University of Tripoli

Chemical Engineering Department

Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Chapter Three
Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Depends on the type of information that is required

 Macroscopic Models
 Properties are averaged over position, and therefore do not provide detailed description
of the process.
 Time is the only independent a variable.
 Differential equations obtained are usually easy to solve.

 Microscopic Models
 Special coordinates are included, so more detailed description is obtained.
 The solutions of the differential equations obtained require computer solutions.

Macroscopic Models

min
xin
ρin
( )
(3.1)

mout
xout
ρout

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

General Microscopic Material Balance (Derivation of the general Equations)

( ) NA
| | | z+Δz
NA
( ) y+Δy
| |
|
NA NA
( ) x x+Δx

NA
( )
y NA
̇
z

General Microscopic Material Balance

. / ̇ (3.2)

( ) ( )

⏞
⏞

⏞
⏞

⏞
⏞

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Molar Flux of Species A in Various Coordinate System

 Rectangular Coordinates
. / ̇ (3.3)

 Cylindrical Coordinates
( )
0 1 ̇ (3.4)

 Spherical Coordinates
( )
0 1 ̇ (3.5)

Continuity Equation for Species A in Various Coordinate Systems

 Rectangular Coordinates

. / . / ̇ (3.6)

 Cylindrical Coordinates

. / . . / / ̇ (3.7)

 Spherical Coordinates

. / . . / . /
/ ̇ (3.8)

How to obtain the concentration distribution using the general equations

 Select the proper coordinate system (Rectangular, Cylindrical, or Spherical).

 Delete the inapplicable terms in the equation.

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

 Solve the differential equation to obtain the general equation.

 Apply the boundary condition to obtain the particular solution.

General Microscopic Material Balance (Shell balance method)

 Select the proper coordinate system (Rectangular, Cylindrical, or Spherical).

 Selection of a small element of the system.
 Applying the law of conservation of mass.

( ) ( ) ( )
( )

 Let the dimension of the system approach zero to obtain the differential equation.
 Solving the differential equation to obtain the distribution of species A within the system
(general solution)
 Applying the boundary conditions to obtain the particular solution.
 The concentration ( ) at the boundary.
 The mass fluxes ( ) at the boundary.
 The rate of chemical reaction of specific boundary can be specified ( ).
 Transferring of component, A to the surroundings by convection at specific boundary
( ).

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Example (3.1)

Evaporation of a liquid A through a stagnant gas B, using the general equation

gas B

ΔZ

 Solution using the general equation

( ) ̇ ( )

Assumptions

1. Steady state process: Rate of accumulation is zero.

2. Constant T, P: DAB is constant.
3. No chemical reaction: Rate of generation is zero.
4. Gas B is not soluble in liquid A: NB = 0.
5. No radial change in concentration: NA = f(z)

(3.9)

( ) (3.10)

( )
(3.11)
Substitute in Equation (1) we get:

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

0( )
1 (3.12)

At constant T and P: ⇒ and ⇒

0( )
1 (3.13)

Integrate equation (5) twice

.( )
/ (3.14)

( )
(3.15)

( ) (General solution) (3.16)

BC’s

By using BC’s, we get

( ) (3.17)

( ) (3.18)

Two equations and two unknowns; then we can get

,( ) ( )-
( )
(3.19)

( ) ,( ) ( )- (3.20)
( )

Substitute in equation (8) (general solution), we get

0 1 (Particular solution) (3.21)

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

| |
( )

| ( )
( )

| ( )
( )

( )

|
( )

Example (3.2)

Evaporation from sphere droplet of A vaporizing on to an infinite stagnant atmosphere, using

(a) shell balance method, and (b) the general equation.

r
Δr
Liquid A

Assumptions
1. Steady state process: Rate of accumulation is zero.
2. Constant T, P: DAB is constant.
3. No chemical reaction: Rate of generation is zero.
4. Gas B is not soluble in liquid A: NB = 0.
5. Diffusion is in r-direction : NA = f(r)

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Solution using shell balance method

* + * + (3.22)

| ( ) | ‫قانون حفظ انكحهة‬ (3.23)

Dividing by
Take the limit as
| ( ) |
(3.24)

( )
(3.25)

Using the general equations for spherical coordinates

( )
* + ̇

( )

( )
(3.26)

| |

( )

( )
‫بانحعويض في انمعادنة انحفاضهية نحصم عهى‬

0 ( )
1 (3.26)
For ideal gas mixture at constant temperature and pressure, C is a constant, and DAB is very
nearly independent of concentration. Hence C DAB can be taken outside the derivative to get.

