Mass Transfer Design

CCB2053
Dr Sintayehu Mekuria Hailegiorgis
Department of Chemical Engineering
CCB2053 1
Mass Transfer Principles
CCB2053-CHAPTER 2-LECTURE 1

Lesson Outline

Mass transfer principles
Ficks law of diffusion
mass transfer coefficients
Diffusion in gases
Equimolar counter diffusion
General case of diffusion and convection

Lesson Outcome

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to:
Explain the basics of mass transfer processes and Ficks law of
diffusion.
Apply the principle of diffusion for flux estimation in
equimolar counter diffusion processes and general case of
diffusion and convection mass transfer in gases.
Separation (recap)
A physical process in which a mixture is separated into individual
components or group of components.
Why? Product specification, Recovery, Purification

Mechanical
operation
Separation
Homogeneous Heterogeneous
Mass transfer
operations
Distillation Extraction Leaching
Adsorption
Filtration
Centrifugation
Settling
Mass transfer principles
Transport of one component from a region of higher concentration
to lower concentration.
Migration of a substance through another under the influence of
concentration gradient.
Involves the diffusion transport of some component within a single
phase or between phases and remain there.
Mass transfer
Dye molecules spread throughout the water in a random fashion
Diffusion
Diffusion (considered in this chapter)
The movement of a substance from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration due to
concentration difference.
Classification of mass transfer
Molecular diffusion in stagnate media
Molecular diffusion in fluids in laminar flow
Eddy diffusion or turbulent diffusion
Mass transfer between phases
Ficks Law of molecular Diffusion
Molecular diffusion: defined as the transfer or movement of individual
molecules through a fluid by means of the random,
individual movements of the molecules.
This random movement of the molecules is often called a random
walk process
Example: If there are a greater number of A molecules near point (1) than at
(2), then, since molecules diffuse randomly in both directions, more A
molecules will diffuse from point (1) to (2) than from point (2) to (1). The net
diffusion of A is from high to low concentration region.














Ficks Law of molecular Diffusion
Mass transfer is characterized by the general form of transport
equation.



Resistance
force Driving
process transfer of Rate =
dz
J and dc J
Az Az
1
o o
dz
dx
cD J
A
AB AZ
=
The basic law of diffusion called Ficks Law by Adolf Eugen Fick in 1885
stated the molar flux of a species relative to an observer moving the molar
average velocity is proportional to the concentration gradient of the species
If A diffuses in a binary mixture of A and B then the flux of A is
The flux is the amount or concentration of solute carried by a
fluid past a plane perpendicular to direction of flow or velocity.

The unit of flux is given kg mol/m
2
s (SI system) or g mol/cm
2
s
(cgs system)
Flux
Examples of molecular diffusion flux
Ficks Law of molecular Diffusion
let c is the concentration of A and B in kmol (A+B)/m
3
, x
A
the mole
fraction of A in a mixture of A and B. Since c is constant, then


A A A
dc cx d cdx = = ) (
Substituting in to Eq.(2.3)

dz
dc
D J
A
AB A
=
Where D
AB
is the proportionality constant called the diffusion
coefficient or the diffusivity of A in a mixture of A and B.
Equation (2.5) is the mathematical representation of Ficks law of
diffusion in a binary mixture.
It is often called mass transfer equation.

Ficks Law of molecular Diffusion
A A
c cx =
Similarities of the three transport equations
The three molecular transport process (momentum, heat and mass) are
characterized by the same general type of equation as:
dz
d
z
I
= o
1. Molecular diffusion equation of momentum for constant density,
(Newtons law of viscosity)
2. Fouriers law of heat conduction for constant and c
p

3. Ficks law of diffusion for constant total concentration, c
( )
dz
du
x
zx

t =
( )
dz
T c d
A q
p
x

o =
dz
dc
D J
A
AB Az
=
Ficks Law of molecular Diffusion
Convective mass transfer and mass transfer
coefficient
When a fluid is flowing outside a solid surface in a forced convection motion,
mass transfer occurs under the influence of motion in a fluid medium- convective
mass transfer.









) (
1 Li L c A
c c k N =
Where:
N
A
-Convective molar flux in (kmol/m
2
s)
k
c
-Mass-transfer coefficient (m/s)
c
l1
-Bulk fluid concentration (kg mol A/m
3)
c
li
-Concentration in the fluid next to the surface of the solid (kg mol A/m
3)

(2.10)
Convective mass transfer in liquid-solid system
Flowing liquid
Flux
C
Li

.
i,
C
L1

..
..
Diffusion in Gases
Molecular diffusion in gases can be taken place in
different ways as:
1. Equimolar counter-diffusion in gases
2. General case for diffusion of gases A and B plus
convection
3. Special case for A diffusing through stagnant, non-
diffusing B
4. Diffusion through varying cross-sectional area
1. Equimolar counter-diffusion
Let molecules A diffuse to the right and molecules B
diffuse to the left and P constant throughout the system

