Manual Absorption Desorption Pilot Plant

Manual Absorption Desorption Pilot Plant

Main characteristics of the pilot

• Industrial instrumentation
• Borosilicate glass and stainless steel AISI 316L manufacturing
• Rigid process pipes
• Cooling at the bottom of the column
• Continuous or batch processes

Principle of Working:

The absorption process is a mass transfer of a compound present in a gaseous phase to a liquid phase by dissolution. The inverse transfer operation of a gas dissolved in a liquid using an inert gas is called desorption. These processes are done in a packed column between a climbing gaseous effluent and a solution or a solvent flowing down (counter-current operation). The presence of packing increases the liquid-gas exchange surface, therefore the mass transfer. A heat exchanger at the bottom of column allows to cool the out flowing solution (the absorption is an exothermic reaction); in batch mode this heat exchanger allows to check the influence of the temperature on the efficiency of the absorption. A static mixer, situated upstream of the gas introduction in the column, is used to dilute the gas to process with an inert gas (air or nitrogen).

Teaching objectives

• Study of the following experimental parameters :
• Study of the hydrodynamics of the column.
• Study of the absorption without chemical reaction.
• Study of the absorption with chemical reaction.
• Influence of the head loss on the efficiency of the column.
• Continuous or batch functioning.
• Study of the desorption by an inert gas.
• Calculations :
• Thermal balance.
• Mass balance.
• Determination of the number of theoretical stages (McCABE and THIELE, KREMSER and BROWN).
• Determination of the number of transfer units
• Coefficient of mass transfer.

Technical Specifications of Manual Absorption Desorption Pilot Plant

• Storage tank of the feeding solution or the feeding solvent in polyethylene.
• Feed solution metering pump, AISI 316L stainless steel body, P.T.F.E. diaphragm, manual control..
• Traps for pressure drop measurement.
• Column in borosilicate glass, in three elements with "RASCHIG" rings packing in borosilicate glass.
• Four plates made of AISI 316L stainless steel, equipped each with sampling valves (gaseous phase and liquid phase) and with a temperature plug.
• Head of column in borosilicate glass, NB50, with introduction of the solution or the solvent and draining off the gaseous phase.
• Bottom of column in borosilicate glass, NB50, with introduction of the gaseous phase.
• Vertical heat exchanger, borosilicate glass body AISI 316L stainless steel exchanger.
• Adjustable liquid seal.
• Solution receiver in borosilicate glass, equipped with a draining valve made of AISI 316L stainless steel.
• AISI 316L stainless steel connecting tubes for the process and reinforced PVC for cooling fluid tube.
• Support framework with AISI 304L stainless steel tubes, aluminium connecting nuts and adjustable feet.

Instrumentation:

• Supply of the cooling water of the heat exchanger equipped with a variable area lowmeter with its adjusting valve.
• Measurement of the column pressure drop by differential “U” type manometer.
• Control cabinet, IP55, equipped with an emergency stop button, operating buttons and the following interfaces :
• Two temperature digital indicators with nine Pt100 Ω type probes

Dimensions and weight

• 1, 3 x m 0, 75 x m 2, 9 m ~ 120 kg.

Essential requirements

• 230 V / 50 Hz / Single phase : 0.5 kW.
• Cold water 20 °C / 3 bar : 600 l/h.
• Compressed air / 6 bar : 20 Nm3/hs
• Reactive gas with relief valve 3 bar : 1 Nm3/h
• Evacuation of the toxic gases
• Drain