DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS CHENNAI 600036

Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer

ASSIGNMENT 1

Data provided should be accompanied with suitable references (else will not be marked)

Work in groups of 2 and submit one per group

Show calculations neatly and box answers

Write Roll Nos. Answer Sheets without roll nos. will not be marked

Submit assignments in class on 19.2.18 OR earlier. Late submissions will not be

entertained

Use SI units as much as possible

You may consult NPTEL lectures available on the net (provide references)

Marks: 100 Due: 19.2.18

1. Tabulate with references the values of thermal conductivities of metals in SI units.

Give two advantages of high thermal conductivity in industry and in day to day
activities. Similarly give two disadvantages.
2. Explain thermal conduction on a molecular basis. Why does thermal conductivity of
metals decrease with increase in temperature while for gases, it increases?
3. What do you physically understand by critical thickness of insulation? Does heat
loss increase or decrease after the critical thickness is exceeded? Derive an
expression for the critical thickness of insulation. Neglect radiation effects.
4. The bulk thermal conductivity of a nano fluid containing uniformly dispersed, non-
contacting spherical nanoparticles may be approximated by

𝑘𝑝 + 2. 3𝑘𝑏𝑓 + 1.7 (𝑘𝑝 − 𝑘𝑏𝑓 )

𝑘𝑛𝑓 = [ ] 𝑘𝑏𝑓
𝑘𝑝 + 2𝑘𝑏𝑓 −  (𝑘𝑝 − 𝑘𝑏𝑓 )
Here  is the volume fraction of nanoparticles. The thermal conductivities kbf, kp,
and knf refers to that of water, alumina particle (36 W/m.K) and nano-fluid
respectively. Find knf. Is the thermal conductivity at 300 K and particle volume
 fraction of 0.10. What happens to the solvent thermal conductivity when the
nanoparticles are added? Give some applications of such nano fluids.
5. See Fig. below. The thermal conductivity is given by k=k o-bT (where b>0). With
increasing x, do the following quantities increase or decrease

a. Heat transfer rate b. heat flux c. k d. dT/dx

6. A one-dimensional plane wall of thickness 2L=100 mm experiences uniform

volumetric thermal energy generation of 1000 W/m3 and is convectively cooled at
x=±50 mm by an ambient fluid characterized by T ∞ = 20oC. If the steady state
temperature distribution within the wall is given by T(x) = a(L2-x2)+b where
a=10oC/m2 and b=30oC. What is the thermal conductivity at the wall? What is the
value of the heat transfer coefficient ‘h’?

7. Solve Problem 10B.6 from “Transport Phenomena” by Bird Stewart and Lightfoot
(II edn., p. 323).

8. The walls of a chamber are made from a layer of brick (thickness of 250 mm,
imp k=0.7W/m.K). The temperature in the chamber is estimated at 115 oC. The heat
flow from 1 m2 of the chamber wall is not to exceed 100 W when ambient
temperature is 25oC for which an insulation is applied (k=0.045 W/m. K) outside the
brick layer. Calculate the thickness of the insulation if the surface heat transfer
coefficients at inner and outer walls are 30 and 20 W/m2oC, respectively.
 9. A “Band-Aid” strip comprising of medicine A releases it slowly through porous gauze. The
imp
pores in the gauze may be assumed to comprise of channels of equivalent length L filled
with water (B). The water is saturated with the drug at the top layer (concentration = 1
mol/m3). At the other end assume that the drug is instantaneously absorbed by the wound
so that the drug’s concentration is effectively zero. If diffusivity of the drug in water is (D AB) =
10-10 m2/s and pore diameter is 100oA (<< L). The cross sectional area is 4 cm2 but area
occupied by porous region is only 1 cm2. Assume that the band aid strip has enough
capacity in one day to maintain saturation concentration of the medicine at the top.

Band aid strip Medicine

Pore filled with liquid

L

wound

Solution:

(a) Justify one dimensional mass transport.

The pores are very narrow (D << L) and hence the concentration may be considered uniform
across the cross section when compared to the variation along the length.
[2]

(b) Since the medicine products in large quantities are toxic to the liver, what should
be the minimum thickness of the porous layer (L) so that the quantity transferred into the
blood does not exceed 2 x 10-8 mol in 24 hours.

The steady state molar diffusive transport rate from the reservoir to the wound is given by
(CTop − CBottom )
WA = DAB At
L
Plugging in the values,
(1 − 0) −4
2 x 10−8 = 10−10 10 (24 x 3600)
L
 10−10
L = 10−4 (24 x 3600)
2 x 10−8

L = 0.0432 m
Or, the thickness of the porous layer should not be smaller than 4.32 cm. Rather a thick band
aid.
[4]
(c) State assumptions made.
Rather simple steady state was assumed since the thickness of the band aid is quite small.
Further, the surface and bottom concentration values are fixed at saturation concentration and
zero concentration for the entire day. Once the initial transients die out, the rate at which the
medicine is taken from the top surface will be equal to the rate at which it is consumed at the
bottom wound surface.

