Done by: Hernando, Kimberly B.

Relations for Diffusion in Porous Solids

Knudsen diffusion


Reference: Problem from : Principle and Modern Applications of Mass Transfer Operations
2009| Benitez, J | p.60

Problem:
A mixture of O2 (A) and N2 (B) diffuses through the pores of a 2-mm-thick piece of
unglazed porcelain at a total pressure of 0.1 atm and a temperature of 293 K. The
average pore diameter is 0.1m, the porosity is 30.5%, and the tortuosity is 4.39.
Estimate the diffusion fluxes of both components when the mole fractions of O2 are
80% and 20% on either side of the porcelain. The collision diameters for oxygen and
nitrogen are 3.467 and 3.798 , respectively.

Given:
collision diameters [oxygen] = 3.467
collision diameters [nitrogen] = 3.798
thickness = 2-mm
average pore diameter = 0.1m
porosity = 30.5%
tortuosity = 4.39
fractions of O2 = 80% and 20 %


Required:
diffusion fluxes of both components


Done by: Hernando, Kimberly B.

Solution:
AB = 0.5(A + B) = 0.5(3.467 + 3.798) = 3.632

The Knudsen number is then:
Kn = /d = 6810/1000 = 6.81 > 0.05.


Therefore, diffusion inside the pores occurs mainly by Knudsen diffusion with
diffusivity given by


The effective diffusivity is then


The diffusion flux of oxygen is given by



The diffusion flux of nitrogen is given by




Done by: Hernando, Kimberly B.




















Knudsen diffusion

Problem:
Repeat Problem stated above for an average pore diameter of 0.3 pm while the
porosity and tortuosity remain unchanged. At the temperature of 293 K and pressure
of 0.1 atm, Dm = 2.01 cm2/s.

Given:
collision diameters [oxygen] = 3.467
collision diameters [nitrogen] = 3.798
thickness = 2-mm

Done by: Hernando, Kimberly B.
average pore diameter of 0.3 pm
porosity = 30.5%
tortuosity = 4.39
fractions of O2 = 80% and 20 %
Dm = 2.01 cm2/s


Required:
diffusion fluxes of both components


Solution:
For a pore diameter of 0.3 pm, Kn = 2.27, which means that both molecular and
Knudsen diffusion are important and equation:

must be used to calculate NA. Since the pore diameter is less than 10 pm, the
bootstrap relation of equation :


applies:






Done by: Hernando, Kimberly B.