2 1
A A
p p >
1 2
B B
p p >
Consider:
Two gases A and B at constant total pressure (P) in two large chambers
connected by a tube and molecular diffusion is occurring at steady state.
Partial pressures: p
A1
> p
A2
and p
B2
> p
B1


The moles A diffusing to right is eqaual to Moles of B diffusing to the left
since total pressure P is constant,
Bz Az
J J =
Ficks law for B for constant total concentration c,
Since total pressure P is constant, then
B A
c c c + =
B A
dc dc =
dz
dc
D J
B
BA Bz
=
(2.11)
(2.12)
(1.13)
1. Equimolar counter-diffusion
Equating Eq.(2.5) and (2.12)
( )
dz
dc
D J
dz
dc
D J
B
BA Bz
A
AB Az
= = =
(2.14)
Substituting (2.13) into (2.14) and canceling
BA AB
D D =
(2.15)
i.e. for binary gas mixture of A and B, the diffusion coefficient (diffusivity)
D
AB
for A diffusing into B is the same as D
BA
for B diffusing into A
1. Equimolar counter-diffusion
2. General case for diffusion of gases A
and B plus convection
Let us consider what happens when the whole fluid is in motion in a bulk or
convective flow to the right as shown in the Figure below








A Ad A
c v J =
(m/s)(kgmol A/m
3
)
(kgmol A/sm
2
)
Diffusion
velocity of A
For diffusion in stationary fluid, the diffusion flux J
A
passing a fixed point from
left (high concn.) to right (low concn.) can be expressed in terms of velocity
of diffusion of A,
The molar average velocity of the whole fluid relative to the stationary
point is v
M
m/s.

v
A
(2.16)
v
M
v
Ad
2. General case for
Component A is still diffusing to the right with its diffusion velocity
Ad,
thus for a stationary observer A is moving faster than the bulk velocity

M
since its diffusion velocity is added to that of the bulk velocity
M
The first term represents the total flux relative to the stationary point, N
A
(kg mol
A/s.m2), the second term the diffusion flux, J relative to the moving fluid and the
third term is the convective flux of A relative to the stationary point.
M Ad A
v v v + =
Convective
velocity of the
bulk fluid
Velocity of A
relative to a
stationary point
Diffusion
velocity of A
Multiplying by c
A,

(2.17)
M A Ad A A A
v c v c v c + =
Hence,
M A A A
v c J N + =
(2.18)
2. General case for
If N = total convective flux of the whole stream relative to the stationary
point, then
B A M
N N cv N + = =
c
N N
v
B A
M
+
=
(2.19)
Substituting equation (2.19) and Ficks law into (2.18),
( )
B A
A A
AB A
N N
c
c
dz
dx
cD N + + =
Convection
term
Diffusion
term
Equation (2.20) is the general form of equation for diffusion plus convection
with relative to a stationary point. It holds for diffusion in gas, liquid, or solid.
(2.20)
2. General case for
Note: For Equimolar counter-diffusion, Hence,
( )
B A
B B
BA B
N N
c
c
dz
dx
cD N + + = (2.21)
A similar equation can be written for N
B
as shown in eq.(2.21)
The convective term in equation becomes zero. Then,
B A
N N =
(2.22)
dz
dx
cD N
A
AB A
=
(2.23)
2 Ficks law of diffusion equation for constant total mass,
dz
dc
D J
A
AB Az
=
3. Convective mass transfer and mass transfer coefficient
) (
1 li l c A
c c k N =
Summary
1 Mass transfer is characterized by the general form of transport equation.
Resistance
force Driving
process transfer of Rate =
5. General case for diffusion of gases A and B plus convection
4. Equimolar counter-diffusion
BA AB Bz Az
D D and J J = =
( )
B A
A A
AB A
N N
c
c
dz
dx
cD N + + =
Example-1
1. Diffusion of Methane through Helium.
A gas of CH
4
and He is contained in a tube at 101.32 kpa pressure
and 298 K. At one point the partial pressure of methane is p
A1
=
60.79 kpa and at a point 0.02m distance away, p
A2
= 20.26 kpa. If
the total pressure is constant throughout the tube, calculate the flux
of CH
4
(methane) at steady state for equimolar counter-diffusion if
D
AB
of the CH
4
-He mixture is 0.675*10
-5
m
2
/s at 101.32 kpa and
298 K.
Solution
Since total pressure P is constant, where the concentration c is as
follows for a gas according to ideal gas law

nRT PV =
(a)
c
RT
P
V
n
= = (b)
Where: n is kg mol A plus B, V is volume, m
3
, T is temperature, K, R is 8314.3m
3

pa/kg mol K, c is in kg mol/m
3

For steady state, the flux J and diffusivity D
AB
for a gas are constant.

