MM 677 Homework 1 20/01/2020

1. The evaporation of water from the surface of a pond can be thought of as diffusion of water vapour
across an air film of thickness 0.15 cm. The diffusion coefficient of water in 20 °C is about 0.25
cm2/sec. Calculate the drop in water level in a day if the air out of the film is 50% saturated. The
saturation vapour pressure of water at 20 °C is 2.34 kPa. Assume that the vapour behaves like an
ideal gas.

2. Given below is the diamond growth rate data using the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method
from the reaction of mixtures of 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide.

Temperature (°C) Growth rate (μm/hour)

433.83 0.07818
511.49 0.10371
589.28 0.17480
643.71 0.21750
647.07 0.18610
841.66 0.40230
862.43 0.42911

Plot the growth rate vs temperature data. Then, assuming an Arrhenius relationship, estimate the
overall activation energy for diamond deposition corresponding to CH4/CO2 mixtures. (Data from
the CVD diamond group, University of Bristol.)

3. The concentration at any point in space is given by 𝑐 = 𝐴(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥) where A is a constant.
a. Find the direction cosines in which c changes most rapidly with distance from the point.
b. Determine the maximum rate of change of concentration at that point.

4. A thick walled cylindrical shell made of Pd is used in an

energy plant to extract H2 from a gas stream. The high
pressure of H2 on the outside of the tube dissolves a given
concentration of interstitial H in to the surface layer. The H
diffuses through the solid and into the centre region, where
it is pumped away and into a storage tank.

a. Find the equation for the concentration as a function of

position in the tube.
b. Plot the concentration versus radius in the tube.
c. Determine the mass of H per hour that passes through
the wall per metre length of the tube.

Use the following assumptions, and clearly define all variables that you use.
i. Steady state diffusion
ii. The diffusivity is concentration independent over the range of concentrations considered
here.
iii. The outside concentration of H interstitials is 2.0 (kg of H)/(m3 of Pd), and this is uniform
over the length of the tube.
iv. The inside concentration of H interstitials is 0.1 (kg of H)/(m3 of Pd).
v. The diffusivity of H in Pd at the temperature of operation is DH = 1.7 × 10-8 m2/s.
vi. Tube dimensions: inside radius = 1.5 cm, wall thickness = 6 mm.