TRANSPORT PHENOMENA

(CHE-345)

Chapter 3

Interphase Transport and Transfer

Coefficients
Ismail Tosun

Engr. Ayesha Raza 1

 Interphase Transport and Transfer Coefficients
In engineering calculations, the rate of momentum, heat and mass transfer from one
phase to another across the phase interface can be achieved by integrating the flux
expression over the interfacial area.

Note that the determination of the interphase flux requires the values of the
quantity/volume and its gradient to be known at the interface. Therefore, equations of
change must be solved to obtain the distribution of quantity/volume as a function of
position. These analytical solutions, however, are not possible most of the time. In that
case we resort to experimental data and correlate the results by the transfer
coefficients, namely, the friction factor, the heat transfer coefficient, and the mass
transfer coefficient. The resulting correlations are then used in designing equipment.

FRICTION FACTOR

Let us consider a flat plate of length L and width W suspended in a uniform stream
having an approach velocity v, as shown in Figure (next page). Now to determine the
total drag force, i.e., exerted by the flowing stream on the plate. This force can be
calculated by integrating the total momentum flux at the wall over the surface area.
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The total momentum flux at the wall, Πyx|y=o, is

where τyx|y=o is the value of the shear stress at the wall. Since the plate is stationary,
the fluid which is in contact with the plate is also stagnant and both vx, and vy are zero
at y = 0. Therefore, Eq. reduces to

and the drag force, FD on one side of the plate can be calculated from

It is customary in engineering
practice to replace τw by a Substitution this new value of
dimensionless term called the shear stress into above Eq. gives
friction factor, f, such that
where (f) is the friction
factor averaged over the
area of the plate 3
Equation (last eq. on previous slide) can be generalized in the form,

in which the terms Ach, characteristic area, and Kch, characteristic kinetic energy, are
defined by

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 Advertisements for cars in the magazines give the complete list of their features,
one of which is the friction factor (or, drag coefficient) based on the ,frontal area.
Sports cars, such as Toyota Celica, usually have a friction factor of around 0.24.
If the car has a width of 2m and a height of 1.5m.

a) Determine the power consumed by the car when it is going at 100 km/ h.

b) Repeat part (a) if the wind blows at a velocity of 30km/h opposite to the
direction of the car.

c) Repeat part (a) i f the wind blows at a velocity of 30km/h in direction of the car.

Physical properties

For air at 20°C (293K) : p = 1.2kg/m3

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 HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT
Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient

Let’s consider a flat plate suspended in a uniform stream of velocity v∞, and
temperature T∞ as shown in Figure. The temperature at the surface of plate is kept
constant at Tw

The total rate of heat transfer from the plate to the flowing stream can be calculated by
integrating the total energy flux at the wall over the surface area. The total energy flux
at the wall, ey|y=0 is

where qvlY=o is the molecular (or, conductive) energy flux at the wall. As a result of the
no-slip boundary condition at the wall, the fluid in contact with the plate is stagnant and
heat is transferred by pure conduction through the fluid layer immediately adjacent to
the plate. Therefore, Eq. reduces to
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and the rate of heat transfer, Q, from one side of the plate to the flowing stream is,

Evaluation of the integral in Eq. requires the determination of the temperature gradient
at the wall. However, the fluid motion makes the analytical solution of the temperature
distribution impossible to obtain in most cases. Hence, we usually resort to
experimentally determined values of the energy flux at a solid-fluid boundary in terms of
the convection heat transfer coefficient, h, as

which is known as Newton's law of cooling. The convection heat transfer coefficient,
h, has the units of W/m2.K. It depends on the fluid flow mechanism, fluid properties
(density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity) and flow geometry. Substitution
of Eqs. gives the rate of heat transfer as

where (h) is heat transfer coefficient averaged over the area of plate and is defined by

where AH is heat transfer area and (ΔT)ch is characteristic temperature difference.

