DESCRIPTION

Technical Description

Absorption is used to remove one or more gaseous components from a gas flow using a solvent. 

First of all, a CO₂ and air gas mixture is produced. It is possible to adjust the mixing ratio using valves. The flow rates of the gas components are displayed.

A compressor delivers the gas mixture into the lower section of the absorption column. In the column, part of the CO₂ is separated in the counterflow with the solvent. Water is used as the solvent. The CO₂ is absorbed by the downward flowing water. To separate the absorbed CO₂, the charged water is then fed from the lower section of the absorption column into a desorption column. As the pressure is reduced and the temperature is increased, the solubility of the CO₂ falls. A heater heats the water. A water jet pump generates negative pressure in the desorption column and causes the CO₂ gas to be emitted from the water. A pump then delivers the regenerated solvent back into the absorption column.

The water temperature can be controlled. Flow rate, temperature and pressure are continuously measured. The two-section column is equipped with connections to determine the pressure losses. The pressure loss in the respective sections can be displayed via 2 U-tube manometers. To evaluate the success of the process, the trainer includes outlets for taking gas and liquid samples. The gas samples can be analysed using the hand-held measuring unit supplied.

The well-structured instructional material sets out the fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.

Learning Objectives / Experiments

- investigation of the absorption process when separating gas mixtures in a packed column
- determination of pressure losses in the column
- representation of the absorption process in an operating diagram
- investigation of the variables influencing the effectiveness of absorption