Scrubbers
Packed column scrubber
Absorption Columns are the most common gas/liquid mass transfer equipment used for the cleaning of exhaust gases through chemical or physical absorption.
Absorption Columns can be built of a variety of materials in a broad size range that goes from a few m³/h up to several hundred thousand m³/h.
In many cases, column type contactors are combined with other GEA Scrubber types - the overall configuration of the gas cleaning line depends on the gas composition and the relevant emission limits.
The naming of the column type depends on the applied column internals. A distinction is made between:
- Packed-bed columns using random packing material
- Packed columns using structured packing material
- Plate columns using trays instead of packing material
Besides the use as emission control equipment, Absorption Columns can be used in various other cases where an intensive contact between gas and liquid is needed, e.g. in chemical production processes.
Key Features:
- Energy efficient gas/liquid contactor
- Low pressure drop
- Low maintenance and low maintenance costs
- Available in nearly all materials
- Can be combined with all other types of gas scrubbers
Working Principle
How do Packed Column Scrubbers work?
Absorption columns are vertically standing tubes, equipped with internals that enable intensive contact between the liquid medium and the gas. The choice of the internals depends on the respective absorption task and the hydrodynamics.
In most cases absorptions columns are operated in counter-current mode. The counter-flow arrangement results in a maximum exploitation of the concentration difference between the gaseous and liquid phase, which is an important motive factor for the absorption process. In counter-current flow, the liquid is applied at the column top and flows gravimetrically driven downwards. The gas is applied below the packing, flows upwards, and exits the column at the top.
The washing liquid is distributed over the entire absorber cross-sectional area by means of a static liquid distributor or by a spray nozzle.
In the case of physical absorption, the scrubbing liquid passes the column once (single pass). When chemical absorption is used, the scrubbing liquid is recirculated from the sump of the column to the top, as the absorbed compounds are transferred to salts or other products through a chemical reaction in the liquid phase.
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