1. What is an Absorption Factor?

Definition: The Absorption Factor is the ratio of slopes of operating line of absorption to the equilibrium line. If equilibrium line is a curve then the absorption factor is the average at the two ends.

Purpose: It helps chemical engineers determine the efficiency of an absorption process in mass transfer operations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — Absorption Factor (dimensionless)
• \( L_s \) — Liquid Flowrate on solute free basis (mol/s)
• \( \alpha \) — Equilibrium constant for mass transfer
• \( G_s \) — Gas Flowrate on solute free basis (mol/s)

Explanation: The liquid flowrate is divided by the product of equilibrium constant and gas flowrate to determine the absorption factor.

3. Importance of Absorption Factor

Details: The absorption factor is crucial in designing absorption columns and determining the number of theoretical stages required for a given separation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the liquid flowrate in mol/s, equilibrium constant (default 1.5), and gas flowrate in mol/s (default 9). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does the absorption factor indicate?
A: Values greater than 1 indicate efficient absorption, while values less than 1 suggest poor absorption efficiency.

Q2: What's a typical equilibrium constant value?
A: This varies widely depending on the system, but common values range from 0.5 to 2.5 for many gas-liquid systems.

Q3: Why use solute-free basis flowrates?
A: Using solute-free basis simplifies calculations as it focuses on the carrier streams rather than the solute concentration.

Q4: How does absorption factor relate to column design?
A: Higher absorption factors typically mean fewer theoretical stages are needed, but may require more liquid flow.

Q5: What if my system has curved equilibrium?
A: For curved equilibrium lines, calculate absorption factors at both ends of the operating line and use the geometric mean.