CHAPTER: 4

MASS TRANSFER
IMPORTANTTHEORY QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the various modes of mass transfer. IMAY 92-4/

Srate and express Pick's law of mass transfer? Also state its analogy with Fourier's law of

conduction. DEC-03(RC-81

3. Write a note on equimolar counter diffusion. IMAY-00-61

4. Discuss isothermal evaporation of water. IMAY 99-71

5. Define:- Sherwood Number, Schmidt Number and Lewis Number.

Q1: Discuss the various modes ofmass transfer. MAY 92-4)

MODES QF MASS TRANSFER

T h e mechanism of mass transfer depends greatly on the dymamics of the system in which it occurs.

Like those of heat transfer, there are different modes of mass transfer, which are:

1. Mass transfer by diffusion;

2. Mass transfer by convection,
3. Mass transfer by change of phase.

1. Masstransfer by diffusion (molecular or eddy diffusion)

The transport of water on a microscopic level as a result of diffusion fron a region of high
concentration to a region oflow concentration in a system/mixture ofliquids orgases is called
molecular diffusion.
I t occurs when a substance diffuses through a layer of stagnant fluid and may be due to

concentration, temperature or pressure gradients.

In a gaseous mixture, molecular diffusion occurs due to random motion of the molecules.
When one of the diffusing fluids is in turbulent motion, the eddy diffusion takes place.
Mass transfer is more rapid by eddy diffusion than by molecular diffiusion.
An example of an eddying diffusion process is dissipation of smoke from a smoke stack.
Turbulence causes mixing and transfer of smoke to the ambient air

2. Mass transfer by convection

Mass transfer by convection involves transfer between a moving luid anda surface, o
betweentwo relatively immisciblenmovingfluids
The convective mass transfer depends on the transport properties and on the dynamic
(laminar or turbulent) characteristies of the flowing luid.
Example: The evaporation of ether.

3.Mass transfer by change of phase

Mass transfer occurs whenever a change from one phase to another tukes place.
The mass transfer in such a case occurs due to simultaneous action of convection and
diffusion. Some cxumples are:
Hot gases escaping from the chimney rise by convection and then diffuse into the air above
the chimney.
 Mixing of water vapour with air during evaporation of water from the lake surface
convection and partly by diffusion). (partly by
Boiling of water in open air- there is first transfer
then vapour mass from
of mass from liquid to vapour state and
the liquid interface is transferred to the
as by diffusion. open air by convection as well

Q2. State and express Pick's law of mass

ransfer? Also state its analogy with Fourier's law of
conduction.
DEC-03(RC)-81
FICK'S LAW
In order to understand the mass
diffusion (a transport proccss originating from molecular activity),
consider a chamber in which two differcnt gas species A and B, at the same temperature and
pressure are initially separated by a partition.
T h e left
compartment has a high concentration (i.e., more molecules per unit volume) of gasA
(open circles) whereas the right compartment is
rich in gas B (dark circles).
> When the partition wall is removed a driving potential comes into existence which tends to
equalize the concentration difference.
> Mass transfer by diffusion will be in the direction of
decreasing concentration and subsequently
there will be a net transport of species A to the and
right of species B to the left.
After a sufficiently long period, equilibrium conditions prevail i.e., uniform concentrations of
species A and B are achieved and then the mass diffusion ceases.

Chamber
O
O
O

O
O

Concentration
ol species A Concentration
of species B

Figure 3: Mass transfer by diffusion in a binary gas mlxture

I t has been observed through experiments that molecular diffusion is govemed by Pick's law
which is expressed as
dCA

mA mass flow of species A by dififiusion, kg/s

rate

A area through which mass is

flowing, nm;
NAmAA mass flux
=

of species
A i.e., anount of species
A that is transferred per
unit time and per unit area perpendicular to the direction of transfer, kg/s-nm* or kg mole/s-m*;
DAB diffusion coefficient or mass diffusvity for binary mixture of species A and B, m/s*
Ca= concentration or molecules per unit volunme of species A, kym";
dCa/ dx concentration of gradient for species A, this acts as driving potentiul,
=

Thus units of mass diffusion coefficient are identical to those of thermal diffusivity (a) and
kinematic viscosity (v).
Thus, diffusion coefficient is u trunsport property of the fluid.
Furthe, by using perfect gas equation the Pick's law may be
expressed in terms of partial
 pressures of species as follows:

GT
For species A:
PA PaR 7 =Pa M
where,
PA=partial pressure ofspecies A,
PA density of species A,
G= universal gas constant (= 8314 J/kg mole-K), and
MA molecular weight ofspecics A.
PaCaa

G.T
Substituting the value of Pa is Eqn. (19), we get

A MA dpA
N DAs GT
Similarly, for species B:

Ng- Daa
I t may be noted that eq.(21) and (22) are valid only for isothermal diffision. Eqns. (19) and (20)
entail the following restrictive conditions:
i. These are valid only when diffusion occurs due to concentration gradient and fail when
diffusion occurs due to a temperature gradient, pressure gradient or an external force.
. The mass or molar fluxes are measured relative to coordinates which move with some
average velocity of the mixture. These equations become invalid if the flux (mass or

molar) is expressed relative to a fixed set of coordinates.

