Convective Mass-Transfer Coefficients

Introduction to Convective Mass Transfer

Mass transfer by convective involves the transport of material
between a boundary surface and a moving fluid,
or between two relatively immiscible moving fluids.
With increasing distance from the surface, the character of the flow gradually
changes, becoming increasingly turbulent, until in the outmost region of the fluid
fully turbulent conditions prevail.
Because the eddy motion is rapid, mass
transfer in the turbulent region is much
more rapid than it would be under
laminar flow conditions. This situation
cannot be modeled in terms of Fick’s
law.
Instead, it is explained in terms of a
mass-transfer coefficient,
an approximate engineering idea that
simplifies the analysis of a very complex
problem.
Convective Mass-Transfer Coefficients
Introduction to Convective Mass Transfer

Rate of Mass Transfer = (mass transfer coefficient) (concentration driving force)

Flux = (coefficient) (concentration difference)

Since concentration may be defined in a number of ways and standards have

not been established, there is a variety of coefficients
that can be defined for each situation.
1) Mass-transfer coefficient for equimolar counterdiffusion
2) Mass-transfer coefficient for A diffusing through stagnant, nondiffusing B
 Types of Mass-Transfer Coefficients
Definition of mass-transfer coefficient
Since the understanding of turbulent flow is incomplete,
the equations for turbulent diffusion is attempted to write in a manner similar to
that for molecular diffusion
dc A
J A* = -( DAB + e M )
dz
where J*A = molar flux of component A [=] kg mol A/(s ·m2)
DAB = molecular diffusivity [=] m2/s
eM = mass eddy diffusivity [=] m2/s
variable, near zero at the interface or surface
increases as the distance from the wall increases

Since eM is not generally known, an average value is used.

dc A
J A* = -( DAB + e M )
dz
Integrate between points 1 and 2,
DAB + e M
J A*1 = (c A1 - c A 2 )
z 2 - z1
Types of Mass-Transfer Coefficients
DAB + e M
J A*1 = (c A1 - c A 2 )
z 2 - z1
The flux J*A is based on surface area A1,
since the cross-sectional area may vary.
The value of z2-z1, the distance path, is often not known.

J A*1 = kc' (c A1 - c A 2 )

where J*A = molar flux of A from the surface A1 [=] kg mol A/(s ·m2)
D +eM m2
k c' = AB [=] [=] m/s
z 2 - z1 s m
kg mol m3 [=] m/s
[=]
s ·m2 kg mol
 Mass-transfer Coefficient for
equimolar counterdiffusion
Flux of A relative to stationary coordinates, NA
dx
N A = -c( D AB + e M ) A + x A ( N A + N B )
dz
For the case of equimolar counterdiffusion, (NA = -NB)
integrate at steady state

D AB + e M
N A = k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) where k c' =
z 2 - z1
 Mass-transfer Coefficient for
equimolar counterdiffusion
Often, the concentration is defined
in terms of mole fraction if a liquid or gas
in terms of partial pressure if a gas
Hence, the mass-transfer coefficient can be defined in several ways

Gases: NA = k'c(cA1-cA2) = k'G(pA1-pA2) = k'y(yA1-yA2)

Liquids: NA = k'c(cA1-cA2) = k'L(cA1-cA2) = k'x(xA1-xA2)
yA = mole fraction in a gas phase
xA = mole fraction in a liquid phase
Example
c c A2 k y'
NA = k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) = k y' ( y A1 - y A2 ) = k y' ( A1
- ) = (c A1 - c A2 )
c c c
Hence,
k y'
k c' =
c
 Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing
Through Stagnant, Nondiffusing B
Flux of A relative to stationary coordinates, NA
dx
N A = -c( D AB + e M ) A + x A ( N A + N B )
dz
For the case of A diffusing through stagnant, nondiffusing B, (NB = 0)
integrate at steady state
dx A
NA = -c( D AB + e M ) + xA N A
dz
dx
N A (1 - x A ) = -c( D AB + e M ) A
dz
c dc
N A (1 - A ) = -( D AB + e M ) A
c dz
z2
dc A
ò
N A dz = -( D AB + e M )
c
z1 1- A
c
c A2
d (1 - c A / c)
= ( D AB + e M )c ò
c A1
(1 - c A / c)
Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing
Through Stagnant, Nondiffusing B
z2 c A2
d (1 - c A / c)
ò
N A dz = ( D AB + e M )c
z1
ò
c A1
(1 - c A / c)
( D AB + e M ) (1 - c A2 / c)
NA = c ln
z 2 - z1 (1 - c A1 / c)
( D AB + e M ) (c - c A 2 )
= c ln
z 2 - z1 (c - c A1 )
(c A1 - c A2 )
(c - c A 2 )
c ln
(D + e M ) (c - c A 2 ) (c - c A1 )
NA = AB c ln ´
z 2 - z1 (c - c A1 ) (c A1 - c A2 )
(c - c A 2 )
c ln
(c - c A1 )
1
= k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) ´
(c A1 - c A2 )
(c - c A 2 )
c ln
(c - c A1 )
Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing
Through Stagnant, Nondiffusing B
1
N A = k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) ´
(c A1 - c A2 )
(c - c A 2 )
c ln
(c - c A1 )
1
= k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) ´
c( x A1 - x A2 )
[c(1 - x A2 )]
c ln
[c(1 - x A1 )]
1
= k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) ´
(1 - x B1 - 1 + x B 2 )
[( x )]
ln B 2
[( x B1 )]
1
= k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) ´
( x B 2 - x B1 )
ln( x B 2 / x B1 )
k c'
= (c A1 - c A2 )
x BM
Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing
Through Stagnant, Nondiffusing B
k c'
NA = (c A1 - c A2 ) = k c (c A1 - c A2 )
x BM
k x'
= ( x A1 - x A2 ) = k x ( x A1 - x A2 )
x BM