Imp 10. Ammonia is absorbed into water flowing down a flat plate inclined at 60o to the vertical.
The plate is 5 m in length. If the residence time of the liquid is very high, determine (a) the film
thickness (b) If the flow laminar (c) average liquid velocity (d) if the long residence time is
justified through calculations (e) the average mass transfer coefficient using the data given
below.
Mass flow rate per unit width of the film: 5 x 10-3 kg/s ii. Viscosity of the liquid: 1.05 cp iii. T & P:
20 oC and 1 atm. iv density of liquid: 1000 kg/m3 v. Diffusion coefficient = 1.96 x 10-9 m2/s.

11. A solid cylinder 3 cm in diameter and 10 cm in length is rotated at 100 rpm (revolutions
per minute) in 1000 ml of initially pure water. The cylinder made of a sparingly soluble solid
dissolves only from the curved surface. The mass transfer coefficient (k c in cm/s) is given by

ω 0.5  0.333
k c = 1.0 D ( ) ( )
 D

The diffusivity D of the solute in water used in the correlation is 1.33 x 10-5cm2/s,  is the
angular velocity of the cylinder in rad/s and  is the ratio of viscosity (10-2 g/cm.s) to the density
(1 g/cm3) of the liquid. Use the units provided for the variables in the above correlation. Find
the mass transfer coefficient from the given data and the time taken for the liquid to reach 25%
of the final saturation value. Assume temperature is constant and neglect area changes in the
cylinder.

12. A batch process involves the dissolution of sparingly soluble particles from an initial
concentration Co to final concentration Cf in a well-mixed vessel of volume V. The average
interfacial area of mass transfer may be assumed be ‘a’ m2/m3. If the appropriate average
volumetric mass transfer coefficient is kLa, show that the mass transfer rate (W A) may be
expressed as
WA = klaV (C)mean

What is the form of the average driving force (C)mean?

Identify ONE correct answer in each of the following objective questions

13. In a membrane, the flux of the transferring substance is given by

DAB (CA1 − CA2 )

NA =


To improve the mass transfer rate, you should

A. increase the cross sectional area of the membrane

B. increase the concentration driving force
C. reduce the membrane thickness 
D. All of the above

14. The mass transfer flux is represented in terms of the partial pressure driving force by

NA = k P (pA1 − pA2 )

Assuming ideal gas behavior and constant temperature, the relation between k P and kc (the
mass transfer coefficient based on the concentration driving force) will be
A. k P = k c RT B. k c = k P RT C. kc = kP D. k c = k P R/T

15. The dimensionless number for convective mass transfer is the Sherwood number. The
analogous dimensionless number for convective heat transfer is

A. Reynolds number B. Prandtl number C. Schmidt number D. Nusselt

number

16. For a sphere dissolving sparingly in a stagnant liquid, if the diameter of the sphere is
increased by two times, usual assumptions remaining the same, then the convective mass
transfer coefficient kc will

A. be unchanged B. increase two times

C. decrease two times D. increase 4 times

17. The heat transfer case analogous to a sparingly soluble sphere dissolving in stagnant
water will involve a sphere
A. with constant wall temperature B. rising in the fluid
C. with insulated surface D. melting rapidly in water

18. When a sphere is dissolving slowly in water at constant temperature, the concentration of
the solid in water that is in contact with the wall (i.e. at the interface) is equal to

A. the concentration at the bulk of the water far away from the sphere surface
B. the solubility of the solid in water at that temperature
C. the average of the solubility value and the bulk concentration D. zero

19. Consider a cylindrical metallic pipe within which boiling water is flowing. The metal pipe
wall is very thin and has high thermal conductivity. Outside the pipe, air is flowing. The
overall heat transfer coefficient based on the outer area Uo may then be approximated to

1 1 1 1 Ao 1  Ao 1  Ao
A. = B. = C. = ̅L
D. = ̅L
Uo ho Uo hi Ai Uo km A Uo km A
20. Stagnant water fills a cylindrical well up to the brim (top level). However, a turbulently and
continuously flowing oil slick covers the top surface of the water. The density of the oil is
smaller than that of the water. This oil contains a poisonous compound which is very
harmful to the rare breed of fish swimming in the well.

Turbulently flowing oil

slick

Well containing water and rare

species of swimming fishes

The company responsible for the oil slick assures that the poisonous compound distributes
sparingly into the water and has low diffusivity in it. Hence, the fish will not be affected at all as
the compound only will penetrate a very small distance into the liquid. The company specifies
the bulk concentration of the poisonous solute in the oil, diffusivity of the solute in the water and
the distribution (partition) coefficient of the solute concentrations between the oil and the water
(K = Coil/Cwater). You are consulted by the Ecological Department whether the fishes will be
harmed or they will be safe. Assume flat interface between oil and water. [1+5+2+2+1]

a. What other information do you require from the Company?

