “Factors Affecting Fractionation in Packed Column”, Ph.D. Thesis, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Roblee, L.H.S., Baird, R.M., and Tierney, J.W.:AIChE J.,4, 460(1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ridgeway, K. and Tarbuck, K.J.:Brit. Chem. Engr.,12, 384(1967).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pillai, K.K.:Chem. Eng. Sci.,32, 59 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Porter, K.E. and Templeman, J.J.:Trans. Inst. Chem. Engrs.,46, T86 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Huber, M. and Hiltbrunner, R.:Chem. Eng. Sci.,21, 819(1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zenz, F.A.:Chem. Eng.,79(25), 120(1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Vermeulen, T.J., Moon, J.S., Hennico, A., and Miyauchi, T.:Chem. Eng. Prog.,62(9), 95 (1966).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Shah, Y.T., Stiegel, G.J., and Sharma, M.M.:AIChE J.,24 (3), 369(1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sherwood, T.K., Pigford, R.L., and Wilke, C.R.: “Mass Transfer”, McGraw-Hill Kogakusa, Ltd., Page 615 (1975).

  23. Eastman, G.Y. and Ernst, D.M.: “Heat Pipe”, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed., Vol.12, 191 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Dunn, P.D. and Reay, D.A.: “Heat Pipes”, 3rd Ed., Pergamon Press (1982).

  25. Seok, D.R. and Hwang, ST.:AIChEJ., 31(12), 2059(1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cantelo, R.C., Simmons, C.W., Giles, E.M., and Brill, F.A.:Ind. Eng. Chem.,19 (9), 989 (1927).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Buch, K.:Soc. Sci. Fennica Commentationes Phys. Math., 2(16), 1 (1925).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Morgan, O.M. and Maass, O.:Can. J. Research,5, 162(1931).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Dodds, W.S., Stutzman, L.F., and Sollami, B.J.:Chem. Eng. Data,1(1), 92 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Allen, H.V.: “Absorption of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Solutions”, M.S. Thesis, MIT (1938).

  31. Sherwood, T.K. and Holloway, F.A.L.:Trans. Am. Inst. Chem. Engrs.,36, 89 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Cooper, C.M., Christl, R.J., and Peery, L.C.:Trans. Am. Inst. Chem. Engrs.,37, 979 (1941).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kent, R.L. and Eisenberg, B.: Equilibrium of H2S and CO2 with MEA and DEA Solutions”, Gas Conditioning Conference Proc., 1975.

  34. Mason, J.W. and Dodge, D.F.:Trans. Am. Inst. Chem. Engrs.,32(1), 27 (1936).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Teller, A.J. and Ford, H.E.:Ind. Eng. Chem.,50(8), 1201 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Cryder, D.S. and Malonehy, J.O.:Trans. Amer. Inst. Chem. Engrs.,37, 827 (1941).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., and Harriott, P.: “Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering”, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co. (1985).

  38. Chilton, T.H. and Colburn, A.P.:Ind. Eng. Chem.,27(3), 255 (1935).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kwang-Rae Lee

    Present address: Department of Chemical Technology, Kangweon National University, 200–701, Chuncheon, Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical & Nuclear Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 45221, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kwang-Rae Lee & Sun-Tak Hwang

Authors
  1. Kwang-Rae Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sun-Tak Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, KR., Hwang, ST. Gas absorption with wetted-wick column. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 6, 259–269 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02697689

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02697689

Keywords

Search

Navigation