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 MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT
Let us consider a flat plate suspended in a uniform stream of fluid (species A) having a
velocity v∞ and species A concentration CA∞ as shown in Figure. The surface of the
plate is also coated with species A with concentration CAw

The total number of moles of species A transferred from the plate to the flowing stream.
This can be calculated by integrating the total molar flux at the wall over the surface
area. The total molar flux at the wall, NAy|y=0 is
where JAy|y=0 is the molecular (or, diffusive)
molar flux at the wall. For low mass transfer
rates Eq. can be simplified to,
and the rate of moles of species A
transferred, ṅA from one side of the plate
to the flowing stream is,

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Evaluation of NA, requires the determination of the concentration gradient at the wall.
Since this is almost impossible to obtain, in an analogous manner to the definition of the
heat transfer coefficient, the convection mass transfer coefflcient, kc is defined by

The mass transfer coefficient has the units of m/s. It depends on the fluid flow
mechanism, fluid properties (density, viscosity, diffusion coefficient) and flow geometry.
Substitution of Eq. (above) into Eq. (last eq., previous slide) gives the rate of moles
of species A transferred as

where kc is the mass transfer coefficient averaged over the area of the plate. Eq. can be
generalized in the form,

where AM is mass transfer area and (ΔcA)ch is characteristic concentration difference.

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 Concentration at the Phase Interface

Consider the transfer of species A from the solid phase to the fluid phase through a flat
interface as shown in Figure. The molar flux of species A is expressed by Eq. In the
application of this equation to practical problems of interest, there is no difficulty in
defining the concentration in the bulk fluid phase, CA∞ since this can be measured
experimentally. However, to estimate the value of Caw one has to make an assumption
about the conditions at the interface.

It is generally assumed that

the two phases are in
equilibrium with each other
at the solid-fluid interface.
If Tw represents interface
temperature, value of CAW
is given by,

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0.5 L of ethanol is poured into a cylindrical tank of 2 L capacity and
the top is quickly sealed The total height of the cylinder is 1 m.
Calculate the mass transfer coefficient if the ethanol concentration in
the air reaches 2% of its saturation value in 5 minutes. The cylinder
temperature is kept constant at 2OOC.

Kc = 5 * 10-5 m/s

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12
Molecular Transport

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14
Interphase Transport

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 DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS

and the terms fνch h/ρĈp, and kc, all have the same units, m/s. Thus, the ratio of these
quantities must yield dimensionless numbers:
Since the term f/2 is dimensionless itself, it is
omitted and dimensionless numbers can also be
obtained by taking the ratio of the fluxes. For
example, when the concentration gradient is
expressed in the form,

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Therefore, the ratio of the total interphase flux to the molecular flux,

The quantities in above Eq. for various transport processes are given in Table,
The dimensionless
terms representing
ratio of interphase
flux to molecular
flux in Table are
defined in terms of
dimensionless
numbers as,

where Nu is the heat transfer Nusselt number

and NuM is the mass transfer Nusselt number.
The mass transfer Nusselt number is
generally called the Sherwood number, Sh.
indicate that the product (f Re/2) is more
closely analogous to the Nusselt and
Sherwood numbers than f itself. A summary
of the analogous dimensionless numbers for
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energy and mass transfer covered in Table.
 The Reynolds Analogy
Similarities between the transport of momentum, energy and mass were first noted by
Reynolds in 1874.

Reynolds further assumed that Pr = Sc = 1. Under these circumstances Eq. reduces to,

which is known as Reynolds analogy

✓ The Reynolds analogy is valid for gas systems but should not be considered for
liquid systems

✓ Physical properties must be evaluated at T = Tw+T/2

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 The Chilton-Colburn Analogy
In the Chilton-Colburn analogy is expressed as

where jH and jM are the Colburn j-factors for heat and mass transfer, respectively.
The Chilton-Colburn analogy is valid when

0.6 ≤ Pr ≤ 60
0.6 ≤ Sc ≤ 3000

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Water evaporates from a wetted surface of rectangular shape when air at 1 atm and 35
C is blown over the surface at a velocity of 15 m/ s. Heat transfer measurements
indicate that for air at 1 atm and 35 C the average heat transfer coefficient is given by
the following empirical relation

where (h) is in W/m2. K and v∞ air velocity, is in m/s. Estimate the mass transfer
coefficient and the rate of evaporation of water from the surface if area is 1.5m2.

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