Mass Transfer _ lecture

series
Fall 2016/2017
Slides _ 7

Mass diffusion Equations

Introduction

To generalize the derivation we are going to derive the general

diffusion equation which includes the spatial and time variable. On
other words, the derived equation will include the accumulation
term in order to account the unsteady state problems.
Noting that before Steady state condition can be reached, time
must be given after the mass transfer operation is initiated for the
unsteady state conditions to disappear.
To simplify the derivation assume one directional differential
element (control volume).
In general, I-D S.S. (Ficks First Law of Diffusion is written as follows
when CA is only a function of z)equation is:

I-D unSteady.S. equation of Ficks 1st law becomes

CA is a function of z as
well as of some other
variables such as time t

Note: Observe the use of ordinary and partial derivatives as appropriate.

DERIVATION OF BASIC EQUATION

The derivation of general mass transfer
equation is similar to that be done for the
derivation of heat transfer equation.
We make mass balance on component A in
terms moles for no generation.

Note 1
dz
Rate of input

N Az D AB

C A
z

Rate of output

N Az

2
C

C
A
A
dz
D AB

z z

rate of accumulati on (1* dz)C A / t

Input output = rate of accumulation

C A
2C A

D AB
t
z 2

Volume of
control volume.
A=1

Note 2_ Alterative approach

Mass balance on a volume in space

Note that the principal terms will include accumulation, the
balance of the mass fluxes, and chemical reaction

 If we consider this in a differential element that we shrink to

an infinitesimal basis, we obtain (in rectangular coordinates)

Likewise, for cylindrical coordinates we obtain

While for spherical coordinates the form is

Note 3
Note that similar equations would be written for
each of the molecular species present in the system.
If you consider that NA = Ficks Law = -DAB dc/dz, then
you will get the same equations as before, for
example (non reacting system )

-DAB dc/dz

convection

But if you consider

, in this case
you will get the following equation:

z
cylindrical coordinates

spherical coordinates

density and diffusivity are constant

rectangular coordinates

Example
Suppose the following system:
STEADY-STATE MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN BINARY
SYSTEM
Find the suitable equations assuming rectangular
coordinate sys.
Answer
In steady-state cases the cA/t term is zero
if density and diffusivity are constant

 In a static system where there is only molecular

diffusion and chemical reaction, we have an analog
to steady-state heat conduction with heat generation

Furthermore, if there is no generation term (i,e., no

chemical reaction), [analogous to steady-state heat
conduction]:

Generalized Solution Procedure

1. Sketch the problem.
2. Write the suitable assumptions for the given problem.
3. Select a suitable coordination system.
4. Select the appropriate general mass diffusion equation differential
form .
5. Cancel the not needed terms in the differential equation according
to the assumptions in step 2.
6. Identify the boundary conditions.
7. Write the flux equation with respect to species of interest.
8. Substitute the flux from step 5 in the differential equation of step 5.
9. Integrate using the boundary conditions to get the concentration
distribution.
10. Apply the Ficks law to obtain the rate of diffusion.

Problem 1
A given gas A can diffuse through the solid
wall of a tube in which it flows. Starting from
general mass diffusion equation, Find the rate
of gas diffusion in terms of the tube
dimensions (inside wall radius Ri, outside wall
radius Ro), the gas-solid diffusivity, and the gas
concentrations at the walls.

Diffusion in a flat plate with negligible surface

resistance Analytical method
One-dimensional Unsteady-state Diffusion

Define

For a very high mass-transfer

coefficient outside the surface,
resistance will be negligible and the
concentration at the surface will be
equal to that in the fluid which is c1.

 The initial and boundary conditions are:

Note: at t = 0 the concentration of the fluid in the

environment outside is suddenly changed to concentration
c1 . This case is fulfilled when mass-transfer coeff., k = very
high value, means negligible surface resistance and the
concentration at the surface will be equal to that in the
fluid, which is c1.

ci is the
concentration
in the solid

We have mass
transfer outside the
surface
NA = kc (cL1 cLi )
Where cL1 is the
bulk fluid
concentration and
cLi is the
concentration in the
fluid just adjacent to
the surface of the
solid.

One-dimensional Unsteady-state Diffusion _ Chart Method

For a flat plate:
Table A

For a flat plate (to determine temp. at the center )

One-dimensional
Unsteady-state Diffusion
For a long cylinder

For a long cylinder (to determine temp. at the center )

One-dimensional
Unsteady-state Diffusion

For a sphere

For a sphere (to determine temp. at the center )

Example 1

Solution

Un-steady state mass diffusion in 2 or

3 dimensional systems
Some practical problems may be involved with simultaneous
unsteady state mass diffusion in two and three directions.
In order to solve these problems, we can combine onedimensional solution to give solutions for several dimensional
systems.
Based on the superposition principle, it can be shown that

the

of flat plates in x direction.

Charts for average concentrations in plate, cylinder and

sphere with negligible surface resistance
Define E is the unaccomplished total fraction change for slabs,
cylinders or spheres unsteady state diffusion with no surface
transfer resistance. The value of E is
E

c1 / K c a v
c1 / K c 0

Where c0 is the original uniform concentration of the fluid in

the solid, c1 is the environment concentration of the fluid to
which the solid surface is suddenly subjected, and cav is the
average concentration of fluid in the solid after t hours.
The values of Ea, Eb and Ec are each used for diffusion
between two of parallel facesas I plate. For example, for
diffusion I the a and b directions in a rectangular dar,
E = Ea Eb

 For diffusion from all

three sets of faces
E = Ea Eb Ec
For diffusion in a short
cylinder 2c long and
radius a.
E = Ec Er

Problem 2
Use the same conditions as in example 1
except that the solid is rectangular block 10.16
mm thick in x-direction, 7.62 mm thick in ydirection and 10.16 mm thick in z-direction,
and diffusion occurs at all six faces. Calculate
the concentration at the midpoint after 10 h.