Mass Transfer

Coefficients

Dr. P. A. Joshi
Professor, Dept .of Chem. Engg.
Faculty of Technology
Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad
pajoshi@ddu.ac.in
 Turbulent Flow
• Rapid Flow of fluid over a surface- Laminar flow
near the interface-Flow is in orderly fashion
• Flow becomes turbulent as the distance from the
surface increases-Flow no more in manner- Large
chunks of fluid, called eddies, move rapidly
contributing significantly to mass transfer
• The diffusion under such condition is called Eddy
OR Turbulent Diffusion, which does not obey
Fick’s law

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 Flow of Air Past a Water Body
• In case of Turbulent flow of fluid past a body, near the interface
there is laminar flow and is called Laminar Sublayer.
In this layer the rate of diffusion is small and hence
concentration gradient is large.
• Beyond that the velocity is so high that a turbulent region with
rapid movement of eddies perpendicular to the direction of flow
can be seen. Because of the rapid eddy motion the
concentration gradient in this turbulent region is small.
• An experimental study measuring water vapor pressure in the
air flowing above a water body, gives the results as shown in the
figure

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 Evaporation of Water into Air

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 Flow of Air Past a Heated Plate

The similarity between

the mass transfer shown
in the previous slide and
heat transfer is clearly
seen by the concentration
And temperature
gradient

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 Mass Transfer Coefficients (MTC)
• The flow in the turbulent region is unorderly and hence is
difficult to describe. However, the mechanism of molecular
diffusion is can be given by Fick’s law. An attempt is made to
describe the mass transfer in the fluid in various regions above
the surface using concept similar to molecular diffusion, thus the
DABC/z of molecular diffusion is replaced by F, local mass transfer
coefficient ------(3.1)

• As the surface may not have well defined geometry, Favg, the
average value of F over the surface is used.
• The concentrations CA may be varying or constant depending on
the system. For example if a drop of water is falling through
open air, the concentration is taken to be constant, however if
the air is confined, concentration of water vapor will vary.
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 Special Cases-MTC
• We have seen in molecular diffusion that the two
cases very commonly encountered are
unimolecular and equimolecular diffusion in
gases and liquids. For such system MTC are
defined as
Flux = (MT coefficient) X (Conc. Gradient)
Similar relations have been used in heat transfer

Based on the way the concentration is given, we

have
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The coefficients in the above equations should be used for the
Conditions under which they have been evaluated and are useful
only for low mass transfer rates. Values measured under one
transfer rate should be converted to F through Eq (3.1) before
being applied to other. To obtain relationship between F and k
type coefficients the above equations have to be compared with
corresponding ones from molecular diffusion, Chapter-2
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 Relation between MTC

In order to get relation between F and kG we note that F replaces

DABPt/RTz in Eq.2.25 and kG replaces DABPt/RTz pB,M. in Eq. 2.30.
From this it follows that F= kG pB,M. In this manner other relations
Are obtained and given in the table.
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 Eddy Diffusion
• Consider fluid flowing turbulently in duct, i.e. the motion is
irregular with respect to both direction and time.

• The net flow is in X direction, but at any time the velocity will
have a fluctuating component Uz’ which will have time avg value
zero. The velocity in X direction will also have a fluctuating
component Ux’ and the time avg velocity of Ux. Thus at any
instance the velocity in X direction will be Ux+Ux’

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 Eddies
• The fluid is assumed to be made of lumps or eddies
with varying sizes, the largest may be of the diameter
of pipe in case of flow through pipes. The large
eddies posess about 20% of kinetic energy.
• The small eddies leads to formation of smaller and
smaller eddies and dissipate their energy. They
receive energy from medium eddies, which are the
major source of kinetic energy, and achieve a
dynamic equilibrium and overcome the viscosity to
retain velocity.
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The total shear stress for laminar and turbulent flow can be given as

---(3.29)

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 Theories of MT-Film Theory
Adopted from convective heat
transfer (Nerst 1904)
When a fluid is flowing turbulently
over a solid surface with mass
transfer from solid surface to the
fluid the concentration profile is as
shown in the figure
Assumptions:
All action (fluid flow and mass
transfer) occurs in a thin film at the
interface, i.e all resistance to MT is
within the film
Bulk fluid (e.g. gas) –FILM –bulk
fluid (e.g. liquid)
Steady-state flux across film
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 Assumptions – Film Theory
• Though the concentration profile follows dotted curve, it
is assumed to follow the solid lines. Steady state flux
across the film. The amount of solute within the film is
much small than the solute passing throgh the film.
• All the resistance to mass transfer is assumed to be
within a film and hence concentration gradient is across
the film only. Beyond the film the concentration is
constant in the bulk fluid
• Effective film thickness, ZF is used to replace Z in the
equation for molecular diffusion
• Film theory predicts that F and k type mass transfer
coefficients under the same fluid flow condition are
directly proportional to D

