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Molecular Diffusion: Lecture of Week 3

The document discusses steady state molecular diffusion through a constant area in a binary gas mixture. It defines steady state as a system where variables and parameters do not change with time. It considers two situations: (1) diffusion of component A through a stagnant layer of component B, and (2) equal counter-diffusion of components A and B. The key assumptions are that the area and temperature are constant, and diffusion occurs at steady state through a constant area such that flux does not change with position. It provides the equation to calculate flux of component A diffusing from point z=0 to any point z=z.

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44 views10 pages

Molecular Diffusion: Lecture of Week 3

The document discusses steady state molecular diffusion through a constant area in a binary gas mixture. It defines steady state as a system where variables and parameters do not change with time. It considers two situations: (1) diffusion of component A through a stagnant layer of component B, and (2) equal counter-diffusion of components A and B. The key assumptions are that the area and temperature are constant, and diffusion occurs at steady state through a constant area such that flux does not change with position. It provides the equation to calculate flux of component A diffusing from point z=0 to any point z=z.

Uploaded by

ashas waseem
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Molecular Diffusion

Lecture of Week 3
What is Steady State?
If a system is at steady state the variables and
parameters do not change with time.

If a system is at steady state, the variables and


parameters associated with it donot change with
time. For example if diffusion of component A
occurs from 1 point to another point in a medium
at steady state the concentration distribution and
rate of transport remains invariant with time.
Steady State Molecular Diffusion
through a constant area in Binary
Gas Mixture
Rate of molecular diffusion from one point to
another point cannot be calculated easily because
it expresses flux in terms of concentration
gradient at a point rather than a concentration of
diffusing species at two points.

So In this topic we are considering diffusion


through a constant area . The flux of diffusing
species donot change with position at steady state
The following two situations which are commonly
encountered in practice have been considered
here:
(a) Diffusion of component A through a stagnant
layer of component B
(b) Equal molal counter-diffusion of components
A and B.
Binary Mixture of A & B

Assumptions:

• Area through which diffusion occurs is constant


• The gas mixture is ideal
• Temperature is uniform
• Diffusion occurs at steady state(variables &
parameters do not change with time)
• Through a constant area the flux does not change
with position in steady state.
• Through a variable area the flux changes with
position even when the system is at steady state
1. Diffusion of A through non Diffusing B:

In gas absorption a soluble gas A is transferred to the liquid


surface where it dissolves, whereas the insoluble gas B undergoes
no net movement with respect to the interface.

Let us consider a pool of water placed in a tray in contact with a


stream of unsaturated air. So long as the air remains unsaturated,
water molecules will diffuse into the air. The bulk of air is in
motion, but a thin layer of air in contact with water will be
stagnant and then moving in laminar motion in a direction normal
to the direction of diffusion. Water vapour will diffuse through this
layer by molecular diffusion before being carried away by the
moving air

The mass transfer process therefore:


N A = P A /P ( NA + NB) - D AB / RT dPA/ dz
Since stagnant diffusion layer: NB = 0
Since diffusion is through constant area at steady state therefore NA =
constant
Diffusion occurs from a point z= 0 ( partial pressure of A is pA = PA0) to the
point z= l (PA = P AL)
Since total pressure in the medium is uniform
Rearranging,

where,

Considering diffusion of A from point z=0 to any point z=z where


the partial pressure of A is pA , then equation would become

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