Group Members

2009-CH-242

2009-CH-227
2009-CH-237 2009-CH-203 2009-CH-229

Gulfam Raza Haidery 2009-CH-242

Importance of dimensionless numbers in mass transfer

Contents:
Introduction
Properties Buckingham theorem

Dimensionless numbers in Mass Transfer

Applications Physical significance

INTRODUCTION
In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a object is defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it.

PROPERTIES
Quantity with No Physical dimension but it can has units which are dimensionless. Quantities have same dimensions and their ratio makes them dimensionless.

Buckingham theorem
The Buckingham theorem of dimensional analysis is that the functional dependence between a certain number (say, n) of variables can be reduced by the number (say, k) of independent dimensions occurring in those variables to give a set of p = n k independent, dimensionless quantities.

CONT
The power consumption of a stirrer is a function of the density the viscosity diameter speed So n = 5 variables are built up from k = 3 dimensions which are: Length: L (m) Time: T (s) Mass: M (kg). According to the -theorem, the n = 5 variables can be reduced by

the k = 3 dimensions to form p = n k = 5 3 = 2 independent dimensionless numbers which are, in case of the stirrer: Reynolds number (a dimensionless number describing the fluid flow regime) Power number (describing the stirrer and also involves the density of the fluid)

Basil Ahmad Raza 2009-CH-227

About Mass Transfer

MT BIOT NUMBER
Ratio of Diffusive to Convective MT Resistance

film mass transfer coefficient

LC - characteristic length DAB - mass diffusivity

Determines Uniformity of concentration in solids

MT FOURIER NUMBER
Ratio of current time to time to reach steady state

Fo = Dt/L2

MT PRANDTL NUMBER
Ratio of momentum to specific diffusivity

Pr = /D Determines the ratio of fluid/ Mass transfer boundary layer thickness

Momentum diffusivit y Cp Pr Thermal diffusivit y K

: kinematic viscosity, = / , (SI units : m2/s) : thermal diffusivity, = k / (cp), (SI units : m2/s) : dynamic viscosity, (SI units : Pa s = (N s)/m2) k: thermal conductivity, (SI units : W/(m K) ) cp : specific heat, (SI units : J/(kg K) ) : density, (SI units : kg/m3 ).

MUHAMMAD USMAN 2009-CH-237

MT NUSSELT NUMBER
Ratio of length scale to diffusion boundary layer

thickness Nu = hdL/Dfluid
Used to calculate MT coefficient hd

MT GRASHOOF NUMBER
Ratio of natural convection buoyancy force to viscous force

Gr = g CCL3/2 Controls the ratio of length scale to natural convection boundary layer g = acceleration due to Earth's gravity = volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (equal to approximately 1/T, for ideal fluids, where T is absolute temperature) Ts = surface temperature T = bulk temperature L = length D = diameter = kinematic viscosity

Limitations
The transition to turbulent flow occurs in the range 108

< GrL < 109 for natural convection from vertical flat plates. At higher Grashof numbers, the boundary layer is turbulent; at lower Grashof numbers, the boundary layer is laminar.

M.M.KHAN 2009-CH-203

MT PECLET NUMBER
Ratio of convective to diffusive mass transfer in fluids

Pe = Re.Pr Used to determine plug flow/perfect mixing CSTR model validity

MT RALEIGH NUMBER
Ratio of natural convective to diffusive mass

transport Ra = Gr.Pr Determines the transition to turbulent

Importance of DN
Dimensionless numbers allow you to compare two

systems that are vastly different by combining the parameters of interest.

For example, the Reynolds number, Re = velocity * length / kinematic viscosity. If you are testing an airfoil with a particular Re, and you want to run a simulation on a scaled-down model (length is smaller), you could increase fluid velocity or lower kinematic viscosity (change fluids) or both to establish the same Re and ensure you are working under comparable circumstances.

FAISAL ALI 2009-CH-229

Archimedes Number (Ar)

This represents the ratio of buoyancy and inertial forces
Formula:

where:
g=

gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s),

l = density of the fluid, kg / m3 = density of the body, kg / m3 = dynamic viscosity, kg / sm L = characteristic length of body, m

Application
o

Used when dealing with Gravitational settling of particle in fluid In engineering applications the Pclet number is often very large. In such situations, the dependency of the flow upon downstream locations is diminished, and variables in the flow tend to become 'one-way' properties. Thus, when modeling certain situations with high Pclet numbers, simpler computational models can be adopted. A flow will often have different Pclet numbers for heat and mass. This can lead to the phenomenon of double diffusive convection. In the context of particulate motion the Pclet numbers have also been called Brenner numbers, with symbol Br, in honor of Howard Brenner.

Physical significance
This represents the ratio of buoyancy and inertial forces, which stands in for the contribution of natural convection. When Ar >> 1, natural convection dominates and when Ar << 1, forced convection dominates.

S. no.

Parameters

Symbols (units)

Primary dimensions

1
2 3 4 5

Significant length
Fluid density Fluid viscosity Temperature difference Coefficient of volume expansion Acceleration due to gravity Thermal conductivity of fluid Heat transfer coefficient Specific heat of fluid

Lc (m)
(kg/m3) (kg/m.s) T (deg.C or K) (1/K)

L
ML-3 ML-1t-1 T T-1

g (m/s2)

Lt-2

7 8 9

k (W/m.K) h (W/m2.K) Cp (J/kg.k)

MLt-3T-1 Mt-3T-1 L2t-2T-1