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 Features-Film Theory
• Film theory proposes k = F =D with Z replaced by ZF
• The actual situations show that for turbulent flow, the F
and k are proportional to with n varying from zero to
0.9. As per film theory power n on D = 1.0
• Thus it is in gross disagreement with real conditions
• For high mass transfer flux, Film theory gives reasonably
accurate results as n is close to 0.9
• It also helps in predicting effect of mass transfer on heat
transfer and also for effect of chemical reaction rate on
mass transfer
• Frequently the MT Coefficients are referred as Film
Coefficients

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 Penetration Theory- Higbie
• This theory was proposed to explain dissolution of
oxygen in to water bodies having turbulence.
• It was postulated that the time of exposure of any
water element to air is so small that the assumption
of steady state flux proposed in Film Theory is not
possible.
• Higbie considered that an unsteady state condition
will prevail during diffusion of a solute in liquid.
• The depth of penetration of solute in time is small
relative to the depth of the water body.

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 Penetration Theory

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• In Fig 3.7 a, the bubble rising in water body with an
element b of water eddy initially at the top of the
bubble will remain in contact for time required
for bubble to rise a distance equal to its diameter.
• Similarly in Fig 3.7b, the element of liquid eddy b
rises to the interface from the depth of turbulent
water and remains exposed to air for time and
unsteady state diffusion of air occurs
• If diffusion is in z direction only we may use Fick’s
second law given as
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 Relation between kL and D

Thus the power n = 0.5, whereas actual values of n varies from

zero to about 0.9
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 Surface Renewal Theory- Danckwerts
• The Penetration theory considers that the exposure
time of each eddy is constant
• The actual situation may involve different exposure
time for different eddies. This varying exposure time
will lead to different extent of penetration of solute
and the liquid surface with different exposure history
• The average rate for unit area must be evaluated using
individual values.
• The probability of an element being replaced by a new
one is independent of how long it had been on surface.

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• If s is the fractional rate of replacement

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 Combination of Film & Surface
Renewal Theory
Dobbins pointed out that film theory assumes that the
exposure time for eddies is long enough for the steady
state to establish and the Surface Renewal theory
assumes the eddies to be large and hence of infinite
depth. He proposed that the depth should be considered
to be finite and hence the third boundary condition in Eq.
3.39 should be CA=CAo for Z=Zb, where Zb is finite. With
Danckwerts rate of surface renewal he obtained

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 Combination of Theories
For large DAB or high rate of
penetration the Film theory and
for slow rate of penetration, the
Surface renewal theory is
Applicable. This gives values of
n Between 0.5 and 1.0 which
Agrees with many actual
situation

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 Surface Stretch Theory-Lightfoot

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 Flow Past Solids- Boundary Layer
Realize the difference between the two situations: the case of
interface with two fluids and the case of interface between a fluid
and solid. In the later case the fluid in contact with solid will have
zero velocity and between the fully developed flow and the
interface there exists Laminar Sublayer.
The velocity rises from ux=0 at the interface to uo, sufficiently
large enough to have Re=5x10*5, i.e. turbulent flow. The curve
ABCD in the figure separates region of velocity uo from the region
of lower velocity called Boundary Layer. Below curve AB, there is
laminar flow and below curve CD the flow may be turbulent. Below
CD there is a viscous sublayer FG starting from interface.

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 Boundary Layer

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If the solid is getting dissolve in the liquid, the
concentration of the solute at the surface will be CAi
greater than CAo and curve AE and HJ separate the region
of concentration CAo from higher concentration CA. The
ratio of the thickness of velocity boundary layer and
concentration boundary layer is equal to

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Then the BCs are equal. In all the cases for Z=0, the three dimensionless
Variables are zero and for Z= , all the three are unity.
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 Consequently the form of solutions providing the u,C & t profiles
are identical. The initial slope of the profiles gives corresponding
local mass transfer coefficient

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Mass, Momentum & Heat Transfer Analogies
We have seen the similarity in the equations for the three transfer
operations and hence can be used to evaluate MTC from the other
two coefficients.

It is required to have knowledge about how the ratio

vary with distance from interface. Often it is customary to set
, though the experimental results are contrary to it.

