Problem Set 3

CHE130-1P B21

December 6, 2016

Solve the following.

1.

Consider the combustion of a spherical carbon particle into carbon dioxide. Assuming that, in a
particular instant, the particle is surrounded by a thick layer of carbon dioxide, estimate the
consumption rate of carbon particle at 1000 K and 1 atm in oxygen.
Data: diameter of carbon, 0.003 m
Diffusivity of carbon dioxide in oxygen, 1.032 10-4 m2/s.

2. An industrial pipeline containing ammonia gas is vented to the atmosphere (i.e., a 3-mm-tube is
inserted into the pipe and extends for 20 m into the air). If the system is at 25C, find the mass
rate of ammonia lost from the vent.
3. Carburization of steel is a high-temperature process. At a temperature of 1273 K, how much time
would be required to raise the steel carbon content at a depth of 1 mm from 0.1 to 1 %. The
carbon mole fraction on steel surface is 0.02. [D = 3 10-7 cm2/s]
4. Air flows over a solid slab of frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) with an exposed cross-sectional
surface are of 1 10-3 m2. The carbon dioxide sublimes into the 2 m/s flowing stream at a total
release rate of 2.29 10-4 mol/s. The air is at 293 K and at 1.013 105 Pa pressure. At that
temperature, diffusivity of carbon dioxide in air is 1.5 10-5 m2/s and the kinematic viscosity of
the air is 1.55 10-5 m2/s.
A. Determine the value of the mass-transfer coefficient of CO2 subliming into the flowing air
under the condition of the experiment.
B. Determine the value of the heat-transfer coefficient, h, for the air stream.
5. Dittus-Boelter proposed the following equation for correlating the heat-transfer coefficient for
turbulent flow in a pipe

Nu

hD
0.023Re4 / 5 Pr1/ 3
k

What should be the corresponding equation for the mass-transfer coefficient when the transfer
is to a turbulent fluid in a pipe?
6. Linton and Sherwood conducted experiments on the dissolution of cast tubes of benzoic acid (A)
into water (B) flowing through the tubes in laminar flow. They attained good agreement with
predictions based on the Graetz and Leveque equations.

Shavg 1

0.668PeM /x / D
1 0.04PeM /x / D2 / 3

Consider a 5.23-cm. ID by 3.2-cm long tube of benzoic acid, preceded by 400 cm of straight metal
pipe of the same ID where a fully developed velocity profile is established. Pure water enters the
system at 25 C at a velocity corresponding to a Reynolds number of 100. Based on the following
property data at 25 C, estimate the average concentration of benzoic acid in the water leaving
CHE130-1P B21 2Q SY 2016-17

Problem Set 3

CHE130-1P B21

December 6, 2016

the cast tube before a significant change in ID of the benzoic acid tube occurs because of
dissolution.
Solubility of benzoic acid in water
0.0034 g/cm3
Viscosity of water
0.89 cP
Diffusivity of benzoic acid in water
9.18 10-6 cm2/s
Note: PeM = ReSc
7. An absorption tower, operating at 20 C and 1 atm, is used to absorb carbon dioxide from air
mixture into water. At one point in the absorber, the partial pressure of the SO2 in the gas stream
is 4 103 Pa and the concentration of the contacting liquid stream is 0.55 kgmol/m3. The individual
gas film mass transfer coefficient is kG = 1.1 10-4 kgmol/m2sPa and the individual liquid film
mass-transfer coefficient is kL = 1.1 10-4 kgmol/m2s(kgmol/m3). Equilibrium data at 20 C are as
follows:
A) Evaluate the interfacial concentrations, cAi, pAi.
B) Determine the values of the following quantities: KG, KL, cA*, pA*.

CHE130-1P B21 2Q SY 2016-17