Assam Engineering College

Chemical Engineering Department; MTO-I (CHE181502): 2021-ONLINE TJS

LECTURE – 7: MODULE-2
MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

The mechanism of the flow process involving the movements of the eddies in the turbulent
region is not thoroughly understood. Hence to describe the rate of mass transfer through
the various regions from the surface to the turbulent zone, the method used in molecular
diffusion is used.

DABC/z of equation 2.22 is replaced by F, a mass transfer coefficient. For binary solutions

 NA C 
  A2 
NA 
NA
F ln  N AN N B  CC  (7.1)
N A  N B   A
 A1 
 N A  N B  C 

CA/C = mole fraction concentration; xA (liquid), yA (gases)

The surface through which diffusion (mass transfer) takes place may not be plane (i.e.
variable cross section). Therefore, N is defined as Flux at the phase interface or boundary,
for which F is the mass transfer coefficient.

NA is +ve if transfer is from

(Beginning) CA1 CA2 (End)
Either CA1 or CA2 will be at phase boundary.
Air (unconfined fluid)
Drop evaporating
as it falls through
great volume in
air

Fig.7.1: Concentration of diffusing substance in air is usually taken as the constant value
found at large distance from phase boundary

CA varies from CA1 at z = 0 to z = Z; CA2 is taken as 𝐶𝐴̅ which is bulk average concentration.

44
 Assam Engineering College

Chemical Engineering Department; MTO-I (CHE181502): 2021-ONLINE TJS

S
1
Ux S 0
CA  U x C A dS (7.2)

where, Ux(z) = velocity distribution in gas across the duct

 volumetric rate 
U x  bulk _ average _ velocity   
 duct cross section 
S = Duct cross section area.

‘F’ used in equation 7.1 is a local mass transfer co-efficient, defined for a particular location
on the phase boundary surface. Sometimes an average value F AV is used. For
multicomponent system (NA+NB) is replaced by ∑ Ni, n is equal to the number of component.

Transfer of A through non transferring B, i.e.

 NA 
N B  0;    1
 NA  NB 
For Gases
 
N A  K G PA1  PA2  K y y A1  y A2   K C C A1  C A2  (7.3)

For Liquids
N A  K x x A1  x A2   K L C A1  C A2  (7.4)

Equimolar counter transfer, i.e.

 NA 
NA  - NB ;    
 NA  NB 
For Gases
 
N A  KG PA1  PA2  Ky y A1  y A2   KC C A1  C A2  (7.5)

For Liquids
N A  Kx x A1  x A2   KL C A1  C A2  (7.6)

Equation 7.3 to 7.6 are analogous to the definition of heat transfer q = h (t1 – t2).

kC is a replacement of DAB/z in a integration of equation 2.1 and the bulk flow term of
equation 2.17 has been ignored. Therefore co-efficient of equation 7.3 and equation 7.4 are
generally useful for low mass transfer rates.
 D ABp t   DABp t 
F replaces   in equation 2.25 and KG replaces   in equation 2.30
 RTz   RTzP BM 

 F  K G PBM

45
 Assam Engineering College

Chemical Engineering Department; MTO-I (CHE181502): 2021-ONLINE TJS

For equimolar counter diffusion, NA + NB = 0, Thus.

F  K y (gases)

F  Kx (liquids)
Consult Table 3.1 page 49 (Treybal)

MASS TRANSFER CO-EFFICIENT IN LAMINAR FLOW

Diffusion in fluids in laminar flow occurs in many mass transfer operations. The fluid may be
a film flowing slowly down a vertical or inclined surface, a laminar boundary layer that forms
as the fluid flows slowly past a thin plate, or the fluid may flow through a small tube, or
slowly through a large pipe or duct. Mass transfer may occur between:

• A gas and a liquid film

• A solid surface and a fluid
• Fluid and a membrane surface.

In principle mass transfer co-efficient for laminar flow is not needed as molecular diffusion
prevails. However, a uniform method of dealing with both laminar and turbulent flow is
desirable.

Mass transfer from a gas into a falling liquid film

Liquid falling in a thin film in laminar flow vertically down a flat surface and exposed to a gas
A.

• A dissolve in the liquid

• concentration of liquid at the top is CAO.
• at the liquid surface, the concentration of the dissolved gas is C Ai in equilibrium with
the gas phase.
• Since CAi >, gas dissolve in the liquid

46
 Assam Engineering College

Chemical Engineering Department; MTO-I (CHE181502): 2021-ONLINE TJS

The problem is to obtain the mass transfer co-efficient KL with which the amount of gas
dissolved after the liquid fall a distance L can be computed. The problem is solved by
simultaneous solution of the equation of continuity. For component A with the equation
describing the liquid motion – the Navier stokes equation.

CA CA CA CA   2CA  2CA  2CA 

ux  uy  uz   DA B  2     RA (2.17) *
x y z θ  x y 2 z 2 

*Equation 2.17 from Treybal page 26.

Some simplifying assumptions are made –

1. There is no chemical reaction. i.e. RA of equation 2.17* = 0

2. Conditions do not change in the x direction. i.e. all derivatives w.r.t. x in equation
2.17* = 0
3. Steady state condition prevails. i.e. (dCA/dθ) = 0
4. The rate of absorption of gas is very small. i.e. Uz in equation 2.17* due to diffusion
of A ≈ 0
5. Diffusion of A in the y direction is negligible in comparison with the movement of A
downward due to bulk flow  2CA
i.e. DAB 0
y 2
6. Physical properties DAB, ρ, μ are constant.

Equation 2.17* reduces to u y CA  DA B  CA

2
(7.7)
y z 2

47