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Module 6

Mass transfer is the process of transferring mass from regions of high concentration to low concentration, driven by concentration differences. It can occur through diffusion, convection, or phase changes, with diffusion rates influenced by temperature and molecular spacing. Fick's law describes the relationship between mass diffusion and concentration gradients, with diffusion coefficients varying significantly between gases, liquids, and solids.

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7 views

Module 6

Mass transfer is the process of transferring mass from regions of high concentration to low concentration, driven by concentration differences. It can occur through diffusion, convection, or phase changes, with diffusion rates influenced by temperature and molecular spacing. Fick's law describes the relationship between mass diffusion and concentration gradients, with diffusion coefficients varying significantly between gases, liquids, and solids.

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akonyiron
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MASS TRANSFER

• When a system contains 2 or more


components whose concentrations
vary from point to point, there is a
natural tendency for the mass to be
transferred, minimizing the
concentration differences within the
system.
• This process of transfer of mass as a
result of the concentration difference is
called Mass Transfer.
• The flow of mass is always in the
direction of decreasing concentration;
that is, from the region of high
concentration to the region of low
concentration.
• The species simply creeps away during
redistribution, and thus the flow is a
diffusion process.
• Diffusion rates of gases depend strongly
on temperature since the temperature is a
measure of the average velocity of gas
molecules.
• The diffusion rates will be higher at
higher temperatures.
• Another factor that influences the
diffusion process is the molecular spacing.
• The larger the spacing, in general, the
higher the diffusion rate.
• Therefore, the diffusion rates are typically
much higher in gases than they are in
liquids and much higher in liquids than in
solids.
MODES OF MASS TRANSFER
1. DIFFUSION MASS TRANSFER(Molecular or Eddy diffusion)
It is the transport of molecules from high concentration
region to a region of lower concentration in a system of a mixture of
liquids or gases or solids.
when one of the diffusing fluids is in turbulent motion, the
eddy diffusion takes place.
2. CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER
It involves transfer between a moving fluid and a surface, or
b/w two relatively immiscible moving fluids.
3. MASS TRANSFER BY CHANGE OF PHASE
Mass transfer occurs whenever a change from one phase to
another takes place. It occurs due to simultaneous action of
convection and diffusion.
MASS DIFFUSION
• Fick’s law of diffusion states that the rate of
diffusion of a chemical species at a location in
a gas mixture (or liquid or solid solution) is
proportional to the concentration gradient
of that species at that location.

• The concentration of a species can be


expressed in several ways:
1. Mass Basis
2. Mole Basis
Mass Basis
• On a mass basis, concentration is expressed in terms of mass
density (ρA)(or mass concentration), which is mass per unit
volume.
𝒎𝑨
ρA = kg/m3
𝑽
• The density of a mixture at a location is equal to the sum of
the densities of its constituents at that location.
• Mass Fraction:
ρA
𝒘𝑨 =
ρ
ρ = total mass density of the mixture
• Mass fraction of a species ranges between 0 and 1
• The sum of the mass fractions of the constituents of a mixture
be equal to 1
Mole Basis
• On a mole basis, concentration is expressed in terms of Molar
concentration(CA)(or molar density), which is defined as the
number of moles of species ‘A’ per unit volume of the mixture.
• Its unit is kmole/m3
𝑵𝑨 𝝆𝑨 𝑚 𝜌𝑉
𝑪𝑨 = = since, N = =
𝑽 𝑴𝑨 𝑀 𝑀
• Mole Fraction:
𝑪𝑨 𝑵𝑨
𝒚𝑨 = = where C = total mole concentration of the mixture
𝑪 𝑵
• The mole fraction of a species ranges between 0 and 1.
• The sum of the mole fractions of the constituents of a mixture is
unity.
ρA 𝑪𝑨 𝑴𝑨 𝑴𝑨
𝒘𝑨 = = = 𝒚𝑨
ρ 𝑪𝑴 𝑴
• By Dalton’s law of partial pressures,
P = 𝑃𝐴 + 𝑃𝐵
𝐺
Also we have, 𝑃𝐴 = 𝜌𝐴 𝑅𝐴 𝑇 = 𝜌𝐴 𝑇
𝑀𝐴
𝑃𝐴 𝑀 𝐴
So, 𝜌𝐴 = and
𝐺𝑇
𝜌𝐴 𝑃𝐴
𝐶𝐴 = = , where G=Universal gas constant=8314 J/kmole.K
𝑀𝐴 𝐺𝑇
• From perfect gas law, we have,
𝑃𝐴 𝑉 = 𝑁𝐴 𝐺𝑇
𝑁𝐴 𝑃𝐴 𝑃𝐴 𝑁𝐴
ie, 𝐶𝐴 = = Also, pressure fraction = = 𝑦𝐴
𝑉 𝐺𝑇 𝑃 𝑁
FICK’S LAW OF DIFFUSION
• Fick’s law of diffusion states that the rate of
mass diffusion of a chemical species in a
stagnant medium in a specified direction is
proportional to the local concentration gradient
in that direction.
• Mass flux = Constant of proportionality x
Concentration gradient
𝒎𝑨 𝒅𝝆𝑨
= −𝑫𝑨𝑩 kg/𝑚2 .s and
𝑨 𝒅𝒙
𝒎𝑩 𝒅𝝆𝑩
= −𝑫𝑩𝑨 kg/𝑚2 .s
𝑨 𝒅𝒙
• 𝐷𝐴𝐵 = Diffusion coefficient or Mass diffusivity of
𝟐
A to B. Its unit is Τ𝒔
𝒎
Diffusion Coefficient
• Fick’s law describes the mass transport due
to concentration gradient.
• The unit of Diffusion coefficient(D) is
identical to those of Thermal
diffusivity (𝛼) and Kinematic
viscosity 𝜗 .Thus Diffusion coefficient is a
transport property.
• The diffusion coefficients, in general, are
highest in gases and lowest in solids.
• The diffusion coefficients of gases are several
orders of magnitude greater than those of
liquids.
• Diffusion coefficients increase with
temperature.
Various expressions of Fick’s law

in kg/𝑚2 .s in kmole/𝑚2 .s
Fick’s law in terms of Partial Pressures
𝒎𝑨 𝑴𝑨 𝒅𝑷𝑨
= −𝑫𝑨𝑩
𝑨 𝑮𝑻 𝒅𝒙

𝒎𝑩 𝑴𝑩 𝒅𝑷𝑩
= −𝑫𝑩𝑨
𝑨 𝑮𝑻 𝒅𝒙

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