Scribd
Upload
41 views2 pages

Assign 1 - Problem 2 (3-20-Solution-Seader-4th)

(1) Hydrogen gas stored in a spherical pressure vessel at 150 psia and 80°F will diffuse through the steel wall over time. (2) The initial rate of mass transfer of hydrogen through the wall is calculated to be 3.89×10-8 lbmol/h. (3) The initial rate of pressure decrease inside the vessel due to hydrogen diffusion is calculated to be -0.00097 psia/h.

Uploaded by

Manav Bhugun
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
41 views2 pages

Assign 1 - Problem 2 (3-20-Solution-Seader-4th)

(1) Hydrogen gas stored in a spherical pressure vessel at 150 psia and 80°F will diffuse through the steel wall over time. (2) The initial rate of mass transfer of hydrogen through the wall is calculated to be 3.89×10-8 lbmol/h. (3) The initial rate of pressure decrease inside the vessel due to hydrogen diffusion is calculated to be -0.00097 psia/h.

Uploaded by

Manav Bhugun
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/ 2

Exercise 3.

20

Subject: Diffusion of hydrogen through the steel wall of a spherical pressure vessel.

Given: Gaseous hydrogen (A) stored at 150 psia and 80oF in a 4-inch inside diameter spherical
pressure vessel of steel, with a 0.125-inch wall thickness. Solubility of hydrogen in steel at these
conditions = 0.094 lbmol/ft3. Diffusivity of hydrogen in steel at these conditions = 3.0 x 10 -9
cm2/s. Air outside the vessel with zero partial pressure of hydrogen.

Assumptions: Henry's law for solubility of hydrogen in steel. Ideal gas law.

Find:. (a) Initial rate of mass transfer of hydrogen.


(b) Initial rate of pressure decrease inside the vessel.
(c) Time in hours for the pressure inside the vessel to decrease to 50 psia at constant
temperature of 80oF.

Analysis: As the hydrogen diffuses through the wall, the pressure in the vessel will decrease.
(a) Assume finite-difference form of Fick's law with no bulk flow effect.
For a spherical shell, Eq. (3-62) gives,

nA  DA,B AGM
dc  c i
A1 A2

br  r g
2 1
57

r2 = (2 + 0.125)/12 = 0.1771 ft, r1 = 2/12 = 0.1667 ft


AGM = (A2A1)1/2 , A2 = 4(r2)2 = 4(3.14)(0.1771)2 = 0.394 ft2 ,
A1 = 4(r1)2 = 4(3.14)(0.1667)2 = 0.349 ft2 , AGM = (0.394 x 0.349)1/2 = 0.371 ft2
cA1  0.094 lbmol / ft 3 , cA2  0

Substituting into Eq. (1),

nA  11.6 109  0.371


 0.094  0  3.89 108 lbmol/h
 0.1771  0.1667 
(b) Let m = number of moles of hydrogen in the vessel at any time.

By the ideal gas law, m = PV/RT (2)

T = 540oR , V = D3/6 = 3.14(4/12)3/6 = 0.233 ft3


Initially, P = 150 psia and m = (150)(0.233)/(10.73)(540) = 0.00603 mol

Exercise 3.20 (continued)

Analysis: (b) (continued)


Differentiating Eq. (2) with respect to time to determine the rate of change of
pressure due to the decrease in the number of moles of hydrogen as it leaves the
vessel by diffusion through the walls,

dm V dP
n (3)
dt RT dt

Solving Eq. (3) for the rate of change of pressure, the initial rate of change is,

dP nRT (3.89 108 )(10.73)(540)


   0.00097 psia/h
dt V 0.233

(c) As the pressure in the vessel decreases, the solubility of hydrogen in steel and,
therefore, the rate of diffusion of hydrogen through the steel will decrease. Assume Henry's law
for the solubility. Then,

FG P IJ
cA1  0.094
H 150K (4)

From Eqs. (1), (3), and (4), the rate of diffusion of hydrogen as a function of pressure is,

.  108
FG P IJ   V dP   (0.233) dP  0.000040 dP
n  389
H 150K RT dt (10.73)(540) dt dt
(5)

Integrating Eq. (5) from P = 150 psia to 50 psia,

.  108
389 t
z z dP
50 FG IJ
150
150(0.000040) 0
dt  
150 P
 ln
H K
50
 10986
.

Therefore, t = 154,000 (1.0986) = 169,500 h , a very long time!

You might also like