MASS TRANSFER ECH 3105

Dr. Siti Aslina Hussain

FUNDAMENTALS OF MASS TRANSFER

Objectives: 1. Able to relate mass transfer with chemical engineers 2. Able to define mass transfer operations

DIFFUSION AND MASS TRANSFER

Objectives: 1.To define the mass/molar-average velocity, mass flux and diffusion flux 2.To calculate the mass flux

DIFFUSION
1. Diffusion only occurs in mixtures. 2. The description of diffusion involves a mathematical model based on a fundamental hypothesis or law. 3. Ficks law of diffusion (fundamental): uses a diffusion coefficient (D). Allows prediction of concentration as a function of space and time. 4. At which a component is then transferred from one phase to the other depends upon a so-called mass transfer, or rate, coefficient and upon the degree of departure of the system from equilibrium. The transfer stops when equilibrium is attained. 5. Mass transfer coefficient-based law: involves a mass transfer coefficient (k) as a type of reversible rate constant. It produces relations developed explicitly in chemical engineering . Allows prediction of concentration as a function of space only. 6. Mass transfer coefficient-based relations are commonly used in convective mass transfer where the rate k is determined from empirical correlations.

MOLECULAR MASS TRANSFER (Molecular Diffusion)

1. 2. Molecular diffusion the movement of individual molecules through a substance by virtue of their thermal energy. Simplified kinetic theory - a molecule is imagined to travel in a straight line at a uniform velocity until it collides with another molecule: velocity changes both in magnitude and direction also temperature. The molecule thus travels a highly zigzag path, net distance in one direction which is moves in a given time, the rate of diffusion, being only small fraction of the length of its actual path - diffusion rate very slow. The phenomena of molecular diffusion ultimately leads to a completely uniform concentration of substance throughout a solution which may initially have been uniform.

3.

4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

The laws of mass transfer show the relation between the flux of the diffusing substance and the concentration gradient responsible for this mass transfer. It is often desired to know the diffusion rate of a specific component may possess a different mobility, the mixture velocity must be evaluated by averaging the velocities of all components present. Concentration (case 1 & case 2) Velocities and Fluxes (case 3) Maxwell-Stefan Relations Ficks First Law Binary Mixture Rates known as molar flux or mol/(area)(time) 2 fluxes to describe the motion of one constitute : the flux relative to a fixed location in space (N) and the flux of a constituent relative to the average molar velocity of all constituents (J).

*Additional notes: Equations in transparency

CASE 1 : A gas containing 88% (by volume) CH4, 4%C2H2, 5% n-C3H8 and 3% n-C4H10 at 300K and 500kPa will be scrubbed by contact with a nonvolatile oil in a gas absorber. The objective of the hydrocarbons in the feed (see Figure) Calculate: a) A total molar concentration in the gas feed; b) Density of the gas; c) Composition of the gas feed, expressed in terms of mass transfer.

CASE 2 : In the manufacture of potassium nitrate, potassium chloride reacts with a hot aqueous solution of sodium nitrate according to: KCI+NaNO3 KNO3+NaCl The reaction mixture is cooled down to 293K and pure KNO3 crystals and an aqueous solution of both KNO3 and NaCl (see Figure). The equilibrium solubility of KNO3 in water at 293K is 24% (by weight), the density of the saturated solution is 1,162kg/m3. Calculate: a) Total molar density of the fresh wash solution; b) Composition of the fresh wash solution , expressed in terms of molar fractions.

FLUXES & VELOCITIES

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The basic empirical relation to estimate the rate of molecular diffusion- Ficks First Law: quantifies the diffusion of component A in an isothermal, isobaric system. Ficks Law- a species can have a velocity relative to the mass or molar average velocity known as diffusion velocity only if gradients in the concentration exist. Multicomponent-normally move at different velocities, requires the averaging of the velocities of each component present. The mass-average velocity is defined in terms of the mass densities. The molar-average velocity is defined in terms of a molar concentrations of all components.

6. Diffusion rates are most conveniently described in terms of fluxes. 7. The mass or molar flux of a component is a vector quantity denoting the amount of the particular component in either mass or molar units. 8. Either: mass or molar units that passes per given unit time through a unit area normal to the vector. 9. Flux may be defined with reference to coordinates that are fixed in space, coordinates which are moving with the mass average velocity or coordinates which are moving with the molar average velocity. *Additional notes: Equations in transparency

Diffusion coefficient for binary ideal gas systems

1. 2. 3. 4. Maxwell Stefans (MS) correlation Ficks correlation Lennard-Joness correlation Wilke Lees correlation

Diffusion coefficient for binary liquid systems

1. Wilke and Changs correlation 2. Hayduk and Minhass correlation

Summary: The diffusivity or diffusion coefficient, DAB of a constituent A in solution in B which is a measure of its diffusive mobility, is then defined as J A the ratio of its flux to its concentration gradient which is Ficks Law written for the z direction. Negative sign: diffusion occurs in the direction of a drop in concentration. Diffusivity is a characteristics of a constituent and its environment.

J A !  DAB

xc A xx A ! cDAB xz xz

If the direction to the right is taken as positive, the flux N Aof A relative to the fixed position has been positive and the P.

N A  NB ! N
Rate out-rate in+ rate of accumulation = rate of generation
*Additional notes: Equations in transparency

STEADY STATE MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN FLUIDS AT REST AND IN LAMINAR FLOW

1. Molar flux and the equation of continuity 2. Steady state molecular diffusion in gases
1. Molecular diffusion in gases
1. Steady state diffusion of A through nondiffusing B 2. Equimolal counterdiffusion 3. Multicomponent mixture

2. Diffusivity of gases 3. Steady state molecular diffusion in liquids 1. Molecular diffusion in liquids 2. Diffusivity of liquids *Additional notes: Equations in transparency

Summary Main Point: 1. Mass transfer refers to the movement of a component in a mixture between regions of different composition. The main goal of separations is to drive the process of mass transfers to create sharp concentration gradients. 2. The mechanisms for mass transfer include: molecular diffusion, eddy diffusion and bulk flow. 3. Molecular diffusion occurs because of several driving forces, including; concentration gradients, pressure, temperature and external fields. 4. Concentration gradients are the most important cause of molecular diffusion. This mechanism is described by Ficks First law: . This states that the flux of species due to molecular diffusion is proportional to the negative of the concentrations gradient, with a proportionality constant of the diffusivity of the species.