Mathematical modeling of the absorption process for multicomponent hydrocarbon gases

Abstract

1. It was shown that the theoretical profiles for the change in temperature and light hydrocarbon concentrations obtained by “plate-to-plate” computer calculations, without taking into account the kinetics of the process, do not correspond to industrial profiles, 2. In view of the lack of a method at this time for carrying out kinetic calculations for the absorption of multicomponent hydrocarbon gases, the possibility and expediency was demonstrated of using the probability-statistical approach for studying this process. 3. It was shown that the temperature profile along the height of the absorber is described by the equation for a cubic parabola for which the coefficients are calculated as a function of the process parameters and the composition of the gas being separated. 4. Approximating relationships were derived for the profiles for the change in the hydrocarbon extraction co-efficients along the height of the absorber which allow the effectiveness of the mass exchange between the gas and the absorber to be evaluated, and make it possible to calculate the composition and amount of gas and absorbent in an arbitrary cross section of the apparatus with an error of 5–6%. 5. The adequacy was established of the given mathematical descriptions for industrial absorbers which operate in the given range of process parameters. 6. The given mathematical model for an absorber can be used in solving problems of intensification, optimization, and automatic control of the process as well as for the technical-economic analysis of the process.