Scribd
Upload
49 views12 pages

Mod01 L02

1) The continuum approximation ignores the discrete molecular nature of matter and treats it as a continuous medium where properties can be defined at every point in space. 2) It splits molecular motion into average convective transport due to mean molecular motion, and random molecular transport due to thermal fluctuations. 3) The continuum approach requires empirical determination of constitutive equations and boundary conditions since the molecular details are ignored.

Uploaded by

Pankaj Kumar Saini
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
49 views12 pages

Mod01 L02

1) The continuum approximation ignores the discrete molecular nature of matter and treats it as a continuous medium where properties can be defined at every point in space. 2) It splits molecular motion into average convective transport due to mean molecular motion, and random molecular transport due to thermal fluctuations. 3) The continuum approach requires empirical determination of constitutive equations and boundary conditions since the molecular details are ignored.

Uploaded by

Pankaj Kumar Saini
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
You are on page 1/ 12

CHE 611 A Transport Phenomena

Dr Anurag Tripathi

Chemical Engineering

I I T Kanpur

Lectured

Continuum Approximation

Its consequences

Matter made of molecules Dolton Avogadro

in late 10thcentury early 19thcentury

One possible way to describe transport processes is to


apply Newton's laws of motion to each every molecule
molecule
r
m e en Ljmmolecule

These equations canbesolved with appropriateconditions


and require knowledge of intermolecularforce
For example gradient of Lennard Jones potentialgives
force b w a pair of non polar molecules
Molecular Dynamics MD simulations resorttothis
approach Counting
9 Timetaken by Superfast electronic counterCspeed 10 4
to countNzmolecules in 1mm air
Need a 6 1023equations to besolved for just 18ml water
Even with modernday computers only a few thousand
molecules of simple shapes can be simulated for
less than nano seconds

Alternate model ignoring molecular picture was proposed


with sweeping approximations aboutthe material

Continuum modelcontinuum approximation Continuum hypothesis


From Molecules To Continuum

Since large number of molecules present in a


small volume it ignores the discrete nature
of matter evident at molecular length scales
Infinitely divisible matterwithout any change in its
character a continuum medium

Matter is present at every point in the continuous


space

All the properties of matter can be assigned a value


at every point in space
velocity temperature density etc at everypoint

A point is a mathematical idealization


It has no length or volume

Matter does have volume or mass How can the properties

be assigned to a point then

Need to understand point quantities averaging


methods associated withthem
Point quantifies volume averaging

Continuum description permits defining fields


like
density elegy 37 temperature Tee 9,37
velocity I Clegg 3D concentration Cae y 2Gt

These fields are continuous functions of spatial


coordinates time
function Only one value at a given locationstime
smooth continuous functions derivatives art to
position time exist
Question functions continuousfu Smoothfur etc
Instead of masses of molecules we say mass
of material in a tiny region

The's mass isequalto


the mass of me
molecules antheregion Molecular Continuum

Due to random thermal motion of the molecules


some ofthem will be continuously leave
enter in the volume DV of interest
r

am
Su
te g
is lMaterial A
r
1 Ynurrunnnnunnnuhn

verdaeties.mn
material B
Nhnhhr
t
Hence DU must be very large comparedtothe
molecular length scale ie mean free path of
molecules
deionias a 15 m to 15 Enn
Y FYFE
6
foam
1 for Continuumflow
Agases a 10 to
Xair 3odDa6xlo dmjXairfYaegoatfefueeJElo 2M.l
Consider decreasing volumes DV around the point P
we plot the variation of NAV with AV
while both N AU will change and become
small the ratio will not change becomecost
microscopic
i
Macroscoll
n l variati
n n 1
Length sale
ittiitiitiitiiti IIiiiiiii
t i

E
7 ri i
i orders
l
I
of magnitude I
l Y

1 range of
D
range ofi microscopic
molecular I range 1
1
macroscopic
dimensions i i dimensions
unm umm or
higher

eira.fm
eGisisHThusli
Eqeelg provided

Caion'Emalion
ELI Caniameromi
P'D
Note that volume Dv shrinks around a point pin space
hence the limit is assigned uniquely tothe
point

Other quantities can be defined in similar


manner Instantaneous velocity
µ ofmolecules
q
Momentum density to limE.ME
vector du o DU
N
velocity vector E fi mfY
where E qitgjtok e
This It is used in momentum energy
transport

Temperature is a measure of fluctuation


kinetic energy
N Boltzmann
cost
him 2 atME EJ Nk BT CGT
i
DV 3
DV o

consequences of continuum Approximation

The need to hypothesize two independent


mechanisms for transport
convective transport
molecular transport
Convective transport Molecular transport

Due to mean motion I Due to the random


of the molecules thermalfluctuations of
molecules

splitting the molecular motion in two parts


Actual velocity Averagevelocity localfluctuations

i
E t
g G
e aid Ee e
Is It
Actual Convective Molecular
transport transport transport
These two different mechanisms of transport
arise due to the coarse resolution of the
continuum view
Only a single class of mechanism associated
with the motion forces of interactions b w the
molecules available in the molecular point ofview
Convection helps achieve different parcels
come together using the mean motion

Thermal motion permits molecular level


homogenity of mass or heat

i
convector
i
i
cornea

III tonnes
tin s
i

s.is i ii
conga.me
ii
i i ii

Questions

which modesof Energytransport will bepresent if


G A dB aregases G ALB are liquids A B are solids
C and C 3 Ids

Second Consequence Uncertainty in boundary


conditions
Bcs are required for solving the PDEs
from the balance egos constitutive ours

Boundary Solid or phase boundary b w


two fluids

At Molecular level Boundary is a region of


rapid but continuous variations
No BC needed at they level

At continuum level Boundary appears as


a discontinuity
smooth variation of properties only
up to the boundary
At the boundary BC is applied
A jump on the two sides may be observed
in some cases
No slip at solid fluid boundary is not
valid if fluid is highmolecular weight
material
Need for Empirical Approach
Empirical determination needed for the
constitutive ears
Boundary conditions

we make educated guess

compare predictions from continuum theory


or T with experiments

check revise our


guess
Models derived from molecular theories not
available to empirically proposed
models
Exception of kinetictheory of gases

Balance Conservation ofmass momentum


energy
Equations Usually Untouched
Validfor allfluids

for specific fluid airwaterhoney


Constitutive Active area of research
Equations Difffluidslumped into a class
Boundary for specificproblemscenario
conditions Very well knownfor manycases

You might also like