CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

OBJECTIVE

To study the vaporization of Naphthalene in air.

AIM

To calculate the mass transfer coefficient for vaporization of Naphthalene in air – Using a

packed bed of spherical particles of Naphthalene.

To plot Sh / Sc1/3 Vs Re on a log-log graph and determine the functional relationship.

THEORY

Considering the diffusion from a sphere to its surrounding medium:

r1 r dr
pA2

pA1 NA

For component A (naphthalene) diffusing through non-diffusing B (air), mass flux is given by:

 DAB dp A
NA = kg moles of A diffusing / area /time = RT p
(1  A )dr
P
Its integration yields:

DAB P  p A1  p A 2 
NA  (1)
RT r1 pBM

( pB 2  pB1 ) ( p A1  p A 2 )
Where pBM =  p  =  P  p A2 
ln B 2  ln 
 pB1   P  p A1 

P is the total pressure, Pa; p is the partial pressure = vapor pressure / total pressure, Pa
In case pB1 ~= pB2 then pBM = ( pB1+pB2)/2
pB1 = P- pA1
pB2 = P- pA2

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

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Equation 1 can be expressed in terms of mass transfer coefficient as:

NA = kG (pA1 – pA2)

The mass transfer co-eff. , kG has the units of kg mol./ s-m2 – Pa

Mass transfer co-eff. is represented as kC’ = kG RT, having the units of m/s

In case of mass transfer in a packed bed:

Sh = 0.91  Re0.49 Sc1/3 for 0.01 < Re < 50

And Ref. Perry’s Hand-

Sh = 0.61  Re0.59 Sc1/3 , for 50 < Re < 1000 Book, 5-72

Where, Sh is the Sherwood number = kc’ dp / DAB

Sc is the Schmidt number =  / DAB 
Re is the Reynolds number, defined as: V  / ( a);
Where a = surface area of particle / volume of the particle = 6(1- )/dp
 Is the sphericity:  = 0.91 for spheres and  = 0.81 for cylinders
DAB is the diffusivity co-eff. of naphthalene in air.
A plot of Sh/Sc1/3 vs Re should yield a straight line.
At 0oC DAB = 5.16 x 10-6 m2/s
At 45 oC DAB = 6.92 x 10-6 m2/s
At 20oC DAB = 6.04x10-6 m2 /s (interpolated value)
Vapor pressure data for naphthalene can be obtained from:
B
log( p A )  A ; Where A, B, C are the constants of the Antoine’s equation.
t C
For Naphthalene, A = 7.03358, B = 1756.328, C = 204.842
t is in oC and vapor pressure pA is in mmHg
At t= 20oC, from this equation vapor pressure of naphthalene is = 0.1668 mmHg
Mol. Wt. Of naphthalene (C10H8), Ms = 128.175
Density of naphthalene at 20oC = 1145 kg/m3

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

DESCRIPTION

The equipment consists of a cylindrical glass tube of 50 mm inside dia, and 250 mm (approx.)
height. The column is fitted with a mesh near the base to hold the naphthalene balls. The height
of the packing may be around 150 mm of naphthalene balls having an average diameter of about
18 mm. This will amount to about 27 balls. Measured quantity of dry air is supplied from the
lower end of the column and the outlet from the packed bed is open to atmosphere. The
experiment is conducted at ambient conditions at different air flow rates (at least three flow
rates of air should be used in the range of 10 to 30 LPM)

Packed
Bed
Drying
Agent
Air
Com
pres
sor

UTILITIES REQUIRED

Compressed Air Supply at 2 Bar, 4 CFM.

Weighing Balance 0.01 gm resolution.

Solid Spherical Balls of Naphthalene.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Pack the glass tube with known number (Np) and known weight (wo) of naphthalene
balls up to a height of about 15 cm.
2. Record the average diameter of the naphthalene ball (dp).
3. Connect the air line from the compressor to the inlet at the base of the column
4. Record the ambient temperature (T, K) and allow the air to flow through the packed bed
for a known amount of time (  ) say for 60 min.

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

5. During this period record the air flow rate and also the cumulative air supplied during the
time period ( , sec).
6. Stop the air supply and weigh the naphthalene balls. Let the final weight after
evaporation for ( , sec) be wf.
7. Repeat the experiment with at least three air flow rates.

SPECIFICATION:

Diffusion Column = Material Borosilicate Glass

Air flow Measurement = By Rota meter.

The whole set-up is well designed and arranged in a good quality painted structure.