dz
dc
D J
A
AB AZ
= (c)
Rearranging and integrating Eq. (c)
} }
=
2
1
2
1
A
A
c
c
A AB
z
z
AZ
dc D dz J
( )
2 1
2 1
z z
c c D
J
A A AB
AZ

=
(d)
Also, from ideal gas law
nRT PV =
V
n
RT
p
c
A A
A
= =
1
1
(e)
Substituting Eq. (e) into Eq. (d)
( )
( )
2 1
2 1
z z RT
p p D
J
A A AB
AZ

=
(f) Final solution
J
AZ
= 5.52*10
-5
kg mol A/s.m
2
or 5.52*10-6 g mol A/s.cm
2
EXAMPLE-2
2. Equimolar Counterdiffusion of NH
3
and N
2
at Steady State.
Ammonia gas (A) and nitrogen gas (B) are diffusing in
counterdiffusion through a straight glass tube 0.610 m long with
an inside diameter of 24.4 mm at 298 K and 101.32 kPa. Both
ends of the tube are connected to large mixed chambers at 101.32
kPa. The partial pressure of NH
3
is constant at 20.0 kPa in one
chamber and 6.666 kPa in the other. The diffusivity at 298 K and
101.32 kPa is 2.30 10
5
m
2
/s.
Calculate
a) the diffusion of NH
3
in kg mol/s.
b) the diffusion of N
2
.
c) the partial pressures at a point 0.305 m in the tube and
plot p
A
, p
B
, and P versus distance z.
Solution
T=298K
P=101.32KPa
p
A1
=20kpa
T=298K
P=101.32KPa
p
A2
=6.666kpa
=24.4mm
z=0.61m
Ammonia gas (A)
Nitrogen gas (B)
Equimolar counterdiffusion
D
AB
=2.3x10
-5
m
2
/s
Calculate
a) the diffusion of NH
3
in kg mol/s.
b) the diffusion of N
2
.
c) the partial pressures at a point 0.305 m in the tube
and plot p
A
, p
B
, and P versus distance z.
Similar to example-1 above,
Since total pressure P is constant, where the concentration c is as follows for a
gas according to ideal gas law

nRT PV =
(a)
c
RT
P
V
n
= =
(b)
Where: n is kg mol A plus B, V is volume, m
3
, T is temperature, K, R is 8314.3m
3

pa/kg mol K, c is in kg mol/m
3

For steady state, the flux J and diffusivity D
AB
for a gas are constant.

dz
dc
D J
A
AB AZ
=
(c)
Rearranging and integrating Eq. (c)
} }
=
2
1
2
1
A
A
c
c
A AB
z
z
AZ
dc D dz J
( )
2 1
2 1
z z
c c D
J
A A AB
AZ

=
(d)
Also, from ideal gas law
nRT PV =
V
n
RT
p
c
A A
A
= =
1
1
(e)
Substituting Eq. (e) into Eq. (d)
( )
( )
2 1
2 1
z z RT
p p D
J
A A AB
AZ

=
(f)
Substituting D
AB
= 8314 m
2
/s, p
A1
= 2.0x104 pa, p
A2
= 6.666x103 pa, R=8314.34 m
3
pa /kg
mol K, T=298K and z
2
-z1=0.61m
J
Az
= 2.03x10
-7
kg mol A/s.m
2

Rate of diffusion = J
Az
S,
Where S is surface area = r
2
= (0.0122m)
2
=4.68x10
-4
m
2



a) Rate of diffusion = J
Az
r
2
=9.48x10
-11
kg mol A/s

b) J
B
=?
Similarly J
B
can be given by;
( )
( )
2 1
2 1
z z RT
p p D
J
B B BA
BZ

=
(g)
Where: p
B1
= P - p
A1
= 101.32kPa-20kpa=81.32kpa
p
B2
= P - p
A2
=101.32kPa-6.666kpa=94.654kpa
Substituting in to Eq.(g) and calculating
J
Bz
= -2.03x10
-7
kg mol B/s.m
2

Rate of diffusion = J
Bz
S,
Where S is surface area = r
2
= (0.0122m)
2
=4.68x10
-4
m
2



Rate of diffusion = J
Bz
r
2
=-9.48x10
-11
kg mol A/s

The negative value of J
BZ
means the flux goes from point 2 to point 1
c) p
A1
at 0.05m?




( )
2
2 1
1 A
AB
AZ
A
p
D
z z RT J
p +

=
(h)
Substituting the calculated value of J
Az
= 2.03X10-7kg mol/s.m
2
, z
1
-z
2
=0.05m and
the above values , then;

p
A1
= 1.333x10
4
pa
From equation (f) solving for p
A1
Plots P, p
A
and p
B
versus distance z
P
p
B1
p
A1
z
P
,

p
A
,

p
B

p
B1
p
A2
P
p
B1
p
A1
P
,

p
A
,

p
B

Next Lesson
Diffusion of gas A through stagnant, non-diffusing gas B
Diffusion of gases through varying cross-sectional area