Absorberkolonne

Absorberkolonne is the term used in several Scandinavian languages for an absorber column, a vertical process vessel used to remove a soluble component from a gas by dissolving it in a liquid absorbent. The system operates by contacting a gas stream containing the absorbate with a liquid absorbent in a countercurrent arrangement, so that the gas rises through the column while the liquid flows downward. The gas exits lean in the absorbate, and the liquid leaves the bottom rich in the absorbed species.

Absorber columns can be packed or equipped with trays to maximize gas–liquid contact. In tray columns, perforated plates and downcomers create stages that promote mass transfer; in packed columns, random or structured packing provides a large interfacial area. The effectiveness depends on the interfacial area, liquid and gas flow rates, temperature, and the chemical properties of the absorbate and solvent, often modeled by Henry's law and mass-transfer correlations. Design aims to achieve sufficient removal with acceptable pressure drop and solvent loading.

Common absorbents include water for simple humidity control or inorganic solutions for acid-gas removal; amine solutions such as monoethanolamine (MEA) for CO2 capture; caustic solutions for H2S removal; organic solvents for hydrocarbon absorption.

Operational considerations include solvent degradation, foaming, entrainment of liquid droplets, flooding, and solvent loss. Control strategies adjust liquid flow rate, gas flow rate, and temperature to maintain target removal and minimize energy use. The equipment is a central element in many gas purification and environmental engineering processes.