DATA REDUCTION

Rate of loss in weight of naphthalene = mass flux = NA

NA= (wo – wf)/ (1000 x  x Ms x a), kg mol/m2-s

pBM = (pB1+pB2)/2

Superficial air velocity, V = Q/(  x 1000x Ac), m/s

Mass transfer coefficient, kG = NA / ( pA1 – pA2 ), kg mol/ m2-s-Pa

Total surface area of naphthalene balls, a = Np x (  dp2 ), m2

Partial pressure of naphthalene near its surface pA1 = (PA)x 1.01325x105 , Pa

kc’ = kG x RT ,m/s

Sherwood number, Sh = kc’ dp / DAB

Sc is the Schmidt number =  / DAB 

Sh/Sc1/3 = ……………

Re is the Reynolds number, defined as: V  / ( ap) ;

Void fraction of the bed =  = 0.5

where ap = surface area of particle / volume of the particle
= 6(1-)/dp ,m2/m3
Re = V  / ( ap)

 is the sphericity :  = 0.91 for spheres and  = 0.81 for cylinders

OBSERVATIONS
SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION
 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

Ambient temperature: T, K = ---------- K

Column I.D, Dc = ---mm = ------, m
Packed height, H = ---cm = ------- m
Average diameter of one naphthalene ball = dp = ---- mm = ------- m
Number of naphthalene balls in the bed = Np = -------
Mol. Wt of naphthalene = Ms = 128.175
Mol. Wt. Of air = Ma = 29
Properties of air at ambient temp. of --------------K:
Density =  = ----------- kg/ m3
Viscosity =  = ----------- Pa.s
Diffusivity of naphthalene in air at ambient temp of ------------ = DAB = ------------- m2/s
Gas law constant = R = 8314 m3 Pa / kg mol - K

OBSERVATION TABLE

Run.No Cumulative air flow , In time, min Initial weight of Final weight of
Q, L naphthalene naphthalene
balls , wo , gm balls , wf

CALCULATIONS
 
Column cross sectional area = Ac = Dt2 = (   ) 2 = --------- m2
4 4
Superficial air velocity = V = Q/(  x 1000x Ac ) = ------------- m/s
Average diameter of one naphthalene ball = dp = ---------- m
Number of spherical naphthalene balls in the bed = Np = -------
Total surface area of naphthalene balls = a = Np x (  dp2 ) = --------------- m2
Rate of loss in weight of naphthalene = mass flux = NA = (wo – wf)/ (1000 x  x Ms x a)
NA = ---------- kg mol/m2-s
At T = -------K, vapor pressure of naphthalene = pA = ---------- mmHg
Total pressure = P = 1atm = 1.01325x105 Pa
Therefore partial pressure of naphthalene near its surface =
= pA1 = (PA) x 1.01325x105 = ----------- Pa
(The value of vapor pressure should be verified from the literature before use)

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION

 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

Partial pressure of naphthalene vapor in air at far-off position (position 2) =

= pA2 = 0 (assuming pure air)
Partial pressure of air at position 1 (near the surface of the ball) = pB1 = P-pA1
pB1 = ------------ Pa
Partial pressure of air at position 2 (far off from solid surface) = pB2 = P-pA2
pB2 = 1.01325x105, Pa (pure air)
pBM = (pB1+pB2)/2 = --------- Pa
Mass transfer coefficient = kG = NA / ( pA1 – pA2 ) = ------------
kG = --------------- kg mol/ m2-s-Pa
kc’ = kG x RT = -------------------------- m/s
Sherwood number = Sh = kc’ dp / DAB = -----------------
Sc is the Schmidt number =  / DAB  = ------------------
Sh/Sc1/3 = --------------
Re is the Reynolds number, defined as: V  / ( ap);
Void fraction of the bed =  = 0.5
Where ap = surface area of particle / volume of the particle = 6(1-)/dp
ap = ----------------- m2/m3
Re = V  / ( ap) = -----------------
 is the sphericity :  = 0.91 for spheres and  = 0.81 for cylinders
RESULTS

Run. No Re kG , kgmol / m2-s-Pa Sh /Sc1/3

Plot of Sh/Sc1/3 vs. Re on a log-log scale should yield a straight line.

CONCLUSION
1. The mass transfer coefficient was found out to be ………..
2. The plot of Sh/Sc1/3 vs. Re was found to be ………………..

SOLID IN AIR DIFFUSION