ERT 216 HEAT & MASS TRANSFER

SEM2, 2013/2014

Tutorial: Principles of Mass Transfer (Part 1)

1. A gas of CH4 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 the point
0.02 m distance away, pA2 = 20.26 kPa.
If the total pressure is constant throughout the tube, calculate the flux of CH4
(methane) at steady state for equimolar counterdiffusion.
2.

The gas CO2 is diffusing at steady state through a tube 0.20 m long having
diameter of 0.01 m and containing N2 at 298 K. The total pressure is constant at
101.32 kPa. The partial pressure of CO2 is 456 mm Hg at one end and 76 mm
Hg at the other end. The diffusivity DAB is 1.67 x 10-5 m2/s at 298K.
Calculate the flux of CO2 in cgs and SI units for equimolar counterdiffusion.

3.

Helium and nitrogen gas are contained in a conduit 5 mm in diameter and 0.1 m
long at 298 K and a uniform constant pressure of 1.0 atm abs. The partial
pressure of He at one end of the tube if 0.060 atm and at the other end is 0.020
atm. The diffusivity DAB is 0.687 x 10-4 m2/s. Calculate the following for steadystate equipmolar counterdiffusion:
(a) Flux of He in kg mol/s.m2 and g mol/s. cm2
(b) Flux of N2
(c) Partial pressure of He at a point 0.05 m from either end.

4. Ammonia gas (A) and nitrogen (B) are diffusing in counterdiffusion through a
straight glass tube 0.610m 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 NH3 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 x 10 -5
m2/s.
(a) Calculate the diffusion of NH3 in kg mol/s.
(b) Calculate the diffusion of N2.
(c) Calculate the partial pressure at point 0.305m in the tube and plot p A, pB and
P versus distance, z.
5. Ammonia gas is diffusing through N2 under steady-state conditions with N2
nondiffusing since it is insoluble in one boundary. The total pressure is 1.013 x
105 Pa and the temperature is 298 K. The partial pressure of NH 3 at one point is
1.333 x 104 Pa, and at the other point 20 mm away it is 6.666 x 10 3 Pa. The DAB
for the mixture at 1.013 x 105 Pa and 298K is 2.30 x 10-5 m2/s.
(a) Calculate the flux of NH3 in kg mol/s. m2.
(b) Do the same as (a) but assume that N2 also diffuses; that is, both boundaries
are permeable to both gases and the flux is equimolar counterdiffusion. In
which case is the flux greater.

ERT 216 HEAT & MASS TRANSFER

6.

SEM2, 2013/2014

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 52.60C and 1atm abs pressure.
The vapour pressure of naphthalene at 52.60C is 1.0mm Hg. The diffusivity of
naphthalene in air at 00C is 5.16 x 10-6 m2/s. The diffusivity can be corrected
using temperature correction factor using:
1/ 2
1.00 x10 7 T 1.75 1 M A 1 M B
DAB
1/ 3
1/ 3 2
p A B

7.

For a mixture of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) vapour and methane (CH4), predict the
diffusivity using:
1/ 2
1.00 x10 7 T 1.75 1 M A 1 M B
DAB
1/ 3
1/ 3 2
p A B
(a) At 1.0132 x 105 Pa and 298 and 373K
(b) At 2.0265 x 105 Pa and 298K.

8. The solute HCl (A) is diffusing through a thin film of water (B) 2.0 mm thick at
283 K. The concentration of HCl at point 1 at one boundary of the film is 12.0
wt% HCl (density, 1 = 1060.7 kg/m3), and at the other boundary at point 2 it is
6.0 wt% HCl (2 = 1030.3 kg/m3). The diffusion coefficient of HCl in water is 2.5
x 10-9 m2/s. Assuming steady-state and one boundary impermeable to water,
calculate the flux of HCl in kg mol/s. m2.
9. It is desired to predict the diffusion coefficient of dilute acetic acid (CH 3COOH) in
water at 282.9K and at 298K using the Wilke-Chang method (see equation
below).Compare the predicted values with the experimental value (7.69 x10-10
m2/s at 282.9K; 1.26 x 10-10 m2/s at 298K).
T
1/ 2
DAB 1.173x10 16 M B
BVA0.6
10. The diffusivity of dilute methanol in water has been determined experimentally to
be 1.26 x 10-9 m2/s at 298K.
(a) Estimate the diffusivity at 293K using the Wilke-Chang equation.
(b) Estimate the diffusivity at 293K by correcting the experimental value at 288K
to 293K.
11. Predict the diffusivity of the enzyme urease in a dilute solution in water at 298 K
using the modified Polson equation (see below) and compare the result with the
experimental value (4.01x10-11 m2/s).
9.40 x10 15T
DAB
M 1A/ 3

