LECTURE 3

DIFFUSION THROUGH A VARYING CROSS-SECTIONAL

AREA
• In these cases, the cross-sectional area A m² through which the diffusion occurs
has been constant with varying distance, z.
• The area, A may vary
NA
NA  , N A  kg mol of A diffusing per second (kg mol/s)
A
• At steady rate, N Awill be constant but not A for a varying area.
1) Diffusion from a sphere
 the evaporation of a drop of liquid
 The evaporation of a ball of naphthalene
 The diffusion of nutrients to a sphere-like microorganism in a liquid.

• component A at PA1 at the

Surrounding stagnant surface is diffusing into
medium (B)
surrounding medium (stagnant),
B at PA2 =0
Diffusion from a sphere to a
• steady-state diffusion will be
surrounding medium Diffusion through a circular conduit assumed
 NA
NA  , A  4r 2
4r 2

NA DAB dPA
 
4r 2 RT 1  PA / P dr
Integrate:
r2 PA 2
NA 1 DAB 1

4 r r 2
dr   
RT P 1  PA / P 
dPA
1 A1

r2 PA 2
N A 2 DAB P
4 r P P  PA dPA
r dr  
1
RT A1

r2
N A  1
     AB  InP  PA P
D P P A2

4  r  r 1
RT A1

NA  1 1  DAB P  P  PA 2 
   In  
4  r1 r2  RT  P  PA1 
Since r₂ >> r₁ , 1 = 0 , PA1  PA 2
PBM 
r₂  P  PA 2 
In  
 P  PA1 

NA

D AB P
PA1  PA 2 
4r1 RTPBM
 4r1 D AB P PA1  PA 2  
 
NA   RTPBM 
4r1
2

N A1 
D AB P
PA1  PA 2 
RTr1 PBM

If PA1 is small compared to P (dilute gas phase), PBM  P

Setting 2r₁=D₁ (diameter) , CA1 = PA1 / RT
N A1 
2 DAB
C A1  C A2 
D1
• Time for the sphere to completely evaporated can be determined
by;
𝜌𝐴 𝑟12 𝑅𝑇𝑝𝐵𝑀
• 𝑡𝐹 =
2𝑀𝐴 𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝑃 𝑝1 −𝑝2

r1= original/initial sphere radius

ρA =density of sphere
MA= molecular weight of A
DIFFUSION THROUGH A CONDUIT OF NONUNIFORM
CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA

• Component A is diffuse at steady rate through a circular conduit.

• At point 1, the radius is r₁ and at point 2, r₂
• At position 2, A diffusing through stagnant, nondiffusing, B.
 NA DAB dPA
NA   
r 2 RT 1  PA / P dz
 r2  r1 
r    z  r1
 z 2  z1 
NA DAB dPA

 r2  r1  
2
RT 1  PA / P dz
   z  r1 
 z 2  z1  
Z2 PA 2
NA 1 DAB 1
 Z1  r  r  P 1  PA / P  dPA
2
dz  
 RT
  z  r1 
2 1 A1

 z 2  z1  
z2
 
 
NA  1    DAB  InP  P PA 2

   r2  r1   r2  r1   RT
A PA1

     z  r1  

  z 2  z1   z 2  z1    z1
DAB P  P  PA2 
 In  
RT  P  PA1 
Example 6.2.4 (Evaporation of Naphthalene)
A sphere of naphthalene having a radius of 2.0mm is suspended in
a large volume of still air at 318K and 1.01325 x 10⁵ Pa (1 atm). The
surface temp. of the naphthalene can be assumed to be at 318K
and its vapor pressure at 318K is 0.555 mmHg. The DAB of
naphthalene in air at 318K is 6.92 x 10-6 m²/s. Calculate the rate of
evaporation of naphthalene from the surface.

DAB = 6.92 x 10-6 m²/s

PA1 = 0.555 mmHg
= (0.555/760) x 1.01325 x 10⁵ Pa
= 74.0 Pa
r1 = 2/1000 = 2 x 10-3 m
R = 8314 m³ Pa/ kg mol.K
 P  PA1  PB1
PB1  P  PA1
 1.01325 105  74.0
 1.01251105 Pa
P  PA2  PB 2
PB 2  P  PA2
 1.01325 105  0
 1.01325 105 Pa
- since the values of PB1 and PB2 are close to each other,
PB1  PB 2 1.01251  1.01325105
PBM  
2 2
 1.0129  105 Pa

N A1 
DAB PPA1  PA2 

  
6.92 106 m 2 / s 1.01325 105 Pa 74  0Pa
 m3 .Pa 
RTr1 PBM
 8314  
318K  2 103 m 1.0129 105 Pa 
 kgmol.K 
 9.68 108 kgmolA / s.m2
 DIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS FOR GASES
• Diffusivity of a binary gas pair of A and B (Lennerd-Jones ):
1/ 2
1.8583 10 T 7 3/ 2
 1 1 
DAB    
P AB  D, AB   A B 
2

