CH 3030

Applications of Mass Transfer

4 August 2020
1
Recap of classification and types of separation
processes
Gas-liquid
• Gas absorption/stripping → phase addition
• Distillation → phase creation
Liquid-Liquid
• Liquid extraction → phase addition
Gas-solid
• Sublimation → phase creation
• Gas adsorption → solid agent
• Drying → phase creation
Liquid-solid
• Liquid adsorption → solid agent
• Crystallization → phase creation
• Leaching → phase addition

2
 Discussion
2. Mass transfer operations are a part of our everyday life
a) True
b) False

Examples from our everyday lives

Making tea/coffee
Drying clothes,
Water filtration
Sublimation of incense, naphthalene balls

3
Mass Transport by
Molecular Diffusion

4
 Mass transfer, molar flux and diffusion
Mass transfer: net movement of species in mixture from one place to
another
Molar flux: net rate of transport of species in a mixture per unit time per unit
area (surface is perpendicular to transfer direction) wrt any fixed coordinate
y

z
x
Total molar flux = sum of molecular diffusive flux and convective flux (bulk
flow)
Molecular diffusion = net transport of molecules in a medium by virtue of
their thermal energy
• In mixture: concentration gradient → net movement
• Effect → uniform concentration 5
Molecular diffusion from molecular simulations

Water

Methane

Methane molecules (gas) Methane molecules in water

Molecular gas diffusion video: Diffusion doesn’t tell molecules where to go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnIkGtkO-Js
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 Molecular diffusion and Fick’s law
Molecular diffusion flux J in a binary mixture

Analogous to Fourier’s law in heat conduction

7
 Molar flux and diffusive flux
Average molar velocity vavg:

Molar velocity of species i in n component mixture vi:

Molar flux of component i in the mixture wrt fixed coordinates Ni:

Molar flux of component i relative to average molar velocity Ji:

8
 Molecular diffusion and mixing of two initially
separated liquids: diffusive flux and diffusivities
y A: 1 kg Water B: 1 kg ethanol

z
x

NA
NB

9
 Molecular diffusion and mixing of two initially
separated liquids: diffusive flux and diffusivities

10
Evaporation from an open beaker: Steady state
unimolecular diffusion
Air

Evaporating water and

stagnant air column over it

Water

NA
NB

11
Evaporation from an open beaker: Steady state
unimolecular diffusion
Air

Evaporating air and

stagnant air column over it

Water

NA
NB

12
Evaporation from an open beaker: Steady state
unimolecular diffusion

13
Evaporation from an open beaker: Steady state
unimolecular diffusion

14
Evaporation from an open beaker: Steady state
unimolecular diffusion

15
Evaporation from an open beaker: Steady state
unimolecular diffusion
Air flow Total pressure P

stagnant air column

Δz
Temperature T
Evaporating water
Water

16
 Equimolar counter diffusion
Molar flux of A and B are the same but in opposite directions

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