ERT 216 HEAT & MASS TRANSFER

SEM2, 2013/2014

12. A layer of gelatin in water 5 mm thick containing 5.1 wt% gelatin at 293K
separates two solutions of sucrose. The concentration of sucrose in the solution
at one surface of the gelatin is constant at 2.0g sucrose / 100 ml solution, and
0.2g/100ml at the other surface. Calculate the flux of sucrose in kg sucrose/s.m 2
through the gel at steady state.
13. Oxygen is diffusing through a solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 298K.
Oxygen has been shown not to bind to BSA. Predict the diffusivity D AP of oxygen
in a protein solution containing 11g protein / 100ml solution. Diffusivity of O 2 in
water = 2.41 x 10-9 m2/s.
Tutorial: Principles of Mass Transfer (Part 2)
1. A flat plug 30mm thick having an area of 4.0 x 10 -4 m2 and made of vulcanized
rubber is used for closing an opening in a container. The gas CO 2 at 250C and
2.0 atm pressure is inside the container. Assume that the partial pressure of CO2
outside is zero. The solubility of the CO2 gas is 0.90 m3 gas (at STP of 00C and
1atm) per m3 rubber per atm pressure of CO2.
Calculate the total leakage or diffusion of CO2 through the plug to the outside in
kg mol CO2/s at steady state.
2. The gas hydrogen is diffusing through a sheet of vulcanized rubber 20 mm thick
at 250C. The partial pressure of H2 is 1.5 atm inside and 0 outside. Calculate:
(a) The diffusivity DAB from the permeability PM and solubility S, and compare
with the experimental value (0.85 x 10-9 m2/s).
(b) The flux NA of H2 at steady state.
3. Hydrogen gas at 2.0 atm and 270C is flowing in a neoprene tube 3.0 mm inside
diameter and 11mm outside diameter. Calculate the leakage of H 2 through a
tube 1.0 mm long in kg mol H2/s at steady state.
4. Nitrogen gas at 2.0 atm and 300C is diffusing through a membrane of nylon
1.0mm thick and polyethyelene 8.0 mm thick in series. The partial pressure at
the other side of the two films is 0 atm. Assuming no other resistances, calculate
flux NA at steady state.
5. It is desired to calculate the rate of diffusion of CO2 gas in air at steady state
through a loosely packed bed of sand at 276 K and a total pressure of 1.013 x
105 Pa. The bed depth is 1.25m and the void fraction is 0.30. The partial
pressure of CO2 is 2.026 x 103 Pa at the top of the bed and 0 Pa at the bottom.
Use a of 1.87.
6. Cellophane is being used to keep food moist at 38 0C. Calculate the loss of water
vapour in g/day at steady state for a wrapping 0.10 mm thick and an area of
0.200 m2 when the vapour pressure of water vapour inside is 10 mm Hg and the
air outside contains water vapour at a pressure of 5 mm Hg. Permeability of
water in cellophane is 1.82 x 10-10 m3 H2O (STP)/s.m2.atm/m.
3

