CCB 3033

ADVANCED TRANSPORT
PROCESSES /
TRANSPORT PHENOMENA
5. Mass Transport
Diffusion through a Spherical Stagnant Gas Film

Course Outcomes
CLO1 Explain the theoretical aspect of momentum, mass
and energy transport
CLO2 Apply mathematical and numerical methodology in
analyzing momentum transfer problem
CLO3 Apply mathematical and numerical methodology in
analyzing heat transfer problem
CLO4 Apply mathematical and numerical methodology in
analyzing mass transfer problem
CLO5 Analyze and solve transport phenomena using
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools.

Lesson outcomes
At the end of the lesson the student should
be able to:
Solve the problem of diffusion through a stagnant
spherical gas film.

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Consider vapor from the surface of a spherical liquid droplet, A, diffuses
through the stagnant gas film, B. It is desired to determine the molar
flux, the concentration profile and the molar flow rate of A for constant
temperature and pressure.
Solution:
The problem can be solved by considering a hypothetical spherical stagnant
gas film around the droplet.
Hypothetical
stagnant gas film

Spherical liquid
droplet

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Schematic Diagram
Assumptions
B is stagnant
NB=0

Boundary conditions
At r=r1 xA=x A1
At r=r2 xA=x A2

r1
r2

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Mechanisms of Mass Transfer
Combined mass transfer

N Ar J Ar x A N Ar N Br

(1)

Since B is stagnant

N Ar J Ar x A N Ar

N Ar cDAB

dx A
x A N Ar
dr

(2)

Rearranging (2)

N Ar

cDAB dx A

1 x A dr

(3)
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Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Shell Balance

NAr|r+Dr
NAr|r
r

Rate of
Rate of
rate of production of A

0
mass of A in mass of A out by reaction

4 r 2 N Ar r r 2 N Ar

r Dr

(4)
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Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Dividing both sides of (4) by SDZ

r 2 N Ar r r 2 N Ar

r Dr

Dr

(5)

Taking the shell as thin as possible:

d 2
(r N Ar ) 0
dr

(6)

Integrating (6)

r N Az c1
2

(7)

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Combining (7) and (3)

cDAB dx A
r
c1
1 x A dr
2

cDAB

dx A
c
12 dr
1 xA r

(8)

1 x A2
1 1
c1
cDAB ln
1 x A1
r1 r2

(9)

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Rearranging(9) we get

1 x A2
cDAB

c1
ln
(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 ) 1 x A1

(10)

Since c1= (r2) NAr from (7) , we get the molar flux equation to be

N Ar

1 x A2
cDAB

2
ln
r [(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )] 1 x A1

(11)

NB: Note that for gasses it is common to give the partial and total
pressure together with temperature, rather than concentration in
such cases (11) can be changed as follows
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Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

pA = partial pressure of A
pB = Partial pressure of B
P= total pressure
T= Temperature

P
RT

xA

pA
P

xB

pB
P

using the above relations in (11) we get

N Ar

P p A2
PDAB

2
ln
r RT [(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )] P p A1

(12)

11

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Composition distribution/ partial pressure distribution
Integrating (8) from r1 at composition xA1 to any r at composition xA

1 xA
1 1
c1
cDAB ln
1 x A1
r1 r

(13)

Dividing (13) by (9) and rearranging

1 1

1 x A r1 r 1 x A 2

ln
ln
1 x A1 1 1 1 x A1
r r
1 2
Simplifying (14) we get

1 x A 1 x A2

1 x A1 1 x A1

(14)

(1 / r1 ) (1 / r )
(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )

(15)
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Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

In terms of partial pressure

P p A P p A2

P p A1 P p A1

(1 / r1 ) (1 / r )
(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )

(15)

The total molar flow rate

The flux at any radius r is given by (11)

N Ar

1 x A2
cDAB

2
ln
r [(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )] 1 x A1

(11)

13

Diffusion through a stagnant spherical gas film

Multiplying the flux (11) by the surface area at r, i.e., 4r2

1 x A2
4cDAB

WA
ln
[(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )] 1 x A1

(16)

In terms of pressure and temperature

WA

P p A2
4PDAB

ln
RT [(1 / r1 ) (1 / r2 )] P p A1

(17)

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Class activity
Mass transfer is occurring from a sphere of naphthalene
having a radius of 10 mm. The sphere is in a large volume
of still air at 52.6oC and 1 atm absolute pressure. The vapor
pressure of naphthalene at 52.6oC is 0.0013 atm. The
diffusivity of naphthalene in air is 7.024 x 10-6 m2/s.
Calculate the molar flux of evaporation of naphthalene.

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Lesson outcomes
Solve the problem of diffusion through a spherical
stagnant gas film.

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