Rewriting, using other units,

Gases: NA = kc(cA1-cA2) = kG(pA1-pA2) = ky(yA1-yA2)
Liquids: NA = kc(cA1-cA2) = kL(cA1-cA2) = kx(xA1-xA2)
All the mass-transfer coefficients can be related to each other
For example,
k c' æc c ö
NA = (c A1 - c A2 ) = k x ( x A1 - x A2 ) = k x ç A1 - A2 ÷
x BM è c c ø
Hence, k c' k
= x
x BM c
 Flux = (coefficient) (concentration difference)

Mass-transfer Coefficient for equimolar counterdiffusion

D AB + e M
N A = k c' (c A1 - c A2 ) where k c' =
z 2 - z1

Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing Through Stagnant,

Nondiffusing B

where kc = ?
 Flux = (coefficient) (concentration difference)

Mass-transfer Coefficient for equimolar counterdiffusion

Gases: NA = k'c(cA1-cA2) = k'G(pA1-pA2) = k'y(yA1-yA2)
Liquids: NA = k'c(cA1-cA2) = k'L(cA1-cA2) = k'x(xA1-xA2)

Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing Through Stagnant,

Nondiffusing B
Gases: NA = kc(cA1-cA2) = kG(pA1-pA2) = ky(yA1-yA2)

Liquids: NA = kc(cA1-cA2) = kL(cA1-cA2) = kx(xA1-xA2)

 Flux = (coefficient) (concentration difference)

Mass-transfer Coefficient for equimolar counterdiffusion

Gases: NA = k'c(cA1-cA2) = k'G(pA1-pA2) = k'y(yA1-yA2)
Liquids: NA = k'c(cA1-cA2) = k'L(cA1-cA2) = k'x(xA1-xA2)

Mass-transfer Coefficient for A Diffusing Through Stagnant,

Nondiffusing B
Gases: NA = kc(cA1-cA2) = kG(cA1-cA2) = ky(yA1-yA2)

Liquids: NA = kc(cA1-cA2) = kL(cA1-cA2) = kx(xA1-xA2)

EXAMPLE Mass-Transfer Coefficients in a Blood Oxygenator
Blood oxygenators are used to replaced the human lungs during open-heart surgery.
To improve oxygenators design, you are studying mass transfer of oxygen into water
at 310 K in one specific blood oxygenators. Assume density of water at 310 K is 0.993
g/cm3.
For published correlations of mass-transfer coefficients, you expect that the coefficient
based on the oxygen concentration difference in the water is 3.3´10-5 m/s.
Calculate the corresponding mass-transfer coefficient based on the mole fraction of
oxygen in the liquid.
Solution Neglecting water evaporation, in the liquid phase this is a case of
diffusion of A (oxygen) through B (water).
Since the solubility of oxygen in water at 310 K is extremely low, we are dealing
with dilute solutions. Therefore, the use of k-type coefficients is appropriate.
From the information given (coefficient based on the oxygen concentration
difference in the water), kL = 3.3´10-5 m/s.
You are asked to calculate the coefficient based on the mole fraction of oxygen in
the liquid, kx.
kx = kLc
r r 993
Since we are dealing with very dilute solutions c = @ B = = 55.2 kg mol/m 3
M av M B 18

Therefore, kx = 3.3´10-5 ´ 55.2 = 1.82 ´10-3 kg mole/(m2 s)

HOMEWORK: Mass-Transfer Coefficients in a Packed-Bed Distillation Column
A packed-bed distillation column is used to adiabatically separate a mixture of
methanol and water at a total pressure of 1 atm. Methanol diffuses from the liquid
phase toward the vapor phase, while water diffuses in the opposite direction.
Assuming that the molar latent heat of vaporization of both components is similar. At a
point in the column, the mass-transfer coefficient is estimated as 1.62´10-5 kmol/m2-s-
kPa. The gas-phase methanol mole fraction at the interface is 0.707, while at the bulk
of the gas it is 0.656.
Estimate the methanol flux at that point.