Topic 4.

0 Convective Mass Transfer Problem Solving

P 4.1 (Natural or Free Convection Mass Transfer)
Calculate the molar flux of O2 in a fermenter from air bubbles at 1 atm abs pressure having
diameters of 100 µrn at 37℃ into water having a zero concentration of dissolved O2, The
solubility of O2 from air in water at 37℃ is 2.26 x 10 -7 g mol O2/cm3 liquid or 2.26 x 10-4 kg
mol O2/m3. The diffusivity of O2 in water at 37°C is 3.25 x 10-9 m2/s. Agitation is used to
produce the air bubbles.

( )
1/ 3
2 D AB −2 /3 ∆ ρ μc g
k L= +0.31 Sc 2
Dp ρc

SOLN
The mass-transfer resistance inside the gas bubble to the outside interface of the bubble can
be neglected since it is negligible. Hence, the mass-transfer coefficient k L outside the bubble
is needed.
The given data are: Dp = 100 µm = 1 x 10-4 m and DAB = 3.25 x 10-9 m2/s
At 37℃: µc (water) = 6.947 x 10-4 Pa.s = 6.947 x 10-4 kg/m.s, ρc(water) = 994 kg/m3 and
ρp(air) 1.13 kg/m3
μc −4
6.947 x 10 kg /m. s
Calculation of Schmidt number (Sc): Sc= = =215
ρc D AB 994 kg /m3 x 3.25 x 10−9 m2 /s
2 /3 2/ 3 3
Sc =215 =35.9 ; ∆ ρ=ρc −ρ p=994−1.13=992.87 kg /m

Calculation of kL:

( ) ( )
1/ 3 −9 2 3 x 6.947 −4 2 1
2 D AB −2 /3 ∆ ρ μc g 2 x 3.25 x 10 m /s 0.31 992.87 kg /m x 10 kg /m. sx 9.81 m/s
k L= +0.31 Sc 2
= −4
+ 2
Dp ρc 1 x 10 m 35.9 994

Calculation of the flux (NA):

N A =k L ( c A 1 −c A 2 )=2.29 x 10−4 m/ x ( 2.26 x 10− 4−0 ) =5.18 x 10−8 kgmol O2 /s . m2

P4.2 (Forced Convection Mass Transfer)

A wetted wall column of inside diameter (2 in) contains air and CO2 flowing at 3 ft/s. at a
certain point in the column, the CO2 concentration in the air is 0.1 mol fraction, at the same
point in the column, the concentration of CO2 in the water at the water – air interface is 0.005
mole fraction. The column operates at 10 atm and 25 ℃. Calculate the mass transfer
coefficient and the mass flux at the point of consideration, given the following data:
The diffusivity of CO2 in air at 25 ℃ and 1 atm = 0.164 cm2/s.
The density of air at STP = 1.296 kg/m3.
The viscosity of air at 25 ℃ and 10 atm = 0.018 cP

1
Henry constant = 1640 atm / mol fraction.
k c P BLM D 0.833 0.333
Sh= =0.023 ℜ Sc
PT D AB
SOLN
To calculate the dimensionless groups we must first correct the physical properties from their
conditions to the operation condition (10 atm and 25 ℃), also we must convert all the units
of all the quantities to the SI system.
3 ft 1 m 2 ,54 cm 1 m
v= =0.915 m/ s; D=2∈ =0.0508 m
s 3.28 ft ¿ 100 cm
−3
μ=0.018 cP=0.018 x 10 kg /m. s

( 2 )298 K , 10 atm
ρ ( )( )
=
P2
T2
=
10
298

( )( )
ρSTP P1 1
T1 273

kg 10 x 273 kg
ρ2=1.296 =11.973 3
m
3
298 m

( )
( D AB )2 P1 T 2 1.5

( )
1.5
1 298
= =
( D AB )1 P2 T 1 10 273

( )
1.5 2
1 298 m
( D AB )2 =1.64 x 10−5 m2 /s x x =1.64 x 10
−6
10 273 s
P A 1= y 1 PT =0.1 x 10 atm=1 atm; P B 1=10−1=9 atm
'
P A 2 can be estimated ¿ Henr y s law :
P A 2 =x A . H=0.005 x 1640=8.2 atm; P B 2=10−8.2=1.8 atm
P B 2−P B 1 1.8−9
PBLM = = =4.474 atm
ln
( ) ( )
PB2
PB1
ln
1.8
9

Calculation of the mass transfer coefficient (kc):

( ) ( )
PT D AB ρvD
0.833
μ
0.333
k c= 0.023
D PBLM μ ρ D AB

) ( )
0.333

(
−6 0.833 −3
10 x 1.64 x 10 11.973 x 0.915 x 0.0508 0.018 x 10 −3
k c= x 0.023 −3 −6
=8.868 x 10 m/s
0.0508 x 4.474 0.018 x 10 11.973 x 1.64 x 10

Calculation of the molar flux (NA): N A =k G ( P A 1−P A 2 )

2
 kc 8.868 x 10 m/s
−3
−4 kmol
k G= = 3
=3.626 x 10 2
RT atm . m m . s . atm
0.082 298 K
kmol . K

−4 kmol kmol
N A =k G ( P A 1−P A 2 ) =3.626 x 10 2
( 1−8.2 ) atm=−2.611 x 10−3 2
m . s . atm m .s
NOTE: Process taking place from the liquid phase to the gas phase (negative value)