Prediction of the behavior of adsorption columns

Abstract

Through the use of the concepts of mass transfer and heat transfer sections (26), the continuous adsorption process is transformed into an equivalent stepwise process analogous to a distillation column with plates. A calculational procedure based on application of θ-method of convergence is developed and demonstrated in the solution of the equations for the model. The field tests used in the modeling of adsorption columns were run on columns located at natural gas plants, and the gas streams used in this experiments were those customarily processed by the adsorption unit. A generalized method of correlation of experimental results is also developed and demonstrated. The correlation presented makes it possible to use the results of a numerical analysis of one experimental run to predict the behavior of the given adsorbent over a wide range of operating conditions. The application of the θ-method of convergence to the solution of absorber and stripper problems which are of commercial interest is also demonstrated.