DAB
= diffusivity (m²/s)
T
= temperature (k)
MA
M B = A molecular weight (kg mass/ kg mol)
P = B molecular weight (kg mass/ kg mol)
 AB = absolute pressure (atm)
 D, AB = average collision diameter
= collision integral based on the Lennerd-Jones potential
Values of  A ,  B ,  D , AB  B3, G 2, H 3, R1
• *Simplify equation : (Fuller et.al.method)
1.00 10 7 T 1.75 1 /  A  1 /  B 
1/ 2
DAB 

P  A    B 
1/ 3

1/ 3 2

= sum of structural volume increments (Table 6.2.2)

 A & B
*This method can be used for mixtures of nonpolar gases or for nonpolar
mixture.
• Schmidt number of gases
M
N SC  M = viscosity of the gas mixture (kg/ms)
DAB DAB = diffusivity (m²/s)
 = density (kg/m³)
• Value of the Schmidt number for gases range from 0.5 to 2.
• Value of the Schmidt number for liquid range from 100 to over 10000 for
viscous liquid.
Example 6.2.5 (Estimation of diffusivity of a gas mixture)
Normal butanol (A) is diffusing through air (B) at 1 atm
abs. using the Fuller et al. method, estimate the
diffusivity DAB for the following temperatures and
compare with the experimental data.
a) For 0°C b) For 25.9°C c) For 0°C and 2 atm abs.

Solution: Fuller et al. method,

1.00 10 7 T 1.75 1 /  A  1 /  B 

1/ 2
DAB 

P  A    B 
1/ 3

1/ 3 2
Solution: Butanol = C₄H₁₀O
For part a) P = 1 atm, T = 273K,
M A butanol = 74.1 kg mass/kg mol
M B air = 29 kg mass/ kg mol
From table 6.2.2 :

C  16.5
 H  1.98
O  5.48
 Air  20.1

  4(16.5)  10(1.98)  1(5.48)

Bu tan ol ( A)
 91.28
 Air( B)  20.1
. 1.00 10 T 1 / M A  1 / M B 
7 1.75 1/ 2
DAB 

P  A    B 
1/ 3 1/ 3 2


1.00 10 273K  1 / 74.1  1 / 29
7 1.75 1/ 2

1.091.28  20.1 
1/ 3 1/ 3 2

 7.73 106 m 2 / s

From Table 6.2.1: DAB for butanol = 7.03 x 10-6 m²/s

 The calculated value deviates by + 10% from the values from Table 6.2.1
• For part b): T= 273 + 25.9 = 298.9K

1.00 10 7 (298.9 K )1.75 1 / 74.1  1 / 29

1/ 2
DAB 

1.0 91.28  (20.1)
1/ 3

1/ 3 2

 9.05 10 6 m 2 / s
4 2
This value deviates by +4% from values from Table 6.2.1: 0.087  10 m /s

• For part c): P = 2 atm

1.00 107 (273K )1.75 (1 / 74.1  1 / 29)1/ 2

DAB 

2.0 91.28
1/ 3
 20.1
1/ 3 2

 3.865 10 6 m 2 / s
 DIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS OF SPECIES A IN A
MIXTURE OF N SPECIES

• If we know binary diffusivities DAB, DAC,…DAN, for species A in a

mixture of N species, the diffusivities of species A in the mixture can
be approximated using equation:
1 yB yC yN
   ... 
DA Mixture DAB DAC DAN
• yN is the mole fraction of component N in the gas mixture evaluated
on a component A basis:
yB yB
yB  
y B  y C  ...  y N 1  y A
Example (Diffusion coefficient of species A in a mixture of N species)

• Ammonia (A) is being absorbed through non diffusing gas mixture of carbon
monoxide (B) and hydrogen (C) in the volume ratio 2:1. The total pressure in the
system is 100 kPa and the temperature is 27°C. The partial pressure of ammonia
is 50 kPa and 3 mm apart is 25 kPa. The diffusivities are estimated to be DNH3-CO =
2.53 X 10-5, and DNH3-H2 = 1.25 X 10-5 m2/s. Calculate the rate of absorption of
ammonia.

Solution:
.
1
DA Mixture 
yB yC

DAB DAC
2
yB   0.667
2 1
1
yC   0.333
2 1
1
DA Mixture   1.89  10 5 m 2 / s
 0.667   0.333 
 5 
 5 
 2.53  10   1.25  10 

DAB P  P  PA 2 
NA  In  
RT ( z2  z1 )  P  PA1 


1.89  10 100 
5
100  25 
In 
8314 300 0.003  100  50 
kgmol
 1.024  10 7
m 2 .s
Question 5 (b), Final Exam 2015

methane