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 Summary
1. Under analogues conditions, the temperature and concentration
profiles in the dimensionless form and the heat & MT Coefficients
in the form of dimensionless group are given by same function.
MT dimensionless groups and coefficients can be obtained from
respective HT groups and coefficients in the HT equations. The
list of the dimensionless groups are given in the Table-3.2 and the
limitations in their use are also given

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 Limitations in Use of Analogy
a. The flow conditions and geometry must be same
b. Use of analogy gives MTC for no net mass transfer and
absence of chemical reaction, i.e. equimolar counter
diffusion. Hence, the replacement of Nu with Sh =
must be used and F should be then converted to desired
k type MTC.
c. The BCs to be used to solve differential equations must
be analogues. Eg. If HT is taking place from wall to fluid,
MT should also have the same direction of transfer
d. For turbulent flow for any location
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 Simultaneous Heat & Mass Transfer
Mass transfer may occur
simultaneously with heat transfer due
to imposed thermal gradient or, due
to absorption or evolution of heat
during phase transfer. Drying,
humidification, gas absorption are
the examples. In such cases we need
to consider the heat conduction due
to temperature gradient and the
sensible heat carried by the diffusing
material.

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For the binary system shown in figure, having flow past a
second phase, causing mass transfer under a set of
conditions, the total mass transferred is given as

Due to temperature gradient there is heat transfer given

by h(- dt/dz) ZF. The total sensible heat flux qs to the
interface has additional sensible heat carried by the
diffusing matter given by Eq.(3.67)

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We get
Which on integration and rearrangement gives

The term multiplying temperature difference can be

considered as the heat transfer coefficient corrected for
mass transfer. It will be larger if heat and mass transfer are
in the same direction and smaller if in opposite direction.
Can be applied for condensation of A with noncondensing B
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Total heat released at interface qt must include
additionally the latent heat or heat of solution or both

Where is molar heat evolution. The net heat

transferred from one to the other phase may depend
upon the direction of diffusion of matter and the
quantity of mass.

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 Illustration-1

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 Illustration-2
Calculate the gas film coefficient for the absorption of
Sulphur dioxide from a dilute mixture with air in a wetted
wall column using analogy between heat and mass transfer
for wetted wall column for the following data:

• Gas velocity = 2.5 m/s.

• Gas temperature = 293 K.
• Gas viscosity = 1.78 * 10-5 N.s/m2.
• Gas density = 1.22 kg/m3.
• Gas diffusivity = 1.22 * 10-5 m2/s.
• Inside column diameter = 25 mm

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 Solution
Nu=0.023(Re) (Pr)

kg=0.01129 m/s
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 Illustration-3
Sulfur dioxide is absorbed from air into water in a
packed absorption tower. At a certain location in the
tower, the mass-transfer flux is 0.0270 kmol S02/m2-h
and the liquid-phase mole fractions are 0.0025 and
0.0003, respectively, at the two-phase interface and in
the bulk liquid. If the diffusivity of SOz in water is the
1.7x10*-9 m2/s, determine the mass-transfer
coefficient, kc, and film thickness, neglecting the bulk-
flow effect.

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 Solution

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 Illustration-4
Air at 100°C, 1 atm, and a free-stream velocity of 5 m/s flows over
a 3-m-long, thin, flat plate of naphthalene, causing it to sublime.
(a) Determine the length over which a laminar boundary layer
persists. (b) For that length, determine the rate of mass transfer of
naphthalene into air. (c) At the point of transition of the boundary
layer to turbulent flow, determine the thicknesses of the velocity
and concentration boundary layers. Given that
• Vapor pressure of napthalene = 10 torr
• Viscosity of air = 0.0215 cP
• Molar density of air = 0.0327 kmol/m3
• Diffusivity of napthalene in air = 0.94 x10*-5 m2/s
• NRe = 5 x l0*5 for transition and

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 Solution
Reynold Number definition =5x10*5
at transition to turbulent flow

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 (C) at x = L = 2.27 m,

Also,

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 Assignment-1
1. Which are the various mass transfer
theories? Discuss each one in details.
2. Write a detailed note on Mass, Momentum
and Heat Transfer Analogies.
3. Discuss boundary layer theory with a neat
sketch.
4. Derive the equation for simultaneous heat
and mass transfer.

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 Assignment-2
Determine the relation between gas phase MTC kG and kY

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 Assignment-3
The gas phase MTC for evaporation of a drop of ethyl acetate in air
at 1.2 bar and 300 K is

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 THANK YOU

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