2. Acetone is absorbed using a stream of water in a tower packed with 1-inch intalox
saddles, operating at 293K and 1 atm. The inlet air contains 2.6% mol acetone, and the
outlet 0.5% mol acetone. Pure water enters at 107,700 lb/h. Experimentally, it was
determined that the flooding velocity of the tower is 850 lb/ft²h. The film coefficients
kya and kxa are 3.78x10-2 kg-mol/s*m³ and 6.16x10-2 kg-mol/s*m³, respectively.
Calculate the height of the packed section, and determine (L/F)min
A.3-21 Equilibrium Data for Acetone-Water System
at 20°C (293 K)
Mole Fraction
Acetone in Liquid, $x_A$
Partial Pressure of Acetone
in Vapor, $p_A$ (mm Hg)
0
0
0.0333
30.0
0.0720
62.8
0.117
85.4
0.171
103
Source: T. K. Sherwood, Absorption and Extraction. New York:
McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1937. With permission.