Stripper Column Specifications
No. of Stages Liquid Draw Stage Vapor Return Stage Type of Plates
4 13 11 Sieve
Following is some of the designing guidelines for stripper column
1. Tray spacing has to be between the recommended range: 0.15-0.90 m
2. The flooding factor has to be within the recommended range: 70-90 %
3. The Downcomer area has to be within the recommended range: 10-12 %
The required physical properties shown below are estimated from column 103-E using the
software HYSYS V14.
Physical Property Spec Value
ρ V (kg/m³) 4.32
ρ L (kg/m³) 664.96
V (Kmol/hr) 96.47
L (Kmol/hr) 451.02
V (Kg/s) 3.21
L (Kg/s) 29.57
Designing Calculation
Taking Propane as the base component
C3:
In = 0.000160827644321828
Out = 0.000751854326650814
Moles of C3 stripped = 0.000751854326650814 - 0.000160827644321828
Moles of C3 stripped = 0.00059
The fraction of C3 stripped is
E Si =moles of C 3 out−moles of C 3 ∈ ¿ ¿
moles of C 3 out
0.00059
E Si =
0.00075
E Si =0.79
The value of Ki can be estimated by using minimum vapor-liquid ratio
V
( ) =K i × ESi
L0 min
V
) (
L0 min
K i=
E Si
V = 96.47 kmol/h
L0 = 451.02 kmol/h
K=
( 451.02 )
96.47
i
0.79
K i=3.67
The operating vapor-liquid ratio, represented by (V/L0)opr can be obtained by following equation
V V
( ) =( ) ×1.25
L0 opr L0 min
(
V
) =
96.47
L0 opr 451.02 (
×1.25 )
V
( ) =0.27
L0 opr
The stripping factor, represented by Si can be obtained by following equation
V
Si=( ) × Ki
L0 opr
Si=0.27 ×3.67
Si=0.98
The number of actual stages, represented by N can be obtained by following equation
N +1
Si −Si
E Si = N +1
Si −1
Rearranging,
N=
log
( Si−E Si
1−E Si ) −1
log (Si)
N=
log ( 0.98−0.79
1−0.79
−1
)
log (0.98)
N=3.83≈ 4 Plates
The number of theoretical stages, represented by NT can be obtained by following equation
N T =η × N
We have assumed the plate efficiency to be 70%.
N T =0.7 × 4
N T =2.8 ≈ 3 Plates
The Vapor – Liquid Flow Factor, represented by fLV can be obtained by following equation
f LV =
Lw
Vw
ρ
× V
ρL √
f LV =
29.57
3.21
×
4.32
664.96√
f LV =0.74
The flooding velocity, represented by uf can be obtained by following equation
u f =K 1
√ ρ L −ρV
ρV
Here K1 is a constant obtained from figure 11.27
K 1=0. 058
Now,
u f =0.058
√ 664.96−4.32
4.32
m
u f =0. 72
s
The velocity at the maximum flowrate, represented by uV can be estimated by
uV =uf × Flooding%
uV =0 . 72× 0.85
m
uV =0 . 61
s
The maximum volumetric flowrate, represented by VV,max is determined using the following
method:
mV
V V , max =
ρV
3.21
V V , max =
4.3 2
3
m
V V , max =0 .74
s
The net area, represented by An of the column is determined using the following method:
V V ,max
An =
uV
0 . 74
An =
0 .61
2
An =1. 22 m
Or
2
An =13.13 f t
The cross-sectional area, represented by AC of the column is determined using the following
method:
An
AC =
( 100 %− A d % )
1 . 22
AC =
( 1−0.12 )
2
AC =1.38 m
Or
2
AC =14 .8 5 f t
The diameter of the column, represented by DC can be estimated with the help of following
equation
π 2
AC = × D
4
DC=
√ 4 × AC
π
DC=
√ 4 × 1.38
π
DC =1 . 33 m
Or
DC =4 . 36 f t
The height of the column, represented by H of the column is determined using the following
equation:
Height=No . of trays × Tray Spacing
Height=4 ×0.9
Height=3.6 m
Or
Height=11.81 ft
