The newly designed wetted-wick column was constructed by using fiber glass and wire mesh and studied to investigate its feasibility as an alternative to the conventional packed tower in gas purification processes.
Absorption of carbon dioxide in water for physical absorption and in aqueous mono-ethanolamine（MEA）solution for chemical absorption were employed for this investigation. A comparison with the packed tower, based on overall mass transfer coefficients(K_OGa) and height of transfer units(HTU_OG) at the same range of operating conditions, feed gas compositions, and gas retention time was made. High mass transfer coefficients (K_OGa) and low heights of transfer unit(HTU_OG) were obtained for the wetted-wick column. The high efficiency of mass transfer was caused by a number of factors : the separate passage of liquid and gas flow, an increased wetting surface, a longer period of residence time of the liquid and gas stream, and an increased interfacial area.
The present study shows that the wetted-wick column is a highly recommendable device as an alternative to the packed tower in gas purification processes, either for physical gas absorption or for chemical gas absorption.