Someimportant aspects of Pick'slaw of diffusion:

1. Pick's law is based on experimental evidence and cannot be derived from first principles.
2. Pick's law is valid for all matter inrespective of its state (e.g, solid, liquid or gas)
3. The mass diffusion, besides concentration gradient, may occur due to a temperature gradient, a

extermal force; however, while applying Pick's law it is assumed that these
pressure gradient or an

additional effects are either absent or negligibly snmall.

4. The movement of a diffusion substance is in the direction of decreasing concentration. in a

diffusion process, the concentration difference is similar to temperature ditference in a heat

transfer process.
of the
5. Diffusion coefficient general, is dependent upon temperature, pressure and nature
(D), in
and dilute liquids it can be assumed to remain
system component; however, for ideal gases
and pressure.
practically constant for a given range of temperature

Q3: Write a note on equimolar counter diffusion. MAY-00-61

STEADYSTATE EQUIMQLAR COUNTER DIFFUSION

Equimolar
A and B
counter diffusion between species of a binary gas mixture is defined as an
isothermal diffusion process in which each molecule of component A is replaced by each molecule
of constituent B and vice versa.
Consider two large chumbers A and B, connected by a passage (Fig. 13.5) in such a way that each
molecule of gas A is replaced by a molecule of gas B, and vice versa.
The total pressure P =Pa +Pu is uniform throughout and the species concentrations are maintained
constant in each of the chumbers.
Using Pick's law, the molar diffusion rates ofspecies A and B are given by
3
 of gas component B into gas component A.
This value of the diffiusion coefficient for a binary mixture of gases can be calculated by using
Eqn. (24).
Assuming the difliusion cocfficient constant, and integrating Eqn. (36) bctween two points, we
get

N-DPA

A practical example of this process is obtained in the

distillation of two constituents whose
molar latent heats of vapourisation are essentially egualL

Q4: Discuss isothermal evaporation of water. IMAY 99-

ISOTHERMAL EVAPORATION OF WATER INTO AIR FROM ASURFACE

L e t us consider isothemal evaporation of water from a surface and its subsequent difiusion
through the stagnant layer of air over it as shown in Fig.
F o r the analysis of this type of mass diffusion following assumptions are made:
1. The system is under steady state and isothermal conditions.
2. The total pressure within the
system remains constant.
3. Air as well water
as
vapour behave as an ideal gas.
4. There is a slight air movement over the top of the tank to remove the water vapour which
diffuses to that point; however, this movement does not disturb the concentration protile o
air in the tank.
5. The water concentration at the surface of water is much more compared to that at the top ot
the tank (.e., Cwi> Cwa or Co> Cal).

Air vapour

Tank

Constant
Lemperalure
BuTOunding
-P Pu* Pa

Fig.6. Diffusion of water vapour through air.

Under steady state conditions the upward movement of water must be balanced by a downward
diffusion of air so thut concentration at any distance fron1 the water surface remains constant
Mass diffusion of air in the downward direction is given
by

muown D d
GT ds
-

where
A = cross-5ectional urca of the tank, and

dp/dx = partial pressure gradient of air.

Since, there is no mass movenent of air downward at the surface of a water,there will be a bulk
nass movement upwards with a velocity just large enough to compensate for the mass ditfusion
 of the air downward.
B u l k mass transfer of air upward, (m).p = -Pa Au = -p, MGT Au ..(43)
where, u =bulk velocity upward.
Equating Eqns. (42) and (43), we get

AM, dp. MA

T h e total mass transpori of water vapour, (1 w)total

+ water vapour carried along with bulk
upward mass diffusion of water, (m.)aifusion
movemenf of air, (m,n)bulk

(m D d p, Au
G.T

-D .A

According to Dalton's law ofpartial pressures,

P P a +Pw
Differentiating, we get
dp/dx dp/dr x dp,/d
Since the total pressure in the tank remains constant, hence dp/dx= 0. Thus

dp/dx--dp./dr
Substituting Eqn. (45) into Eqn. (44), we get
Wa DAM,
G.T. dpP P G.T.
MAD,
40 Pa
,Pdr

- DAM 4
CT.dr

DAG.T.M dpP
DA M 4P(P
Orahoat G.T. dr p
Equation (46) is known as Stefan'slaw for diffusion of an ideal gaseous
component through a

and ideal constituent of the binary system

practically stagnant
between xi and x2 we have
Integrating Eqn. (46)

' dp
(munat de -a
dk G.T =

P P»

nrutsd
DAM
G.T. -
P)
DAM
G.T-"Pa

1. Define:- Sherwood Number, Schmidt Nunber and Lewis Number.

 (For prlvate circulation only)
PH: 2433 0916 25440393 98 190 42 723(SIR)

1. Prandtl number (Pr)

P r a n d t l number, Pr = Vla.
become
I t foms the connecting link between velocity and temperature protfiles; these profiles
identical when Pr = 1.

2. Schmidt number (Sc)

Schmidt number, (Sc) = V/D.

and concentration profiles; these profiles show the

I t forms the connecting link between velocity
identical behaviour when Sc = 1.

3. Lewis number (Le)

L e w i s number, Le = a/D.

I t forms a connecting link between the temperature and concentration profiles, these profiles
become identical when Le =1.

4. Sherwood number (Sh)

Sherwood number, Sh =

hmeXD=f(Re.Sc) ..(56)
Based on analogy with heat transfer, the following empirical relations, under different flow
conditions, have been suggested.