b. How will you mathematically analyze the problem for finding the concentration in the well?
Only state the initial and boundary conditions for the general and special cases. Do NOT
attempt to solve the equations.
c. Sketch the concentration profile of the poisonous solute in the oil and the water phases.
d. State your conclusions in the report in a manner understandable to the Ecology Department
officials who probably have forgotten all their mathematics.
e. Even if the assumption of negligible penetration of the solute into the water is valid, why will
the fish die if the oil slick is not removed soon?
First model the turbulent flow of the slick. You cannot strictly assume steady state as the solute
concentration in the slick will vary with distance and with time. The oil concentration changes
with time because the solute will be rapidly absorbed by the water initially. However, if the
solute diffuses slowly in the water, i.e. penetrates slowly into the water, the concentration driving
force for mass transfer at the interface will decrease with time. This in turn will lead to change in
concentration of the solute in the oil at the interface with time as well.

However, if the length of the slick is rather small, and the velocity of the slick is high, the contact
time between the oil and water may be very less. Hence, pseudo steady state assumptions
may be used to find the concentration variation in the slick with distance. The concentration at
the oil-water interface may change very slowly with time. Hence, over a small time frame, for all
practical purposes, the boundary/interface concentration and the flux at the interface are
constant and steady state conditions may be used.

The general equation would be (neglecting axial mixing)

oil oil
∂C̅A,bulk ∂C̅A,bulk 1 oil oil
̅
+ Uz + k c (C̅A,bulk − C̅A,i ) = 0
∂t ∂z δ

Here, the average concentration C̅A and average velocity U

̅ z are used in the shell balance
modeling. In turbulent flow, these will be nearly constant across the cross section. Knock off the
time derivative if pseudo steady state conditions are justified.

If time derivative may be neglected we have

oil
dC̅A,bulk 1 oil oil
̅z
U + k c (C̅A,bulk − C̅A,i ) = 0
dz δ

This equation states that the decrease in concentration along a distance dz is caused by the
mass transfer from the oil into the water across the interface. However, you cannot integrate
this equation directly, because of the rather complicated boundary condition. Here, C̅A,i is not
constant strictly at the interface and is determined by the following boundary condition
 ∂CA,i water oil oil
−DAB = k c (C̅A,bulk − C̅A,i )
∂y

Note that y refers to vertical distance into the well.

Here the flux by diffusion into the water is equated with the convective flux due to mass transfer
from the oil phase. Under pseudo steady state assumption, the flux will be constant over a small
time frame. Still direct analytic integration of the above equation would not be possible as you
need to know the concentration of water at the interface, CA,i water.

The remaining conditions are rather simple. Use appropriate initial conditions in the oil and
water. Specify zero molar flux at the bottom of the well as well as the two sides of the well.

Finally, the equation for the diffusion of solute in the well is also important. There will be
concentration gradient along the vertical y direction definitely. Further, you cannot afford to
neglect the concentration gradient along the horizontal direction. This arises because the flux
from the oil at the top varies with horizontal distance z. Hence the interfacial concentration in
the water phase will change with z. This leads to a gradient in the interfacial concentration
CA,i water along the horizontal direction. This variation in concentration will lead to different
diffusive fluxes at the top of the well and gradients in concentration gets established along both
z and y directions. You may neglect the churning/mixing motion caused by the fish in evening
out the concentration gradients.

∂CA water ∂2 CA, water ∂2 CA, water

= DAB ( + )
∂t ∂y 2 ∂z 2

The above equation assumes rectangular well. Diffusion coefficients are the same along y and
z directions.

f. Sketch the concentration profile of the poisonous solute in the oil and the water phases.
g. State your conclusions in the report in a manner understandable to the Ecology Department
officials who probably have forgotten all their mathematics.
One student has written as follows
“If the concentration at the interface on the water side is lower than the toxicity levels for the
fish, they won’t die due to the slick.”
The rare and endangered species of the fish may be fatally exposed to the oil slick. Even if
the oil does not mix with water, the solute in the oil will diffuse into the water. In fact, the
 distribution of the solute between oil and water is such that the solute prefers the water
phase more/less than in comparison with oil. If the solute prefers the oil phase more than
the water phase, the concentration levels in the water phase will be much lower even at the
interface.
Under the prevailing conditions, calculations reveal that the depth of penetration into the
water is very less, in the order of a few micrometers from the interface. For all practical
purposes, the fishes may be assumed to be infinite depths. It will take 100 years for the
toxin to penetrate appreciable depths into the well and this exceeds the biological lifespan
of the fishes. Hence, the concentration of the toxic solute decreases to acceptable levels
even at very short depths. However, the fishes are likely to swim to the surface and may
get exposed to higher concentrations of the toxic substance. If the toxins are not
metabolized rapidly, the toxin accumulates in the body of the fish.
Hence, it is recommended that the slick be removed as early as possible.

h. Even if the assumption of negligible penetration of the solute into the water is valid, why will
the fish die if the oil slick is not removed soon?
Fishes need oxygen and the oxygen dissolution into the water will be hindered by the oil
slick that constitutes an additional resistance to mass transport of oxygen.