Overview
The Absorption in Sieve Plate Column apparatus studies gas-liquid mass transfer where a soluble gas (such as CO2 or NH3) is absorbed from an inert gas stream into a solvent (water or NaOH) on perforated sieve trays. Counter-current operation with gas rising through perforations and liquid flowing down from tray to tray provides efficient contact. Students determine number of transfer units (NTU), height of transfer unit (HTU), Murphree plate efficiency, and overall mass transfer coefficient for absorption. The experiment provides fundamental data required for the design of industrial gas scrubbers and pollution control systems.
Specifications
| Column type | glass, sieve plate |
| Number of plates | 4 to 6 |
| Gas | CO2 or NH3 (dilute in air) |
| Solvent | water / NaOH solution |
| Gas flow | rotameter, 10 to 100 LPM |
| Liquid flow | rotameter, 1 to 10 LPM |
| Gas analysis | CO2 analyser / acid-base titration |
| Power supply | 220V AC, 50 Hz |