MASS TRANSFER-BASIC OF SHELL

BALANCE

Presented by:
Dr. Amit Rai
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering, SLIET longowal
FICK’S LAW OF BINARY DIFFUSION
Let us consider a binary system in which “species” A is diffusing into
“species” B. In this case, we consider helium as A and fused silica as B as
shown in Figure.
First, the silica plate is exposed to air and then to helium gas. Helium gas
penetrates into the silica plate. The molecular transport of one substance to
another is called diffusion or mass diffusion. The molecular transfer of
mass takes place because of the concentration difference. Here, the mass
fraction wA is defined for species A as:

Similarly for B

At time t = 0 or t < 0, the silica plate is exposed to air and there is no helium gas,
i.e. wA = 0. Suddenly, the silica plate is exposed to helium gas. As the time passes,
the concentration of helium is built up and later the steady-state concentration of
helium is achieved.
FICK’S LAW OF BINARY DIFFUSION

The concentration of A at the top of the silica slab is zero and as time passes, the concentration profile becomes straight. The
x-y coordinates are selected. Let A be the area of the silica slab and Y be the thickness. The mass flow of helium in the y-
direction, wAy, is given as

where
ρ = density of the silica–helium system
DAB = diffusivity of silica–helium system
= proportionality constant called diffusivity, when A is diffusing in B
FICK’S LAW OF BINARY DIFFUSION
Here wAy/A is expressed as molar mass flux when species A is diffusing in the
y-direction and is denoted by jAy. The equation can be written in differential
form as

This equation is called the Fick’s law of diffusion. Here, jAy is the molecular
mass flux of helium in the positive direction of y. Helium is moving slowly and
its concentration is very small.
Similarly in other directions too, we can write the Fick’s law as

Combining all these equations, we can write

CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER
In addition to molecular mass transfer, mass may also be transferred by the motion of molecules of
the fluid. Each molecule is having some velocity v of the fluid in the bulk. This velocity will have
three components in the x-, y-, z-directions as vx, vy, vz, respectively. If ρ is the density of the fluid
and dS is the area of cross section perpendicular to the direction of flow, then:
Volumetric flow rate = vx dS
Rate of mass flow in the x-direction = ρ vx dS
Rate of mass flow in the y-direction = ρ vy dS
Rate of mass flow in the z-direction = ρ vz dS
Multiplying each term by a unit vector and dividing by dS, the convective mass flux for
component A can be written as
ρ Av = ρ Avxdx + ρ Avydy + ρ Avzdz . . .
In mass transfer process, one can express fluxes in either mass flux or molar flux. So,
convective mass flux = kg/m2 · s
convective molar flux = kmol/m2 · s
MASS AND MOLAR FLUXES

The diffusion equations are written along with the equation of motion when no chemical
reaction takes place. We express mass concentration, mass average velocity and mass flux
for a particular species. In such cases, mass units are expressed. When a chemical reaction
takes place, then molar concentration and molar fluxes are expressed. Let us define the
terms:
Mass concentration of species A (wA) = mass of A per unit volume of the solution
Molar concentration of species A, (cA) = number of moles of A per unit volume of solution
MASS AND MOLAR FLUXES

The Fick’s law of diffusion can be written in mass and molar units as
Mass units: jA = ρ A(vA – v) = –ρ DABwA . .
Molar units: = cA(vA – v*) = c DABxA . . .
where
vA – v = diffusion velocity of species A with respect to the mass average
velocity v.
vA – v* = diffusion velocity of species A with respect to the molar average
velocity v*.
The combined flux is the sum of the fluxes due to molecular diffusion and
convective diffusion.
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Steady-state momentum balances and energy balances have been made previously in shell
momentum balances and shell heat conduction respectively. After formulation of the
steady state differential equations, these equations have been solved by setting boundary
conditions.
Similarly, we shall see that the steady-state diffusion problems may be formulated by shell
mass balances. The steps involved are as follows:
1. Select the coordinate system of the problem.
2. Select the shell, where mass balance has to be applied.
3. Under steady-state conditions, apply the shell balance as:
Rate of “mass in” of A – Rate of “mass out” of A + Rate of mass of A produced by
chemical reaction = 0
4. Express the terms on the basis of mass, if mass balance is to be applied. Otherwise,
express the terms in molar form for molar balance.
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

5. We have selected the fluxes as molecular, convective or combined as the case may be.
Generally, we select the combined flux and simplify the other terms.
6. Formulate the differential equation in terms of fluxes.
7. Integrate the differential equation formed and either keep the constant of integration or
solve its value from the physical concepts.
8. Apply the Fick’s law of diffusion and formulate the differential equation for
concentration.
9. Integrate the differential equation formed to get the concentration equation.
10. Apply the boundary conditions to solve for the constants of integration.
11. Get the concentration profile and solve other important items.
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Before discussing the boundary conditions, let us discuss the molar flux and mass
flux produced by chemical reactions. Let NA be the number of moles of A diffusing
per unit area per unit time in a binary system. The molar flux of A in the z-direction
can be written as:

We may come across the problem of solving for NBz. This can be solved by physical
or chemical reasoning. One may say that in a system, A is diffusing but B is not
diffusing. In such a case, NBz = 0. In other cases, NAz/NBz may be known from the
physical or chemical concepts.
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
The reactions may take place by two mechanisms:
1. Homogeneous reactions
2. Heterogeneous reactions
In homogeneous reactions, the source term may appear in the differential equations.
This is similar to the heat source problem for energy shell balances.
For heterogeneous reactions, there is no source term in the differential equations in
the shell mass balance. These differential equations can be solved with the help of
boundary conditions. Let the reaction be taking place as:
A → products
The reaction rate equations can be written for homogeneous and heterogeneous
reactions.
Homogeneous reaction:
RA = kncAn
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Heterogeneous reaction:
NAz |surface = kn” cAn |surface . . .
where
RA = rate of reaction, in mol/m3 · s
kn = reaction rate constant
cA = concentration of A, in mole of A/cm3
n = order of reaction, for first order n = 1
NAz = combined molar flux, in mol/cm2 · s
kn” = reaction rate constant based on the surface area
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Boundary conditions:
1. The concentration at the surface may be specified, e.g. xA = xA0 .
2. The mass flux at the surface may be specified, e.g.
NAz = NA0
or NBz / NAz = given
or NBz / NAz = 0 for B is not diffusing.
3. If the solid substance A is lost to the surroundings, then we can write:
molar flux α concentration gradient
or molar flux = kc(concentration gradient)
SHELL MASS BALANCES AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Boundary conditions:
1. The concentration at the surface may be specified, e.g. xA = xA0 .
2. The mass flux at the surface may be specified, e.g.
NAz = NA0 or NBz / NAz = given
or NBz / NAz = 0 for B is not diffusing.
3. If the solid substance A is lost to the surroundings, then we can write:
molar flux α concentration gradient
or molar flux = kc(concentration gradient)
4. The rate of chemical reaction may be specified

where k1”= rate constant for the first-order reaction based on the surface area.