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Mass Transfer and Diffusion (Part 1)

This document discusses mass transfer and diffusion. It defines mass transfer as the movement of a species in a mixture from one location to another, often across a phase interface. There are three mechanisms of mass transfer - molecular diffusion due to thermal motion, eddy diffusion due to turbulent fluid motion, and bulk flow. Both molecular and eddy diffusion contribute to the total mass transfer rate. Fick's law of diffusion quantifies molecular diffusion as proportional to the concentration gradient. The document provides examples and equations for different types of diffusion including equimolar counterdiffusion, unimolecular diffusion, and uses an example of nitrogen and hydrogen diffusion between connected bulbs.

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Vinesh Kumar
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524 views22 pages

Mass Transfer and Diffusion (Part 1)

This document discusses mass transfer and diffusion. It defines mass transfer as the movement of a species in a mixture from one location to another, often across a phase interface. There are three mechanisms of mass transfer - molecular diffusion due to thermal motion, eddy diffusion due to turbulent fluid motion, and bulk flow. Both molecular and eddy diffusion contribute to the total mass transfer rate. Fick's law of diffusion quantifies molecular diffusion as proportional to the concentration gradient. The document provides examples and equations for different types of diffusion including equimolar counterdiffusion, unimolecular diffusion, and uses an example of nitrogen and hydrogen diffusion between connected bulbs.

Uploaded by

Vinesh Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mass Transfer and Diffusion

Chapter No. 3
Separation Process Principles
By J. D. Seader
Mass Transfer

• Mass transfer is the net movement of a species in a mixture


from one location to another.
• In separation operations, the transfer often takes place
across an interface between phases.
• For Example:
• Absorption by a liquid of a solute from a carrier gas involves
transfer of the solute through the gas to the gas–liquid
interface, across the interface, and into the liquid.
• mass transfer of a species through a gas to the surface of a
porous, adsorbent particle.
Mechanism of mass transfer

(1) molecular diffusion by random and spontaneous


microscopic movement of molecules as a result of thermal
motion.
(2) Eddy (turbulent) diffusion by random, macroscopic fluid
motion.
(3) Bulk flow, which is a third mechanism of mass transfer.
• Both molecular and eddy diffusion may involve the
movement of different species in opposing directions.
• the total rate of mass transfer of individual species is
increased or decreased by this bulk flow.
• Molecular diffusion is extremely slow;
• Eddy diffusion is orders of magnitude and more rapid.
• Therefore, if industrial separation processes are to be
conducted in equipment of reasonable size, the fluids
must be agitated and interfacial areas maximized.
• For solids, the particle size is decreased to increase the
area for mass transfer and decrease the distance for
diffusion.
• When mass transfer is rapid, equilibration takes seconds
or minutes, and design of separation equipment is
based on phase equilibrium.
• For separations involving barriers such as membranes,
mass-transfer rates govern equipment design.
• Molecular diffusion occurs in fluids that are stagnant, or in laminar or
turbulent motion.
• Eddy diffusion occurs in fluids when turbulent motion exists.
• When both molecular diffusion and eddy diffusion occur, in addition to
bulk flow they are additive.
• Thus, the molar flux of a species is the sum of all three mechanisms.
• If Ni is the molar flux of i with mole fraction xi, and N is the total molar
flux in moles per unit time per unit area in a direction perpendicular to
a stationary plane across which mass transfer occurs, then

• Ni = molecular diffusion flux of i + eddy diffusion flux of i + xiN

• Flow is generally laminar or stagnant near the interface or solid


surface. Thus, the eddy-diffusion mechanism is eliminated as the
interface or solid surface is approached.
§3.1 STEADY-STATE, ORDINARY
MOLECULAR DIFFUSION
• Observation:
• Mass transfer by ordinary
molecular diffusion in a binary
mixture occurs because of a
concentration gradient; that is, a
species diffuses in the direction
of decreasing concentration.
• The mass-transfer rate is
proportional to the area normal
to the direction of mass transfer.
Thus, the rate can be expressed
as a flux.
• Net transfer stops when
concentrations are uniform.
§3.1.1 Fick’s Law of Diffusion
• The three observations above were quantified by Fick in 1855. For a
mixture of A and B,

• where JAz is the molar flux of A by ordinary molecular diffusion relative


to the molar-average velocity of the mixture in the z-direction, DAB is
the mutual diffusion coefficient or diffusivity of A in B, cA is the molar
concentration of A, and dcA/dz is the concentration gradient of A,
which is negative in the direction of diffusion. Similar definitions apply
to B, The fluxes of A and B are in opposite directions.
• Alternatively it can be written as:

• Where c is the total molar concentration, and xA is the mole fraction


of A. And ρ is the mass density, and wA is the mass fraction of A.
§3.1.2 Species Velocities in Diffusion
• If velocities are based on the molar flux, N, and the molar diffusion flux,
J, then the molar average mixture velocity, νM, relative to stationary
coordinates for the binary mixture, is:

• Similarly, the velocity of species i in terms of Ni, relative to stationary


coordinates, is:

• Combining above two equations with xi = ci/c gives:


• Diffusion velocities, νiD , defined in terms of Ji, are relative to molar-
average velocity and are defined as the difference between the species
velocity and the molar-average mixture velocity:

• It is preferred to use mass-transfer fluxes referred to stationary


coordinates, thus the total species velocity is:

• Then:

• And:
§3.1.3 Equimolar Counterdiffusion (EMD)

Furthermore:
EXAMPLE 3.1 EMD in a Tube.

Two bulbs are connected by a straight tube, 0.001 m in diameter


and 0.15 m in length. Initially the bulb at End 1 contains N2 and the
bulb at End 2 contains H2. Pressure and temperature are constant
at 25C and 1 atm. At a time after diffusion starts, the nitrogen
content of the gas at End 1 of the tube is 80 mol% and at End 2 is 25
mol%. If the binary diffusion coefficient is 0.784 cm2/s, determine:
(a) The rates and directions of mass transfer in mol/s
(b) The species velocities relative to stationary coordinates, in cm/s
§3.1.4 Unimolecular Diffusion (UMD)

• In UMD, mass transfer of


component A occurs
through stagnant B, result in
bulk flow. Thus:
NB = 0
N = NA
• For component A

• For component B
• At quasi-steady-state conditions (i.e., no accumulation of species with
time) and with constant molar density:

• which upon integration yields:

• Thus, the mole-fraction variation as a function of z is:

• The log mean (LM) of (1 - xA) at the two ends of the stagnant layer is:

• Combining:
EXAMPLE 3.2 Evaporation from an Open Beaker.

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