Penetration theory for gas absorption accompanied by a second order chemical reaction

The penetration‐theory solution for the effect of a second‐order irreversible liquid‐phase chemical reaction on the rate of gas absorption has been computed numerically on an IBM‐704 computer. A linearized, time‐centered, implicit finite‐difference method was used to solve the nonlinear partial‐differential equations. The method was very effective, permitting the solution of the equations for a wide range of the parameters of interest. The penetration‐theory results are compared with the film‐theory solution, and it is shown that the solutions to the two theories agree within 16% if they are compared for conditions which produce the same asymptotic solution for an infinitely rapid chemical reaction. A simplified equation and some correction charts are presented which permit a rapid, accurate estimation of the penetration‐theory solution over a wide range of variables.