Molecular Transport Equations

Outline

1.Molecular Transport Equations

2.Viscosity of Fluids
3.Fluid Flow
 Molecular Transport
“Each molecule of a system has a certain
quantity of mass, thermal energy, and
momentum associated with it.” – Foust

1. What happens when a difference in the

concentration of these properties occur from
one region to another?
2. How is transport different in a solid, gas, and
a liquid?
 Molecular Transport

We need a simple physical model to describe

molecular transport - one that does not take
into account the structural differences of the
three states.

driving force
rate of transport =
resistance
 Molecular Transport

driving force
rate of transport =
resistance
A driving force is needed to overcome
resistance in order to transport a
property.
Recall: Ohm’s Law from Physics 72
Molecular Transport
 Flux

Define: FLUX
: amount of property  being transferred per
unit time through a cross-sectional area

Mathematically,

d
Is the equation
dimensionally consistent?
 Z  flux  
dz
What are the units of:
ψz? δ? Γ?
 Flux

d
 Z  
dz

Flux in the z-direction: amount of property

transferred per unit time per cross-sectional area
perpendicular to the z-direction of flow

δ: diffusivity, proportionality constant

 Flux

d
 Z  
dz

If the transport process is at steady state, what

happens to the flux?
 General Property Balance

If the transport
process is at
steady state,
what happens to
the flux?

 rate of   rate of 
  
 property in   property out  0 0
 rate of generation   rate of accumulation 
  
 of property   of property 
 Flux at Steady State

d
 Z  
dz
z2 2
 Z  dz    d At steady-state:
z1 1

 Z  z2  z1     2  1    1  2 
  1  2  Z 
Z  z2  z1
z2  z1
 Flux

d
 Z  
dz

What happens when you have an unsteady-

state transport process?
 General Property Balance
Assume:
1. Transport occurs in the z-
direction only.
2. Volume element has a
unit cross-sectional area.
3. R = rate of generation of
property (concentration
per unit time)

 rate of   rate of 
  
 property in   property out 
 rate of generation   rate of accumulation 
  
 of property   of property 
 General Property Balance
Assume:
1. Transport occurs in the z-
direction only.
2. Volume element has a
unit cross-sectional area.
3. R = rate of generation of
property (amount per unit
time per unit volume)

rate of property in   z|z   (area)

rate of property out   z|z z   (area)

WHY?
 General Property Balance
Assume:
1. Transport occurs in the z-
direction only.
2. Volume element has a
unit cross-sectional area.
3. R = rate of generation of
property (amount per unit
time per unit volume)

rate of generation of property  R   z  

WHY?
 General Property Balance
Assume:
1. Transport occurs in the z-
direction only.
2. Volume element has a
unit cross-sectional area.
3. R = rate of generation of
property (amount per unit
time per unit volume)

rate of accumulation of property

d
   z   
dt
WHY?
 General Property Balance

 rate of   rate of 
  
 property in   property out 
 rate of generation   rate of accumulation 
  
 of property   of property 

d
 z|z      z|z z      R   z    dt   z   
 z|z  z|z z d
Dividing by  z    : R 
z dt
 General Property Balance

 z|z  z|z z d

R 
z dt
d z d
Taking the limit as z  0 :  R 
dz dt

d
But:  z  
dz

d  2
d
General equation for momentum,

 2 R 
energy, and mass conservation
(molecular transport mechanism
dz dt only)
Momentum Transport

• Imagine two parallel

plates, with area A,
separated by a
distance Y, with a
fluid in between.
• Imagine the fluid
made up of many
layers – like a stack
of cards.
Momentum Transport

Driving Force – change

in velocity

d
 Z  
dz
Momentum Transport

d
 Z  
dz
d(v x  )
 yx  
dy
Flux of x-directed
momentum in the
y-direction
Momentum Transport

d(v x  )
 yx  
dy
but since:   

dv x
 yx   
dy
Heat Transport

• Imagine two
parallel plates,
with area A,
separated by a
distance Y, with a
slab of solid in
between.
• What will happen
if it was a fluid
instead of a solid
slab?
Heat Transport

Driving Force –
change in
temperature

d
 Z  
dz
Heat Transport

d
 Z  
dz
qy d(  c p T)
 
A dy
Heat flux in the
y-direction
Heat Transport

qy d(  cp T)
 
A dy

but since: k   cp

qy dT
 k
A dy
Mass Transport

• Imagine a slab of
fused silica, with
thickness Y and
area A.
• Imagine the slab
is covered with
pure air on both
surfaces.
Mass Transport

Driving Force –
change in
concentration

d
 Z  
dz
Mass Transport

d
 Z  
dz
dcA
J  DAB
*
Ay
dy
Mass flux in the
y-direction
 Analogy

d(v x  ) qy d(  c p T) dcA
 yx     J  DAB
*
Ay
dy A dy dy

MOMENTUM HEAT MASS

 Assignment
• Compute the steady-state momentum flux τyx
in lbf/ft2 when the lower plate velocity V is 1 ft/s
in the positive x- direction, the plate separation
Y is 0.001 ft, and the fluid viscosity µ is 0.7 cp.
 Assignment
• Compute the steady-state momentum flux τyx
in lbf/ft2 when the lower plate velocity V is 1 ft/s
in the positive x- direction, the plate separation
Y is 0.001 ft, and the fluid viscosity µ is 0.7 cp.

ANS: 1.46 x 10-2 lbf/ft2

 Assignment
• A plastic panel of area A = 1 ft2 and thickness
Y = 0.252 in. was found to conduct heat at a
rate of 3.0 W at steady state with
temperatures To = 24.00°C and T1 = 26.00°C
imposed on the two main surfaces. What is
the thermal conductivity of the plastic in
cal/cm-s-K at 25°C?
 Assignment
• A plastic panel of area A = 1 ft2 and thickness
Y = 0.252 in. was found to conduct heat at a
rate of 3.0 W at steady state with
temperatures To = 24.00°C and T1 = 26.00°C
imposed on the two main surfaces. What is
the thermal conductivity of the plastic in
cal/cm-s-K at 25°C?

ANS: 2.47 x 10-4 cal/cm-s-K

 Assignment
• Calculate the steady-state mass flux jAy of
helium for the system at 500°C. The partial
pressure of helium is 1 atm at y = 0 and zero at
the upper surface of the plate. The thickness Y
of the Pyrex plate is 10-2 mm, and its density
ρ(B) is 2.6 g/cm3. The solubility and diffusivity
of helium in pyrex are reported as 0.0084
volumes of gaseous helium per volume of
glass, and DAB = 0.2  10-7 cm2/s, respectively.
 Assignment

ANS: 1.05 x 10-11 g/cm2-s