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

* +
( )
Integrate:

( )

( )

( ) General Solution (3.28)

Boundary Condition

( ) (3.29)

( ) (3.30)

[ ]⁄[ ]

, - [ ]⁄[ ]

[ ]
[ ]
( )

( )
[ ]
( )
0 1 Particular Solution (3.31)

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Example (3.3)

Gas A diffuses through a stagnant gas film to the surface of a non-porous cylindrical catalyst.
Gas A then undergoes the following chemical reaction .

Gas B the diffuses from the catalyst surface and swept away. Neglect diffusion and reaction
on the ends of particle. Derive an equation for the molar flux of A, using (a) shell balance
method, and (b) the general equation, derive an expression for the concentration profile of A
for (a) a slow reaction (b) fast reaction.

Assumptions
1. Steady state process: Rate of accumulation is zero.
A
2. Constant T, P: DAB is constant.
B
3. Chemical reaction takes places at the surface.
4. 1st order chemical reaction ,( )
catalyst
5. Diffusion is only in the r-direction : NA = f(r)
6. Chemical traction at the boundary.

7. 2 moles of A diffuses to the catalyst for every 1 mole of B diffuses away

Using the general equations for Cylindrical coordinate

Δr

( )
* + ̇

( ) ( )
⇒

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Solution using Shell Balance Method

Take the element of thickness and length L.

| ( ) |

Divide by and take the limit as

( )

( )

kinetics of the problem

( )

. /

( )
‫بانحعويض في انمعادنة انعامة نحصم عهى‬

* +
( )

For ideal gas mixture at constant temperature and pressure, C is a constant, and DAB is very
nearly independent of concentration. Hence C DAB can be taken outside the derivative to ge

Integrate:
* +
( )
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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

( )

( ) General solution

Case I
The reaction is very fast, therefore the concentration of gas A on the surface of the
catalyst is zero.

Boundary Conditions

( )
( ) ( ) ( )
Particular Solution

Case II
The reaction is very slow, therefore the concentration of gas A on the surface of the
catalyst is expressed as

Boundary Conditions

. /
{ [ ] ( )}
( ) ( )

. /
[ ]
( )

. /

( ) . /
( ) ( )
* + . / Particular Solution
. /

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Molar Flux at The Surface

| |
( )

. /
| [ ]
( )

Example (3.4)

A spherical catalyst particle in which species A diffuses into the catalyst and under goes an
irreversible reaction

Assume the reaction in distributed homogeneously throughout the particle and the reaction is
first order, derive an expression for the concentration profile of A using (a) shell balance
method, and (b) the general equation.

Assumptions
Δr
1. Steady state process: Rate of accumulation is zero.
2. Constant T, P: DAB is constant.
3. Chemical reaction takes places at the surface.
4. 1st order chemical reaction ,( ) R
5. Diffusion is only in the r-direction : NA = f(r)
6. Diffusion in solids
Using General Equation

( )
* + ̇

( )
* + ̇

Using Shell Balance

| ( ) |

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

Dividing by
Take the limit as

( )
* + ̇

Kinetic of the Reaction

Diffusion of A through a porous solid Equation

`
( )

[ ]

Using transformation of the variables as

( )

( )
Then,
́( )

( )

( )
‫بانحعويض في معادنة انحفاضهية باسحخذاو انمحغيرات انجذيذة نحصم عهى‬

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 University of Tripoli
Chemical Engineering Department
Mass Transfer I (ChE421) Chapter Three

Formulation of Mass Transfer Models

( ) ( ) A second order homogenous ODE

( ) ( )

Integral factor can be used to solve derivative Equation.

( ) √ √

√ √

( )
√ √ General Solution

BC’s

& ‫ جسحطيع انحصول عهى انثوابث‬BC’s ‫باسحخذاو‬

and
√

‫في انحم انعاو نحصم عهى‬ & ‫بانحعويض ب‬

√
Particular Solution
√

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