Mass Transfer - 2
Mass Transfer Fundamentals
BSL
Fick’s Law 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑥𝐴 𝑁𝐴 + 𝑁𝐵 − 𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝛻 𝐶𝐴
𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴
Molar Flux Bulk Flow Diffusion 𝐷𝐴𝐵 + +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Species Balance Equation in Cartesian Coordinate System
𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴
+ 𝑣𝑥 + 𝑣𝑦 + 𝑣𝑧 = 𝐷𝐴𝐵 + + + 𝑅𝐴
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2
Transient, Convection, Conduction/Diffusion, Generation
2
T T T T 2T 2T 2T
Cp vx vy vz k 2 2 2 v Q
t x y z x y z
𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴
+ 𝑣𝑥 + 𝑣𝑦 + 𝑣𝑧
Observations 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴
= 𝐷𝐴𝐵 + + + 𝑅𝐴
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2
Homogeneous reaction term appears in the governing equation
Heterogeneous reaction appears as a boundary condition.
Possible boundary conditions
1. Concentration specified at a point e.g. solubility, equilibrium etc.
2. At the catalyst surface, diffusive flux to the surface must be equal to the rate
of reaction
𝑑𝐶
− 𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝐴│x=cat sur = - RA//
𝑑𝑥
// refers to heterogeneous reaction
3
Boundary conditions contd.
3. Equality of concentration at the interface CA, s1 = CA, s2
4. Impervious surface dC/dx = 0 at specified location
5. Conductive flux to the solid-fluid interface is equal to the convective flux away
from the interface, −𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑑𝐶𝐴/𝑑𝑥│𝑥=𝐿= ℎ𝑚 (𝐶𝐴𝑠 − 𝐶𝐴∞ )
4
In a photodiode, as shown in the figure
(d being the thickness of the sensitive layer),
electrons are generated at a rate, M which are directly proportional to the incident light
intensity. The intensity varies exponentially with depth as shown below
I I o exp ( x ) and M (mol / m3 s ) mo I
The electrons diffuse toward the circuitry (the generated electrons flow through
the interface at x=d) and a signal is generated that is proportional to the
electron flux at d.
(a) Evaluate an expression for the concentration profile of electrons, Ce , in the
light sensitive layer. The flow of electrons is governed by a law similar to
Fick’s law. The diffusivity of electrons is Des.
(b) All photodiodes have a dark current, Id , due to electrons formed by random
thermal means, that is basically noise. The dark current density is proportional
to the volume of light sensitive material, Id = Ino V, where V is the volume and
Ino is a constant. Develop an expression for the signal to noise ratio.
Diffusion into a falling Film - Forced Convection Mass Transfer
y x Absorption of gas A by a
z laminar falling film of liquid B
W L (i) A is only slightly soluble in B
Air (ii) Diffusion of A in B takes place
x 2
very slowly, i.e. A does not
vz ( x) vmax 1 Wall
penetrate very far into B –
penetration distance small
compared to the film thickness
𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴 𝜕 2 𝐶𝐴
+ 𝑣𝑥 + 𝑣𝑦 + 𝑣𝑧 = 𝐷𝐴𝐵 + + + 𝑅𝐴
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2
Imagine a film of stagnant liquid in which a
chemical species of concentration C2 is dissolved. At
the surface z = 0, in contact with a solid wall, a
concentration C1o of another species is maintained.
The thickness of the film is L, over which C1
changes from a concentration of C1o to 0. and it can
be assumed that some external mechanism is present
that permits us to maintain C1o at z = 0 and C2L at z
= L. Species 1 and 2 will diffuse and profiles C1(z)
and C2(z) will be established at steady state
Now further suppose that species 1 and 2 react at a rate R12 = - k C1C2
(R12 is the rate of disappearance of 1 and 2). This reaction occurs
homogeneously throughout the film. Species 1 and 2 diffuse through the
film according to different diffusion coefficients, denoted by D1 and D2
respectively. Derive (do not solve) the governing equations (for one-
dimensional diffusion only process) for the two species and state clearly
the boundary conditions that reflect the physics of the process.