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7. A window of SiO2 2.0 mm thick and 1.0 x 10-4 m2 in area is used to view the
contents of a metal vessel at 200C. Helium gas at 202.6 kPa is contained in the
vessel. Use DAB = 5.5 x 10-14 m2/s,
(a) Calculate the loss of He in kg mol/h at steady state.
(b) Calculate the permeability PM.
8. A very thick slad has a uniform concentration of solute A of c 0=1.0x10-2 kg mol
A/m3. Suddenly, the front face of the slab is exposed to a flowing fluid having a
concentration c1=0.10 kg mol A/m3 and a convection coefficient kc = 2 x 10-7 m/s.
The equilibrium distribution coefficient K = cLi/ci = 0.50. The diffusivity in the solid
is DAB = 4x10-9 m2/s.
(a) Assuming that the slab is a semi-infinite solid, calculate the concentration in
the solid at the surface (x=0) and x=0.01m from the surface after t = 3x104s.
(b) Plot the data.
9. A solid rectangular solid block of 5.15 wt% agar gel at 278K is 10.16 mm thick
and contains a uniform concentration of urea of 0.1 kg mol/m 3. The block is
10.16 mm thick in the x direction, 7.62 mm thick in y direction and 10.16 mm
thick in z direction. Diffusion occurs at all six faces. The slab is suddenly
immersed in pure turbulent water, so the surface resistance can be assumed to
be negligible; that is, the convective coefficient kc is very large. The diffusivity of
urea in the agar is 4.72x10-10 m2/s. Calculate the concentration at the midpoint of
the block after 10h.
10. A flat slab of Douglas fir wood 50.8 mm thick containing 30 wt% moisture is
being dried from both sides (neglecting ends and edges). The equilibrium
moisture content at the surfaces of the wood due to the drying air blown over it is
held at 5 wt% moisture. The drying can be assumed to be represented by a
diffusivity of 3.72 x 10-8 m2/h. Calculate the time for the center to reach 10 %
moisture.
Tutorial: Principles of Mass Transfer (Part 3)
1. In a wetted-wall tower an air-H2S mixture is flowing by a film of water that is
flowing as a thin film down a vertical plate. The H2S is being absorbed from the
air to the water at a total pressure of 1.50 atm abs and 300C. A value for kc of
9.567x10-4 m/s has been predicted for the gas-phase mass transfer coefficient.
At a given point the mole fraction of H2S in the liquid at the liquid-gas interface is
2.0 x 10-5 and pA of H2S in the gas is 0.05 atm. The Henrys law equilibrium
relation is pA (atm) = 609 xA (mole fraction in liquid). Calculate the rate of
absorption of H2S.

ERT 216 HEAT & MASS TRANSFER

SEM2, 2013/2014

2. Toluene A is evaporating from a wetted porous slab by having inert pure air at 1
atm flowing parallel to the flat surface. At a certain point the mass-transfer
coefficient kx for very low fluxes has been estimated as 0.20 Ib mol/hr.ft 2.
Calculate the flux ratios kx0/kx for xA1= 0.65, 0.20, and 0.01 to correct for high
flux and plot the ratio versus xA1.
3. A large volume of pure water at 26.10C is flowing parallel to a flat plate of solid
benzoic acid, where L = 0.137 m in the direction of flow. The solubility of benzoic
acid in water is 0.02948 kg mol/m3. The diffusivity of benzoic acid is 1.245 x 10 -9
m2/s. The physical properties of water at 26.10C: = 8.71 x 10-4 Pa.s, = 996
kg/m3, DAB = 1.245 x 10-9 m2/s.
(a) Calculate xBM
(b) Calculate the flux for a water velocity of 0.152 m/s.
4. A pure water at 26.10C is flowing at a velocity of 0.0305 m/s in a tube having an
inside diameter of 6.35 mm. The tube is 1.829 m long with the last 1.22 m
having the walls coated with benzoic acid. The physical properties of water at
26.10C: = 8.71 x 10-4 Pa.s, = 996 kg/m3, DAB = 1.245 x 10-9 m2/s.
Assuming that the velocity profile is fully developed, calculate the average
concentration of benzoic acid at the outlet.
5. It is desired to estimate the mass-transfer coefficient kG in kg mol/s.m2.Pa for
water vapour in air at 338.6K and 101.32 kPa flowing in a large duct past solids
of different geometries as stated below. The velocity in the duct is 3.66 m/s. The
water vapour concentration in the air is small, so the physical properties of air
can be used. Water vapour is being transferred to the solids.
(a) A single 25.4 mm diameter sphere
(b) A packed bed of 25.4 mm spheres with = 0.35.