1

Module 3:
Convective heat and mass transfer

Lecture 31:
Dispersion

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

One dimensional Diffusive Transport (without flow): Governing Equation

C
2C
=D 2
t
Z

Dispersion Coefficient (can be molecular diffusivity)

Boundary and Initial Conditions:
B.C. C = 0 as Z

t 0
Total quantity of substance released

I.C. C =

M
( Z ) : Pulseat t = 0
A

areadelta function
+

CA dz =

M
A ( Z ) dZ = M
A

Solve the above Partial Differential Equation by Fourier Transform

C
M
att=0
= Ds 2C and C =
t
A

The solution is C = Be s Dt =
2

M s2 Dt

e
A

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

From tables find inverse

C=

M
A

X2
1
exp

4 Dt
4 Dt

(3.5.1)

Generalize to three-dimensional system

Dispersion in Laminar Flow inside a tube (Taylor Dispersion)

Diffusion

2R

Tracer Pulse at t=0

Laminar Flow

Taylor Dispersion in a circular tube of radius R with laminar flow

Assumptions:
1. Constant physical properties
2.

Dilute tracer

3. Fully developed velocity

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

Governing equation

2 U 1

r2

R2

2C 1 C 2C
C
C
+U0 ( r )
= D 2 +
+
(3.5.2)
t
X
r r X 2
r

Boundary and Initial Conditions

B.C.X=0 andt=0 C =

M
(Z )
R2

t>0,r=R

C
= 0 ,impermeable wall
r

t>0,r=0

C
= 0 ,symmetry
r

t 0 , X C = 0

It is convenient to work in a coordinate system that moves with the average flow velocity<U>
Therefore, define

r2
U ( r ) = U 0 ( r ) U = U 1 2 2
R

Then equation (3.5.2) becomes (neglecting axial diffusion i.e.,

2C
=0)
X 2

2r 2 C
1 C 2C
C
+ U 1 2
= D
+ 2 (3.5.3)
t

r
R
X
r
r

Where x and t refer to the new coordinate system

Note: Assume that

C
C
=0
= Constant and
t
X

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

Then equation (3.5.3) yields

C = C0 +

R 2U C0 2 1 4
(3.5.4)
4 D X
2

With C0 = C ( r = 0 ) , and =

The mean concentration Cmover the tube cross section is defined by

1

Cm = 2 C d (3.5.5)
0

UsingCm,equation (3.5.4) can be modified to

C = Cm +

R 2U Cm 1
1 4
2
+ (3.5.6)
4 D X 3
2

We also have

Cm
C
= 0 (as before) in the case
=Constant
X
t

Equation (3.5.6) is a solution of (3.5.3) when

Cm
=Constant
X

The rate at which material is transported across a section of the tube is

Q = 2 R

CU ( ) d
0

Inserting the values of C from (3.5.6) and one obtains

R 2U 2 Cm
(3.5.7)
Q = R2

48 D X

Equation (3.5.7) shows that the combined effect of longitudinal convection and radial molecular
diffusion is to give rise to transport across planes which move with the average flow velocity
equivalent to transport across a stationary plane with diffusivity
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

2 2
R
U
(3.5.8)

Deff =

48D

Cm
Constant and one can describe the
X
dispersion process (relative to axes moving with Speed U) by
If it is assumed that equation (3.5.7) applies even when

Cm
2 Cm
(3.5.9)
= Deff
t
X 2

If a certain amount M of a substance is introduced into the system at t=0 and X=0 , and the substance
occupies a small section of the tube compared to R, then
Cm =

M
( X ) at t=0
R2

The solution to this problem may given as equation (3.5.1)

M
R

1
4 Deff t

( X Ut )

(3.5.10)
exp
CM =

4 Deff t

Note : In equation (3.5.10) the co-ordinate has been transformed has been transformed back to a
stationary plane.

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering