TOPIC 3.

0 PROBLEM SOLVING: UNSTEADY STATE MOLECULAR DIFFUSION

P3.1.
The CO 2 is diffusing through non-diffusing N 2at steady state in a conduit of 2 m long at 300 K
and a total pressure of 1 atm. The partial pressure of CO 2at the left end is 20 kPa and 5 kPa at the
other end. The cross section of the conduit is in the shape of an equilateral triangle being 0.025 m
at the left end and tapering uniformly to 0.05 m at the right end. Calculate the rate of transport of
CO 2. The diffusivity is D = −5 2/s. R = 8 .314
m3
.kPa/(kmol.K).
AB 2 x 10 m
√ 3 D AB PT a1 a 2 PT −P A 2
Ń A (W A )=
4 RT ∆x
ln ( PT −P A 1 )
SOLN
−5 2
Given data: D CO −N =2 x 10 m /s; R = 8 .314 m3.kPa/(kmol.K)
2 2

T = 300 K; PT = 1 atm = 101.3 kPa

P A 1 = 20 kPa; P A 2 = 5 kPa; a 1 = 0.025 m; a 2 =0.05 m; ∆x = 2m

√ 3 D AB PT a1 a 2 PT −P A 2
Ń A (W A )=
4 RT ∆x
ln ( PT −P A 1 )
√ 3 x 2 x 10−5 x 101.3 x 0.025 x 0.05 ln 101.3−5
Ń A ( W A )=
4 x 8.314 x 300 2 ( 101.3−20 )
= 3.75 x 10−11 kmol/ s

P3.2
Consider a diffusion couple between metals A and B. After a 30-hr heat treatment at 1400°K,
the concentration of A is 3.2 wt% at a distance of 1.5 mm from the interface. If an identical
diffusion couple is instead heated 1200°K for 30 hr, at what position will the concentration be
3.2 wt%? Assume that the pre-exponential factor and activation energy for diffusion are 1.8x10 -
5
m2/s and 152 kJ/mol, respectively, and that the surface concentration of A is 100 wt%. R =
8.314 kJ/(mol.K)
Soln

Fick’s 2nd Law:

−Q
C Ax −C A 0 x
d

C As−C A 0
=1−erf
2 √ Dt ( )
; D=D 0 e RT

Calculation of respective diffusivities at respective temperatures:

 −(152 000)
(8.314 x 1400)
=3.84 x 10−11 m2 /s
−5
D(1 400 K )=1.85 x 10 e
−(152000)
(8.314 x1200)
=4.35 x 10−12 m2 / s
−5
D(1 200 K )=1.85 x 10 e

• x = 1.5 mm = 1.5 x10-3m to compute the concentration at the surface (CAs)

C Ax −C A 0 x
C As−C A 0
=1−erf
(
2 √ Dt )
3.2−0 1.5 x 10−3
C As−0
=1−erf
(
2 √ ( 3.84 x 10−11 ) (30 x 3600) )
3.2
=1−erf ( 0.368 )
C As

0.368−0.35 y−0.3794
Interpolating: = :⇒ y =0.397∨erf ( 0.368 )=0.397
0.40−0.35 0.4284−0.3794
3.2
=1−0.397 : ⇒ C As=5.31 wt %
C As

• To compute the value of x at 4.35 x10-12 m2/s

3.2−0 x
5.31−0
=1−erf
(
2 √ ( 4.35 x 10−12) (30 x 3600) )
0.603=1−erf ( 729.5 x )
erf ( 729.5 x )=0.397

• What number has an erf equal to 0.397?

• Now we need to read Table 1 in the reverse direction.
• However, if we look above, we see that we just did this problem (in reverse), so we
know that erf(0.368) = 0.397.
• Therefore we can write:

729.5 x=0.368 :⇒ x=5 x 10−4 m=0.50 mm

• Start again with the solution to Fick’s 2nd law:
C Ax −C A 0 x
C As−C A 0
=1−erf
(
2 √ Dt )
 • Now note that for both heat treatments, CAs and CAx and CA0 are the same, so the entire
left-hand side of this equation is the same.
• For these two heat treatments, the entire right-hand side of the equation must also be
the same.

x1 x2
• Therefore: 1−erf
(√ )
2 D1 t 1
=1−erf
(
2 √ D2 t 2 )
x 21 x 22
=
D1 t 1 D2 t2

1.52 x 22
−11
= −12
:⇒ x=0.50 mm
(3.84 x 10 )(30) (4.35 x 10 )(30)

Table 1. Tabulation of error function values