KMJ22503 MASS TRANSFER SEM2, 2024/2025
Tutorial Week 12
1) A spherical droplet of water, originally 1.0 mm in diameter, must fall in quiet,
dry air at 323 K and 1 atm. Assume that the velocity of the droplet is its
terminal velocity evaluated at its mean diameter during the process, and that
the water temperature remains at 293 K. Estimate the distance of the droplet
to reduce its volume by evaporation by 50%.
2) A spherical droplet of water, originally 1.0 mm in diameter, must fall in quiet,
dry air at 323 K and 1 atm. Estimate the distance of the droplet to reduce its
volume by evaporation by 50%. Assume that the velocity of the droplet is its
terminal velocity evaluated at its mean diameter during the process, and that
the water temperature remains at 293 K.
bblee@unimap 1
KMJ22503 MASS TRANSFER SEM2, 2024/2025
SOLUTION
Q1:
4 𝑑 3 1
Volume of the water droplet at initial: 𝑉1 = 3 𝜋 ( 21 ) = 6 𝜋(𝑑1 )3
1 1
Volume of the water droplet at the end (50% evaporation): 𝑉2 = [2] 6 𝜋(𝑑1 )3
3 1
So 𝑑2 = √[2] (𝑑1 )3=0.7937mm
The arithmetic mean diameter during the process is evaluated by:
The density of the droplet of water at 293 K is ρp = 995 kg/m3;
The density of air at 323 K and 1 atm is ρ = 1.094 kg/m3 and
Its viscosity is μ = 1.92 x 10-3 kg m-1 s-1.
By considering a force balance on a spherical particle falling in a fluid medium, the terminal
velocity of the particle is:
where ρpr = ρp - ρ, g is the acceleration of gravity, and CD is the drag coefficient.
The drag coefficient is a complicated function of the Reynolds number (Rep = ρvDp/μ) of the
particle, which is proportional to the terminal velocity.
Use the calculation step similar to Q1.
The Schmidt number is,
The Reynolds number:
Given that the terminal velocity is 3.87 m/s,
𝜌𝐷𝑝 𝑣𝑡 1.14 𝑥 8.97 𝑥10−4 𝑥3.87
𝑅𝑒𝑝 = = =206
𝜇 1.92 𝑥 10−5
The equation by Froessling (1939) and Evnochides&Thodos (1959):
Sh = 2.0 + 0.552 Rep1/2 Sc1/3
= 2.0 + 0.552 (206)1/2 (0.692)1/3
= 9.00
Since the gas phase is very dilute in water vapor (component A); therefore, it is appropriate
to use k-type mass-transfer coefficients.
bblee@unimap 2
KMJ22503 MASS TRANSFER SEM2, 2024/2025
The vapor pressure of water at 293 K is 2.34 kPa (Smith et al., 1996).
The interface concentration is evaluated from the vapor pressure of water at 293 K:
The dry-air concentration, cA2 = 0.
The average rate of evaporation:
Substituting the known values into the average rate of evaporation equation yields
Covert into diameter reduction rate (DRA) from the mass reduction rate (wA):
𝑚 𝜌𝑉 𝜌((4⁄3)𝜋(𝑑 ⁄2)3 )
𝑤𝐴 = = =
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
𝐷𝑝 3 6𝑤𝐴 2
=√ (𝑡 )
𝑡 𝜌𝜋
Dp,i+1 = Dp,i – (Dp/t)(∆t)
bblee@unimap 3
KMJ22503 MASS TRANSFER SEM2, 2024/2025
Iteration method: Dp,i+1
= Dp,i – (Dp/t)(∆t)
//
The distance of drop fall to reach 50% reduction of volume is equal to 131.9 m after 33.9s.
Q2:
4 𝑑 3 1
Volume of the water droplet at initial: 𝑉1 = 3 𝜋 ( 21 ) = 6 𝜋(𝑑1 )3
1 1
Volume of the water droplet at the end (50% evaporation): 𝑉2 = [2] 6 𝜋(𝑑1 )3
3 1
So 𝑑2 = √[2] (𝑑1 )3=0.7937mm
The arithmetic mean diameter during the process is evaluated by:
The density of the droplet of water at 293 K is ρp = 995 kg/m3;
The density of air at 323 K and 1 atm is ρ = 1.094 kg/m3 and
Its viscosity is μ = 1.92 x 10-3 kg m-1 s-1.
By considering a force balance on a spherical particle falling in a fluid medium, the terminal
velocity of the particle is:
bblee@unimap 4
KMJ22503 MASS TRANSFER SEM2, 2024/2025
where ρpr = ρp - ρ, g is the acceleration of gravity, and CD is the drag coefficient.
The drag coefficient is a complicated function of the Reynolds number (Rep = ρvDp/μ) of the
particle, which is proportional to the terminal velocity.
Use the calculation step similar to Q1.
The Schmidt number is,
The Reynolds number:
Assume the terminal velocity is 3.87 m/s (from Q1).
𝜌𝐷𝑝 𝑣𝑡 1.14 𝑥 8.97 𝑥10−4 𝑥3.87
𝑅𝑒𝑝 = = =206
𝜇 1.92 𝑥 10−5
The equation by Froessling (1939) and Evnochides&Thodos (1959):
Sh = 2.0 + 0.552 Rep1/2 Sc1/3
= 2.0 + 0.552 (206)1/2 (0.692)1/3
= 9.00
Since the gas phase is very dilute in water vapor (component A); therefore, it is appropriate
to use k-type mass-transfer coefficients.
The vapor pressure of water at 293 K is 2.34 kPa (Smith et al., 1996).
The interface concentration is evaluated from the vapor pressure of water at 293 K:
The dry-air concentration, cA2 = 0.
The average rate of evaporation:
Substituting the known values into the average rate of evaporation equation yields
Covert into diameter reduction rate (DRA) from the mass reduction rate (wA):
bblee@unimap 5
KMJ22503 MASS TRANSFER SEM2, 2024/2025
𝑚 𝜌𝑉 𝜌((4⁄3)𝜋(𝑑 ⁄2)3 )
𝑤𝐴 = = =
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
𝐷𝑝 3 6𝑤𝐴 2
=√ (𝑡 )
𝑡 𝜌𝜋
Dp,i+1 = Dp,i – (Dp/t)(∆t)
Iteration method:
//
The distance of drop fall to reach 50% reduction of volume is equal to 131.9 m after 33.9s.
bblee@unimap 6