What is Mass Transfer?

“Mass transfer specifically refers to the

relative motion of species in a mixture due
to concentration gradients.”

Analogy between Heat and Mass Transfer

Since the principles of mass transfer are very similar
to those of heat transfer, the analogy between heat
and mass transfer will be used throughout this
module.
 Mass transfer through Diffusion
Conduction Mass Diffusion
dT ⎡ J ⎤ dξ A ⎡ kg ⎤
q′′ = − k j ′A′ = − ρD AB
dy ⎢⎣ m 2 s ⎥⎦ dy ⎢⎣ m 2 s ⎥⎦
(Fourier’s law) (Fick’s law)

ρ is the density of the gas mixture

DAB is the diffusion coefficient
ξ A = ρ A / ρ is the mass concentration of component A
 Mass transfer through Diffusion
A B
j ′A′

jB′′

The sum of all diffusion fluxes must be zero: ∑ ji′′ = 0

ξ A + ξB = 1
d d
ξ A = − ξB
dy dy
DBA = DAB = D
 Heat and Mass Diffusion: Analogy

• Consider unsteady diffusive transfer through a layer

Heat conduction, unsteady, semi-infinite plate

∂T ∂ ⎛ ∂T ⎞
ρc = ⎜k ⎟
∂t ∂x ⎝ ∂x ⎠
∂T k ∂ 2T ∂ 2T
= =α 2
∂t ρc ∂x 2
∂x

d 2θ dθ * η=
x
Similarity transformation: + 2η =0
PDE → ODE dy 2
dη 4αt
 Heat and Mass Diffusion: Analogy

Solution: T − T0 = 1 − erf ⎛⎜ x ⎞⎟
Tu − T ⎝ 4αt ⎠

Temperature field

dT k kcρ
Heat flux q& ′′ x =0 = −k = (Tu − T0 ) = (Tu − T )
dx
x =0
παt πt
 Heat and Mass Diffusion: Analogy

Diffusion of a gas component, which is brought

in contact with another gas layer at time t=0
Differential equation:
∂ρ i ∂ 2ξ i
= ρD 2
∂t ∂x
∂ξ i ∂ 2ξ i
=D 2
∂t ∂x Transient diffusion

Initial and boundary

ξi (t = 0, x ) = ξi ,o
conditions: ξi (t > 0, x = 0) = ξi ,u
ξi (t > 0, x → ∞ ) = ξi ,o
 Heat and Mass Diffusion: Analogy

ξ i − ξ i ,o ⎛ x ⎞
Solution: = 1 − erf ⎜ ⎟
ξ u − ξ i ,o ⎝ 4 Dt ⎠

Concentration field

ρD
Diffusive mass flux ji′′ x =0 = (ξi ,Ph − ξi ,o )
πDt
 Diffusive mass transfer on a surface
(Mass convection)
Fick's Law, diffusive mass flow rate:
∂ξ ξ ∞ − ξ w ∂ξ *
j A = − ρD
′′ y =0 = − ρD
∂y L ∂y * y* =0

mass transfer coefficient ⎡ kg ⎤

hmass ⎢ 2 ⎥
⎣m s⎦
j ′A′ = hmass (ξ w − ξ ∞ )
Dimensionless mass transfer hmass L ∂ξ *
= Sh = * = f (Re, Sc)
number, the Sherwood number Sh ρD ∂y y * =0

Sh = C Re m Sc n
Note: Compare with energy eqn. and Nusselt No.: The constants C and the
exponents m and n of both relationships must be equal for comparable boundary
conditions.
 Diffusive mass transfer on a surface..

Dimensionless number to represent Lewis No.

the relative magnitudes of heat and
Sc α Thermal diffusivity
mass diffusion in the thermal and Le = = =
concentration boundary layers Pr D Mass diffusivity

Analogy between heat and mass transfer

Comparing the correlation for the Sh ⎛ Sc ⎞
n

heat and mass transfer =⎜ ⎟

Nu ⎝ Pr ⎠
n −1
hmass ⎛ Sc ⎞
Hence, =⎜ ⎟
h / c p ⎝ Pr ⎠
hmass
For gases, Pr ≈ Sc, hence: =1 Lewis relation
h / cp