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Analysis of Hydrogen Transport Through Metals

This document discusses mass transfer and diffusion processes. It begins by introducing Fick's laws of diffusion and how they can be used to model concentration variations over time and space when boundaries are clearly defined. It then notes some examples where boundaries are not clearly defined, like dissolution or evaporation, and how the mass transfer coefficient approach is better suited in these cases. Specifically, it explains that the mass transfer coefficient characterizes the mass transfer rate per unit area and depends on the concentration difference across the interface and the interfacial area.

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sarthak tripathi
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48 views5 pages

Analysis of Hydrogen Transport Through Metals

This document discusses mass transfer and diffusion processes. It begins by introducing Fick's laws of diffusion and how they can be used to model concentration variations over time and space when boundaries are clearly defined. It then notes some examples where boundaries are not clearly defined, like dissolution or evaporation, and how the mass transfer coefficient approach is better suited in these cases. Specifically, it explains that the mass transfer coefficient characterizes the mass transfer rate per unit area and depends on the concentration difference across the interface and the interfacial area.

Uploaded by

sarthak tripathi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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REVIEW OF DIFFUSIONAL TRANSPORT STUDIED IN CL 203

Analysis of hydrogen transport through metals


• It is known that hydrogen diffuses through metals when exposed to them and makes them brittle
• We wish to analyze transport of hydrogen in a metal as shown
• Specifically, we want to know spatial and temporal variation of hydrogen concentration in the metal
• For this purpose, write a mass balance equation for hydrogen in metal
Gas with hydrogen
Hydrogen concentration at
𝑧=𝐿 surface = 𝑐𝑜

∆𝑧
𝑧=0
Consider a thin slice of thickness ∆𝑧 and write mass balance for hydrogen across this slice.
Hydrogen in
Hydrogen accumulation minus 𝜕𝑐 𝜕2 𝑐
= gives =𝐷
in ∆z hydrogen out, 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑧 2
both by diffusion
• This differential equation can be solved using appropriate boundary conditions to find 𝑐 𝑡, 𝑧
• Boundaries across which concentration varies is clearly defined;
1
remember this point as we move forward
FAMOUS FICK’S LAW IS PROVEN BY EXPERIMENTS WHERE BOUNDARIES ARE KNOWN

Experiment 1 Experiment 2

water

Cross-sectional area Cross-sectional area


Distance across which salt diffuses changes
is constant
Salt crystals

• These experiments can be described by diffusional mass transport equations also


• Comparing predicted values of salt concentrations along the distance with measurements,
Fick proved his law of diffusion
• The space over which concentration varies is known

WHAT IF THE BOUNDARIES WHERE CONCENTRATION CHANGES CANNOT BE DEFINED EASILY?


2
WHERE ARE THE BOUNDARIES IN THESE EXAMPLES?
Dissolution of sugar (solid) in stirred water (liquid) Dissolution of oxygen (gas) in stirred water (liquid)

Air bubbles

Evaporation of water (liquid) from a lake


Into moving air (gas)
In examples such as these:
• Concentration of solute in bulk solution is same
everywhere at all times
• Boundaries over which concentration of solute varies
cannot be found easily
• Rate of mass transfer in such cases is described by an
3
engineering approximation—using MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT3
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT CHARACTERIZES MASS TRANSFER RATE
OR MASS TRANSFER FLUX (rate per unit area)

Mass transfer rate across an interface into a well-mixed solution is proportional to:

• 𝑐1𝑖 − 𝑐1 𝑐1𝑖 is concentration of solute at the interface but in the solution


𝑐1 is concentration of solute in the bulk solution

• 𝑎
𝑎 is area across which solute is transferred; this area is referred to
as interfacial area

𝑁1 is mass transfer flux


𝑁1 = 𝑘𝑐 𝑐1𝑖 − 𝑐1 𝑘𝑐 is mass transfer coefficient
Multiplying 𝑁1 with 𝑎 gives mass transfer rate

What are the units of mass transfer coefficient?


4
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

• Can you define space over which concentration varies for evaporation of water from a pond?
• For this evaporation, would you use Fick’s law or convective mass transfer to find rate of evaporation
• Is the interfacial area for evaporation from a circular pond equal to 𝜋𝑅2 always? 𝑅 is radius of the pond
• Write equation for mass transfer flux for a drug dissolving in stomach. Define the variables in the equation
• For oxygen dissolution experiment discussed here, how can interfacial area be increased?

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