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Gas Diffusion in Liquid

This document describes an experiment to determine the diffusion coefficient of gases in liquid using Winklemann's method. Liquid is contained in a vertical tube and an air stream passes over the top to transfer vapor from the liquid surface by diffusion. The rate of mass transfer and change in liquid level over time is used to calculate the diffusion coefficient based on Fick's law of diffusion. Students conduct the experiment using ethanol in a glass T-tube submerged in a water bath, recording the change in liquid level over time as vapor diffuses into the air stream. They plot the data to determine the gas diffusion coefficient from the slope and compare the experimental value to theoretical predictions.

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Elaine Pui
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223 views5 pages

Gas Diffusion in Liquid

This document describes an experiment to determine the diffusion coefficient of gases in liquid using Winklemann's method. Liquid is contained in a vertical tube and an air stream passes over the top to transfer vapor from the liquid surface by diffusion. The rate of mass transfer and change in liquid level over time is used to calculate the diffusion coefficient based on Fick's law of diffusion. Students conduct the experiment using ethanol in a glass T-tube submerged in a water bath, recording the change in liquid level over time as vapor diffuses into the air stream. They plot the data to determine the gas diffusion coefficient from the slope and compare the experimental value to theoretical predictions.

Uploaded by

Elaine Pui
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 DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mass & Heat Transfer Lab

BKF3721

Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering

Experiment 4
GAS DIFFUSION IN LIQUID

Name
Matric No.
Group
Program
Section
Date

Semester II - Session 2013/2014

Mass & Heat Transfer Lab

BKF3721

EXPERIMENT 4: GAS DIFFUSION IN LIQUID

OBJECTIVE
To determine the diffusion coefficient of gases in liquid.

INTRODUCTION
The rate of diffusion in gases increases with the temperature approximately T3/2 and are
inversely proportional to the pressure. The inter-diffusion coefficients of gas mixtures are
independently to the composition. Kinetic theory shows that the self-diffusion coefficient of a pure
gas is inversely proportional to both the square root of the molecular weight and the square of
molecular diameter.

The diffusivity of the vapor of a volatile liquid in air can be conveniently determined by
Winklemanns method in which liquid is contained in a narrow diameter vertical tube, maintained
at a constant temperature and an air stream is passed over the top of the tube to ensure that the
partial pressure of the vapor is transferred from the surface of the liquid to the air stream by
molecular diffusion.

The rate of mass transfer is given by

C C
N ' A D A T
L C BM
where CA

(1)

= Saturation conc. At interface (kmol.m-3)

CBM

= Logarithmic mean molecular concentration of vapor (kmol.m-3)

CT

= Total molar conc. = CA+CBM (kmol.m-3)

= Effective distance of mass transfer (mm)

= Diffusivity (m2s-1)

Considering the evaporation of the liquid:

dL
N ' A L
M dt
where L
Thus

= density of the liquid

(2)

Mass & Heat Transfer Lab

BKF3721

L dL
C C
D A T
M dt
L C BM

(3)

Integrating and putting L = L0 at t = 0

2MD C ACT

L2 L20
L C BM

2MD C A CT

( L Lo )(L L0 2 L0 )

L C BM

(4)

(5)

or

t
C
L BM
L L0 2MD C ACT

where M

C BM
L Lo L

MD C ACT

= Molecular weight (kg/kmol)

= time (s)

CT

Ts
1

=
kmol Vol Ta

CA

P
= v
Pa

CBM

CB1

= CT

CB2

P Pv
= a
Pa

Ts

= Standard temperature (K)

Ta

= Experimental temperature (K)

Pa

= Atmospheric pressure (kN/m2)

Pv

= Vapor pressure (kN/m2)

CT

C B1 C B 2
C
ln B1
CB2

CT

Kmol volume = (m3)

EQUIPMENT/ APPARATUS/ MATERIAL

1.

LS-32136-A Gas diffusion coefficient apparatus

L0

(6)

Mass & Heat Transfer Lab

BKF3721

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

1.

Fill the water into the acrylic water tank until the water level is 25 mm below the top of the
tank.

2.

Fill the test liquid into the glass T-tube using pipette. The level of the test liquid should not
exceed the water level. (Test liquid ethanol).

3.

Switch on the main switch on the panel.

4.

Turn on the heater and set the temperature to 700C.

5.

Connect the air tube from the blower unit to the T-tube.

6.

Switch on the blower to high air flow.

7.

Adjust the telescope until it focusing on the top surface of the test liquid level at the T-tube.

8.

Wait till the water reached the set temperature. Record the initial height of the test liquid
(you may tare zero the reading of the scale) and the temperature of the water bath
temperature using a thermometer.

9.

Start the stopwatch, at the same time keep an eye on the liquid level.

10.

After 5 minutes, record the new test liquid level.

11.

Repeat the steps 1-10 and record 10 sets of data.

RESULTS
Initial effective distance of mass transfer, L0 (mm)

Water bath temperature

:
Table 1
Time, t

Change of height, L

(min)

(mm)

Mass & Heat Transfer Lab

BKF3721

DISCUSSIONS

Discuss all your results. The questions below only serve as a guideline. Your discussion should not
only limit to these questions.

1.

Plot a graph of t/(L+L0) vs L-L0 and determine the gas diffusion coefficient, D from the slope
of the graph. (Show all the calculation sample).

2.

Compare the experimental value with theoretical value of the gas diffusion coefficient.

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